The objective of this lesson: to set a context for this quarter's focus in the minds of the students.
There are several things we need to keep in mind as we focus on this material this quarter. (1) This was written to first century Christians. (2) These Christians were primarily gentile Christians (note 2:1-3 and observe the "formerly" and the contrast between "you" and "we": both gentile Christians and Jewish Christians were dependent on God's rich mercy given through Jesus Christ; note 2:11-13; note 3:1, 6). (3) Pay careful attention to Paul's "before and after" contrast in chapter 2 as well as chapter 4. This is an approach Paul often used (see Colossians 3:1-11 and Romans 6) to challenge gentile Christians to be aware that there was a distinct difference in the way one who belonged to idols behaved and the way one who belonged to Christ behaved.
Stress the three things that should be grasped as we approach this material. This letter was written to the Ephesians in the first century, not us in the 21st century. The better we understand the values that were to guide their thinking, the better we will grasp the values that are to guide our thinking. It is important to note this study is based on a contrast.
First, realize change is difficult and demanding for anyone at any time. Do not think that it was easy for first century Christians to commit to salvation in Jesus Christ. If the person was a Jewish Christian, he or she had to break away from some traditions that were thousands of years old and some that were generations old. Since Jesus did not fulfill most Jewish Messianic expectations, the majority of Jews had difficulty understanding "why you [Jewish Christians] are deserting Judaism." When this breakaway involved accepting uncircumcised gentiles as fully saved persons who did not have to become Jewish proselytes, the difficulty was even greater. In being a Christian, a Jewish convert easily could find himself or herself alienated from those with whom he or she previously shared a bond of closeness.
When a person is leaving an existence to begin a new existence, the contrast in actual life is clearer than it is for a person who always has lived in a Christian environment. All the writings in the New Testament to Christians are to persons who are first generation Christians. There are no writings to people who came from a Christian past or environment--those people did not exist in the earliest congregations. The change is more dramatic for the person leaving a truly ungodly environment to be a Christian than it is for a person coming from a Christian environment to be a Christian. In many instances, godly Jewish values were identical to the Christ's values.
For a gentile who became a Christian, the challenges were as great if not greater. Consider the realities of idolatry. If you belonged to Jesus Christ, you no longer worshipped idols. Yet, idolatry was socially pervasive! It was ingrained in all segments of society--from household shrines, to the workplace, to politics. Thus you no longer honored the family gods, and the family might be "certain" you would bring the wrath of the gods on the family. You no longer honored the patron god or goddess of your work guild [union], and your fellow workers might be certain you would bring the wrath of the gods on the business enterprise. Thus you might lose your job so the owner would not run the risk of irritating the gods! Or, you might be seen as a political traitor to the community because you refused to honor the gods. It was rather simple for some gentile Christians to become outcasts in their own community. It did not always happen, but it happened.
For a person leaving a background in idolatry where the worship of multiple gods was permitted, becoming a Christian who worshipped one God involved a distinct contrast in the basic understanding of deity and of spiritual values.
Second, Paul taught these new converts that there were not two compatible behaviors in a convert's life--one occurring when you were among Christians and one occurring when you were among those who did not believe in Jesus Christ. Constantly there was the challenge of finding the proper balance between being true to your Christian values and beliefs and not needlessly irritating those who rejected the creator God and His son Jesus Christ. At times that was possible and at times irritation occurred regardless of how the Christian behaved. However, if the choice was between irritating a person who did not believe in Jesus Christ or being true to Christian values, there was no choice--a Christian must be true to his/her values that were Christ based.
The concept that would be quite different for many Jewish Christians would be this: one did not deliberately irritate others with his/her religious convictions. The concept that would be quite different for many gentile Christians would be this: one did not compromise his/her religious convictions regards of the situation. Note in Acts 17:30, 31 that some of the Asiarchs (NAS) were friends of Paul. These were powerful individuals who were not Christian in any sense.
Third, the challenge was often great because the values of a Christian clashed with the values of society. The Christian regarded honesty as a virtue. Society often could regard deceit as a virtue. The Christian regarded kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness as positive, life granting emotions. Society could regard anger, wrath, confusion, and slander as positive emotions that made life possible in a "dog eat dog" society. The Christian did not seek control through intimidation. Society often sought to gain control through not only intimidation but through violence. Then as now the Christian expressions of gentleness and consideration were often viewed as expressions of weakness.
Society has more powerful influence on each of us than any of us care to see or admit. Often it is society and not God that determines what our personal values are. If society says something is weak, we tend to shy away from it regardless of what God says.
Fourth, too many Christians assumed they had a "right" to salvation regardless of how they lived. Put in common terms of the religious of this age, too many Christians thought that theological perspectives saved you regardless of your behavior. Or, if "I" know the "right" views, it does not matter how "I" live my daily life. Thus one was "godly" if he or she believed the "right" things but deliberately lived in known, understood "ungodly" ways. There is a vast difference between godly knowledge and godly behavior. Godly values exist when godly knowledge expresses itself in godly behavior. That vast difference always has existed!
While this statement is in no way a rejection of correct knowledge or its value, we must note that of itself knowledge is insufficient. To know something is meaningless to "me" unless "I" allow "my" knowledge to actively influence "my" behavior.
It is extremely difficult to recognize a behavior that typified your past adult life is an ungodly behavior simply because you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ. The call of Christ is not, "Live as you please as you follow me to God." The call of Christ is, "Let me teach you God's values as you follow me to Him." The Christian challenge is to live in the manner that causes others to see and honor God. If we are Christian, we represent Jesus Christ and God in our lives. Consider Matthew 5:16; 9:8; 15:30, 31; and 1 Peter 2:9,10. That basically means we make our choices and decisions on the basis of God's values and purposes. It takes a very honest person to surrender to God instead of surrendering to self. It is much too easy to substitute our desires for God's values and make ourselves believe that our desires are God's values.
Stress that Christ does not call us to live as we please or as we were taught. Christ calls us to allow him to determine the values that control who we are as people. Quite often that knowledge requires personal discovery. We do not intuitively know and understand God's values. Sometimes God's values are in complete contrast to society's values.
For Thought and Discussion
Change is difficult for anyone at any time. We prefer the stay in our "comfort zone," and change is often uncomfortable.
They often endorsed values that were counter to traditions they had followed all their existence. As a result, they frequently were abandoned by those who were close to them in the past.
Use idolatry as an example. Christians did not honor the family's shrine, or the employer's patron god or goddess, or the city's god or goddess. Many feared such behavior would result in the wrath of the gods. Thus, some people regarded Christians as dangerous.
The two behaviors are (a) one suitable for a Christian setting/environment and (b) one suitable for an ungodly setting/environment.
The constant challenge is finding the proper balance that is true to Christian values but does not unnecessarily irritate ungodly people.
There is no choice when one would be required to abandon Christian values.
The challenge is great when Christian values clash with social values. Examples would include what is honest and what is weak.
They assume they have a right to be saved regardless of how they choose to live.
It is difficult to recognize that something I did before I became a Christian is completely inappropriate Christian behavior.
The call is not, "Live as you please." The call is, "Let me teach you new values that lead you to God."
He/she represents God and Christ.
The challenge is to declare the excellencies of God who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 1