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.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
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?
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?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
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..."
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..."
Monday, February 25, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, February 22, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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...
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...
Monday, February 18, 2008
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.
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.
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