It is my prayer that as we begin our study of this treasure of gospel doctrine that we come to know and to love the Saviour much better.
This epistle stands at the apex of gospel revelation. It has been termed the “crown and climax of Pauline theology.” It is an epistle that centres upon the revelation of the riches of Christ’s grace and love. It takes us from the darkness and alienation in which sinners once dwelt (2:1-3) to the riches of grace of which the believer will partake in glory (2:4-10).
We will consider verse 1 in our first study.
I. THE AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE.
Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God.
1. Paul is in prison in Rome as he writes this epistle. He is where we leave him at the end of The Acts of the Apostles. Paul’s evangelistic ministry is practically over. During his labours he demonstrated that the gospel was indeed the power of God unto salvation. Heathen religion had to give way before its truth. Places where once darkness ruled supreme had been conquered by the gospel and the truth of Christ now held sway. All over the region called Asia, the standard of the gospel had been triumphantly raised. No greater example of the triumph of the gospel existed than that of the church in Ephesus.
2. Paul was an apostle. He was a man set apart for a special mission and endued with power for that mission. Acts 9:15; 13:1-4. His enduement was above that of ordinary workers and that was displayed at Ephesus, Acts 19:11-12.
3. Paul’s apostleship was of God. He served the Lord Jesus in the will of God. Paul ever set forth his divine call. This was because of the attack upon Paul whereby his apostleship was questioned. 1 Cor 11:5-6, 12:11-12. This subject comes up in his Galatian epistle as well, 1:1-2, 11-12.
So in the opening verses of this epistle he lays stress upon his divine appointment. He is speaking to them by the authority of Christ. It is to such men alone we should listen. The stamp of authority today is the preaching of the Word of God. To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them, Isaiah 8:20. God’s men must be called and must execute their duties faithfully.
II. THE ADDRESSEES.
To the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.
1. The epistle is believed to be more of a circular letter, written to other churches in Asia as well as to Ephesus. Thus, it is to the faithful in Christ Jesus. It is to be noted that in this epistle there is no mention of local issues or people or places. This is because it was also being sent to other churches and therefore such local references would have been inappropriate. This means that we, who are not of that region or indeed, of that era, may read and benefit from this epistle.
2. Note the description of a Christian. Saints. The word means holy ones. A Christian is one who is holy.
3. These holy ones are in Christ. This is not a man-produced holiness. Man is a sinful being capable only of sinning. Jer 17:5. Rather it is a Christ-produced holiness. Man is incapable of holiness. He must be saved, washed and made holy by the power of Christ working through faith.
4. A Christian is faithful. The word means the opposite of unbelieving, John 20:27. It characterises God, 1 Cor 1:9; 2 Cor 1:18.
The Christian is faithful to Christ, His Word, His name, His cause. How offended some are when questioned on whether they are truly saved but they show no faithfulness to Christ!
Faithfulness demands a dying to self. Gal 1:4, 4:5-7. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts, Galatians 5:24.
5. Here is a reminder of the power of the gospel. Ephesus was a sinful city, given over to idolatry, Acts 19:26. But how mightily the gospel changed the region, Acts 19:10, 18-20.
Scripture: O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help, Hosea 13:9.
The word ‘destroyed’ in our text appears first in our Bible in Genesis 6:11. “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” The ailment that has ever wrought destruction amongst the people of God is that which was at work in Noah’s day – SIN! We must bear in mind that the Lord Jesus said that the circumstances which brought about the judgment of the world by the flood will return to dominate mankind just before His return! “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be,” Matthew 24:36-37. While no man knows the exact day of the Saviour’s return, we are given to understand the atmosphere which will develop just before that day – REBELLION AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD AND VIOLENCE!
I think we see just such an atmosphere developing WORLDWIDE today.
Sadly, it must be noted that within the professing Church of Christ this atmosphere is having its effect! Many Christians are persuaded to compromise with the trends of today in order to avoid confrontation and conflict with society.
I say that this trend may be seen even in our own denomination. In saying that, I say nothing new for I have been crying out against a growing spirit of accommodation with worldliness evident in the FPC!
Nowhere is that trend evident than in the present situation in which leading ordained men within our Presbytery seem content to maintain membership of the DUP, even since that party has endorsed sodomy by selecting and recommending a sodomite candidate in the local elections of a few months ago.
As listed above, there here have been other examples of the departure by FP members within the DUP from the paths of Bible Christianity as was embraced by our founding fathers and I am on record as protesting against such.
It would appear that a majority within our denomination is content with that situation for there has not been a rising up to obey God’s Word and deal with this issue of non-separation from sinful associations forbidden us of God. Perhaps if the general membership of the FPC had a voice then I might be proved wrong but as it is, there seems to be an acquiescing with this sin, except for a sizeable remnant of ministers and elders.
Tonight I wish to comment on the state of affairs within our denomination in the light of our text.
I. WE MUST IDENTIFY THE DESTROYER.
As we heard in our conference last weekend when Dr Douglas related the story of that wonderful prayer meeting 70 years ago which resulted in Dr Paisley being filled with the Holy Spirit, he was awakened to see things as never before. He broke links with the Orange Order, the Unionist Party and other associations because he saw in them that which was contrary to God’s mind and will. That perception is needed again!!
The defeat of Samson lay, not in the Philistines becoming stronger but in him losing his strength, so therein lies the reason for the situation in the FPC. We are destroying ourselves!
Samuel’s words to David may be applied to ourselves, “Thou art the man”. We stand condemned for the decline of God’s work in the land. This does not mean that God absolves the modernists and ecumenists and lying politicians for their wicked contribution to the misery of our province.
No! It means that our sins brought the afflictions and defeats inflicted upon us by our enemies upon our own heads.
