Defusing Anger – Ephesians 4:26-32

Posted on February 28, 2025 by dkoop

In any relationship that you have, you will have anger:  it’s inevitable. Because people make mistakes and we disagree. The key is how you handle your anger.  We do some sinful things because of anger.  How many of you have done something you regretted later because you were angry?   We will look at our anger and how to manage it today.  Lets look at some anger facts.

  1. Anger is a normal human emotion.

Anger is real.  It’s not only emotional.  It is biochemical, which means there’s something inside our body that takes place, which tells me that God created it.  If all of our bodies, something happens inside and we get this defense mechanism.  It’s God’s way of protecting us so we won’t be vulnerable to the world.  So don’t feel guilty for getting angry.  Admit it:  “I get angry.”

  • Anger is not wrong. 

Anger is not bad.  Anger is not sin.  When you have the idea that a Christian should never get angry that is not only unreasonable, it’s unbiblical because even God gets angry.  It’s not how you get angry it’s what you do with your anger that makes it a sin or not.  He says learn to get angry without sinning.

  • God got angry (375 times in O.T.) and Jesus got angry. (Mark 3:5, John 2:14-17)

Some commentaries call Jesus’ anger,  “righteous indignation” Ok, he was angry. In fact, if you never get angry in a relationship it means you’re not in touch with reality.  There are some things you ought to get angry about.  Sometimes anger means, “I care!”  Sometimes anger is an expression of love.

  • Anger is a response to hurt, fear or frustration.

Basically it boils down to three primary emotions – hurt, fear and frustration.  It’s like in elementary school when you were introduced to the color wheel.  There are three primary colors – red, blue and yellow, and all the other colors are made up of those.

  • Anger in the Bible:  (normal or sinful)

“orge” (anger) – healthy, normal.   (Mark 3:5)

“thumos” (rage) – unhealthy, hurtful, sinful. (Galatians 5:20)

Or Intense heat translated Rage – used to describe a short fused-intense-explosive-uncontrolled anger. It’s a “fly off the handle,” “let it all out temper blowout.” that leaves you and everybody around you torn to pieces. We try to excuse it by saying, “I know I lose my temper real fast, but it’s all over in a few minutes.” So is a bomb explosion, but an awful lot of damage can take place in those few minutes.

Will Rogers once commented, “People who fly into a rage seldom make a good landing.”

“When you lose your temper, you always lose.”

A young girl who was writing a paper for school came to her father and asked, “Dad, what is the difference between anger and rage?” Let me show you.”
With that the father went to the telephone and dialed a number at random. To the man who answered the phone, he said, “Hello, is Melvin there?” The man answered, “There is no one living here named Melvin. Why don’t you learn to look up numbers before you dial”
“See,” said the father to his daughter. “That man was not a bit happy with our call. Now watch….” The father dialed the number again. “Hello, is Melvin there?” asked the father. “Now look here!” came the heated reply. “You just called this number and I told you that there is no Melvin here! You’ve got lot of guts calling again!” The receiver slammed down hard.
The father turned to his daughter and said, “You see, that was anger. Now I’ll show you what rage is” He dialed the same number, and when a violent voice roared, “Hello!” The father calmly said, “Hello, this is Melvin. Have there been any calls for me?

Here in these verses we will also see some other examples of sinful anger, such as bitterness, clamor and slander.  Think of anger as either normal or sinful.  Next realize that…

2. Anger Must be Dealt With

What does the Bible say about how to deal with your anger?    

I need to stop denying it, stop pretending it’s not there.  When I’m angry I just need to say, “I’m angry”  Ephesians 4:25-26 “”Each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully, “In your anger do not sin”:

It says, There’s a right way to get angry and there’s a wrong way.  There’s an appropriate way and an inappropriate way.   He says learn to get angry without sinning.

He says, “put off falsehood and speak truthfully”.  In other words, it’s wrong to deny it when you’re angry.  I’m bad about this, Something will be bothering me and Niki can tell, She’ll say, what’s wrong, I’ll say nothing.  No, what’s wrong?  And then she helps me work through it.

The Bible says that anger isn’t a sin, but lying about it is.  When you’re angry and you won’t admit it, now you’re sinning.  Because that’s called lying.  The starting point is to admit my anger.  I can’t work on it until I admit it.

Doctors say that the number one cause of depression is anger. Depression is often frozen anger.  It is angry feelings stuffed down, taking itself out on my body in the form of depression. Some of you who are depressed should stop saying to yourself, “Why am I depressed?” and say, “What am I angry about?” Because that’s the real issue.  What am I angry about and I don’t want to admit?  What am I swallowing in anger that’s causing me to be depressed.  The issue is not how to eliminate anger from your marriage but how to express it appropriately.   We’re either hurt, fearful or frustrated.  What’s causing the hurt? The fear or the frustration?  Can they we discussed or dealt with?  Address them honestly.

Also know how you typically react:

When it comes to dealing with anger everybody falls into one of three types. When God puts couples together He usually puts the different types together.

Some of you are alligators.  With an alligator, you know exactly where they stand.  They let you know.  And when they’re upset they don’t mind bowing up, showing their teeth, growling.  Everybody knows how they feel.

On the other hand, some of you are turtles.  When conflict comes you pull back into your shell.  Turn in to yourself.  You withdraw.  You become distant.  You back out of the relationship.

Some of you are snakes. The snake is the person who will bite you on the heel, or throw darts at you, sarcastic little jibes at you.  They’re passive aggressive, they will bite you later with anger stored up.

Don’t procrastinate dealing with it.  Don’t put it off.  Don’t delay it.  Ephesians 4:26-27 “Never let the sun set on your anger or else you will give the devil a foothold.”  We are supposed to resolve each day’s anger as it comes.   Be willing to put the time into resolution.  Some are not willing to stay at the table until issues are talked about until real feelings are allowed to be expressed and dealt with and solutions begun to be hammered out.  It takes time.  The Bible says Don’t go to bed with unresolved anger. Or when Niki and I would get into a fight after the sun already went down, we would deal with it within a 24 hour period.

Three phases of an argument.

Phase One is recognition   When you recognize that there’s a problem.  There’s a recognition between you that there’s something that needs to be dealt with. Remember either hurt, fear or frustration led to the anger.

