The goal of the ministry is LOVE: (1:6-7):
Some believers in the Ephesians church had lost love for each other. They wandered away from the purpose and turned to meaningless talk. They wanted to be teachers of the law but incapable of doing so. Instead of recognising their inadequacies, they became chatter boxes, babbling with great authority, never understanding their subject or even what they were saying about it.
That’s why John the apostle wrote a special letter to the Ephesian church that they have lost the first love.
EX: Many mainline churches in India are basically Sunday social groups. They have no love for the Word of God. They come to the church to please the pastor and to meet their friends. Even the sermons by Pastor sans interest. Pastors come without any devotion or preparation. So it is time that we look at our churches and correct them so that right doctrines and teaching is given to the congregation.
The law is a diagnostic tool: (1:8-11):
Paul viewed the Law as holy, righteous, and good (Rom.7:12). The Law is good provided it is used properly. There is an inappropriate, legalistic use of the Law which Paul condemns, but there is also a proper use of the Law that Paul embraced. The law must be used lawfully. The Law is designed to show people of their sinfulness. The Law is intended for those who remain unconvinced of their sin. The Law is not Gospel, but the Gospel is not lawless (Rom.3:20-31). When a sinner recognizes his sin and believes on Jesus Christ, he is freed from the curse of the Law (Gal.3:10-14). That person is no longer under the Law but should now walk in the Spirit (Gal.5:13-26). The righteous demands of the Law are met by the indwelling Holy Spirit as a believer yields to God (Rom.8:1-4). the lawful use of the law is to expose, restrain and convict the lawless. The law without the Gospel is nothing but diagnosis without remedy. But the Gospel without Law is only good news which a person will not embrace because he has not heard the bad-news. So the law and Gospel go together.
Paul takes examples from the 10-Commandments of O.T. (Ex. 20:3-17). He takes the first-three violators corresponding to the 10-Commandments.
- The law breakers and rebels: This group comprises of robbers, murderers, not following the rules and regulations etc.
- The ungodly and sinful: This group comprises of all people without the Gospel.
- The unholy and irreligious: This group consists of those who profane, blaspheme, arrogant, evil doers, fanatics etc.
Paul gives a second set of violators corresponding to the 2-half of 10-commanments: They are:
- Murderers of fathers and mothers: Honour they fathers and mothers (5th & 6th Command)
- Adulterers and perverts: Thou shalt not commit adultery (7th Command). They include whoremongers, sodomites, fornicators.
- Slave traders: Thou shalt not steal. (8th command). They even include kidnappers (Ex 21:16; Deut 24:7).
- Liars and perjurers: Thou shalt not bear false witness (9th command)
Only the (10th commandment) “Thou shalt not covet” is not included.
Paul’s yardstick is again a reference for every person to evaluate for himself and for the members of the congregation.
God entrusted Paul the Gospel of grace: (1:12-14):
God counted Paul to be faithful. It is the ultimate, because only the faithfulness counts for every believer. “Faithfulness must start from the beginning.” In the parable told by Jesus “the parable of King’s ten servants” (Lk.19:11-27), we can see the King appreciating his servant as “well done, my good servant! because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter” (Lk.19:17).
God has considered Paul and appointed him to His service even though he was once a persecutor of the church, blasphemer and violent man. His life was changed at Damascus vision and now he is more than a slave to God. We don’t have to be smart to be faithful or talented or gifted to be faithful. Faithfulness is something very down-to-earth and everyone can be faithful in the area which God has placed us. God has entrusted Paul the ministry of building the churches. This is the greatest honour one can have. Paul’s past life did not qualify him for the service but it was God’s grace and mercy which has covered all his sins and short-comings. We receive this ministry only by the mercies of God (2 Cor. 4:1). One cannot boast about his ministry.
Paul sinned in his ignorance and unbelief. Ignorance and unbelief cannot save a person, but they do invite God’s mercies. The sin committed in ignorance and unbelief makes a person less guilty than a person who commits knowingly. Yet both of them do not qualify. But the grace of God was so abundant that it can cover all our shortcoming and sins when we accept Him as our personal Saviour. It was true in the case of Paul, that God’s abundant grace and love was manifested in his love when he became obedient to God.