Christ the Center of the Bible: Christ in His Body. Ephesians - 1 & 2 Thessalonians.
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EPHESIANS - Christ : God`s Eternal Purpose.
In this letter to the believers at Ephesus, we read of the greatest revelation of truth that God has given to man. It is the mystery that has been hidden before the foundation of the world.
`(God) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both of which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him.` (Eph. 1: 9 & 10)
The Apostle Paul then reveals the supreme position Christ has in God`s great kingdom.
`(God the Father) seated Him (Christ Jesus) at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet..` (Eph. 1: 20 -22)
Paul then goes on to write of another great mystery - the Body of Christ. The believers are members of this Body of which Christ is the Head. It is a spiritual organism and each member has a part.
`...and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fill all in all.` (Eph. 1: 22 & 23)
All spiritual blessings are in Christ, our acceptance is in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption, forgiveness, and an inheritance.
The building and maturing of this Body of Christ is by the Spirit of the Lord. It is through Him that the believers are in unity and that finally as truth is clarified across the Body, then there will be -
`..the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect Man, to the measure of the fullness of Christ.` (Eph. 4: 13)
The Apostle Paul had laboured at Ephesus for three years and shared not only all his heart but the whole counsel of God. These believers were able to receive God`s greatest revelation - the eternal purposes in Christ.
`From Miletus, he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.....I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.` (Acts 20: 17 & 27)
In this letter to the believers at Ephesus, we read of the greatest revelation of truth that God has given to man. It is the mystery that has been hidden before the foundation of the world.
`(God) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both of which are in heaven and which are on earth - in Him.` (Eph. 1: 9 & 10)
The Apostle Paul then reveals the supreme position Christ has in God`s great kingdom.
`(God the Father) seated Him (Christ Jesus) at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet..` (Eph. 1: 20 -22)
Paul then goes on to write of another great mystery - the Body of Christ. The believers are members of this Body of which Christ is the Head. It is a spiritual organism and each member has a part.
`...and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church which is His Body, the fullness of Him who fill all in all.` (Eph. 1: 22 & 23)
All spiritual blessings are in Christ, our acceptance is in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption, forgiveness, and an inheritance.
The building and maturing of this Body of Christ is by the Spirit of the Lord. It is through Him that the believers are in unity and that finally as truth is clarified across the Body, then there will be -
`..the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect Man, to the measure of the fullness of Christ.` (Eph. 4: 13)
The Apostle Paul had laboured at Ephesus for three years and shared not only all his heart but the whole counsel of God. These believers were able to receive God`s greatest revelation - the eternal purposes in Christ.
`From Miletus, he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.....I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.` (Acts 20: 17 & 27)
PHILIPPIANS - Christ, Name above All Names.
The Apostle Paul is a prisoner in Rome but has just received a visitor, Epaphroditus. He has come from Philippi with a gift for Paul from the believers there.
It was to the Philippians that of all his converts, that Paul looked back with most loving affection and confidence, for from them alone he would accept things to relieve his personal needs.
While Epaphroditus was with Paul he was attacked by an illness which brought him to death`s door. News of this caused great distress among his friends in Macedonia. On his recovery, weak and shattered as he was, he longed for home, and Paul sent by him this letter.
`Epaphroditus.....was longing for you all, and distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful.` (Phil. 2: 25 - 28)
In Paul`s letter although he is in prison, he rejoices, for even here he can reach some of Caesar`s household with the gospel.
`I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to the rest that my chains are in Christ.` (Phil. 1: 12 & 13)
And at the end of the letter we read how not only the saints at Rome greet the Philippians but `also those who are of Caesar`s household.` (Phil. 4: 22 )
Thus amid great trials and difficulties the apostle encourages the believers to rejoice, and again he says `rejoice.` (Phil. 4: 4) And with his great heart for the believers he turns their minds towards the Lord -
`Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.` (Phil. 2: 5 - 9)
What need they to fear, for the Lord is above every authority and power, and every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord. (Phil. 2: 10 & 11)
The Apostle Paul is a prisoner in Rome but has just received a visitor, Epaphroditus. He has come from Philippi with a gift for Paul from the believers there.
It was to the Philippians that of all his converts, that Paul looked back with most loving affection and confidence, for from them alone he would accept things to relieve his personal needs.
While Epaphroditus was with Paul he was attacked by an illness which brought him to death`s door. News of this caused great distress among his friends in Macedonia. On his recovery, weak and shattered as he was, he longed for home, and Paul sent by him this letter.
`Epaphroditus.....was longing for you all, and distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful.` (Phil. 2: 25 - 28)
In Paul`s letter although he is in prison, he rejoices, for even here he can reach some of Caesar`s household with the gospel.
`I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to the rest that my chains are in Christ.` (Phil. 1: 12 & 13)
And at the end of the letter we read how not only the saints at Rome greet the Philippians but `also those who are of Caesar`s household.` (Phil. 4: 22 )
Thus amid great trials and difficulties the apostle encourages the believers to rejoice, and again he says `rejoice.` (Phil. 4: 4) And with his great heart for the believers he turns their minds towards the Lord -
`Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, Who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.` (Phil. 2: 5 - 9)
What need they to fear, for the Lord is above every authority and power, and every knee will bow and confess that He is Lord. (Phil. 2: 10 & 11)
COLOSSIANS - Christ, Pre-eminent in All Things.
The Apostle Paul also wrote this letter to the believers in Colosse, while he was in prison. Epaphras, a faithful minister to the believers at Colosse, had come to tell Paul of the heresies that were creeping into the church there.
These heresies had broken out among the younger believers, misleading them and calling for the worship of angels and a strict observance of Jewish ceremonies. This heresy was a mixture of Jewish, Greek and Oriental religions. Paul warns -
`Beware lest anyone should cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world,...
Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths....
Let no one defraud you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels.....` (Col. 2: 8, 16 & 18)
The failure of the Colossians was at this very point, “not holding fast to the Head.” (Col. 2: 19) Some thought that Jesus was but a man, and Christ the divine Spirit which came at baptism and left Him at the cross. This meant that Christ did not die but simply Jesus died.
These false teachings had sought to dethrone Christ in people`s minds. They denied His headship of the Church. To help answer them, Paul sends this letter back by Epaphras. He specifically writes on the pre-eminence and the deity of Christ.
`He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether throne or dominions or principalities or powers,
All things were created through Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the Head of the Body, the Church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.` (Col. 1: 15 - 18)
Paul encourages the Colossians, saying, that we are complete in Christ. We are rooted and built up, we are grounded and settled. Paul lays the facts of this building up process in the four chapters of the letter -
- The deeper life, the higher life, the inner life and the outer life.
The Apostle Paul also wrote this letter to the believers in Colosse, while he was in prison. Epaphras, a faithful minister to the believers at Colosse, had come to tell Paul of the heresies that were creeping into the church there.
These heresies had broken out among the younger believers, misleading them and calling for the worship of angels and a strict observance of Jewish ceremonies. This heresy was a mixture of Jewish, Greek and Oriental religions. Paul warns -
`Beware lest anyone should cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world,...
Let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths....
Let no one defraud you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels.....` (Col. 2: 8, 16 & 18)
The failure of the Colossians was at this very point, “not holding fast to the Head.” (Col. 2: 19) Some thought that Jesus was but a man, and Christ the divine Spirit which came at baptism and left Him at the cross. This meant that Christ did not die but simply Jesus died.
These false teachings had sought to dethrone Christ in people`s minds. They denied His headship of the Church. To help answer them, Paul sends this letter back by Epaphras. He specifically writes on the pre-eminence and the deity of Christ.
`He is the image of the invisible God, the first born over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether throne or dominions or principalities or powers,
All things were created through Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
And He is the Head of the Body, the Church, who is the beginning, the first born from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.` (Col. 1: 15 - 18)
Paul encourages the Colossians, saying, that we are complete in Christ. We are rooted and built up, we are grounded and settled. Paul lays the facts of this building up process in the four chapters of the letter -
- The deeper life, the higher life, the inner life and the outer life.
1 & 2 THESSALONIANS - Christ is Manifested.
The Apostle Paul, accompanied by Timothy and Silas had spent a short time in Thessalonica and many people became believers. Paul and the others caused such a stir that they had to move on to Berea, Athens and Corinth. It was from here that Paul wrote the first letter and sent it by Timothy.
Timothy returned with a favourable report that was a great comfort to Paul, however there were some faults to be corrected. Some of the Thessalonians held some false views concerning the Lord`s coming. They were worried about some who had died, fearing that they would not have any part in the rapture and glory of the Lord`s return. Others were so overwhelmed by the truth of Christ`s return that they had neglected their daily tasks.
Thus Paul writes this heart-to-heart letter to correct these wrong views and inspire and comfort these new converts.
`...we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.....(and) you know how we exhorted, and comforted and charged everyone of you, as a father does his own children.` (1 Thess. 2: 7 & 11)
The two letters contain twenty different references to the coming of the Lord. In the first letter there is the blessed hope of the believers, when the Lord shall draw them up to Himself. It is mentioned in the closing of every chapter.
`...to wait for His Son from heaven....` (1 Thess. 1: 10)
`...in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.` (1 Thess. 2: 19)
`...at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.` (1 Thess. 3: 13)
`...caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.` (1 Thess. 4: 17)
`...may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.` (1 Thess. 5: 23)
Then in the second letter there is the coming of the Lord at the end of the tribulation to deal with the lawless one.
`And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.` (2 Thess. 2: 8)
The Apostle Paul, accompanied by Timothy and Silas had spent a short time in Thessalonica and many people became believers. Paul and the others caused such a stir that they had to move on to Berea, Athens and Corinth. It was from here that Paul wrote the first letter and sent it by Timothy.
Timothy returned with a favourable report that was a great comfort to Paul, however there were some faults to be corrected. Some of the Thessalonians held some false views concerning the Lord`s coming. They were worried about some who had died, fearing that they would not have any part in the rapture and glory of the Lord`s return. Others were so overwhelmed by the truth of Christ`s return that they had neglected their daily tasks.
Thus Paul writes this heart-to-heart letter to correct these wrong views and inspire and comfort these new converts.
`...we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.....(and) you know how we exhorted, and comforted and charged everyone of you, as a father does his own children.` (1 Thess. 2: 7 & 11)
The two letters contain twenty different references to the coming of the Lord. In the first letter there is the blessed hope of the believers, when the Lord shall draw them up to Himself. It is mentioned in the closing of every chapter.
`...to wait for His Son from heaven....` (1 Thess. 1: 10)
`...in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming.` (1 Thess. 2: 19)
`...at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.` (1 Thess. 3: 13)
`...caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.` (1 Thess. 4: 17)
`...may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.` (1 Thess. 5: 23)
Then in the second letter there is the coming of the Lord at the end of the tribulation to deal with the lawless one.
`And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.` (2 Thess. 2: 8)
Hello Marilyn;
You provide nice outlines of these letters to the four Churches. This will help the disciple distinguish the books with better understanding.
I'll be back with more to share.
God bless you, Marilyn, and thank you.
Bob
You provide nice outlines of these letters to the four Churches. This will help the disciple distinguish the books with better understanding.
I'll be back with more to share.
God bless you, Marilyn, and thank you.
Bob