You ask the questions and say, “Am I hurt?  Am I fearful? Am I frustrated?  What is the root cause?” and deal with that in order to manage your anger.

Phase Two is called reaction.  When you react to the problem.   For gators it can get loud, for turtles they pull back, the silent treatment, for snakes watch out, they’re going to get passive aggressive or bite later.

What do I really want in this situation?  What is my goal?  What is my objective in this situation?  Respect, understanding?  Blowing up is rarely the best way to get anything.  Neither is clamming up. Or Manipulation.  These are inappropriate expressions of anger.

Phase Three is resolution.  I’m reminded of the husband who after 50 years of marriage was asked the secret for the longevity of their relationship as husband and wife. He said they had only had one fight. When asked to elaborate he replied, “The fight started on our honeymoon and I’m still waiting for it to end.” They obviously didn’t know how to resolve their differences!

Resolution is when you continue to hang in there together until you decide what it is that you’re both upset about and what it is that needs to happen to change or start resolving that situation.

The problem is most people stop at Phase Two.  Most people stop right there at the loud angry hostile stage which turns to bitterness, slander and unforgiveness.   And that’s as far as they get.  In fact, in phase 2, more problems can be started angry words or actions.   Move to the solution, Phase Three — talking about why you both feel the way you do.

The devil wants us to hold on to our anger. He wants us to let it build resentments. He wants us to embrace our rage long enough for him to use it to destroy our marriages and relationships. So, as someone once put it, “Do not erect a shrine to your anger in your heart. If you do, the devil will appoint himself its priest.”

Be angry-but do not sin. Express your anger in appropriate ways, which means lovingly, honestly talking to your spouse in a way that attacks the problem-not her or him. And do this quickly. Don’t let it drag on for days or weeks.

 3. Anger Management (Good, Bad & Ugly)

God’s word tell us to manage our emotions, words and actions.

Look at verse 29 where it says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs.” Verse 32 adds to this, saying, “Be kind and compassionate to one another. “

U.S. News And World Report cites a 20-year study of 2,000 married couples, in which researchers have uncovered another predictive factor in determining which couples will stay married for the long haul. The study showed that if you want to have a marathon marriage, then you need to work at maintaining a 5-to-1 ratio of positive to negative comments. Kind, positive interactions like complimenting, smiling, and touching must outnumber negative comments like sarcasm or put-downs by a ration of 5-to-1. So for every negative, hurtful, discouraging thing you say to your spouse, you should say five loving, helpful, encouraging things. You must be kind far more than you are unkind.

Now, let me break this down for you and give you a few examples of what I mean when I say, “be kind”.

First, don’t yell. Remember, the louder your words are, the less your mate will hear.

Second, don’t say mean things. The uglier our words, the less we will communicate. Unfair criticism chips away at our spouse’s dignity-especially us husbands. It leaves us with less strength to love our spouses. It makes us defensive.

An elderly man lay in a hospital with his wife of 55 years sitting at his bedside. “Is that you, Ethel, at my side again?” he whispered. “Yes, dear,” she answered. He softly said to her, “Remember years ago when I was in the Veteran’s Hospital? You were with me then. You were with me when we lost everything in the fire. And Ethel, when we were poor-you stuck with me then too.” The man sighed and said, “I tell you Ethel, you are bad luck!”

Don’t be like this grumpy old man. Don’t say mean things to your spouse!

Third, do little things to express your love. Now, we men love to do big grandiose things-but what most wives love best is consistent little things, being nice in little ways day after day.

Fourth, don’t use words like “always” and “never.” “You never take out the garbage.” “You always forget to pick up the kids.”

I say this because statements like this are always false, never true. Generalizing like this encourages the conflict to continue and even fan it up to the next level. Plus these words are anything but kind.

Fifth, express hurt, not hostility.

And the best way to do this is to use “I messages” instead of “you messages.” When you say, “I feel, such and such a way, ” -well you are being less inflammatory. You’re not judging or accusing. You’re owning your own feelings. Plus you are opening the door for further discussion and practical problem solving. For example, “I feel overwhelmed by household responsibilities,” is much better than saying “You never help me around the house.” So, express hurt not blame.

Verse 31 says, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away, ”     These are other expressions of sinful or ugly anger: bitterness is stored anger, wrath acts out, clamor is loud or forceful anger, slander is verbal anger and they must be thrown out like we take out the garbage.  Period. Put it out. Throw it out. “Get rid of.”

As mentioned earlier anger is a very powerful emotion God gave us to…  The problem is when we use that very powerful emotion in the wrong way.  Then it becomes dangerous.  Have you ever noticed the difference between “anger” and “danger” — it’s just the letter “d” in the front.  Anger expressed inappropriately is dangerous. Anger expressed inappropriately can completely destroy lives, can destroy jobs, can destroy relationships.  It’s common knowledge that most of the murders that are committed in our country every year are not committed by strangers.  Most of the murders are committed by family members, relatives, friends, acquaintances who, for one tiny moment, allowed that powerful emotion to be out of control.

Also, it’s not appropriate to make public, private disputes.  With this kind of childish behavior you humiliate each other-a very unkind thing to do-and you make reconciliation next to impossible. And if that weren’t enough, you divide the church as people who witness your disputes take sides.  Unless it is a case of abuse, keep your disagreements to yourselves.

Remember, we transform our spouses and relationships by simply loving them enough to treat them with respect and courtesy.

and finally…

As Paul says in verse 32, “forgive each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.“

When spouses find themselves embroiled in a fight they must both remember that the goal is not to see who wins-but to be reconciled. We’re not trying to win arguments; we’re trying to win hearts! So spouses must be committed to resolving the issue and restoring harmony. You say “I’m sorry” over and over and over again. You say, “I forgive you.” over and over and over again

Forgiveness is not a feeling. It is an act of the will. It’s saying, “I love you-and I value our marriage. Our relationship is important to me. I draw strength from it so I want it to be healthy. I want it to glorify God, so I choose to forgive you!” Forgiveness is not easy. It goes against our sinful nature. Love is a lot of work!

We must learn to do the hard work of forgiving and forgetting.

