As we have studied, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is divided into two sections of three chapters.
Chapters 1-3 give us the doctrine / the wealth / the information the Church needs to become this living, breathing entity known as the body of Christ, the Bride awaiting the appearing of her beloved Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. Chapters 4-6 give us the duty / the work / the application of the doctrine of the first three chapters.
Today, we traveled through an incredible amount of scripture, finishing chapter four. The battle between the old man, our Adamic nature, “the flesh” we are born into, and our new man, which is created in Christ Jesus, is very real! As Paul stated in Galatians 5:17, the flesh lusts / strives against the Holy Spirit in our lives, and he wants us to have victory over the power of the flesh.
We are given lists of sinful activities we are to put off, and lists of righteous attitudes and actions we are to put on, to encourage us in our new life in Christ. Romans 6, Galatians 5, and Colossians 3 all explain in great detail this lifelong battle between the flesh and the Spirit.
The one thing we all need to understand: Our flesh will not inherit the kingdom of God. We are subject the works of the flesh listed in Galatians 5:19-21. Romans 6 is clear that we will either serve Christ or serve sin, as described in the works of the flesh.
Romans 6:11-14: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
As we prepare to unpack Ephesians 5 next week, please take the time to read Romans 6, Galatians 5, Ephesians 4, and Colossians 3 – a chapter per day, and meditate on the victory we already have in Christ Jesus our Lord. Cap off the week by reading Ephesians 5 on Friday. Chapter 4 gives us the firm foundation of who we are in Christ, and how we are to live in victory, in preparation for what we are to do with this victorious life in the next two chapters. See you next Sunday!