WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.030 --> 00:00:02.870 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.988 --> 00:00:03.848 Day 35 00:00:04.541 --> 00:00:06.191 Immersed in Ephesians. 00:00:08.771 --> 00:00:12.521 While Paul was living and working in Ephesus, he sent his coworkers 00:00:12.521 --> 00:00:15.401 out to start churches across the Roman province of Asia. 00:00:16.181 --> 00:00:16.391 Epi. 00:00:16.396 --> 00:00:22.031 FRAs planted churches in Colossi, Laia, and Hira, but Paul was arrested in 00:00:22.031 --> 00:00:26.021 Jerusalem shortly after leaving Ephesus to deliver an offering for the poor. 00:00:27.011 --> 00:00:30.671 Paul was eventually brought to Rome and imprisoned while awaiting trial. 00:00:31.631 --> 00:00:35.171 By the time he heard about the situation in Colossi, he had been away from the 00:00:35.171 --> 00:00:37.421 province of Asia for at least three years. 00:00:38.261 --> 00:00:42.011 Paul realized that by now other churches also needed advice, 00:00:42.221 --> 00:00:44.231 encouragement, and correction from him. 00:00:44.981 --> 00:00:47.711 He likely got information about many of them from people who came 00:00:47.711 --> 00:00:49.151 to visit and help him in Rome. 00:00:50.156 --> 00:00:54.926 So Paul gave his coworkers ticket Kiss and ESUs a letter to read to these churches, 00:00:55.046 --> 00:00:58.766 in addition to delivering his letters to the Colossians and to file Lehman. 00:00:59.726 --> 00:01:04.466 Today, this letter is known as Ephesians, even though the earliest and best copies 00:01:04.466 --> 00:01:09.116 of a letter are addressed to God's holy people, not God's holy people. 00:01:09.116 --> 00:01:13.076 In Ephesus, as is the case for all of Paul's letters, we 00:01:13.076 --> 00:01:14.516 no longer have the original. 00:01:15.446 --> 00:01:19.646 Paul is apparently writing to people he has not met personally because he tells 00:01:19.646 --> 00:01:24.026 the recipients that he has only heard of their strong faith in the Lord Jesus. 00:01:24.746 --> 00:01:28.346 By contrast, when he writes to the Corinthians, he refers to 00:01:28.346 --> 00:01:32.996 what I told you about Christ and he reminds the Thessalonians of 00:01:33.001 --> 00:01:35.036 how we brought you the good news. 00:01:35.636 --> 00:01:39.386 In addition, the lack of specific personal greetings at the end 00:01:39.716 --> 00:01:43.256 also indicates that Ephesians was written for a more general audience. 00:01:44.186 --> 00:01:48.116 Because this is a more general letter, Paul doesn't begin by explaining 00:01:48.116 --> 00:01:51.236 his connection to the recipients as he does in other letters. 00:01:51.776 --> 00:01:56.576 Instead, he writes, a longer than usual opening Thanksgiving, delivering a 00:01:56.576 --> 00:02:00.116 big picture description of everything God has accomplished through Christ. 00:02:00.926 --> 00:02:03.746 The good news is the revelation of how God has brought his 00:02:03.746 --> 00:02:05.426 long-term plan to fulfillment. 00:02:05.996 --> 00:02:11.066 God is one, and he intends to unify all things under the authority of Christ. 00:02:11.936 --> 00:02:15.806 Paul's prayer is for the believers understanding that they would know the 00:02:15.806 --> 00:02:17.756 great scope of God's work for them. 00:02:18.596 --> 00:02:22.766 Their hope is secure because the same power that raised Christ from the dead 00:02:23.096 --> 00:02:25.166 is the power that also sustains them. 00:02:25.946 --> 00:02:29.876 Paul begins the main body of his letter by emphasizing the same truth 00:02:29.876 --> 00:02:34.556 as in Colossians, that following Jesus means beginning a whole new way 00:02:34.556 --> 00:02:36.686 of life in a new kind of community. 00:02:37.571 --> 00:02:41.711 Paul identifies the recipients as Gentiles, but emphasizes that 00:02:41.711 --> 00:02:45.731 in Jesus, they are now fellow citizens with all of God's people 00:02:46.001 --> 00:02:47.771 and full members of his family. 00:02:48.521 --> 00:02:53.471 They were previously in exile in this world without God and without hope, 00:02:54.071 --> 00:02:58.451 but now they have been joined to the Messiah because Christ has torn 00:02:58.451 --> 00:03:03.131 down the wall of hostility that once divided Jews and Gentiles, one new 00:03:03.131 --> 00:03:05.801 human family, has come into existence. 00:03:06.836 --> 00:03:10.946 Paul refers to this family as God's new holy temple, the place 00:03:10.946 --> 00:03:15.296 where God makes his home built on the cornerstone of Jesus himself. 00:03:16.466 --> 00:03:20.306 This has always been God's mysterious plan to bring all the 00:03:20.306 --> 00:03:22.166 world's people together in Christ. 