An elephant and a crocodile were swimming in the Amazon, when the elephant spotted a turtle sunning himself on a rock. The elephant went over to the turtle, picked him up in his trunk and hurled the turtle far into the jungle. The crocodile turned to the elephant and said, “What did you do that for?” The elephant answered, “That turtle bit me 50 years ago.” The crocodile could hardly believe it and said, “And you remembered him after all these years? Boy you sure have a good memory.” “Yep,” said the elephant. “Turtle recall.”

Too many of us as spouses have memories that are too good! We say we forgive-but what we really do is remember our spouse’s shortcomings and bring them up again when we want to.  We won’t succeed in marriage with that kind of memory. No. To have the kind of relationship that God intends, both spouses must develop the ability to forgive, and forget. Remember, in 1 Corinthians 13, it says that Godly love ” keeps no record of wrongs.”

Lastly, we forgive, as Christ forgave us.  How has Christ forgiven us?  Completely, totally and sacrificially.  Our relationship with Christ effects all other relationships.

How does Jesus Christ help me heal my anger?  He deals with the root causes.  He heals the hurts.  He relieves the frustrations. He calms the fears in life.  When Jesus fills you with His love it pushes everything else out.  I have discovered that when I am filled with anger, almost anything will tick me off.  When I’m filled with the love of Christ, almost nothing irritates me.  It just doesn’t bother me. I have an ability to handle things because I’m filled with love.

When the world puts pressure on you whatever is inside of you is what’s going to come out.  It’s like toothpaste.  You squeeze that toothpaste tube, whatever is inside of it is going to come out.  When you’re filled with anger and the world puts pressure on you, anger is going to come out.  But if you’re filled with the love of Jesus Christ, when the world puts pressure on you, what’s going to come out is Jesus Christ and His love.

Have you ever considered this, part of the reason for your anger is that you are expecting other people to meet needs that God wants to meet in your life?  You’re looking to other people to fill a hole, an emptiness that only God can fill anyway.  When they can’t fill it, and they can’t meet all your needs, you’re mad at them.  There is no person in the world that was ever meant to meet all your needs.  Because every human being is imperfect. There are some needs in your life that only Jesus Christ can meet.  Let Him meet your needs and help you defuse your anger.

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Posted in Masterpiece - Ephesians | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What is Submission in Marriage? Ephesians 5:21-33

Posted on February 18, 2025 by dkoop

We’re continuing our series, “Masterpiece”  today we look at “What is submission in Marriage?”  A best man had the jitters about the toast at the reception, his friends tried to loosen him up by giving him a joke book to read and have some fun. It worked. At the reception, he stood up and toasted:

“One thing I know is that marriage is made in heaven, but then again, so is thunder and lightening.”   Marriages can very challenging; it is easy to get frustrated with one another.

God has created men & women in such uniquely different ways! An email illustrates how men & women are unique. It was a debate on whether computers are male or female, referred to as him/her.
This list came from computer scientists who are male. Computers are female since:
*No one but their creator understands their internal logic.
*The native language they use to communicate with other computers is
incomprehensible to everyone else.
*The message, “Bad Command or file name” is about as informative as “if
you don’t know why I’m mad at you, then I’m certainly not going to tell you.”
*As soon as you make a commitment to one, you find yourself spending half
your paycheck on accessories for it.

That list was countered by a group of all female computer scientists, computers are male because:
*They have a lot of data but are all still clueless.
*They are suppose to help you solve problems, but half the time they are the problem.
*As soon as you commit to one, you realize that if you’d waited a little longer,
you could have obtained a better model.
*In order to get their attention you have to turn them on!

The fact is, it doesn’t take us long to learn that if God didn’t give us some help in all of this male-female relationship, especially in the marriage, we would be in some hot water! And a lot of people are, because they haven’t turned to God for help.

Most of the problems in marriage can be traced to one thing: control.  The majority of arguments between husbands and wives have to do with disagreements over who will get their way.

And many people interpret this text to support this kind of relationship.  Men who do so say things like: “The husband should go out to earn the family’s daily bread and the wife should stay home and bake it.” or “The husband is CEO and the wife is custodian.”

There are two sides of this coin; sometimes it is the other way around.  A woman was talking to her friend and said, “In our marriage I make all the minor decisions an my husband makes all the major ones.”  The friend asked, “what decisions do you make?”  “I decide how we spend our money, when we get a new car or furniture, where we shop, where we eat, where the kids go to school…”  Well, said the friend, “What kind of decisions does your husband make?”  “Real important ones like, who should be the next president or who should win the Super Bowl or the World Series.”

Here’s another example, The reason most men don’t bring the boss home for dinner is that she is already there!

When one spouse is subjugated forcefully to the authority of the other they often rebel or resist.  They find some way to make their domineering spouse’s life miserable. When people abuse their authority—those who suffer look for a way to get even. It is a passive aggressive behavior.

This reminds me of a story about a domineering woman and her husband.  The woman was gone part of the day and left a to do list for the husband and young son to do.  While she was gone they went fishing instead of do the list.  When the wife got home she began yelling and following her husband around yelling at him.  He went into the bathroom with his son and locked the door.  His wife yelled, “Come out here right now! I’m not done talking to you!”  “No” the husband replied.  Then he said to his son, I guess I showed her whose boss in this house!”

Today we will look at solution to the problems that come with control issues in marriage it is Ephesians 5.   We are given God’s original blueprint—which contains a way for husbands and wives to move beyond power struggles by embracing a proper understanding of Biblical Submission.

Now before we go any farther I want to point out that this particular text can be very difficult to understand. In fact, these verses in Ephesians 5 have caused so much disagreement that many people ignore them all together. Most pastors steer clear of this text, fearing the conflict it may cause in their churches.  That little six-letter word—submit—is one of the most disliked, and divisive words in the Bible.

But I don’t want us to do that—to steer clear of it because I believe we have to come to a proper understanding of this troublesome word if our marriages are to bring us the joy God intends. We simply must understand this word if we are to understand His blueprint!

Submission, what is it?  Here’s the definition: “A Greek military term meaning “to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader”. In non-military use, it was “a voluntary attitude of  cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden”.” So the word, in its original context, means voluntarily cooperating.
So Paul’s instruction, then, is that husbands and wives should voluntarily give in and cooperate with each other.

