Ephesians: A Study of Faith and PracticeSample

At this point in my life, I receive a lot of uninteresting mail. From the packaging alone, I can easily sort my stack of envelopes between bills to pay and junk mail to toss. That’s why I’m always excited to see a hand-addressed letter with a familiar name in the corner. In a world of impersonal greetings and various requests, it’s wonderful to receive mail from a friend.

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul to the Christians in the city of Ephesus. As we begin our study, it’s helpful to remember that these are real historical figures, living in a particular cultural context. These are words between believers, meant to encourage both their faith in Jesus and their practice (living out) of that faith.

Our study begins where the letter begins—by identifying its author. Paul describes himself as an apostle—by God’s will. It’s important to note that Paul didn’t choose this position of authority for himself. Rather, God appointed him for this role when He appeared to Paul in a blinding light on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-16).

In addition to describing himself as an apostle, Paul referred to himself as “the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles” (3:1) and “the prisoner in the Lord” (4:1). Paul wasn’t speaking figuratively here; he was imprisoned for his service to the Lord and wrote many of his New Testament letters while under Roman guard (Acts 28).

Don’t miss the irony here—one of the greatest persecutors of the early church wrote Ephesians as a prisoner for the gospel. Meeting Jesus transformed Paul’s life, and he became one of Christianity’s greatest missionaries. In his own words, “I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it . . . But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles . . .” (Gal. 1:13-16). This transforming power of the gospel is one of the themes we’ll see in the early pages of Ephesians.

Paul’s words weren’t just his opinions. Like Moses and the prophets before him, he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. His words were written at a particular time to a particular church, but they are intended for all Christians for all time.

As we read the book of Ephesians, I hope you’ll be encouraged (and maybe a little surprised) by how relevant Paul’s words are to you in your life today. Just as in creation, God speaks and life bursts forth. As we read and study God’s Word, it’s life-giving. These words are powerful, not because they’re the words of Paul, but because they’re breathed out by God (2 Tim. 3:16).

Paul visited Ephesus on his third missionary journey, and Luke records the highlights of his time there in Acts 19.

These passages from Acts help put into context Paul’s ministry among the Ephesians. Even though his initial greetings may seem impersonal, Paul spent three years with them. During those years his teaching was met with a wide variety of responses, as we see in Acts 19. Most likely he wrote this letter to them during the time of his imprisonment in Rome, which sets this letter about 7–8 years after his time in Ephesus.

Ephesus was a port city on the west coast of Asia (part of modern-day Turkey), where one could find a variety of religious practices. The presence of a synagogue meant that it was home to a number of Jewish families. The culture was inundated with idolatry, reliant upon magical arts, and curious about demons. At the center of religious life was the worship of Artemis, whose temple was located in Ephesus and was one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. Additionally, the worship of the emperor and his family was a prominent feature of life. Imagery of emperors as warrior gods appeared on coins and altars throughout the city.

As Paul wrote this letter, he understood the cultural practices and religious tensions of the Ephesians. The gospel—the good news of grace and peace freely given through Christ—was an unwelcome religious message for many who profited off magic arts and idolatry. It was most likely difficult to be a Christian in this hostile culture, so Paul’s initial address to the “faithful saints” offering “grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ” would have been an encouraging and welcome greeting.

You may not feel like much of a saint some days (nor do I!), but it’s the biblical identification of the people of God. It’s not a name for the super spiritual or theologically trained. It’s the name of everyone who by faith believes in Jesus. In our next lesson, we’ll explore more of what that means, but for today, take a little time to let that identity sink into your soul. The question Who am I? has its first hint of an answer: I’m a saint!

Knowing who we are matters. When we try to earn our relationship with God by working harder, it leaves us exhausted and weary. And no matter how hard we try, we can never be good enough to earn the identity of a saint. It’s a name that’s given to us—just like Paul was given the title of apostle. Yes, we still struggle with sin, but by faith in Christ, we can rest assured that God greets us with grace and peace and considers us His saints.

Today, as you go about your day, remember that you are a beloved saint. And God invites you to cast all your burdens on him because he cares about you (1 Pet. 5:7). Spend some time in prayer thanking Him for the grace and peace that are freely yours in Christ. Ask Him to help you live joyfully as a saint, set apart by Him and for Him.