00:03:23.036 --> 00:03:27.146 And Paul's own special mission is to announce this good news throughout the 00:03:27.146 --> 00:03:29.996 Roman Empire, especially to the Gentiles. 00:03:30.686 --> 00:03:32.966 Overcome by this vision for the world. 00:03:33.266 --> 00:03:36.806 Paul writes his second prayer, giving thanks for the great love of 00:03:36.806 --> 00:03:38.606 Christ that makes it all possible. 00:03:39.386 --> 00:03:42.626 How is this vision to be implemented in the believer's life? 00:03:42.626 --> 00:03:43.166 Together? 00:03:43.766 --> 00:03:47.846 They should each use the special gift God has given them to help both the 00:03:47.846 --> 00:03:53.066 community and its individual members to become mature in practical ways. 00:03:53.576 --> 00:03:56.936 They should allow God's spirit to renew their thoughts and attitudes. 00:03:57.851 --> 00:04:01.601 And as he did in the letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs them in how 00:04:01.601 --> 00:04:05.501 the light of Christ should show itself in their household relationships. 00:04:06.581 --> 00:04:10.091 Paul concludes by pointing out that God has given them everything 00:04:10.091 --> 00:04:14.891 they need to resist the mighty powers and this dark world and 00:04:14.891 --> 00:04:17.471 continue to walk in Christ's light, 00:04:22.931 --> 00:04:24.441 the letter to the Ephesians. 00:04:27.071 --> 00:04:31.331 This letter is from Paul chosen by the will of God to 00:04:31.331 --> 00:04:33.341 be an apostle of Christ Jesus. 00:04:34.901 --> 00:04:38.951 I am writing to God's holy people in Ephesus who are faithful 00:04:38.951 --> 00:04:40.631 followers of Christ Jesus. 00:04:42.221 --> 00:04:46.541 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace, 00:04:49.151 --> 00:04:50.561 all praise to God. 00:04:51.281 --> 00:04:56.081 The father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual 00:04:56.081 --> 00:04:59.711 blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 00:05:00.641 --> 00:05:05.711 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to 00:05:05.711 --> 00:05:10.961 be holy and without fault In his eyes, God decided in advance to adopt 00:05:10.961 --> 00:05:15.671 us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. 00:05:16.421 --> 00:05:19.601 This is what he wanted to do and it gave him great pleasure. 00:05:20.651 --> 00:05:24.671 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us 00:05:24.671 --> 00:05:26.441 who belong to his dear son. 00:05:27.491 --> 00:05:31.691 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the 00:05:31.696 --> 00:05:34.001 blood of his son and forgave our sins. 00:05:34.871 --> 00:05:39.431 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. 00:05:40.571 --> 00:05:44.441 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ, 00:05:44.801 --> 00:05:46.991 which is to fulfill his own good plan. 00:05:48.101 --> 00:05:49.301 And this is the plan. 00:05:50.141 --> 00:05:54.491 At the right time, he will bring everything together under the authority of 00:05:54.491 --> 00:05:57.791 Christ, everything in heaven and on earth. 00:05:58.601 --> 00:06:02.651 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an 00:06:02.651 --> 00:06:07.211 inheritance from God for he chose us in advance and he makes everything 00:06:07.216 --> 00:06:09.131 work out according to his plan. 00:06:10.391 --> 00:06:14.561 God's purpose was that we, Jews, who were the first to trust in Christ 00:06:14.801 --> 00:06:16.931 would bring praise and glory to God. 00:06:17.846 --> 00:06:23.156 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the good news that God saves you. 00:06:23.816 --> 00:06:28.646 And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you 00:06:28.646 --> 00:06:31.586 the Holy Spirit whom he promised long ago. 00:06:32.786 --> 00:06:36.266 The Spirit is God's guarantee that he will give us the inheritance 00:06:36.271 --> 00:06:39.896 he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. 00:06:40.676 --> 00:06:43.376 He did this so we would praise and glorify him. 00:06:44.951 --> 00:06:48.671 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and 00:06:48.671 --> 00:06:50.891 your love for God's people everywhere. 00:06:51.341 --> 00:06:53.441 I have not stopped thanking God for you. 00:06:54.251 --> 00:06:59.351 I pray for you constantly asking God the glorious father of our Lord 00:06:59.356 --> 00:07:03.461 Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you 00:07:03.461 --> 00:07:05.081 might grow in your knowledge of God. 00:07:05.921 --> 00:07:09.101 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you 00:07:09.101 --> 00:07:12.851 can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called. 