Notice what Paul doesn’t say: he doesn’t use the word “obey,” which he does use for children and slaves in the next chapter. That word is stronger; there isn’t the same idea of it being voluntary. Though it may be a small point, I believe it is significant and demonstrates that Paul recognizes that the marriage relationship is one of equality.

  1. SUBMISSION IS FOR BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE

You know, many times we fail to understand this text and apply it to our marriages because we begin at verse 22 instead of verse 21 where Paul plainly says to BOTH husband and wife,

Ephesians 5:21  “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  (NIV)

Ephesians 5:21  “Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.”  (Msg)

It’s up to BOTH partners in marriage to give & sacrifice!

The attitude is that of Christ who gave His all for us!

One young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s. He noted that they had ordered one meal, & an extra cup. He watched, the older man carefully divide the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them. Then the old man poured half of the soft drink into the cup & set that in front of his wife. The man then began to eat, & his wife sat, watching, with her hands folded in her lap. The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that they didn’t have to split theirs. The old guy said, “Oh, no. We’ve been married 50 years, & everything has always been & will always be shared.” The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, & she replied, “Not yet. It’s his turn with the teeth.”  We are to both share in submitting.  It should be a give and take.  Not give and give by one partner and take and take by the other.

In our house, everything is not my way and everything is not Niki’s way.  If it was my way, we would vacuum once a year instead of once a week.  If it was my way we wouldn’t buy new furniture, we’d keep what we have.  When we got married I had an orange velvet paisley couch.  I thought we should keep it for our new home.  Niki said, I love you but no!  I found out with new furniture, “Hey this isn’t so bad, when I sit down my knees no longer touch my chin” or “wow, this new recliner is nice”  If things were Niki’s way we would have the minimal yard and landscaping and it would probably be dead.  She has found out that, “yeah, the yard is where we spend a lot of time, it does draw people outside when its nicely done, it does raise the value of our home.”  Our last home sold quickly and the reason given was because they liked the yard.  So we both learn to cooperate with one another and neither one of us controls every aspect of our family and we both benefit.

  1. SUBMISSION IS A CHOICE WE PERSONALLY MAKE

 It doesn’t say, “Husbands, tell your wives to submit” — or, “Wives, tell your husband to love you like Christ.”   If you use this verse like a club it will be used against you.  In fact verse 22 is none of your business husbands, it is directed to the wife.  You will have enough to worry about by focusing on verses 25-33!

Here what the wives are to do…

 Wives are to relate to their husbands in light of their relationship to Jesus.

Ephesians 5:22  “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.”  (NIV)

Ephesians 5:22  “Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.”   (Msg)

Wives are to treat their husbands as Jesus would want them to treat them. I mean, a godly wife should constantly be asking herself, “What would Jesus do?”

Here’s a rough—but I think accurate—paraphrase of what Paul is saying “As the church is constantly asking ‘what would Jesus want us to do’ in everything, wives should also be constantly asking, ‘what would Jesus have me do’ when it comes to relating to my husband.”

A question that might be on your mind,  “do I cooperate with my husband if he is doing something immoral or sinful?  Do I submit and go along?”  No, nowhere in the bible are we told to cooperate with sin or go along with wrongdoing.  We are also told to cooperate or “submit to governing authorities”  (Romans 13) however we see that when the government tells us to do something that is contrary to scripture, God does not want us to disobey him to follow the government.  For example:  Shad-rack, Me-shack, and Abendego, in the book of Daniel where aids to the king of Babylon, the king made a golden statue and said to everyone to bow down and worship it.  They said, no and the king said, then I’ll throw you into a fiery furnace, they said, fine.  The king did and God protected them.  The same thing happened to Daniel, a law was passed, “no one is to pray”   This didn’t stop Daniel, he prayed and because he broke the law was thrown into a Lions den, again God protected him.  We see this in the New Testament in Acts 6, the disciples are taken before the Sanhedrin who tell them, “do not teach about Christ”  They replied it is better to obey God than you.

So in a marriage, submission is not going along with something that is wrong, it is not enduring abuse.   This is not submission.  Submission is choosing to meet the needs of your spouse, to show love to be Christ like, to be supportive.  This is submission.

To husbands, now, wives, if you are uncomfortable with Paul’s instructions to you, relax: what he calls husbands to is worse. Notice first the difference in length – 3 verses compared to 9; 40 words compared to 115.

Its almost like the little girl who went to her first wedding.  She asked her mom, “Why is the bride wearing white?”  The mother replied, “white is the color of happiness and this is the happiest day of her life”  The girl replied then why is the groom wearing black?”

Notice next the difference in what husbands are called to in vs. 25

  • Husbands are to have a sacrificial love for their wives. Sacrificial love means a husband is willing to meet his wife’s needs even if it is costly, to the point of laying down his life for his wife.

Ephesians 5:25  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.”  (NIV)

Ephesians 5:25  “Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting.”  (Msg)

 Now, guys that’s a nice, poetic way of saying, “Jesus chose to submit himself to the whip, the thorns and the nails for our benefit. That’s the example for you husbands to follow.” In short, Paul boldly says here that we men are to have a SACRIFICIAL love for our wives. Their needs are always to come before our own—even if it is costly for us to satisfy their needs. In fact, it means we are to be willing to lay down our very lives for our help-mates.

 Well, this is the kind of love husbands are to have for their wives.  We have plenty of opportunities to show our love as we learn to die to self-daily and put our wives’ needs first. One wife rightly told her husband, “I know that you’re willing to die for me; you’ve told me that many times. But while you’re waiting to die, could you just fill in some of the time by helping me with the kids or the dishes?”

Now, wives, can YOU imagine how wonderful it would be to have a husband who was always putting you first—who was constantly dying to self to make sure your needs are met?

Now I want to point out that service is what is remembered, it is what makes a mark, it is what lasts.  Service is being most like Christ.  Service is the definition of spiritual maturity.  We were just at a funeral last week and I was looking at some of the grave stones, nowhere did it say, “he sure knew his bible, she went to a lot of conferences, he read a lot of books” No they said, “loving husband,” “loving father.” This is our legacy, this is what last, serving others is the most Christ like thing you can do.

