The Mystery of the Gospel

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus during his imprisonment. In this letter, there are reoccurring themes from other letters to other churches. Ephesus is in modern-day Turkey.

Paul's Letter to Ephesus

Paul wrote to the Ephesian church while he was imprisoned. He opened his letter with a prayer. He then declared that the Ephesians had been predestined to be part of God's family through Jesus, according to the purpose of His will. God had given His grace and revealed the mystery of His will for His purpose. Paul talked about how, in Christ, believers obtained an inheritance, predestined and sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit guaranteed their reward until they could receive it.

Thanks and Prayer

Paul described his thankfulness for the faith of the church in Ephesus. He was thankful for the wisdom of the church. He was also grateful for the revealing of the knowledge of Christ. Paul pointed out that they were once dead in their sin but were now risen again in Christ. God was rich in His mercy, and they had been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This had not been through their own doing. God had saved them through grace and faith. Grace was not something people worked for. It was the gift of Jesus Christ. People were not saved because of what they had done. They were not to boast because it was not their own works that had saved them. It was the grace shown by Christ that did so.

Christ Is the Cornerstone

Paul reminded the Ephesians that they were once separated from Christ and had been strangers to the covenant God had made with His people. However, Christ had changed all of that. Christ had brought them into His family through the shedding of His blood. He was the peace that had brought them together and reconciled them with God through the cross. He had preached peace to people near and far, giving everyone access to the Holy Spirit. The Ephesians were now fellow citizens in the household of God. This house was built with apostles and prophets as the foundation, and with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, joining all things together. This allowed each of them to become a temple for God through the Holy Spirit.

The Mystery Revealed

Paul told the Ephesians that he was a prisoner on behalf of the Gentiles. God's grace had been given to Paul for them. The mystery of this grace had been revealed to Paul and the apostles and prophets of that day by the Holy Spirit, even though it had been unknown by previous generations. The mystery was that the Gentiles were now heirs and members of the body of Christ. They were allowed to be partakers of the gospel as part of the promise of Jesus Christ. Paul was a minister of the gospel given to him by the power of Christ. He was tasked with ministering to the Gentiles about Jesus. He urged the Ephesians not to worry about him and his suffering.

Paul prayed that they would receive spiritual strength and that Christ would live in them through faith. This faith would be grounded in love. He also asked that they would be filled with the fullness of God. They should act in a manner worthy of their calling. They should exercise humility, gentleness, and patience. They should also work with each other in a spirit of love. Grace was given to each of them in the gifts they had received. They were like children and should mature in their relationship with Christ.

A New Life

Paul told the members of the church that they must not carry themselves as other Gentiles did. The other Gentiles did not understand. They were separated from God because of their ignorance and the hardness of their hearts. They had given themselves to sensuality, greed, and impurity. They had been taught differently; they did not know what the Ephesians had been taught as Christians. The Ephesians were to disregard their old selves, which were full of corrupt and deceitful desires. They must be renewed in the Holy Spirit.

They must each change into a new person, created in God's likeness, bearing true righteousness and holiness. They should speak to each other truthfully because they were all together. They could be angry, but they should not let their anger lead to sin and should not carry that anger into the next day. Paul warned them not to let the devil use that anger. A thief should not steal anymore but should work hard with honest labor in order to share with others in need. The Ephesians were not to let corrupting words come from their mouths; they were only to use words that would build others up. This would give grace to those that listened. They should be kind to each other and forgive each other as Christ had forgiven them.

They were also not to be sexually immoral or to desire what others had. They were not to speak dirty words or tell vulgar jokes; instead, they were to talk about how thankful they were. He noted that sexually immoral people and those who desired what others had (worshipping idols) would not have a place in heaven. The Ephesians were not to be fooled by people lying to them, and they were not to become partners with liars. They had once been in darkness, but now they were in the light. They should try to determine what was pleasing to God, and they should not take part in evil deeds but expose what was evil. Paul cautioned them to be careful about how they conducted themselves and to be wise with their time. They should not be foolish but should try to understand God's will. They were not to become drunk; they were to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They should praise God with songs and always be thankful for everything God had given them.

The following verses of Ephesians contain the same instructions about Christian family life as previously covered in Paul's letter to the Colossians, where he defined the roles and duties of husbands, wives, children, and servants.

