In this week, Paul focusses on the roles of a husband and wife and compares these to the love Christ has for us. It's important for Christians to debunk the definition the world has given of what a successful marriage looks like, and instead lean on the wisdom God has given and shown through His Word.

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THE SOURCE

As we read Paul’s sharp critique of the corrupt, Gentile lifestyle, we should recall his conviction that Gentiles are redeemed by God through Christ and offered full partnership in the people of God (Eph. 2:11–22, Eph. 3:1–13). In Ephesians 4:17–19, then, he is offering a limited and negative description of “Gentiles in the flesh” (Eph. 2:11).

Paul is not just concerned about specific sins or behaviours exhibited by Gentiles. He is concerned about a pattern of behaviour that they exhibit, a downward trajectory of living in the grip of sin. At the heart of Ephesians 4:17–19 is a portrait of a calloused spirituality: “in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God” (Eph. 4:17, 18, NKJV). This calloused spirituality is the source of the darkened understanding highlighted at the beginning of the passage (“because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous,” Eph. 4:18, 19, ESV) and the depraved sexual practice underlined at its end (“and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity,” Eph. 4:19, ESV). Alienated from God, they don’t know how to live, and separated from His saving grace, they continue in a downward spiral of sin and depravity.

 We must acknowledge that the risen and exalted Jesus is alive and present with us. We are shaped by His teachings and example and exercise loyalty to Him as our living Lord. We need to open our lives to His active guidance and direction through Spirit and Word.

In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul advocates for the unity of the church and recruits everyone to foster it actively. While unity is a theological certainty (Eph. 4:4-6), it does require our hard work (Eph. 4:3). One way we foster unity is by being active “parts” of the body of Christ (Eph. 4:7-16). Each of us is a part of the body and should contribute to its health and growth (Eph. 4:7, 16). We all should also benefit from the work of apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (Eph. 4:11). These, like ligaments, tendons, and “every joint” (Eph. 4:16, ESV), have a unifying function, helping us grow up together into Christ, who is the head of the body (Eph. 4:13, 15).

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We continue with the concept of unity in Christ, with Paul informing the people in Ephesus of the Mystery of the Gospel, and keeping them (us) encouraged in spite of his current situation. We can take a leaf out of Paul's book and see why it is important to 'encourage one another and build each other up...' 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Sunday - Paul: Imprisoned Apostles to the Gentiles

Monday - The Long-hidden Mystery of the Gospel

Tuesday - The Church: Revealer of God's Wisdom

Wednesday - Christ, Dwelling in Your Heart

Thursday - Glory in The Church And In Christ

The Cross is important as Jesus died, not just for a particular denomination, or a specific tribe, but for all who believe and receive His Salvation. Therefore, there should not be any division amongst His followers.

"...so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others." (Romans 12:5).

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Sunday: Brought Near in Christ

Monday: Reconciliation: God's Gift From the Cross

Tuesday: Breaking Down the Dividing Wall

Wednesday: Jesus, Preacher of Peace

Thursday: The Church, a Holy Temple

How do you say bye to the old you?

'But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ' (Ephesians 2:4-5)

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Sunday: Once Dead and Deceived by Satan

Monday: Once Deluded by Our Own Desires

Tuesday: Now Resurrected, Ascended, and Exalted with Christ

Wednesday: Now Blessed Forever by Grace

Thursday: Now Saved by God

Did you know that through Christ, the awesome power of God is made available to us, TODAY? We can tap into God's immense power, just as Paul prayed that the Ephesians would experience this power with the help of the Holy Spirit. His divine strength can be seen in these 4 historical events:

As always, you can read the whole study here! Where in this episode we cover:

Sunday - Praying and Thanksgiving

Monday - Experiencing Insight from the Holy Spirit

Tuesday - Participating in Resurrection Power

Wednesday - Christ Above All Powers

Thursday - Jesus, All Things, and His Church

Season 2 episode 2 continues on our journey studying Ephesians and the many gems Paul drops on God's people. The second lesson of the quarter is discussed in this episode, and the reading material can be found here.

Sunday: Chosen and Accepted in Christ

Monday: Costly Redemption; Lavish Forgiveness

Tuesday: God's Grand, Christ-centered Plan

Wednesday: Living in Praise of His Glory

Thursday: The Holy Spirit: Seal & Down Payment

Let's study the whole book of Ephesians together! Running between June 24 until September 29, and covering the first lesson of the quarter on this episode! Catch up on this week's reading: here.

Sunday: Paul, Evangelist to Ephesus

Monday: A Riot in the Amphitheatre

Tuesday: Hearing the Letter to Ephesians

Wednesday: Ephesians in its Time

Thursday: Ephesians, A Christ-Saturated Letter