  3.  SUBMISSION WORKS BEST WHEN WE VIEW OUR MARRIAGE BOND AS PERMANENT

Ephesians 5:31  “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”  (NIV)

 In verse 31 Paul quotes the book of Genesis which God says that in marriage, husband and wife LEAVE their families to CLEAVE to one another. For the sake of their love a man and a woman become one flesh. With this word picture Paul implies that they are united as the parts of a body are united and so they are to no more think of separating than they would think of tearing their own bodies apart.  In fact the blueprint here in Genesis uses a Hebrew word that we translate as “cleave” and it literally means “to glue or to cling” in a PERMANENT sense. You see, God designed marriage to be a life-long union between one man and one woman who SUBMIT to each other all the days of their lives—until death do them part and if marriage is to succeed—if spouses are to EXPERIENCE the joy that God designed marriage to bring—well then brides and grooms must embrace this principle from the beginning.

 4. SUBMISSION REQUIRES THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN MY LIFE

 It is vital that we understand this because it is really impossible for a husband and a wife to submit to one another—and daily practice a sacrificial love—on their own power. if a husband is to love like Jesus, he must have personally experienced the love of Jesus. If a wife it to treat her husband, as Jesus would want her to she must know Jesus and have submitted Him herself. They each need Jesus living in and through them in order for them to practice true Biblical submission.  Because Christ has been so patient with me, he waited and waited, he worked and worked in my life, because I have experienced his patience I can be patient with Niki.  Because I have been forgiven so much, I can forgive Niki.

Ephesians 5:21  “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.”  (NIV)

The word “submit” in verse 21 is not a command.  The command is back in verse 18 where it says, “Be filled with the Spirit.”  In other words, “Because you are filled with the spirit, you will be willing be to submit to your spouse.”  Submitting to one another is an expression of being filled with the Spirit of God.

You see, if you are a disciple of Jesus, yielding to His lordship, then when a problem comes you’ll let Him take the lead—you’ll submit to what He would want you to do.

And it IS impossible to submit like this on your own strength. We have to draw on God’s power. So, as I have often told you, in marriage as God intends there are not two partners but three—and Jesus is the third.

“You see, these verses teach us that the answer to the power imbalance question—you know, “WHO IS IN CHARGE, HUSBAND OR WIFE?”—is really neither. The correct answer to that question is JESUS! He is in charge! He is the boss! He is the HEAD of any marriage just as He is the Head of the church!

And Paul is saying that no marriage will succeed unless both spouses believe this and SUBMIT to Jesus’ authority in their part of the relationship. Paul explains how this works itself out in marriage by first addressing the wife and then the husband.

Some narrow bridges at the front of the bridge have a sign posted: “YIELD.” From the other direction another YIELD sign is posted. Yield signs are placed at both ends of the bridge. Drivers from both directions are requested to give right of way. It was a reasonable and gracious way of preventing a head-on collision. When the Bible tells husbands and wives to “submit to one another” (Ephesians 5:21) it is simply a reasonable and gracious command to let the other have the right of way and avoid interpersonal head-on collisions.”

As I close this post, you may be here today and have never received Christ into your life.  You might say, “I am uncooperative, I am selfish, demanding, I want to Christ to come in my life and begin to change me”  By simply saying, “Christ, you have been so patient with me, so forgiving by dying on the cross for me,  I want to receive you.”  He will come into your life.  Or perhaps you may want to hold your spouses hand and pray silently together, “Christ, we want you in our marriage, we don’t want our way, we want your way”

Darrell

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Posted in Masterpiece - Ephesians | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Living as a New Person – Ephesians 4:19-24

Posted on February 11, 2025 by dkoop

People should be able to see a difference between Christians and non-Christians because of the way Christians live. The section from 4:17-24 appeals to believers to leave behind the old life of sin because they are followers of Christ—which should result in a radical change in their behavior. This change is further detailed in the section from 4:25-5:2, which lists negative characteristics that have no place in the church and positive characteristics that will reflect Christ’s character.

Living the Christian life is a process. Although we have a new nature, we don’t automatically think all good thoughts and express all right attitudes. But if we keep listening to God, we will be changing all the time. We must trust God to change us on the inside—our character, values, attitudes, perspective, and motives.

4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.NIV Believers are to be maturing in their faith and using their gifts to benefit the church (4:11-16); therefore, they have a privilege as well as a responsibility. Paul could not stress too much the significant responsibility given to believers as they live in a sinful world. So, he wrote, I tell you . . . and insist. The words “in the Lord” provide the basis for the authority of what Paul was about to write.

The believers in Ephesus must no longer live as the Gentiles do. Many of the believers to whom Paul was writing were Gentiles by racial background. Because Paul was writing to many Gentiles, why did he say not to live “as the Gentiles do”? Paul was stressing that the Ephesian believers must abandon what had been their former way of life, not living any longer as the other Gentiles around them who were pagans, not Christians (see 1 Corinthians 12:2). How did the Gentiles live? In the futility of their thinking, referring to the natural tendency of human beings to employ intellectual pride, rationalizations, and excuses (Romans 1:21). Their thinking was “futile” because their lives were being wasted on worthless objects (idols), untrue teachings, and immoral behavior. The results of this futile way of thinking are described in the following verses.

4:18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.NIV This describes the unfortunate state of the unbelievers surrounding this core of believers in the church. The believers could no longer live as they previously did, for their prior lifestyle had been completely opposite of what they were presently experiencing. The unbelievers are darkened in their understanding, while the believers have found the light of Christ and are given his wisdom. The unbelievers are separated from the life of God, while the believers have been made one with him through Christ. The unbelievers are in ignorance, while the believers have access to the full knowledge of the truth. The unbelievers have refused to believe after hardening . . . their hearts, while the believers have welcomed Christ into their hearts. A fully hardened person is unable to respond to God (see Exodus 8:15; Mark 8:17-18; Romans 11:8; Hebrews 3:7-8).

