September 26, 2024 – Ephesians 4:1–16  

“I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live worthily of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one G-d and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he captured captives; he gave gifts to men.” Now what is the meaning of “he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth? He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. It was he who gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of G-d – a mature person, attaining to the measure of Christʼs full stature. So we are no longer to be children, tossed back and forth by waves and carried about by every wind of teaching by the trickery of people who craftily carry out their deceitful schemes. But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body grows in love.” Ephesians 4:1-16 

Paul, here uses two metaphors to express the joining and the resulting closeness with G-d: Jews and Gentiles form one body with Christ as its head; and a oneness with Christ as its cornerstone. This is the unity the church should reflect, or at least try to reflect. But Paul also makes clear that the perfection of the church is a process and not a completed event. Christ has equipped the church with gifts so that the church as Christ’s body may reach maturity. The body metaphor of verses 12-16 is fully in line with Pauline thought: the church is depicted as growing into its own body. Christ is already “mature” (the Greek that the NRSV translates as “maturity” is more literally “the complete man”). Yet the church, which is Christ’s body, must build up the body until it arrives at the “maturity” of Christ. Likewise, in verses 14-15 the image evoked is that of the body growing up to meet him who is the head, Christ. Paul then sees that the church is already the body of Christ, even as it continues to grow toward Christ as the head of the church. 

Every church should keep this is mind — we are in a process of growth to full maturity — even if we are in the declination of life, as people, and as the church. We will never complete the journey until we die — both us as individuals — and we, the body, that is the church. 

Pastor Dave 

September 25, 2024 – Ephesians 3  

“For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles – if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of G-dʼs grace that was given to me for you, that by revelation the divine secret was made known to me, as I wrote before briefly. When reading this, you will be able to understand my insight into this secret of Christ. Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit, namely, that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus. I became a servant of this gospel according to the gift of G-dʼs grace that was given to me by the exercise of his power. To me – less than the least of all the saints – this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about G-dʼs secret plan – a secret that has been hidden for ages in G-d who has created all things. The purpose of this enlightenment is that through the church the multifaceted wisdom of G-d should now be disclosed to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly realms. This was according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confident access to G-d because of Christʼs faithfulness. For this reason I ask you not to lose heart because of what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.” Ephesians 3:1–13  

For Paul, revelation describes his entire life and calling. He preaches and preaches and proclaims the message that G-d has revealed this mystery to him. Paul mentions that he wrote about this mystery briefly before. It is not clear if he is referring to his statements in chapters 1 and 2 of this letter or if this refers to another letter to the Ephesians to which we no longer have access. 

Even if we are missing another explanation, thankfully, Paul’s description of his understanding of the mystery seems clear from the following verses. The Spirit has now made known “…G-d’s secret plan” — that what in former times was concealed, he is now proclaiming — that the Gentiles are now fellow heirs, fellow members of the same body, and fellow participants in the promises. 

It is time we begin to proclaim the same message — that everyone is invited to the table of Grace found in Jesus Christ. This is the revelation we keep too much to ourselves. It is a message our communities and our world needs to hear. 

Pastor Dave