Discipleship According to the Letter to the Ephesians

Chapter 2 continued…

                Though we are studying from the book of Ephesians, discipleship is the main lesson.  Before we move on to chapter 3, being led by the Spirit, the writer would like to take a short detour.   Look if you will at the twelfth chapter of Hebrews, keeping in mind the former discussions from the first two chapters of Ephesians.  Let us begin to understand just what it means to be a disciple of Jesus, to be a part of the temple made without hands (Eph. 2:20-22).

                “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

                We are God’s dwelling place.  God had given dominion of this world to Adam who gave it in turn to satan through original sin.  Through the reconciliation made possible by Jesus, through this sacrifice of our own will, we allow God’s will to reign, as it is written, on earth as it is in heaven. Upon this understanding please turn to the book of Hebrews chapter twelve.

                “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (V.1-2)

                 Jesus is the alpha and omega, the beginning and end.  He is everything, our last and only hope.  Consider the verses of Ephesians studied earlier (1: 22-23).  All things have been placed under His feet, which is where we place our troubles as saints of God.  We should let nothing overwhelm us in this life, for the sake of those who would believe, through our testimony and example.  All things are under his feet, how often we let things distract us from this truth through either pride or shame.  Verse one says we are to lay aside every weight, not only the ones we don’t think we can handle.  Paul reminds us all of the sin which so easily besets us.  We have to let God have everything.  It is His glory and it is his victory fulfilled in our lives.  Our only real duty as disciples is to show gratitude and praise as we obediently follow the lead of the Spirit.

                What do we do when we get caught up in ourselves and our circumstances? 

Remember Jesus who lived a sinless life in order that he might die for the sake of sinners.  In all of our striving against our own sin we have not yet resisted unto blood.  Get back in the race.  There is no reason for us to be proud, as we have done nothing to deserve our salvation.  Therefore we also have no need for overwhelming shame, as God loved us before we ever knew Him.  Give it all to Jesus.  Be glad to be chastised as it is evidence of our salvation.  Let God bring the lessons to fruition in our spirit.  This is what we must do to receive the kingdom of God; we must walk according to the spirit and not the flesh.

                What do we do? 

Look at verse twelve and thirteen (Heb. 12).

               “Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” 

             As we read further in the chapter we should see the importance of this lesson.  The root of things will determine what will grow.  Roots of peace and holiness will lead us to glory, while roots of bitterness will lead to destruction.  It’s not an individual thing: what one does directly affects another.   So often our actions cannot be repaired, this is the weight of the world and we weren’t meant to carry it.  The Israelites proved the point, so long ago, we cannot carry it.  Still, through the redemption set forth by Jesus Christ we have come to Mount Sion and have access to the city of God in the company of all the angels.  We who endure have access to all the saints before us, ‘the spirits of just men made perfect’.  We have access to Jesus, the mediator of this new covenant and most of all his precious blood by which we have been redeemed.  If you understand this you should shout.  It should be easy to be grateful, it should come natural to praise.  Discipleship is keeping the miracle of Jesus as the center of our focus, in constant remembrance, while walking toward those in lack.  Hallelujah!

             “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire (v.28-29).”

             Amen