 LIFE APPLICATION – TURN ON THE LIGHTS
Having described mature believers in 4:13-16, Paul followed with a brief description of nonbelievers. The first characteristics are “futility of their thinking” and “darkened in their understanding.” They have “darkened minds.” Have you ever tried to share your faith in Christ with nonbelieving friends, even very intelligent ones, and they have looked at you as though you were from Mars? Your friends aren’t stupid; they have darkened, unregenerate minds. Of course, you should continue to give them a reasoned defense of your faith if they’re interested, but the struggle is not really a matter of explanation. It’s more a need for “illumination”— for God to “turn the lights on.” Continue to be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you (1 Peter 3:15), but even more urgently, pray that God will lift the darkness.
The next characteristic of nonbelievers is that they have “hardened hearts.” The problem is not only intellectual; it is willful, too. That’s why it’s almost impossible to argue someone into the kingdom of heaven. People don’t often reject Christ on intellectual grounds; they reject him (or ignore him) because they don’t want to surrender their wills to his. If you are presenting Christ and you receive an objection to every statement or truth claim, step back and ask: Is this really an intellectual problem? Or is it just that this person does not want to submit to Christ? If it’s truly intellectual, try to answer the objection. If it’s more willful, recognize that and deal with it on the heart level. Pray that God will turn on the lights and illumine the darkened, hardened heart.

4:19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.NIV These unbelievers have lost all sensitivity, or have no feeling about their degenerate condition. Such people are beyond feeling either shame for their evil or hope for anything better concerning their condition before God.

The logical next step for people who have lost all conscience is that they have given themselves over to sensuality (lewd behavior, lowest morals possible), indulge in every kind of impurity (they work toward moral decadence as if it were their occupation), and lust for more (also translated “greediness,” extreme selfishness without regard for others).

While these terms seem strong, we must understand the culture that surrounded the believers in and around Ephesus. The temple to the goddess Artemis (the Roman name was Diana) stood in Ephesus. Artemis was the goddess of fertility in women, animals, and nature. On occasion, human sacrifices were given to Artemis. She was believed to be a moon goddess who helped women in childbirth. She is portrayed as the many-breasted earth mother. Her temple had a hierarchy of religious personnel, including eunuch priests, young virgins, and prostitute priestesses. One month every year was devoted to ceremonies honoring Artemis. A carnival atmosphere that included concerts, feasts, athletic games, and plays created opportunities for immorality, drunkenness, and sensuality. To the Jews, worship at the temple of Artemis was extremely corrupt. Christians, as well, were not to take part in its practices.

 LIFE APPLICATION – IN THE DARK
How had these Gentiles gone wrong? Their hearts and minds were rebellious against God. After darkened minds and darkened hearts comes . . . darkened behavior. Of course, what else would unregenerate hearts and minds generate? Like our own world, the Roman culture that formed the backdrop to Paul’s writings had accomplished much and yet was in a moral free fall. Sexual immorality was rampant, including homosexuality; graft in political offices was the norm; violence and cruelty were commonplace; the arts featured lewdness and suggested sexual excess. And into the face of this howling moral wasteland, Paul wrote,
Darkened minds + darkened hearts = darkened behavior
Sin has a narcotic effect on persons and cultures. It feels good and is fun for a while, but then it begins to break us down and deaden us to what is good, right, and true. As you deal with moral and ethical darkness, remember that that kind of behavior is merely consistent with darkened, deadened hearts and minds. Lovingly shine the light of God’s love and truth on those behaviors, and pray for God to bring about change. Start with yourself. Don’t let the culture define your moral standards. Help to keep the church a citadel of proper moral conduct. Make your family a place where you teach and uphold high moral standards.

4:20 But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned Christ. NLT In great contrast to the unbelieving Gentiles (referred to as “they” in the previous verses) stands the word “you” in this verse. The Ephesian believers had been taught and had learned Christ from Paul himself as well as from other teachers. To know Christ is the greatest knowledge that anyone can have.

That knowledge is the truth; that knowledge opposes what the evil world teaches and applauds. Therefore, what the Ephesians and the other believers were taught should make all the difference in their lifestyles. “To know” is not a mere exercise of the head. Nothing is “known” until it has also passed over into obedience.

J. A. Motyer

 
 LIFE APPLICATION – NEW AND IMPROVED
In direct contrast to the preceding description of the unregenerate person, Paul next described the new life of the believer. He wrote of:
l our new minds: “But that isn’t what you were taught when you learned about Christ. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught . . . to be renewed in the spirit of your minds.”
l our new hearts: “[You were taught] to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.”
l our new behavior: “Clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
From darkened minds, hearts, and behavior, to new ones—this is the stark contrast from the old self to the new. Does your life reflect this contrast, the marks of the new life of the believer? Are there evidences of it in your thinking, desires, will, and behavior?

4:21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.NIV The phrase translated heard of him is literally “heard him,” referring to the individual’s hearing the call to salvation and responding. This only happened because they had been taught in him by those who shared the gospel in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. Jesus is the truth (John 14:6). Paul rarely used the name “Jesus” and generally did so when referring to the death and resurrection of the man Jesus. Here it may not indicate any theological distinction but may merely be a stylistic change. This is the truth that the Ephesians heard and believed. This is the truth that brings salvation.

4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.NIV While unbelievers live in darkness and sensuality, believers were taught in Christ a whole new manner of living, which must leave behind the former way of life. Paul explained that believers must decisively put off the old self. The “old self” (literally, “old man,” also translated “old nature”) describes each person before he or she comes to know Christ. The person was enslaved to sin, bound to the world, and without hope. Those who have accepted Christ are still susceptible to temptations and the evils of the sinful nature. Paul does not distinguish between two parts or two natures within a person. The old self describes those areas of rebellion against God. We must forsake this former lifestyle. Like old clothes, we must shed our identification with our sinful past and live as new people. To “put off” that old self will take conscious, daily decisions to remove anything that supports or feeds the old self’s desires.

The person’s old self is being corrupted by its deceitful desires (which Paul described in 4:17-19 above). The verb form “is being corrupted” reveals a continuous process that ends in complete degeneration and death. Like a cancer, the evil nature of the old self spreads and destroys. Christ came to offer each person a new self (4:23-24), but he or she must desire Christ’s help to “put off” the old self. As a person takes off an old, dirty garment in exchange for something clean and new, so the believer can take off the old, filthy “self” and exchange it for the clean and pure “self” provided by Christ. The verb “put off” is in the aorist tense, so it describes a definite act.

