Eternal City Church Sunday Sermons

In these closing words to the Ephesians church, Paul gives us the final key to spiritual warfare and commends the love of God as the environment and reality for Christians to live in.

This gospel story takes place on the very first Easter or Resurrection Sunday. It's a compelling story of Jesus (his identity being concealed) encountering two of his disciples as they are utterly dismayed by Jesus being crucified, buried, and now missing. Walk along the road with Jesus and his two disciples and learn from him.

Christians have been given the sword of the Spirit. This is the last of the spiritual weapons gifted by God to fight against the enemy of our souls. A razor sharp sword (the Bible) with which to combat the lies, deceits, accusations, schemes, and attacks of the devil. By grace, we must learn to wield it well.

Paul exhorts and encourages believers in Jesus to wear their salvation as a helmet to protect their own heads (the control center of the entire body). When we realize the freedom and joy available in being received by God the Father, as we have received God the Son, we have a sure power to stand in the truth and assurance of the forgiveness of God (our being "saved").

Through the cross of Christ, we have peace with God which results in God himself now being our shield. With these weapons, we fight against Satan and his armies. We must learn to repeatedly run to God, and land our faith in him as we fight against a foe more powerful and crafty than ourselves.

Real evil is not just a concept but is embodied in a person, Satan! Satan is not alone in his fight against God, Holy Angels, Humanity, and Christians he commands countless demons to do his bidding. We as Christians are not ignorant of his methods and schemes. In these three verses, Paul exhorts his readers (and by extension Christians in the 21st century) to pick up our spiritual armor and stand firmly in the fight for truth, obedience, and abundant life in Christ.

There is, in reality, a spiritual battle taking place all around us, daily. In this section of the book of Ephesians Paul gives us a glimpse into the spirit world as it pertains to Christians and non-Christians alike. We are to be strengthened in the war by the power and strength of God. We must understand the devil, his kingdom, his works, and workers as well as his schemes if we are to be fruitful and efficient in the journey through life as a Christians.

In this text (the final piece of the household codes), Paul addresses the relationship between slaves/bondservants and masters. Vince Geramita does very well at showing how 1st-century slavery was very different than American, ethnic-based, kidnapping, for life, slavery. The relationship between slaves and masters in the first century was similar to the relationships of bosses and employees or managers and those being managed. Vince shows how our daily work can have great meaning when we realize we have a higher boss or employer that will pay us an ultimate "paycheck" for the work we've done for Him.

God has given the gift of parents to children. Parents are the first encounter with love, care, trust, and discipline that children experience. Parents must exercise loving and sacrificial authority over their children while giving them the gift of a biblical worldview. The gospel is the center of a biblical worldview therefore gospel-parenting is essential.

Marriage is a mysterious picture of Jesus and the church (his bride). Men are to die for their wives by living for and loving them. Wives are to respectfully submit to their own husbands as the leaders of the home. This is God's glorious design for marriage and for human flourishing. May God strengthen Christian marriages to reflect more and more the relationship of Jesus and his church.