Equipping God’s People to Stand Firm: EphesiansSample

God’s holy people, the Church

The book of Ephesians was written during Paul's house arrest in Rome. The prison epistle is a concise but complete summary of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the impact salvation has on the lives of believers. Ephesians was John Calvin’s favorite letter of Paul’s, and many theologians have commented that it was Paul’s greatest writing. The book speaks of the greatness of God and the power of God’s Holy Spirit to change a person’s life. Paul begins his letter by writing about the blessings of God that are available for God’s holy people.

Paul spent over two years in Ephesus and revisited the city on his way to Jerusalem. Paul loved the believers in Ephesus, and this letter was meant to strengthen them and help them understand the purpose of the Church—the body of Christ. This letter was also intended to be shared with the other churches in Asia Minor to encourage the personal faith of believers in those regions as well.

Ephesus was a port city, well known for its pagan practices. Because of its thriving economy, the culture was full of immoral behavior. It was a city where idol worship and magic cults flourished. The introduction of the gospel created much conflict with those whose businesses thrived on idolatry and occult practices. Acts 19 describes a riot that broke out because of this conflict.

Living a holy life in such a depraved environment was incredibly difficult, given the pagan influences that surrounded Christians. Much like today, living a godly life was a struggle for the believers in Ephesus because immoral behavior was not only encouraged, it was also fully supported by the cultural standards for daily life. Let’s look at Paul’s words of strength and encouragement to the Christian believers in Ephesus and see how we too can be encouraged and strengthened by the truth of Scripture today.

Paul was writing to a diverse group of believers. His aim was to strengthen those who were already members of the Church and to help recent converts grow in their spiritual knowledge and remain faithful to their commitment to Christ.

“Do you understand what Christ has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in you. As it grows, you will change. It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester, but temptation will not master you. What hope this brings.” —Max Lucado

It’s easy to get distracted by the ungodliness in the world, and that was true of the first-century believers too. Ephesus was a port city famous for its sinful distractions. Paul wanted to remind believers how God felt about them, so they would be strengthened to fix their eyes on his perfect love and plan for them and walk in his ways. God cherishes us as a groom does his bride (Ephesians 5:25). The more we study his word and get to know him, the more we can understand his great love for us. The very moment you place your faith in Christ, he begins working a miracle in you through the Holy Spirit (verse 13). You are his, permanently sealed and justified forever through the blood of Jesus Christ, and his power and strength now indwell you. “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20).

“Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.” —Matthew Henry