This “putting off” is a once-and-for-all decision when we decide to accept Christ’s gift of salvation (2:8-10). Although this putting off of the old takes place at conversion, we must drive out the remaining parts of it day by day. See also Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:5-10; and James 1:21. Repentance is primarily a change of moral purpose, a sudden and often violent reversal of the soul’s direction.

A. W. Tozer

 

4:23-24 And to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.NRSV We cannot “put off” without also “putting on.” Believers must “put off the old self” (4:22), but then they should follow with two specific actions: (1) to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and (2) to clothe yourselves with the new self.

The verb “to clothe” (like the verb “to put off” in 4:22) refers to a once-and-for-all action. When believers put off the old self and clothe themselves with the new self, they don’t keep on changing back into old clothes once in a while. The old clothes have been thrown away. While we are still on this earth, we will struggle with our old way of life. Paul understood this struggle clearly (see Romans 7:14-25). In explaining these concepts, some people have wrongly given the idea that there are two selves or two equal-but-opposite poles in our life (old and new) warring against each other. This is not how the New Testament used these words. Christ sees his people as redeemed. The other verb, “to be renewed,” describes a continuous activity. The “self” has been exchanged, but the process of renewal, of becoming like Christ, is a continual daily process. Transformation begins in the mind and results in renewed behavior.

How are believers “to be renewed in the spirit of [their] minds”? They must:

  • be involved in activities that renew their minds (Philippians 4:8-9);
  • desire to pattern themselves after God, not the world (Romans 12:2);
  • study and apply God’s Word so that it changes their behavior from within (2 Timothy 3:15-16).

As just noted, the tense of the verb indicates a daily act. The “spirit” refers to the Holy Spirit controlling the believers’ minds, or it may refer to the spiritual side of each person’s mind-set, which is where renewal must begin (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:10). Most likely, the meaning may be a combination of both, for the human spirit can only be renewed by the divine Spirit. (See also 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Colossians 3:10; Titus 3:5.)

This new self with which believers are to clothe themselves is a new creation, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. This new self However holy or Christlike a Christian may become, he is still in the condition of “being changed.”

John R. W. Stott

 

(literally, “new man”) is the new relationship we have with Christ that gives us a new orientation to life. The new self is according to the likeness of God with the characteristics of true righteousness and holiness. We have a right relationship with God that results in right behavior, creates an aversion to sin, and prompts us to devote ourselves to his service. These qualities are “true,” meaning they cannot be faked. This is totally opposite of the old way of living characterized by sin and corruption. Finally, the new self refers not to a split in one’s personality; instead, it pictures the new direction, attitude, and mind-set away from self and toward God and his will.

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Source: Bruce B. Barton et al., Life Application Bible Commentary – Ephesians, (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 1996), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “EPHESIANS 4:1-5:5”.

Posted in Masterpiece - Ephesians | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Masterpiece – Ephesians 2:1-10 Commentary

Posted on February 4, 2025 by dkoop

Made Alive With Christ / 2:1–10

The style of using lengthy sentences continues from chapter 1 into this chapter, in which verses 1–7 are one sentence in the Greek. To help understand the first seven verses, note that the subject of that Greek sentence is “God” (2:4) and that there are three main verbs: (1) “gave us life” (2:5), (2) “raised us from the dead” (2:6), and (3) “seated with” (2:6). The object of each of these verbs is “us,” referring to believers. God has made us alive, raised us up, and seated us with Christ.

2:1 This verse is a continuation of 1:19–23, which speaks of the resurrection power imparted to Christ’s body, the church. These believers once were dead and doomed before they met Christ. This refers not only to eventual physical death or to the sinners’ ultimate eternal state; it also refers to a very real “death” in this life. People who are spiritually dead have no communication with God. These people are physically alive, but their sins have rendered them spiritually unresponsive, alienated from God, and thus incapable of experiencing the full life that God could give them.

2:2–3 Sin reveals spiritual death but is acted out by people who are physically alive. Before the believers came to Christ, they used to live in their sins. They could not and did not follow God. Paul described three marks of unbelievers:

  1. They lived like the rest of the world, referring to the world’s accepted, but immoral, lifestyles and godless motives. People who live like the world that is full of sin cannot also follow Jesus (Romans 12:2; Galatians 1:4).
  2. They obeyed Satan. The passage focuses on Satan’s reality as an evil power with a certain amount of control in the world. The Bible pictures Satan as ruling an evil spiritual kingdom—the demons and those who are against Christ. He is the mighty prince of the power of the air referring to the space around the earth, and thus, this is Satan’s sphere of influence. Though Satan’s influence is great among unbelievers, his power is limited because he is a defeated enemy. He cannot separate believers from the love of God. Satan is also called the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. People who have not surrendered to God or decided to obey are energized by the power of evil. The force of the evil spirit is seen in those who actively disobey God both in faith and action (2 Thessalonians 1:8). These people live in constant rebellion and opposition to God.
  3. They followed the passions and desires of their evil nature. All of us (Jews and Gentiles alike) were at one time separated from God because of disobedience, born with an evil nature. That nature puts us under God’s anger. When we become believers, our sinful nature still exists. But when we submit our lives to the Holy Spirit, he transforms us and our sinful natures. This is a supernatural process. We must never underestimate the power of our sinful nature, and we must never attempt to subdue it in our own strength. God provides for victory over sin—he sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and give us power. But our ability to restrain the desires of the sinful nature depends on how much we’re willing to depend on God and his mercy (2:4–5).

2:4–5 The first three verses of this chapter present a hopeless humanity—trapped in sin, under Satan’s power, unable to save itself. Then follow the small but glorious words but God. Behind those two words lies a cosmic plan so huge in scope and so vast in love that the human mind cannot fully comprehend it—all we can do is humbly receive it. Instead of leaving sinful humanity to live worthless and hopeless lives ending only in death, God acted on behalf of humanity because he is so rich in mercy. As God is rich in kindness (1:7), so he is rich in mercy. The word “rich” indicates the bountiful nature of God’s mercy—beyond our comprehension, an inexhaustible storehouse. What is “mercy”? It is an attribute of God, sometimes called “loving-kindness” or “compassion.” This word describes the outworking of God’s love toward people and is shown in his lovingkindness toward them even though they do not deserve it (Psalm 51:1; Jeremiah 9:24; Hosea 2:19; Jonah 4:2).

