The Biblical book of Ephesians is such a
great book. Actually, the Bible contains sixty-six great books, for every book
reveals much of the nature of God and His great love for us. The apostle Paul’s
letter to the church at Ephesus is an epistle that can and should be read by
new Christians and reread by those of us who have experienced faith in Christ
for a long time, for it both instructs and encourages.
In Ephesians, we see a progression of
thought that is mirrored in the spiritual development of a believer. It
explains Christianity’s impact on the self, our interactions with others
including those nearest to us, and finally the world around us with all its
issues. Let’s not run ahead too quickly because without the original
foundational relationship, the others will not make sense.
What does it take to become a Christian?
How do I know that God wants me?
Some people who have been on a faith
journey for many years may still be asking these questions. They doubt that
they are worthy enough for God. They’re struggling with sin or not doing enough
for Christ.
This is bad theology.
Have a look at the world’s great religions
and you’ll find that most of them operate on the premise of working your way
into their god’s good books- pray so many prayers, do good deeds, even suffer-
in order to achieve a place in heaven or a better life next time around.
Christianity is the only religion which begins from the standpoint of God, who
in His love, extends free salvation through the person of His Son, Jesus
Christ.
In the opening chapter of Ephesians, Paul
explains that God was thinking about you before He even created this world in
which we live- that He created you to be adopted by Him. It’s only sin that has
separated us from God, and God provided the way back to Himself because Jesus
bore the sins of all people on the cross. God did it all. Our part is just to
come to Him and ask Him into our lives.
When a baby is born to loving parents, that
child is taken home and cared for and provided with all he or she needs for a
happy life- necessities and luxuries, discipline, boundaries, freedoms and
love. The baby grows into a mature adult. Throughout their lives, the family
shares a bond of love and relationship. So
it is with our Heavenly Father when we are adopted into His family. The life He
gives is one of incredible relationship and blessing. This is why Paul writes
in Ephesians chapter 1:
“I keep asking
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I
pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know
the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His
holy people, and His incomparably great power
for us who believe.”
(verses 17
& 18)
The western world seems to be increasingly
involved in a mad scramble for wealth and power and all the trappings that come
with it. The fact of the matter is that of themselves, things, achievements,
experiences and many relationships are transitory, as is all life on this
earth. Without God in our lives we live without hope for a lasting future, for
a love that surpasses all earthly ones and for strength imparted through His
Holy Spirit.
My parents first took me to church and taught
me about God. God’s love has been the love of my life. My wonderful husband and
two beautiful boys and lovely daughter have been the loves of my life too. But
one need not be born into a Christian home to become a Christian. God is
drawing people from all walks of life, throughout the world into His family.
The gospel, or “good news” is for everybody.
If you want to become a Christian, it’s as simple as praying a prayer of
commitment like the following prayer:
I come before You acknowledging You as the only one God- Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me. Thank You, Father God, for sending Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross, honouring You and making a way for sinful people to come back into relationship with You. I acknowledge that I am a sinner. Please forgive my sin and cleanse me I pray. I receive Jesus Christ into my life to be my Lord and Saviour for the rest of my days. May You give me strength through the power of the Holy Spirit to live my life as a Christian. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour. Amen
And then following up with Bible reading and fellowship with other Christians in a caring church. There are lots of resources online.
Note that Paul was actually directing his prayer to the believers in Ephesus. We see that life in Christ is one of continuing revelations and knowledge, and the wisdom to use that knowledge for God. Paul continues this theme in another prayer in chapter 3:
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (verses 16-19)
It is my prayer that anyone reading here will know the transforming love of God in their hearts.
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