In this epistle we shall find some of the highest Christian teaching. It may well be called the charter of the Christian's privileges and blessings. A good heading and title to the whole letter would be "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ." (Eph. 3:8.) How shall we approach it, and how shall we begin the study of it?

      1. If we believe this to be the inspired word of God (and we do, with all our hearts) let us approach it accordingly. Let us come to it with reverence and in faith and with a surrendered mind and spirit. "And for this cause we also thank God without ceasing," wrote Paul to the Thessalonians, "that when ye received from us the word of the message, even the word of God, ye accepted it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also worketh in you that believe." (1 Thess. 2:13.) So, since it is the word of God, let us receive it as the word of God. Let us look unto Him who gave it, for understanding. "Open thou mine eyes," prayed the psalmist, "that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law." (Ps. 119:18.) Even more wondrous things than those revealed and concealed in "the law," are to be found here.

      2. As to the best manner in which to begin the study of this big little book, I can do no better than to quote from a very valuable little volume, "Mastering the English Bible," by Dr. J. M. Gray.

      "The first practical help I ever received in the mastery of the English Bible was from a layman. We were fellow-attendants at a certain Christian conference or convention and thrown together a good deal for several days, and I saw something in his Christian life to which I was a comparative stranger--a peace, a rest, a joy, a kind of spiritual poise I knew little about. One day I ventured to ask him how he had become possessed of the experience, when he replied, 'By reading the epistle to the Ephesians.' I was surprised, for I had read it without such results, and therefore asked him to explain the manner of his reading, when he related the following: He had gone into the country to spend the week-end with his family on one occasion, taking with him a pocket copy of Ephesians, and in the afternoon, going out into the woods and lying down under a tree, he began to read it; he read it through at a single reading, and finding his interest aroused, read it through again in the same way, and, his interest increasing, again and again. I think he added that he read it some twelve or fifteen times, 'and when I arose to go into the house,' said he, 'I was in possession of Ephesians, or better yet, it was in possession of me, and I had been lifted up to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus in an experimental sense in which that had not been true in me before, and will never cease to be true in me again.'

      "I confess that as I listened to this simple recital my heart was going up in thanksgiving to God for answered prayer, the prayer really of months, if not years, that I might come to know how to master His Word. And yet, side by side with the thanksgiving was humiliation that I had not discovered so simple a principle before, which a boy of ten or twelve might have known. And to think that [2] an 'ordained minister' must sit at the feet of a 'layman' to learn the most important secret of his trade!"

      Undoubtedly that is the best way to take up the study of a book of the Bible; and in this case a very practicable one, because this book is so short (containing only six chapters, 155 verses) that it can be read through in little time, and re-read again. The reading should not be done mechanically, however, but attentively and thoughtfully. You will be surprised how the book begins to open up to you after a few such readings. That will be the very best preparation, too, for more particular study of it; and I doubt not that those who follow this plan will catch some of that peace and rest and joy and "spiritual poise" which Dr. Gray's "layman" enjoyed through his constant reading of "Ephesians."

      In this general reading of Ephesians you may discern certain outstanding features--one great theme, for instance, that is discussed more fully in this epistle than anywhere else in the Bible: without using outside help, could you discover what that is? Then you may notice the repetition of a phrase which does not occur elsewhere in all the Bible ("in the heavenly places")--how often is that found? And another which does occur elsewhere, but here much oftener than anywhere else: "in Christ." And again notice the phrase "according to"; also how often he mentions "riches." Then there is a rather plain division of the contents of the epistle into two great parts: can you tell where the dividing line runs? And what is the chief difference in the two parts? These are only suggestions of things you may notice as you read; do not bother too much about them, lest we lose the main thought: we will take note of all these points as we come to them in the course of our studies.

      1. Here is the signature of Paul, the writer of this epistle, and the declaration of his authority as Christ's inspired messenger and spokesman. Because he was that he could say that the word of his message was the word of God (see above, on 1 Thess. 2:13). Having delivered his inspired message it stands fast for ever: neither men nor angels nor Paul himself could alter it: it is the word of God. (Gal. 1:8, 9; 2 Cor. 1:24.) Paul never mentions his apostleship without an explanation. Here he states that he is an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God. He did not become an apostle in the regular school, and course of training that the Twelve received from the Lord Jesus, but was specially appointed by the sovereign will of God.

      2. Here are also the people addressed. We are very much interested in that: for the things Paul says in this epistle are [3] so great and good that we want to know exactly to whom they apply--especially whether we come for a share in them. Well, the people addressed are "the saints . . . and the faithful in Christ Jesus." Now a "saint" in New Testament usage is not some wonderful, extraordinary, great and pious person; nor is it necessarily a perfect and sinless man. A "saint" is simply one "sanctified"; and that means one set apart for Christ. All Christians are "holy" because they have been separated or set apart from the world to be Christ's. (1 Cor. 1:2; 6:11; Heb. 3:1.) Everyone that is "justified" (i. e., forgiven and saved) is also sanctified. He is sanctified by the word of God (John 17:17); by the blood of Jesus (Heb. 13:12); by the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16, 17; 2 Thess. 2:13.) This is his standing before God. (1 Peter 2:9, 10.) It goes without saying that the life should be brought into conformity with this high and holy calling; and that the Christian should be "holy in all manner of living," and should be "perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Cor. 7:1.) But that is another matter. It is not of their conduct or worthiness that he is speaking when he calls them "saints" but of their position in Christ. The address to "the faithful in Christ Jesus" raises a similar question. One can hear a fainthearted Christian ask himself, "Would I come under that category? Have I been as faithful as I should have been or could have been? How faithful would I have to be in order to come within the number so addressed? Perhaps after all the good things in Ephesians are not for me." This all rests on misapprehension. By "the faithful in Christ Jesus" he means--not, of course, apostates or renegades, but those who hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ (Jas. 2:1), that is, those who sincerely believe in Him.

      3. The salutation: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is Paul's regular greeting. But it is not (as human salutations often are) conventional and meaningless. Nor is it merely a kind of pious wish; but the pronouncement of a real blessing from God. Grace always first--for apart from God's grace there is no remission of sins; and where unforgiven sins are there can be no peace. But those who are justified by His grace have peace with God. (Rom. 5:1.) And this "grace and peace" comes to us freely from God, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

      In our next lesson we will take up the "long sentence"--the longest sentence in Paul"s writings, Eph. 1:3-14.

      Our Father, as we enter upon the study of this portion of thy Word, we pray that our minds and hearts may be open to Thy light. As we seek to learn, give us understanding. Thy Word is living and full of power. May it do its pure and perfect work in our hearts, and may our lives be transformed by its gracious influence. And may the blessing that comes to us go out from us to others, that men may see in us the grace of God reflected and glorify Thee, our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [4]

[LOE 2-4]