Ephesus was a major city in the Roman Empire. It was wealthy, diverse, and deeply influenced by pagan worship, particularly the cult of Artemis. The city’s culture was full of immorality, coarse speech, and idolatrous practices. So, Paul is urging the church to stand out from that surrounding culture. He admonishes them to live and speak in ways that reflect their new identity in Christ.
Salvation doesn’t just forgive sin; it transforms life (II Cor. 5:17)! The one who took now gives! Theft was common in city life under Roman rule. By calling believers to work honestly, Paul is promoting a new moral identity rooted in Christ. This would be an identity that stood out sharply from the surrounding culture.
An odd instruction is given by the apostle Paul to the church of Ephesus: stop lying! You would think that would be obvious, right? Paul is exhorting Christians to walk away from lying. Two things concerning contextual background need to be mentioned to help understand this passage. FIRST, Paul is….
What do you do when confronted with fear? What kind of fear do you possess? There is a right and a wrong kind of fear. Most would be afraid of the demon possessed men; in fact, no man would go near them. However, it is not the devils that are to be feared. It is actually the devils that are afraid of Jesus.
Everything about the promised Messiah is fulfilled in Jesus Christ! In fact, this is only one of over 300 Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that are fulfilled in Jesus. God is true to His Word then AND now! However, sometimes, the modern-day church will mistrust God’s Word when it comes to other areas of our lives.
