WHAT GOD IS SAYING TO US THROUGH THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS (I)

Hi,

This is a review for the book entitled,
"What God Is Saying to Us Through the Epistle to The Ephesians" By Paul.C.Jong

In the introduction to this book, the author writes about the historical background of the Epistle to the Ephesians. I will now read to you a short extract.

The book of Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul at around 62-63 AD. The Ephesian Church was where Paul had preached to the Jews and the Gentiles from the beginning and the relationship between the Saints in Ephesus and Paul began, when Paul stopped by Ephesus and preached the gospel during his second missionary journey.
At that time, although Paul left Ephesus after preaching for only a short while, the work of the gospel was carried on by Priscilla and Aquila, who stayed behind.
After this Paul stopped by Ephesus during his third missionary journey and ministered to the church for about three years.
At the end of Paul`s third missionary journey on his way back to Jerusalem, he met the elders of the Ephesian Church at Miletus and from there they parted in tears (Acts 20:17, 36-38).
This was the last meeting between Paul and the Ephesian Church recorded in the book of Acts.

By documenting the historical background of the Ephesian Church, the author has allowed us to see the love and the care that the Apostle Paul had in his heart for the Saints in Ephesus.

Through this Epistle, Paul makes it clear to us that God the Father planned our salvation in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4-5, 11).

According to the will of God, Jesus came to this world in the flesh of a man and fulfilled our salvation by receiving His baptism from John the Baptist in the Jordan River to take away our sins.
He preached the gospel in the world for three years after His baptism and was crucified on the Cross to bear the punishment for our sins, in our place.

Paul himself believed in the righteousness of God, and so in his Epistle, he always gives glory to God, confessing that his apostleship came only by `the will of God` (Eph 1:1).

And as a result of receiving the remission of sins and receiving his apostleship from God, Paul, and those who follow in the faith, receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. This is fulfilled as we dwell in the Church and work within the Church. (Eph 1:3)

In Chapter 1 verse 4 of Ephesians, Paul tells us that God planned to make us `holy and without blame.`
Although Christians try to please God by not commit sins and by doing many good works, becoming holy and without blame is not possible by any human means.

In verse 5, Paul explains that we were predestined to be adopted by God according to Jesus Christ and the good will of His pleasure.

This adoption that Paul speaks of, is the only way that we become holy and blameless.
Although we were all born in sin and destined for hell, once we become adopted by God, we the believers in the gospel of the water and the Spirit have our hearts and consciences washed clean from all our sins. We thus become holy and without blame because we put our faith in the baptism and crucifixion of our Lord which saved us.

The believers are not holy and blameless because of our deeds but rather on account of our faith in the righteous works of Christ.

Jesus Christ was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River to fulfil all righteousness. When John laid his hands on the head of Jesus, the sin of the world was transferred onto Him in accordance to the pattern of salvation revealed in the Old Testaments sacrificial system whereby the high priest would lay his hands on an unblemished animal to pass the sins of the Israelites onto it before shedding the sacrifices blood for the atonement of sins.
(Leviticus 1:1-6, 16:21)

God has founded His Church upon the faith of those who believe in His every Word, and Jesus, being the head of the Church, He leads the saints as they believe and preach His gospel of the water, blood and the Spirit. (1John 5:6-8)

Therefore, if your hearts now have faith in the gospel of the water and the Spirit, then you can lead a true life of faith and receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as God purposed for your inheritance.

Even though salvation benefits us immensely, God chose us in Jesus Christ for His glory.
Therefore, for us to put on God`s salvation and thank Him, this is the paramount praise that we can give to God.
I pray that we all pay close attention to what God is saying to us through the Epistle to the Ephesians so that we can give God all the glory by receiving into our hearts and confessing with our mouths, the gospel of the water and the Spirit which is the perfect salvation that He fulfilled for us all.

God bless you.