{"id":54249,"date":"2023-10-03T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/?p=54249"},"modified":"2024-07-08T07:29:03","modified_gmt":"2024-07-08T14:29:03","slug":"the-theological-message-of-ephesians","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.olivetree.com\/blog\/the-theological-message-of-ephesians\/","title":{"rendered":"The Theological Message of Ephesians"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ephesians is probably one of the best books in the Bible for explaining the eternal purpose of God. We may even describe it as a summary of God\u2019s eternal purpose. Let\u2019s look at how the NIV Study Bible<\/a> summarizes the theological message of Ephesians. This will help us get a better grasp of God\u2019s eternal purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

God\u2019s Eternal Purpose<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Unlike several of the other letters Paul wrote, Ephesians does not address any particular error or heresy. Paul wrote to expand the horizons of his readers, to understand better the dimensions of God\u2019s eternal purpose and grace. He wants them to come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church. In many ways, it reads like a compendium of the most important themes that Paul stresses elsewhere. At the same time, the theme of spiritual warfare, which climaxes in 6:10\u201320<\/a>, fits well as a response to the many mystery religions and their \u201cmagical\u201d (occult) practices in Ephesus (Ac 19:11\u201319<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Paul wrote Ephesians to expand the horizons of his readers, to understand better the dimensions of God\u2019s eternal purpose and grace. He wants them to come to appreciate the high goals God has for the church.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Theological Message: God\u2019s Grace and Glory in Christ<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The letter opens with a sequence of statements about God\u2019s blessings, which are interspersed with a remarkable variety of expressions drawing attention to God\u2019s wisdom, forethought and purpose. Paul emphasizes that we have been saved, not only for our personal benefit, but also to bring praise and glory to God. The climax of God\u2019s purpose, \u201cwhen the times reach their fulfillment,\u201d is to bring all things in the universe together under Christ (1:10<\/a>). It is crucially important that Christians realize this, so in 1:15\u201323<\/a> Paul prays for their understanding (a second prayer occurs in 3:14\u201321<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theological Message: God\u2019s Wisdom in the Church<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After explaining God\u2019s great goals for the church, Paul proceeds to show the movement toward their fulfillment. First, God has reconciled individuals to himself as an act of grace (2:1\u201310<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, God has reconciled these saved individuals to each other, Jew and Gentile, Christ having broken down the barriers through his own death (2:11\u201322<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But God has done something even beyond this: He has united these reconciled people in one body, the church. This is a \u201cmystery\u201d not fully known until it was revealed to Paul (3:1\u20136<\/a>). Now Paul is able to state even more clearly what God has intended for the church, namely, that it be the means by which he displays his \u201cmanifold wisdom\u201d to the \u201crulers and authorities in the heavenly realms\u201d (3:7\u201313<\/a>). It is clear through the repetition of \u201cheavenly realms\u201d (1:3<\/a>, 20<\/a>; 2:6<\/a>; 3:10<\/a>; 6:12<\/a>) that Christian existence is not merely on an earthly plane. It receives its meaning and significance from heaven, where Christ is exalted at the right hand of God (1:20<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theological Message: God\u2019s Gifts to the Church<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, that life is lived out on earth, where the practical daily life of the believer continues to work out the purposes of God. The ascended Lord gave \u201cgifts\u201d to the members of his church to enable them to minister to one another and so promote unity and maturity (4:1\u201316<\/a>). The unity of the church under the headship of Christ foreshadows the uniting of \u201call things in heaven and on earth under Christ\u201d (1:10<\/a>). The new life of purity and mutual deference stands in contrast to the old way of life without Christ (4:17\u20146:9<\/a>). Those who are \u201cstrong in the Lord\u201d have victory over the evil one in the great spiritual conflict, especially through the power of prayer (6:10\u201320<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grasp More of God\u2019s Eternal Purpose with the NIV Study Bible<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The NIV Study Bible<\/a> comes loaded with thousands of study notes, hundreds of maps and charts, and summaries to books. This is a great resource to use in our app! You can even try it for free for two weeks with our NIV Bible Study Pack<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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NIV STUDY BIBLE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Ephesians is probably one of the best books in the Bible for explaining the eternal purpose of God. We may even describe it as a summary of God\u2019s eternal purpose. Let\u2019s look at how the NIV Study Bible summarizes the theological message of Ephesians. 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