we are the house of God

Ephesians 2:19-22

Paul uses two word pictures here: first, citizenship and adoption. Paul says (connecting to the previous paragraph) that because Jesus has provided with access to God (even though we were aliens and foreigners) we can have citizenship in the kingdom of God. However, we are not just second class citizens - we are equal to the Jewish Christians in that we are both adopted into the kings household.
Then Paul switches word pictures - perhaps using a big of a play on words, he now compares us to bricks or stones in the house of God that have been built on the foundation of the prophets and apostles (interesting how he equates the two offices - in the OT the prophets were pretty important and in the NT the apostles are at least as important). Of course, the whole house of God is built up on Jesus.
There are a couple of things that I find interesting. The first is that the Body of Christ becomes the temple of God. This is further evidence that Jesus came to abolish religion - we don't need a religious ceremony or preists to gain access to God, we can have access to God on our own through Jesus. This is pretty radical stuff and most of us have a hard time grasping that. I think that even though Christianity was built on the premise that we don't need that stuff, we quickly rebuild the systems and the rituals and make them hoops we have to jump through to access God. I understand how this works (because I love structures and liturgy and rules): we do something and we encounter God in that moment and we immediately think that it is the structure we just used that allowed us to encounter God and because we want to encounter God again we go back that structure until the structure itself becomes what we focus on.
This must be very frustrating to God. I can remember preaching a sermon at our o2 service about how we are the temple of God - that God does not reside in buildings but in the Body of Christ. I finish, get off the stage and walk to the back. One of our young adults gets up to make some announcements while wearing a cap. One of the members leans over to me and whispers, "Can you tell that guy to take his hat off in the house of the Lord?" AARRGGHH! Weren't you listening to anything I said? This building is not God's house - we are!
Anyways... the second thing that sticks out is that we make this temple thing very individualistic but I think it is corporate. Yes, I believe that God dwells in me as an individual by his Spirit and that my body is a temple of the Lord but in this passage I think that Paul is addressing the church. We are the temple of God. Actually, to be precise, we are becoming the temple of God according to Paul. I think that Paul's reminding us that there are still stones to be added and that I still need to mature before the temple will be complete.
God, help me to not focus on structures, rules and liturgies. Remind me that access to you is simply by grace. Remind me, as well, that the temple is not complete and that there are others that need to be added to this holy dwelling.

tear down this wall!

Ephesians 2:14-18

The key words in this passage are: peace, barrier/wall, hostility and one (one new humanity, one body, one Spirit). I think Paul is using the temple as an illustration - there was the Gentile court which was a walled off section that the Gentile converts could enter but they weren't allowed in as far as the common Jew was. I think Paul is saying that the dividing wall has been torn down and both Jew and Gentile have equal access to the presence of God. This does not seem like such a huge deal in our day (that access has been granted for about 2000 years now) but in the time when Paul was writing, this would have rocked a few worlds.
Paul's point is that the work of the cross was not just individual salvation but to bring two people groups together - specifically, through Christ, to grant the Gentiles and the Jews the same access to God. It is significant that this access is no longer dependent on the Jewish ceremonial religion - including circumcision and the temple rituals - but dependent on the work of Jesus.
This passage raises some questions for me: which people group am I excluding from having access to God through Christ? am I building a ceremonial religious system in place of the system that Christ came to abolish and does that system see people as "outside"? Am I helping people come to God or am I putting up walls and barriers to prevent them? Is there a particular people group (economic, ethnic, etc.) that I am sub-conciously excluding?

refugees in the kingdom of God

Ephesians 2:11-13

The key words are: circumcised and uncircumcised (Paul gets a bit graphic!), citizens and foreigners. He returns to his favourite theme: in Christ we have been brought near to God.
This passage starts of with "therefore" indicating that this is a conclusion of Paul's previous thought: we have been saved by grace through faith to do good works. This passage helps the reader recall how great that grace was: Gentiles who were outside the promise of God and were without hope and without God have been brought near, not because of anything they have done, not because they have been circumcised and converted to Judaism, but only by the grace of God and blood of Christ.
I have lost this sense of being a foreigner - because I grew up in a Judeo-Christian based country (at least to some extent) and in a family whose Christian heritage goes back a long ways I tend to see myself as the established citizen (with all the rights and entitlements that go along with that) rather than a refugee escaping the kingdom of darkness and grateful for a place to live in the Kingdom of God. When I see myself as a citizen, I tend to act like I deserve it somehow. As a refugee I can only say, "amazing grace! how sweet the sound..."