God also acted on behalf of humanity because he loved us so very much. The Greek word for love, agape, is used. It means the selfless love that seeks the best for others. While God could have simply destroyed all people because of their sin, he chose instead to show mercy and love. While we once were dead because of our sins (2:1), God gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. That we have been given life means that we are “saved” (this phrase is repeated in 2:8 and elaborated on there). When Christ rose from the dead, so did all the members of his body by virtue of God’s uniting them with Christ. The only way spiritually dead people can have a relationship with God is to be made alive. And God is the only person who can accomplish that, which he did through his Son, Jesus Christ. Christ defeated sin and death through his death and resurrection, thus offering spiritual life to those dead in sins.

The verb form have been saved refers to a past event (accomplished by Christ because of God’s special favor) with present and ongoing results. Believers have already passed from death to life. Salvation is not something to be waited for but something that has already been delivered.

2:6 In addition to being given life (2:5), believers are also raised from the dead. Christ was raised from death and left the tomb—an act accomplished by God’s power alone. Believers have also been “raised.” In addition to assurance of physical resurrection and glorification at the end of the age, believers participate in a new “resurrection” life from the moment they believe (see Colossians 2:12).

Finally, believers are seated with him in the heavenly realms. Christ has taken his seat at the right hand of the Father, indicating his finished work and his victory over sin. Christ has been exalted by God’s great power (1:20). Christians have tended to see this seating with Christ as a future event, based on Jesus’ words in Matthew 19:28 and Luke 22:30 as well as other verses that point to our future reign with Christ (such as 2 Timothy 2:12; Revelation 20:4; 22:5). Yet Ephesians teaches that we are seated with Christ now. We share with Christ in his victory now. This view of our present status should help us face our work and trials with greater hope! Believers, as heirs of the Kingdom along with Christ, are spiritually exalted from the moment of salvation. We have a new citizenship—in heaven, no longer just on earth: The power that raised and exalted Christ also raised and exalted his people because we are one with him. That same power works daily in believers, helping us live and work for God during our time in the world.

2:7 Here is the final and definitive reason for God’s action on behalf of humanity, his reason for making us alive, raising us, and seating us along with his Son in the heavenly realms. God wants quite simply to point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness. The Greek word for “point to” comes from legal terminology. God closes the case by presenting the astounding evidence of his church, his people. The church could only exist by God’s love; the fact of its existence, the fact that people have been offered salvation, reveals the abundance of God’s favor and kindness (see also 1:7; 2:4). Again, this was accomplished only through Christ Jesus. Without Christ’s sacrifice, there would be no hope for a relationship with God.

2:8 Our salvation comes from God’s special favor alone. It was appropriated when people believed. However, lest anyone should think that belief is a necessary work that must be performed in order to receive salvation, Paul added that people can’t take credit for believing, for it too is a gift from God. Paul is firm that absolutely nothing is of our own doing—not salvation, not grace, not even the faith exercised to receive salvation. Instead, everything is the gift of God. Salvation does not come from our self-reliance or individualism but from God’s initiative. It is a gift to be thankfully accepted (see Romans 3:24–28; 1 Corinthians 1:29–31; Galatians 2:16).

2:9 We can’t take credit for our salvation (2:8), and it is not a reward for the good things we have done. In other words, people can do nothing to earn salvation, and a person’s faith itself also is not to be considered a “work” or grounds that anyone should boast.

People find it difficult to accept something so free, so willingly given, so available to anyone. We want to feel as though we did something, that we somehow earned our salvation by our merit. That was how the Judaizers (false teachers who said Christians had to obey all the Jewish laws) regarded their laws and why they tried to impose them on the Gentiles—there had to be a certain amount of law keeping and goodness on people’s part in order for them to receive salvation. But Paul’s words are unmistakable—if salvation is by God’s grace and is accepted through faith, then it is “not a reward.” If salvation could be earned by good works, then people would, by nature, “boast” about their good works, compare the goodness of their works to others’ good works, and do good only to boast about it. Then, what would be “good enough” for salvation? But no one could ever be good enough to please a holy God. He casts aside all human effort and pride by offering salvation for free to all people by simple acceptance. People are given salvation on the grounds of God’s grace alone.

2:10 But wait, there’s more. We are God’s masterpiece. Salvation is something only God can do—it is his powerful, creative work in us. People are recreated into new people, and those new people form a new creation—the church.

The verb created is used only of God—for only God can truly create. As he created the universe from nothing, so he creates new, alive, spiritual beings from the old, dead, sinful creatures we were (2 Corinthians 5:17). Then God forms believers into a unified body, his church (see 2:15; 4:24; Colossians 3:10). In Christ Jesus emphasizes the source of this creation, as in 2:6–7—Christ has provided it.

People become Christians through God’s undeserved favor (his grace), not as the result of any efforts, abilities, intelligent choices, personal characteristics, or acts of service. Out of gratitude for this free gift, however, believers will seek to do good things—to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness. While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are saved not merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up the church (4:12). This solves the so-called conflict between faith and works. Works do not produce salvation but are the evidence of salvation (see James 1:22; 2:14–26).

The Greek word translated do means “to walk about in.” We move ahead in this life of grace doing the good works that God planned for us long ago. The new life that God gives cannot help but express itself in good works. This does not necessarily mean that God has set up all the specific good works each person will do—although there would be no point arguing against the possibility of our omniscient God doing just that. Just as God planned salvation in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, so he planned that believers should do good to others (see 1 Timothy 6:18; Titus 2:7; 1 Peter 2:12).[1]

www.Upwards.Church

Message Audio/Video and Outline: https://upwards.church/leander-campus/watch-now-message-videos

Watch Messages: YouTube-Upwards Church

Facebook: Upwards Church

Read Along Daily Bible Reading: YouVersion (https://www.bible.com/organizations/370f8a6e-16bc-464f-8c43-0b7623fd2952)

Source:

[1] Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 809–811.

Posted in Masterpiece - Ephesians | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment