Today Paul tells the Ephesians that he is imprisoned on their behalf because his calling is to preach to the Gentiles. He says this was once a mystery but after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, the mystery became known; that Jews and Gentiles are one in Christ. So Paul says, “Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.”
Paul prays that the Ephesians will “know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Then he reminds them of God’s greatness and power. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.”
Paul encourages the Ephesians to be unified. “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” He goes on to tell them that each person is gifted by the Lord to be used “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
Paul urges them to put off their old ways of walking in darkness like the people around them “and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness
and holiness.” “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).”
Tomorrow we conclude the letter to the Ephesians and Paul writes a new letter to the Colossians. Keep reading.
(Ephesians 3:1-5:14)
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