God's kindness expressed

Ephesians 2:1-10

Paul reminds the Ephesians where they came from: dead in their transgressions and sins but, now, made alive with Christ. He reminds them that they are made alive, raised up and seated - in Christ - in the heavenly realms with Christ, that God expresses his kindness to them in Christ and that they are created in Christ for good works. Paul contrasts living by the spirit who is at work in the disobedient (which is actually death) with the life that God offers in Christ. He repeats the phrase that it is by grace we have been saved - this is a point that Paul loves to emphasize in his writings.
This passage contains the idea that we are somehow on display for God's glory - according to v. 6-7, we have been raised with Christ and seated with him in the heavenly realms so that God might display the incomparable riches of his grace and the kindness he expresses to us in Christ to the coming age. God points to us as his trophies - as proof that he is gracious beyond compare and kind beyond all measure. There are two ways that we present God's grace and kindness: first, because it is only grace that saves us. It points to God's immeasurable grace and kindness because we were dead and incapable of doing anything to earn his favour or to make ourselves alive. In Christ, God made us alive by his grace. Second, when we fulfill the purpose for which we have been created (to do good works which God has prepared in advance for us to do) we show that God's grace and kindness is powerful and effective. He doesn't just save us but he restores us to the purpose for which we were originally created: to display his glory (we are his handiwork or masterpiece) and to do his work.
All of this is only in or through or with Christ. God, keep me from the arrogance of the religious elite and the Pharisees. Remind me that without your grace (completely undeserved favour), I would be dead in my transgressions and sins and in slavery to the spirit who is at work in those who are disobedient. Thank you for giving me your Spirit. Help me to keep in step with him.

This is my prayer

Ephesians 1:15-23

This section is a prayer that Paul has for the Ephesians. This is also my prayer for my students:
I give thanks for them when I hear about their faith in Jesus and their love for his people. I constantly ask that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that they can know Jesus better and so that they can make wise choices that would both protect them from emotional, physical or spiritual harm and bring the most glory to God. I pray that they would understand the hope of heaven; that they would constantly hear the whisper in their ear that reminds them that this world does not reflect the kingdom of God and that there is a better way. I pray that they would realize the amazing riches of grace and love and life that God has for them as his children. I pray that they would comprehend the power that God want to work on their behalf as his children and that they would used that power responsibly ("with great power comes great responsibility"). I pray that their hearts would thrill again to the wonderful news that Christ is risen from the dead and God wants to do the same in their lives - bringing them from death to life, resurrecting them from sin to grace. I pray that they would have a view of the King - seated on his throne far above any other king or power or kingdom - and that they would remember that he is their King (and while he may not be safe, he is certainly good!). I pray, finally, that they would catch a glimpse of the Church as God and Christ intended it to be. The last phrase of this passage captures my imagination: the Church is the fullness of Christ who fills everything in every way.
Taking this at face value, this means that the Church is much greater than I ever thought: it is the fullness of Christ. Somehow, in our unity between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, man and woman, all races and traditions, we represent the fullness of Jesus. I feel like I'm being a bit of a heretic here but all of Christ (his character, his work, his teaching, his attractiveness, his power, etc.) is somehow displayed in the Church. Like we were talking about on the way home for Waterton: it's time for the Church to step up and be the fullness of him who fills all things in all ways.

signed, sealed and delivered...

Ephesians 1:11-14

The idea of being chosen or predestined comes up again in this section. The list of things we have in (or by or through) Christ is added to: chosen in him, hope in him, included in him, marked in him.
Paul's main point is that God had a plan from the beginning of time and that plan included the salvation of those whom he predistined. The purpose God has is to bring glory to himself. One of the primary ways he is doing that is by including people in Christ and then sealing them by the HOly Spirit for eternity.
The plan of God is to bring glory to himself. He does that through saving me and keeping me (I can't be lost). This means that my purpose in life is to bring glory to God - my life is for the praise of his glory. I need to evaluate every word, thought and action in light of this plan. The chief end of humanity is to glorify God by enjoying him forever...