00:07:13.436 --> 00:07:17.426 His holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. 00:07:18.476 --> 00:07:22.616 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's 00:07:22.616 --> 00:07:24.866 power for us who believe him. 00:07:25.796 --> 00:07:29.966 This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seeded 00:07:29.966 --> 00:07:33.656 him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. 00:07:34.676 --> 00:07:40.436 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else. 00:07:41.156 --> 00:07:44.546 Not only in this world, but also in the world to come. 00:07:45.566 --> 00:07:49.856 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him 00:07:49.861 --> 00:07:55.226 head over all things for the benefit of the church, and the church is his body. 00:07:55.976 --> 00:08:01.436 It is made full and complete by Christ who fills all things everywhere with himself. 00:08:02.966 --> 00:08:06.896 Once you were dead, because of your disobedience and your many sins. 00:08:07.766 --> 00:08:10.466 You used to live in sin just like the rest of the world. 00:08:10.766 --> 00:08:14.936 Obeying the devil, the commander of the powers in the unseen world. 00:08:15.836 --> 00:08:20.246 He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 00:08:21.056 --> 00:08:25.406 All of us used to live that way following the passionate desires and 00:08:25.406 --> 00:08:27.506 inclinations of our sinful nature. 00:08:28.406 --> 00:08:33.386 By our very nature, we were subject to God's anger just like everyone else. 00:08:34.406 --> 00:08:36.416 But God is so rich in mercy. 00:08:36.836 --> 00:08:42.566 He loved us so much that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us 00:08:42.566 --> 00:08:44.666 life when he raised Christ from the dead. 00:08:45.506 --> 00:08:49.076 It is only by God's grace that you have been saved for. 00:08:49.076 --> 00:08:52.796 He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seeded us with 00:08:52.796 --> 00:08:56.906 him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 00:08:57.956 --> 00:09:03.806 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth 00:09:03.806 --> 00:09:06.056 of his grace and kindness toward us. 00:09:06.761 --> 00:09:11.411 As shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ, Jesus. 00:09:12.701 --> 00:09:17.831 God saved you by His grace when you believed, and you can't take credit 00:09:17.836 --> 00:09:19.991 for this, it is a gift from God. 00:09:20.711 --> 00:09:24.011 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, 00:09:24.251 --> 00:09:28.751 so none of us can boast about it for we are God's masterpiece. 00:09:29.486 --> 00:09:34.226 He has created us a new in Christ Jesus so we can do the good 00:09:34.226 --> 00:09:36.266 things he planned for us long ago. 00:09:37.826 --> 00:09:41.276 Don't forget that you, Gentiles used to be outsiders. 00:09:42.206 --> 00:09:47.336 You were called uncircumcised heathens by the Jews who were proud of their 00:09:47.336 --> 00:09:51.746 circumcision even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 00:09:52.736 --> 00:09:55.556 In those days, you were living apart from Christ. 00:09:56.366 --> 00:10:00.236 You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and 00:10:00.236 --> 00:10:03.386 you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. 00:10:04.256 --> 00:10:09.386 You lived in this world without God and without hope, but now you 00:10:09.391 --> 00:10:11.456 have been united with Christ Jesus. 00:10:12.386 --> 00:10:16.556 Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to 00:10:16.556 --> 00:10:21.866 him through the blood of Christ for Christ himself has brought peace to us. 00:10:22.901 --> 00:10:27.791 He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when in his own body. 00:10:27.791 --> 00:10:31.931 On the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 00:10:33.161 --> 00:10:37.961 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. 00:10:38.591 --> 00:10:43.781 He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people 00:10:43.781 --> 00:10:47.111 from the two groups together as one body. 00:10:47.351 --> 00:10:51.191 Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross. 00:10:51.821 --> 00:10:54.491 And our hostility toward each other was put to death. 00:10:55.391 --> 00:10:59.771 He brought this good news of peace to you, Gentiles, who were far away from 00:10:59.771 --> 00:11:02.621 him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 00:11:03.611 --> 00:11:07.751 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because 00:11:07.751 --> 00:11:09.431 of what Christ has done for us. 00:11:10.691 --> 00:11:14.441 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. 