They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” – John 12:13

Jesus enters into Jerusalem and the beginning of the Passover festival with much fanfare. Many have witnessed him raising dead Lazarus to life and are now whipped into a triumphant frenzy. The scene was typical for when a city would welcome a returning king from the victory of battle.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:7-8 (NIV)

In Ephesians 6:1-9, the Apostle Paul addresses the Christian ethics of children, fathers, slaves, and masters. Paul appeals to children to honor their parents because it is right. Fathers are not to frustrate their children but nurture them in the ways of Jesus. Slaves are to respect and obey their masters as though they are serving the Lord who gives rewards and judges what all people do on earth. And finally, masters are to mutually submit to slaves because both slave and master submit to Jesus who shows no favoritism.

Paul moves beyond the golden rule in his appeal to Christian ethics in how we are to treat each other. Instead “treat others as you want to be treated.” We are to treat others as we would treat Jesus.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:21 (NIV)

Submission is defined as placing oneself under the authority of another. No wonder this passage gets such a bad rap. The word “submit” appears antiquated in the context of marriage. When many read it, what is implied is dominance and oppression.

In our relationship with God we are to humbly submit to Him in order to give him honor. Jesus taught and modeled a life of humility and service. “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:26-28

The Apostle Paul begins chapter 5 with the instructions, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Jesus is the example and the Holy spirit is the source of power for a child of light. When you follow Jesus, you partner with him and choose not to partner with the deeds of darkness.

The follower of Jesus walks in love, light, worship, and thanksgiving. This is evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians chapters 1-3 teach us about what God has done for us in Jesus. The love of God is life changing and the Apostle Paul prays for the church to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep is the love God in Jesus our Lord. As we are filled more and more with the love of Jesus through the Holy Spirit then we not only live worthy of the “calling we have received” but we also live new. Everything about our new life hinges on what God has done through Jesus. We gain a “new self” and a new attitude putting off our old self.
It is by grace and love that we are made new and it is by grace and love that we live into our newness. In Jesus, you are made new. Become what you are.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians could be divided into two halves: Truths about our identity and challenges to our behavior. Only when we grasp who God says we are can we live out that identity. In chapter 4, Paul pivots from talking about who we are to “how we are.” He motivates not with fear or guilt but with the calling all believers share: The good news of God’s grace in the gospel. (Phil. 1:27)

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. – Ephesians 3:16-19 (NIV)