Chosen in love

Ephesians 1:1-10

The key words are: predestined or chosen, in Christ (or through Christ), the idea of abundance (riches of God's grace which he lavished on us, blessed with every spiritual blessing), the idea of God's eternal purpose/plan (chosen before the creation of the world, his will which he purposed in Christ).
The main point is that God has a plan which he is accomplishing through Christ and through his choosing us for adoption through Jesus. That plan is to bring all things to unity under Christ. Paul's showing his hand a little bit - we'll learn later that the unified (Jews and Gentiles) Church displays the wisdom of God to the heavenly realms.
Here's what I like about Ephesians: learning all the things that we have in or through or by Jesus. In this passage alone we have been blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing, chosen before the creation of the world, adopted as full heirs, freely given grace, redeemed... all in and through Jesus.
The second thing I really like about Ephesians is the high view of the Church. We are very quick to see the faults of the Church, to complain about politics, hypocricy and beauraucracy but we need to keep in mind (I need to keep in mind) that the Church is Christ's bride and God's idea and just like I don't stand for people criticizing my wife and really don't like them criticizing my ideas, I don't think Jesus appreciates my attacks on the Church. The Church is the plan of God - it is his eternal purpose to bring all things to unity under Jesus. This is the key to understanding Ephesians: Paul is not talking to individuals saying "I have been blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing" but "we, as the Church, collectively have been blessed in Christ." When he says "you" try to remember that this is the plural, not the individual.

something to boast about

Galatians 6:11-18

There are some cryptic comments in this passage. My first observation is that Paul wrote this part of the letter himself (rather than dictating it to a scribe). This could mean that he wanted to emphasize the point he was making or that he wanted to include a personal touch (or both). He compares boasting in circumcision with boasting in the cross (not surprisingly, boasting in the cross is what Paul champions as the only kind of boasting allowed). The cryptic comments are "the Israel of God" (defined just before that as those who follow the rule of the new creation or those who follow the rule of only boasting in the cross - it's not clear which rule Paul is referring to). The other comment is "let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." Any idea of what that means? Is he exhibiting the wounds of Christ in his hands, feet and side? Is he referring to wounds or marks that were inflicted on the road to Damascus when Christ's light blinded him?
The main point of this section is that the Judaizers are pushing for circumcision just to escape persecution. I'm sure they had a very logical and theological reason for forcing circumcision but at the heart was compromise and fear. I can think (much to my shame) of some very clear times when I compromised who I am and the gospel of Jesus out fear of ridicule, shame and "persecution" (not persecution in the sense of jail, torture or death but just being slighted by friends - man, I'm weak!!). Jesus, please forgive me for those times. Let me never compromise out of fear; give me the courage of my convictions.

working for a future i cannot see

Galatians 6:7-10

Paul is using an agricultural word picture, reminding his readers that, as a farmer expects to harvest what he planted, we should also expect consequences consistent with how we lived our lives. This paragraph ties to the previous one: we are each responsible for the way that we live our lives (plus responsible to look out for the welfare of others) and will be rewarded as such. It also continues Paul's thought from the previous chapter - continuing the contrast between living by the sinful nature and living by the Spirit. Living by the Spirit produces a more immediate harvest of love, joy, peace, etc. and a future harvest of eternal life.
Wasn't it Gladiator that said, "What we do in life, echoes in eternity"? That was ripped right form Paul. Paul's point is that since we can expect a harvest consistent with how we live our lives, let's live our lives in such a way that we would expect the best harvest. At every opportunity, do good to all people.
I've been reminded recently that there are three main disciplines in lent: prayer, fasting and alms giving. This fits with what Paul was saying (although our "alms giving" shouldn't be confined to just the lent season - nor should prayer and fasting for that matter); do good to all people. For lent this year, I've decided to spend time reading and praying at least 5 days/week, to give up all junk food and to do one random act of kindness each week. I've also decided to become more aware about my purchases. Ever since I learned that most of the chocolate in the world is harvested by child slaves, I've had my eyes opened. I think the good that Paul is asking me to do might extend to the 15000 children between the ages of 9 and 15 in slavery in teh Ivory Coast harvesting cocoa beans. Hopefully the disciplines I develop during lent will carry on past it.

carry your own load, plus...

Galatians 6:1-6

The only repeated idea is carrying a load or burden and it is used in two very different instructions. The first time Paul tells us to carry each others' burdens and the second time he tells us to carry our own. What's interesting to me is the context of the two statements. Even though they are very close together, they are in tow completely different contexts. The first is in the context of seeing someone caught in a sin. Then Paul instructs the reader to go against eveyr instinct adn not abandon that person to the consequence of their sin but to walk with them and to help carry their burden. This goes against everything that I have been taught by the church (whether they taught it on purpose or not, I've alwayaas been told to watch out for sinners because they will drag you down. The best thing to do is to cut them off and not have anything to do with them).
A little later, Pual tells us that we should carry our own burdens. In this case he is saying that we will all be accountable before God for the choices that we have made and we won't be able to blame other people or circumstances. I will be responsible for my own burden at that time.
According to Paul, I not only have to evaluate my own choices and watch out for sin in my own life, I have a responsibility for my brothers and sisters. This is such a great picture of the Body: we look out for each other because we belong to each other.

war!!

Galatians 5:13-26

The key words are: freedom, sinful nature, Spirit. Paul contrasts life by the sinful nature with life by the Spirit. He includes two contrasting lists - the first, a list of the fruit of the sinful nature: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkeness, orgies. Second, a list of the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. The idea of discord, provoking each other and destroying each other is a theme through this passage.
Paul is saying that we have been set free but not free to indulge our sinful nature. Rather, we've been set free to a new of living - a way that serves the other rather than envies and tears down the other, a way that looks out for the others interests in humility rather than promotes my own interests in pride. He makes it clear that the only way to live out this new way is to keep in step with the Spirit. He provides a diagnostic check list to help us determine if we are living by the sinful nature or by the Spirit. Paul also makes it clear that until Jesus comes, we will not live completely in one camp or the other - that there is war between the sinful nature and the Spirit.
In the past, the fruit of the Spirit has been seen as morals or values that we, as followers of Jesus, need to work on. For example, I am lacking in patience so i am going to work harder at being patient. This is not the message of Paul. He points out that in my sinfulness I can't be patient and my lack of patience shows that I am not in step with the Spirit. To become more patient, I must not just work on being more patient, I must create space for the Spirit to do his work so that he can produce patience in me. If I work hard at being patient, then I get the glory but if it is the Spirit that produces patience in me, then Jesus gets the glory.
I am very self-reliant - I try to produce these morals and values in my own life by my own effort. This leads to pride and not humility and pride is the most deadly of all the sins.

cut off your junk!

Galatians 5:1-12

The key words are: freedom, circumcised, faith, law. Paul uses two word pictures: the first is the yoke - the idea of enslavement and burden, the second is a runner cutting out of his lane and preventing another runner from advancing in the race.
Paul's main point is that we were set free to enjoy freedom, not to be re-enter slavery. He uses some pretty strong arguments, stating that if circumcision is necessary for salvation then we become responsible to the whole law again. We can't pick and choose which elements of the law (probably mostly referring to the ceremonial law and sacrificial system) we are going to observe and which ones we are not. He saves his strongest language for those who are preaching that circumcision is necessary for salvation - he wishes that they would go all the way and cut their junk off! And I thought Paul was supposed to be a saint!
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (v. 6b). This has been the main message of Paul and it is what I am slowly learning. God doesn't need me to impress him - he already loves me and is already pleased by me simply because he is God and I am his child. I can grow in my experience and expression of that love by reading my Bible, going to church, praying, serving, observing lent, etc. but those disciplines aren't the goal (growing in my experience of Jesus and his love are) and they don't make me any more special in God's eyes. To say that I can earn God's favour is nothing more than superstition - saying that if I perform the rituals properly, God will respond favourably to me (isn't that manipulation?).

(re)born free

Galatians 4:21-31

The key words are: slave, free, law, Spirit. Paul uses an historical reality to illustrate his point, contrasting the child born to Hagar to the child born to Sarah. He says that Ishmael was born in the natural way but that Isaac was born by the power of the Spirit. As followers of Jesus and children of God, we are also born by the power of the Spirit and are not slaves to the law. If Paul wasn't inspired by the Holy Spirit, he would probably get a failing grade from his hermeneutics prof. This is not good bible interpretation!
Paul's point is that we have been born, by the Spirit, into freedom (just as Isaac was born into freedom by virtue of his being born to a free woman) and are not bound in slavery to the law (as Ishmael was bound by virtue of his being born to a slave woman). Paul goes even further by comparing the teasing and tormenting that Ishmael inflicted on Isaac to the attempts by the Judaizers to force the Galatians to submit to the slavery of the law.
Paul's conclusion is what stands out to me: I am not a child of slavery because I have been re-born by the Spirit and have been made a child of freedom. "Like a criminal guilty on all counts, rattling his cage iwht every ounce of resolve he never had, I was convicted. Then I took the pardon and walls came down, but I must like it here, 'cause I keep hanging around..." (Newsboys). God, give me the courage to leave the security of the things I know for the adventurous (and possibly dangerous) freedom that you offer.