00:11:15.071 --> 00:11:18.191 You are citizens along with all of God's holy people. 00:11:18.701 --> 00:11:20.381 You are members of God's family. 00:11:21.296 --> 00:11:21.956 Together. 00:11:22.286 --> 00:11:27.236 We are his house built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, and 00:11:27.236 --> 00:11:29.576 the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 00:11:30.236 --> 00:11:35.306 We are carefully joined together in him becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 00:11:36.206 --> 00:11:39.746 Through him, you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling 00:11:39.746 --> 00:11:41.336 where God lives by his spirit. 00:11:42.986 --> 00:11:48.086 When I think of all this, I Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for 00:11:48.086 --> 00:11:49.496 the benefit of you Gentiles. 00:11:50.111 --> 00:11:53.891 Assuming by the way that you know, God gave me the special responsibility of 00:11:53.891 --> 00:11:56.111 extending his grace to you, Gentiles. 00:11:56.711 --> 00:12:01.631 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 00:12:02.351 --> 00:12:05.861 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight 00:12:05.861 --> 00:12:07.901 into this plan regarding Christ. 00:12:08.321 --> 00:12:13.271 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his spirit, he 00:12:13.271 --> 00:12:18.821 has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets, and this is God's plan. 00:12:20.036 --> 00:12:23.876 Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the good news share equally in the 00:12:23.876 --> 00:12:25.796 riches inherited by God's children. 00:12:26.636 --> 00:12:30.746 Both are part of the same body and both enjoy the promise of blessings 00:12:30.751 --> 00:12:36.506 because they belong to Christ Jesus by God's grace and mighty power, I have 00:12:36.511 --> 00:12:39.896 been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this good news. 00:12:41.111 --> 00:12:44.771 Though I am the least deserving of all God's people, he graciously 00:12:44.771 --> 00:12:48.041 gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless 00:12:48.041 --> 00:12:50.201 treasures available to them in Christ. 00:12:51.101 --> 00:12:55.571 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, 00:12:55.871 --> 00:12:59.471 the creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 00:13:00.551 --> 00:13:05.261 God's purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its 00:13:05.266 --> 00:13:09.881 rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 00:13:10.691 --> 00:13:13.571 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through 00:13:13.571 --> 00:13:14.951 Christ Jesus, our Lord. 00:13:16.091 --> 00:13:20.981 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and 00:13:20.981 --> 00:13:22.961 confidently into God's presence. 00:13:23.861 --> 00:13:28.781 So please don't lose heart because of my trials here, I am suffering for you. 00:13:29.111 --> 00:13:34.721 So you should feel honored when I think of all this, I fall to 00:13:34.721 --> 00:13:36.611 my knees and pray to the father. 00:13:37.316 --> 00:13:40.046 The creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 00:13:41.126 --> 00:13:45.656 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources, he will empower 00:13:45.656 --> 00:13:50.666 you with inner strength through his spirit, then Christ will make his home 00:13:50.666 --> 00:13:52.676 and your hearts as you trust in him. 00:13:53.486 --> 00:13:57.206 Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. 00:13:57.776 --> 00:14:01.706 And may you have the power to understand as all God's people should. 00:14:02.156 --> 00:14:07.436 How wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 00:14:08.486 --> 00:14:12.926 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand 00:14:12.926 --> 00:14:18.416 fully, then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power 00:14:18.416 --> 00:14:25.196 that comes from God now all glory to God who is able through his mighty power at 00:14:25.196 --> 00:14:29.786 work within us to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 00:14:30.446 --> 00:14:34.346 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all 00:14:34.346 --> 00:14:36.566 generations, forever and ever. 00:14:37.316 --> 00:14:37.916 Amen. 00:14:39.866 --> 00:14:42.716 This concludes today's immer reading experience. 00:14:42.866 --> 00:14:44.096 Thank you for joining us.