As I’ve been studying through Ephesians, a few things have been standing out to me.

Ephesus – the centre of thought

Ephesus was one of the main centres of thought. Only Rome and Athens had larger populations. The temple to Artemis was between 2 and 4 times bigger than the Parthenon in Athens. The Greater Theatre of Ephesus was the largest in the ancient world and could hold up to 24,000 spectators.

This is what makes Revelation 2 very interesting.

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

The Ephesians really focused in on right teaching and thought. But Paul dedicates half of his letter to them not about right teaching, but about how they should be living – how they should be walking.

Children of the Light

The other thought which is similar is about the way we are to be a witness of the light and for some reason, Lazarus popped into my head.
Lazarus – Clear evidence of the power of God.

Many of you will be familiar with story of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. Lazurus is unwell and unfortunately dies and is buried.

When Jesus finally arrives in Bethany, Lazarus has been dead for four days. Martha and Mary, Lazarus’s sisters, express their grief but also their faith in Jesus. Deeply moved, Jesus goes to the tomb and performs a powerful miracle—raising Lazarus from the dead loudly and publicly. This act strengthens the faith of many witnesses but also triggers a plot among the Jewish leaders to kill Jesus, fearing His growing influence.

A while later, and six days before Passover, Jesus returns to Bethany and attends a dinner in His honour at Lazarus’s home. News of Lazarus’s resurrection draws crowds, and many come to see both Jesus and Lazarus, further fueling the leaders’ hostility.

If you want to know more about that story you can read about it in John 11 and 12 but the reason I’m telling you this is how it ties in with a bunch of what we’ve been learning through Ephesians.

Lazarus provided very clear evidence of the power of God. He had been dead 4 days, “by this time he stinketh”. And yet, here he was walking around and sharing his story.

Why am I telling you this story? Paul in Ephesians continues talking about the way we live and walk. Walk worthy of your calling, walk in love, walk as children of light, walk carefully as one who is wise.

Similar to Lazurus, we are also called to be such clear and powerful evidence of the Power of God, and the New Life in Christ. I wonder how you’re going with that? Do people see the new life that you have? Do they hear your enthusiasm for the amazing mysteries of God?

Ephesians and its Pioneering work in communicating the gospel:

As we journey through Ephesians one thing to note is that the chapter partitions were only put into the Bible around 500 years ago and in Ephesians I’d say the chapter breaks aren’t in the most useful spots.

From 4:17 – 6:9. Paul writes a Household Code. It’s interesting to note that we have records of other household codes for living by Aristotle, Plato and others but Paul’s is the only one we see that acknowledges women and children as more than slaves or possessions. It is pioneering for its time.

Paul’s goal isn’t to express a bunch of rules like a sombre, moral do and don’ter and supress us. He is communicating how to find life and freedom.
Lets read the first part. Eph 5v1-20.

A core ethos as a Christian according to Paul is that you don’t ignore dark corners.

We are to live like children of Light

Paul teaches us that Acknowledged mistakes that have been brought into the light, themselves become a light for others.

This is what it looks like to be a follower of Jesus. Your behaviour matters. Be honest with your failings.

Paul is assuming an honest community.

Darkness is a cancer.

We are each responsible as members of the body of Christ to spur each other on.

Let’s read the next bit. Here’s where I want to show you that the section headings in your Bibles might also be less helpful. V21 is intended to be a heading for the section covering husbands, wives, parents, children, masters and slaves. This whole section is started with verse 21: Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Let’s read this first bit about husbands and wives, but next week as Phil teaches through the following passages, this verse is also above those.

Hey, hang on a minute Paul, none of us can imitate God. That’s not possible. Some husbands are right pillocks, and some wives … OK – they’re all pretty close to perfection right…

We can stand in the presence of God because he has made us holy and blameless through the blood of Christ. That was God's plan from the beginning of time, and he brought it about through Christ. What a plan!

I’d like to conclude with a piece from the Westminster Catechism of 1647.
What is the chief end of man? The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. This concept, most famously articulated in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, means that humanity's purpose is to honour God through life, and that this honour is found in finding satisfaction and joy in Him.

To glorify God:

This involves acknowledging God's power and worth in all of life, using one's gifts and abilities in service to Him, and living a righteous life that reflects His design.

To enjoy him forever:

This means finding your ultimate satisfaction and happiness in God, not just as a matter of duty, but as a result of a deep and abiding relationship with Him. This joy is central to the Christian life and is found through Him.