September 23, 2024 — Ephesians 1  

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the G-d of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And G-d put all things under Christʼs feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:15-23  

In verses 19-20 Paul writes that the power and strength which G-d exercised or “energized” is the power that G-d worked first when G-d raised Christ from the dead. What gives this statement its bite is the teaching that Christ’s exaltation and Lordship proceed from and are brought to completion upon his cross — upon his suffering and death. That word “exercise” or “energize” is typically translated as “work” or “work out” in the Greek language. The Greek word commonly was used to refer to the influencing power of a minor G-d in the Stoic system — in other words the power of a G-d that permeates and works itself out in the details of life. By stating that G-d’s energizing power is the very power that raised Christ from the dead, Paul proclaims that G-d’s triumph through Christ and the cross is what energizes all people and gives them new birth through Christ’s suffering and death. In raising Christ, G-d did not communicate that the suffering and death of Jesus was a bad mistake. Rather, Paul proclaims, G-d validated the suffering and death of Jesus as the defining act for G-d and for the very existence of those who live “in Christ.” 

This is why Paul will continue to encourage his churches, and us, to always live “In Christ”.  

Pastor Dave 

September 24, 2024 – Ephesians 2  

“And although you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you formerly lived according to this worldʼs present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience, among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest — But G-d, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you are saved!” Ephesians 2:1–5 

Notice the details — the situation Paul observed of the Ephesians: 

1. They were dead in sin — the Greek word for “dead” is “nekros”, which literally means a corpse or dead body. Since we know Paul is talking about a spiritual state (not a physical state), we must understand this deadness here refers to the spiritual life. The Ephesians were alive physically but dead spiritually. Paul chose this comparison because it accurately describes not only the nature of an unbeliever but, like any dead person, they cannot recognize how dead they are. Just as a corpse cannot revive itself to life, neither can an unbeliever revive his own spirit. 

• This state of spiritual deadness is part of their age — their known place in the universe. The word “course” in Greek is “aion”, which literally means age or a space of time. So, Paul explains that the natural state of every man and woman during “this age or time” is to be spiritually dead — at least preceding their introduction to Christ. Every person begins their life on earth in a state of spiritual deadness, and apart from G-d’s working in their lives, this state will continue uninterrupted until our physical death. 

• This state of deadness is according to the prince of the power of the air — namely Satan. He was the first to fall, and his deceptive influence contributed to the fall of Man in the Garden. Today, he rules the hearts of those bound in spiritual deadness, and he exerts his controlling influence through the fear of death. 

• We were all, everyone of us, living according to this dead nature.  No one is “born” a Christian. Every human being is a sinner, dead in their trespasses from birth. All humanity shares the same starting point as children of (G-d’s) wrath. 

Thus it is all dependent upon Grace. By grace we are saved. It is part of our absolution statement — it is something we need to hear each and every Sunday — each and every day — it is by the Grace of Jesus Christ that we are saved. 

Pastor Dave