THURSDAY April 15, 2021

The Church, God’s Masterpiece

To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 1:1-2

As we study the book of Ephesians, take into consideration we are about to embark on what has been called Ephesians, “the most modern, in many ways, of all the books of the in the New Testament, and is a rich record of Christian experience.” F.F. Bruce called Ephesians, “the coping stone on the massive structure of Paul’s teachings.”

Paul arrived in Rome about AD61 as a prisoner, but for two years he lived in his own hired house. This is where Christian brethren would visit and stay with the apostle. He would pray and share with them:

Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him (Acts 28:16). Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him (Acts 28:30).

Imagine, wherever Paul went, there was a soldier watching him. He was guarded. I wonder how many times these soldiers heard the Gospel. I believe Paul had a lot of soldier and Centurion converts; many must have come to know the Lord!

The book of Ephesians reveals the Church to be God’s Masterpiece: For we are His workmanship... (Ephesians 2:10). The word workmanship in the Greek language is poiema meaning, “we are his poem.” Paul also taught that believers in the body of Christ have been constructed together: in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:10). God dwells in us permanently.

Paul will be speaking to us about spiritual warfare to make us aware of our enemy. Believers wrestle against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11-12). Every day Satan is fighting for people’s souls.

Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion –it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.
~Billy Graham~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!