Spiritual Warfare

Building the Church

The church is the assembled people of God, not the building they assemble in. However, Paul compares the church to a building, a temple for God, and he tells us to build well. How do we do that?

Two Ways

We know that there is a way that leads to death and destruction through sin, and we see that there is a way of following Jesus that leads to life described at length in scripture. Is there another option, one that involves faith and a gift of eternal life without requiring any change on our part? Can one not be a disciple of Jesus Christ and still be saved by faith?

Spiritual Warfare

Following Jesus is hard, especially if we really do it the way Paul describes. Satan will oppose us learning to do so, making it even harder. That's why Paul wraps up Ephesians with a discussion of spiritual warfare. Every day is a battle, but we are guaranteed to lose if we fight the wrong battle with the wrong objective or neglect to use the tools of war God has given us.

Submitting to Each Other

Paul says that part of walking wisely, walking worthy of our calling, is that we must submit to each other. What does that mean? Paul uses three examples to explain, but the concept isn't limited to these examples. We must submit to one another in every human relationship if we are to be what Jesus created us to be.

What Walking Worthy Looks Like

What's the point of theology? Paul begins to answer that question in Ephesians chapter 4. Because we are called, we are told to walk worthy of our calling. What does that look like? He begins to answer that question here, and he continues through the remainder of the letter.