“In Christ” :: our summer study of Ephesians in review

i have heard over and over from some of our students that our summer study of Ephesians has deeply impacted their lives…i’m thankful that a changed heart relies solely on the work of the Spirit in people and not on my ability to teach. While i trust the work i put in to preparing lessons does matter, i know, from my own experience, that life change happens when i can sit in a small group of guys and really unpack how Scripture is convicting, challenging, and shaping me and let God work in and through each of us. conversational discipleship truly is powerful.

In Christ

“In Christ.” Paul uses this phrase (or a form of it) over and over throughout his letter to the church in Asia Minor. It’s a continual reminder/plea that begs for people to remember where their power in the Spirit comes from – only in a union, a true intimate relationship, with Christ. He reminds them that we have received every spiritual blessing in Christ (1:3) and that we are called to be strong in the Lord and stand firm in Him against the attacks from the enemy of our souls (6:10-20). There is a war waging for the hearts of men…and only in Christ will we stand to the end and finish well.

Put on

However, as believers in Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit, we are not called to simply sit back, pray God make me more holy…i want to look like you today, change nothing about how we live our lives, and then expect our lives to be all hunky-dory perfect. We are given commands to be imitators of God (5:1), to put off your old self…to be made new in the attitude of our minds…and to put on the new self…(4:22-24) and finally to put on the full armor of God…so that you may be able to stand your ground against the devil’s schemes (6:12,13). We have been given the tools we need to succeed in this world…and we must use them if we claim to be disciples – followers of Christ.

God has given us salvation. That salvation is to be worn as warrior takes up his helmet (6:17). The truth of who God is and what that means for us in this world is to be worn as a belt, readying and preparing us for action (6:14). Our righteousness that God has bestowed is to be claimed and displayed for the world to see so that they may give glory to Him. The gospel we have been given is one that is not only meant to be shared with our words but walked out with our lives (6:15). Faith is to be donned as a shield with which we are protected from the attacks of our enemies (6:16). and lastly we have the very Word of God, a sword that is sharper than any man made sword (Hebrews 4:12). In all these things, we have been given Christ – the Hope of the world, and the “new man” that we are called to respond too each and every day.

Does that change you?

We have said over and over this summer one simple phrase: “If these things we’re studying don’t change the way you live your life…then you don’t really believe them.”

you can’t claim to believe in Christ as your Savior and your Lord without allowing him to have your entire life…for this is what He demands of His followers. Grace is not cheap. It is not something that allows us to say, “Oh thank you Jesus…can’t wait to see you in Heaven…in the mean time I’ll take my life the way i want it with a side order of grace on the weekends.” in this we trivialize the Cross – we cheapen grace.

the grace of Jesus Christ…and the freedom that comes with it, means we become slaves to Him and His will for our life. ironically enough, the free gift of grace in reality costs us the things of this world. This is the life of the Follower of the Way. This is the intended life for the Christian. this is a life, that should you choose to follow the Jesus of the Bible, will cost you everything you have.