1. There has been a determination walk in the path that led to destruction. Ulster and our own denomination have refused to heed the warnings of God’s word. We have followed falsehood and turned from the Bible until there is hardly even the memory of God’s truth in some places in our land. Protestants hardly know what Protestantism means. Thus we have become guilty of our own destruction.
The earth in Noah’s day was devoted or consecrated to violence for that is what the word ‘filled’ means. Here is what has happened in Ulster. We are a land ‘devoted to corruption’. Its pursuit has become more important than obeying God’s Word. This corruption is what has brought destruction. Indeed so closely linked is ‘corruption’ and ‘destruction’, that God uses just one Hebrew word for both, Genesis 6:12-13.
2. There has been a refusal of the means God has prescribed for escape. As the folly of our way became clear, Christians have not heeded directions for escape. Having drunk the poison, now they will not drink the antidote!
3.That refusal has become increasingly stout! The shame and defeats that followed the endorsement of ‘power-sharing with the IRA’ has not brought about a realisation of wrong-doing and a spirit of repentance but rather, there has been a shameful defending of that wrong!
II. WE MUST SEE THE EXTENT OF THE DESTRUCTION.
Let us take a look at God’s use of this word ‘destroyed’ and we shall see the exact extent of what our sins have done to our land.
1. Corrupted, Exodus 8:24. Our sins have become as a swarm of flies that have filled the land, bringing disease and death. A fly is a tiny insect, insignificant yet combined with others it presents a major disaster. The sins of Ulster Christians have been multiplying until they are a swarm, separating us from God, Isaiah 59:1. Nothing spreads disease like the fly. Every law of God, every standard of decency is trampled underfoot in Ulster.
2. Blinded, Exodus 21:26. Here the word is ‘perish’. There is a great blindness to God’s truth. Here is one of the reasons why it is so difficult to instil some knowledge of what is happening in our Province. “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant,” Isaiah 56:10. How tragic for a land when the watchmen, those with the duty of watching out for the people’s spiritual wellbeing, are blind and silent because they are blind. Some have not yet seen the danger or the threat in Ulster.
3. Wasting, Proverbs 18:9. Gone are the days of the Protestant work ethic. Grants, allowances, subsistences and hand-outs are to be sought by every means, fair or foul. Brexit is rejected by many because of the greed for grants etc! “I have a right to it” is the slogan, the watch cry, of one and all. Such a spirit is evidence of the destructive force of sin at work in our midst.
4. Spoiled, II Kings 17:20, ‘spoilers’. Spoilers have been at work in Ulster. Lives, homes, marriages, businesses, towns, villages, districts—we have watched our land corrupt and rot away before our eyes and it is because of our sins.
III. WE MUST RECOGNISE THE ONLY HOPE WE HAVE OF DELIVERANCE.
“But in me is thine help.” There is help in none other, verse 4. Certain destruction lays in every other direction. This indication that there is help in the Lord is also an invitation to apply for that help. How is that done? you ask? The very next verse says, “I will be thy king”. Help is found in making Christ our King.
1. It calls for a ceasing of rebellion. No more ‘self rule’. Rather an utter surrender to Christ. “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” Acts 9:6.
2. There must be an obeying of His law. The Bible is the Christian’s chart and compass. It is our sole rule of faith and duty. That must once again be reinstated as our law!
3. There must be a public honouring of Christ. Mal 1:6-8. The distinctiveness of a God-honouring life is absent from the church of Christ today.
Where there is such a turning to Christ then there shall be a knowing His help. Such help our fathers testified of. “Ebenezer”, I Samuel 7:12.
He stands ready to help all who call upon Him in sincerity. 2 Chronicles 14:11, 15:2-4. (Verses referred to by Dr Douglas in our Conference last weekend!)
Each one needs help in the face of eternity. The constitutional crisis that has overtaken us is but symptomatic of the greater crisis that is fast overtaking all who are out of Christ. As in the affairs of an nation, so in the affairs of men. There is an hour when the consequences of living in defiance of Christ will catch up with men. Who will help you, sinner, in the hour of your departure from this world to face the eternal consequences of your sins? Having defied Him you must now face Him as He comes to judge the rebel. As Ulster could have avoided the crisis that now stares her in the face had she lived in obedience, rather than in defiance of God’s word, so you may be saved from the certain doom which follows sin. Who can save you? None can but the Lord Jesus Christ. Flee to Him now. Under the covering of His blood there is that perfect and lasting help that sinners need. There is pardon for all crimes. There is redemption from sin’s power and dominion. Seek the shelter of that blood without further delay.
Now let us see the second thing we obtain from reading and believing the Bible.
It is PATIENCE. “ . . . . . that we through patience.”
The word translated ‘patience’ in Rom 15:4 means in the New Testament, the endurance of a man who is not made to swerve from his purpose and his loyalty to God and His truth, not even by the greatest trials and sufferings. This patience comes from our reading, studying and believing the Bible.
1. As we read the Bible we are enabled to bear patiently with life’s trials.
Waiting for a bus can create impatience but when it appears around a corner, suddenly impatience goes. The Bible shows us that we are not waiting in vain, 1 Corinthians 15:58.
The vine encounters winds and buffetings of the weather. But it is tied to a support and so can stand the buffeting. What the Bible tells us enables us to have patience and gives us comfort in our troubles! “Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy,” James 5:11. In the story of Job we ‘see the end, the purpose that God worked out in his trials!’ Job 42:12.
We learn that the Lord rescues His people from trial and sustains them and this truth gives us comfort.
2. In life we shall ALL have trials. So said the Lord Jesus. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33. We cannot live in a world filled with enemies without encountering opposition and trial. BUT, the Lord Jesus our DELIVERER has conquered the world so we may run to Him in our trouble. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe,” Proverbs 18:10. See also Ps 34:19.
