If you haven’t read these initial two pieces – Here and Here – you will not be as prepared for the following words, nor where they are are tracking. Therefore, please avail yourself before you get stuck into what is below from Pastor Dan, who deals with some of the nuts and bolts of the series through the Book of Ephesians at RELOVUTIONARY!
By Pastor Dan
The specific plan for going through the book of Ephesians is to preach through the two sections of the book (section one: chapters 1-3; section two: chapters 4-6), through the apportioned weeks, in the first two years of our journey as a RELOVUTIONARY community—this means each section will be completed in approximately one year (some 15 messages).
The mindset behind this is to allow us to most thoroughly draw from the deep well of teaching within this book.
As I mentioned in my last post, section one focuses on identity—our new identity in Christ—it lays out all that God has done for us in Christ and who we now are in Him through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Section two then flows forth with the practical outworking of our new identity in Christ. It gives important instruction on the physical expression, the enfleshing, or living out of our new identity in Christ; it does this through the employment of commands which detail how we’re to live out the reality of who we now are in Christ through the power of God’s indwelling Holy Spirit. It lays out the fruit that’s indicative of the new life of the one who’s died with Christ and been raised with Him.
In effect, what Paul says in condensed form in Colossians chapter 3, he extrapolates on with great intent in the book of Ephesians. Perhaps this is summarised most expressly in his words in Colossians 3:1-5a, 12a-b:
“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you…12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved…”
Verses 1 through 4 of Colossians chapter 3 go a long way toward summarising the message of Ephesians chapter 1 through 3 about our new identity in Christ. Then, the verses which follow in Colossians chapter 3 deal with the specifics of living out the Christian life which are also dealt with in greater detail in the second section of the book of Ephesians.
In section two of the book of Ephesians we indeed learn about what we’re to “put to death” in terms of our practical everyday lives; the things of the flesh that we carry with us, which still need to be eliminated in God’s strength and by faith, and conversely, we also learn about what we’re to “put on“… the character traits and behaviours which we’re now to walk-in as God’s people, in Christ, by the power of His Holy Spirit who now lives in us!
In light of these realities; in light of the size and scope of this journey, and the foundation that Paul provides of the content for the Christian life, we have entitled this Ephesians series as:
”What It Means to be Christian!”
This encapsulates the essence of the message that flows forth from the book.
I’m immensely excited to embark on this journey together and I look forward to seeing what the LORD does in our midst through the ministry of His Holy Spirit as we open His written Word and seek to feast on the meat of our Master’s bounty within it.
Won’t you come and dine with us?