As Paul the
apostle continued to exhort and encourage the Ephesian church
members, he told them they had “not so learned Christ” as
the “other Gentiles” who were unbelievers. In contrast to the
pagans' “darkened understanding”, “being alienated
from the life of God” and “ignorance” “because
of the blindness of their heart”, the Ephesians, according to
chapter four and verse twenty-one of Paul's letter were told, “the
truth is in Jesus”. We read:
If so be
that you have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is
in Jesus:
The
verse begins, “If so be that you have heard him, and have been
taught by him,...” Paul began with the words, “If so be
that” or “indeed, inasmuch, as and since” “you have
heard” “are endowed with the faculty of hearing, given
audience and not deaf” “him” which refers to Jesus
Christ, “and have been taught” or “held discourse with
others in order to instruct them, deliver didactic discourses, impart
instruction, instill doctrine into one, enjoined, explained or
expounded a thing” “by him” which refers to “Jesus
Christ”. The Ephesians were to behave in a manner which was in
keeping with how they had “learned Christ”, and this came
through “hearing Him” and being “taught by him”.
The
verse continues, “...as the truth is in Jesus.” Paul
added, “as the truth” which means “what is true in any
matter under consideration, in reality, in fact and certainly” “is
in Jesus” whose name means “Jehovah is Salvation” and is
“the Messiah and the Son of God”. The “truth” is found in
“Jesus”, and as the Ephesian church members listened to and were
“taught” by Him, they would walk differently than the “other
Gentiles”.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we understand the importance of
hearing “Jesus” and being “taught by him”. “The
truth is in Jesus”, and if we are ever to know what “reality,
fact and certainty” are, we must know Him. Let these words inspire
us to call upon the Holy Spirit to remind us of the words of “Jesus”
and as we hear them and are taught of them, may we live in a manner
that is in contrast to that of the “unbelieving” world.
Next
time Paul tells the Ephesians to “put off” “the old
man”, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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