Grace and Peace - Ephesians 1 &2 (October 30th Reading!)

Whereas the Corinthian Church was wild and contentious, the Ephesian church is remarkably steady (similar description in Revelation 2 by John). The leadership that developed here formed a strong foundation for the church. It’s interesting that on our trip, both Mary’s house and John’s house were in Ephesus (remember that John was put in charge of Mary at Jesus’ crucifixion - John 19:25-27).

Ephesians 1 (A people of destiny)

In class, we have talked about holding contrasting views in tension in order to arrive at the truth of something (Hegel’s “dialectical tension”). The dialectic here is between “God’s choice” and “human freedom.” The fundamentalist movement that took hold in the US about 90 years ago, emphasized that God’s grace was “irresistible.” I do believe that God’s grace is indeed very persistent, but I do not believe it is irresistible. Love has within it “the freedom to choose.” I cannot force you to love me anymore than you can force me to love you. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were free to choose from the tree of knowledge, even though it was forbidden. Bottom line for me: Yes, I have been given a destiny, but I can choose to participate in that destiny or not.

First, our destiny involves being chosen by God for a relationship with him. Second, we are destined to become holy and blameless. Third, we are destined to be redeemed (made right with God, restored to our glory as created children of God). Fourth, we are destined to glorify God in all things. When we cooperate with God in this destiny, then the power of God is set loose in us by the Spirit – the power that raised Christ from the dead.

Ephesians 2 (BC/AD)

B. J. Thomas had a pop Christian song that sang, “What a difference you made in my life.” Doug Oldham, the robust baritone who sang with the Gaithers, wrote a book entitled, That Man Doesn’t Live Here Any More,telling the story of his former alcoholic and physically abusive life and how Christ delivered him. Similarly, we shared our BC/AD experiences in class. Paul tells us in this passage that we have been “made alive” in Christ. I hope you have recently taken time to thank God for the difference He has made in your life. If not, stop reading and do it now.

Ephesians 2:8-9 is a good passage to commit to memory: “For it is by grace that you have been saved by faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. It is not by works, lest any one should boast.” We are who we are by the grace of God and we will become what we will become by the same grace. The United Methodist statement of faith in our Discipline is entitled “Grace Upon Grace.”

Paul calls for unity between those who are Jewish Christians and those who are Gentile Christians. The source of that unity is Christ and he is warning them not to default back into past divisions (cultural issues can be the hardest in the Church). What kinds of cultural divisions do you see at St. Barnabas? How should they be addressed and overcome?