Armor Up

Paul's final direction to the Ephesians was to be strong in God. He used the example of a suit of armor. He explained that they should put on the full suit of armor, and that they were not merely fighting against flesh and bone but against pure cosmic evil. This armor would protect them in their walk with Christ. The different parts of armor were the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Holy Spirit.

Philippians

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi from his prison cell. Paul started his letter to the Philippians with a greeting, including Timothy. He thanked God for his recollections of the Philippians. He remembered them in his prayers and stated that they were partners with him in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He prayed that their love would grow stronger with knowledge and understanding so that they may be pure and without blame when Christ returned. He wanted them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness from Christ.

The Gospel

Paul informed the Philippians that what had happened to him through his imprisonment had advanced the gospel. It had introduced the gospel to his jailers and others that had been imprisoned with him. This made others more confident in God and willing to proclaim the gospel without fear. Some preached from envy and rivalry and others from good will. The ones that preached from good will did it out of love. The others did it out of a desire for personal gain. No matter the reason, Paul was happy that Christ was being proclaimed.

Paul shared that through their prayers, Christ would deliver him so that Jesus would be honored, whether in life or in death. Paul remarked that living was Christ and dying was gain. Living in Christ in the flesh allowed him to spread the gospel. It was hard for him to decide if living or dying for Christ was better. He longed to be with Christ, but living in the flesh enabled him to remain and work for his fellow believers' progress and joy in the faith. He emphasized that they should live in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. They should not just believe in Christ but also suffer for Him.

Christ's Example

Paul told the Philippians that they should not do anything for their selfish gain but should put others before themselves. Jesus had taken human form and had become a servant. He had then humbled Himself to the point that He was crucified. Jesus' name had been put above all other names. Every knee would bow and every tongue would confess that Jesus was Lord. The Philippians should strive to obey even more than they had been since Paul was not with them. They should work out their salvation with a healthy fear of the Lord.

They were to do everything without grumbling or fighting with each other. This was so that they would be blameless in a sinful generation where they would shine like a light for the world. Paul wanted to be able to be proud of them on the day of salvation and feel that he had not worked in vain. Even if he were killed as a sacrifice, he would be glad and would rejoice, and they were to do the same along with him.

Timothy and Epaphroditus

Paul hoped to send Timothy soon so that he could hear news from them and be cheered up by it. There was no one else like Timothy that he could send. All others sought what benefited themselves and not the interest of Jesus Christ. Timothy had already proven himself in his service to Christ. Paul desired to join them as soon as he could. He had also decided to send a man named Epaphroditus. Epaphroditus had been close to death, but God had spared him. Paul was eager to send him, and he was clear that the Philippians should honor Epaphroditus because he had nearly died for the work of Christ.

Paul Closes His Letter

Paul advised the Philippians to look out for evildoers and to imitate Christ. Their citizenship was in heaven. They were waiting on their Savior to return. Jesus would transform each of their bodies into a glorious body like His own. They should stand firm in their faith. Paul implored Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord. They needed to work together. He announced that he could do everything through Christ who strengthened him. Paul praised them for being the first to join him in spreading the gospel.

Summary

Paul wrote to the Ephesian church while he was imprisoned. He was thankful for the faith of the church in Ephesus. Paul compared Jesus to the cornerstone of a house, while the apostles and prophets were the foundation. The mystery of God had been revealed through Jesus Christ. The Ephesians were new creatures in Christ and should behave that way. Paul used the analogy of a suit of armor to show how they should prepare for spiritual warfare.

He then wrote to the church in Philippi. He wanted the Philippians to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul reported how he had introduced Christ to the guards and other inmates during his time in prison. He noted that the Philippians should follow the example of Christ by being humble servants. He let them know that he had sent Epaphroditus and would send Timothy when he could.

Application and Reflection

Application

Paul wrote to the church in Philippi about his imprisonment. He had been able to deliver the gospel to his jailers and other prisoners while imprisoned. The situation we find ourselves in should not prevent us from doing what God has chosen us to do.

Reflection

Paul told the Ephesians that they should exercise humility, gentleness, and patience. This also applies to us as Christians. Do you try to exhibit these traits in your daily life?