The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

1974

EPHESIANS

Gospel (Mt 28:18-20). Failure to engage the world with the Gospel will result in two undesirable consequences: 1. The Christian will always be on the defense, which is unscriptural (Jms 4:7) While it is true that the Word of God reminds us not to be “of” the world (I Jn 2:15), sharing its distorted priorities, it is also true that the Word of God commands us to be “in” the world’s face with the Gospel (Mt 28:18-20). Because Christians, for the most part, have engaged the world with a social Gospel instead of the scriptural Gospel, the world has infiltrated the Church and the Church is now on the defense. This is a serious mistake on the part of any Christian. Failure to put the Devil on the run means you will never get a break, i.e., never get a breather. Dinesh D’Souza in What’s So Great About Christianity notes:

The Bible tells Christians not to be of the world, sharing its distorted priorities, but it does call upon believers to be in the world, fully engaged. Many Christians have abdicated this mission. They have instead sought a workable, comfortable modus vivendi in which they agree to leave the secular world alone if the secular world agrees to leave them alone. 1

2. The world will always be on the offense, which is unhealthy (I Jn 2:15-17) A wise man once noted:

If we don’t engage our culture with the Gospel, then our culture will engage us with evil. Because the Church has remained relatively silent for the last fifty years or so (the Church has failed to spread the Gospel like it was commanded to do), we are now seeing that liberal culture come to fruition in America ( Jud 21:25 ). Either we love Jesus and do His will (Jn 14:15) or we love the world and do its will. A wise man once noted: If we don’t engage our culture with the Gospel, then our culture will engage us with evil.

1 D’Souza, Dinesh. What’s So Great About Christianity , Washington, DC, Regnery, 2007. Print. READ NEXT - Philippians 1-4

PROPHETICAL EVENTS IN EPHESIANS

Prophecies

Fulfilled

The promise of a Kingdom where Christ will rule Eph 1:10 (c. AD 62) The promise of a resurrected body for NT saints Eph 1:14 & 4:30 (c. AD 62) The promise of Wrath when Christ returns Eph 2:3 (c. AD 62) The promise of rewards to all who are found faithful when Christ returns Eph 6:8 (c. AD 62)

To be fulfilled in the Millennium Rev 20:4,6 To be fulfilled at the Rapture Rev 4:2

To be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Coming Rev 19:11-21

To be fulfilled after the Rapture Rev 4:2

NOTES OF INTEREST IN EPHESIANS EPHESIANS quotes the OT 4 times. 2 of the 4 OT quotes refer directly to CHRIST

1. Eph 4:8 2. Eph 5:14 3. Eph 5:31 4. Eph 6:2, 3

Psa 68:18 Isa 60:1 Gen 2:24

Exo 20:12 & Lev 19:3 & Deut 5:16