Central Thought: Christianity is all about knowing Christ, living for him and making him known.
Hymn: I’ve a message from the Lord.
Text: Ephesians 1:1-23
Christ is the author and finisher of the Christian faith. Christian life is all about Christ living His life through us. It is all about knowing Christ, living for him and making Him known. He is the reason we do what we do as Christians. Unfortunately, we live at a time when Christ is not given His rightful place in the Church. A closer look at the advertisements on our bill boards, handbills and posters including those on electronic media shows that little or nothing is said about our Lord Jesus Christ. Rather, emphasis and prominence is given to the head of missions, pastors in charge, speakers and denominations. The worst is that some of the messages from our pulpits say little or nothing about Christ. But we know that Biblical Christianity is not about any man or organization. Rather, it is all about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus said in John 5:39 “search the scriptures, for in them you think ye have eternal life and they are they which testify of me”. Both Old and New Testament is about life, ministry and mission of Christ. He is the beginning and ending of our Christian faith. This study will help us identify some of the benefits we have in Christ and how to make Him the center of our lives.
Lesson Objectives:
- To understand the phrase “Christ the reason”.
- To appreciate our inheritance in Christ Jesus; and
- To identify some factors that can enhance our living the life of Christ.
Question 1.) What do you understand by the phrase “Christ the Reason”.
“Christ the reason” implies that our Lord Jesus Christ is the cause and purpose of all we do as Christians. Our actions and inactions are explained in Christ. The basic reason for Christianity is to crown Jesus as Lord. When we give our lives to Christ, our sins are forgiven. He becomes the Savior and Controller of our lives. He assumes the position of Lord, Master and Ruler of our lives. He now has dominion over our lives, decisions and ambitions. We are no longer in charge of our lives but Christ is. Paul could say “ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” Christian living is not about us, but about Christ.
Question 2.) What made Paul to address the brethren at Ephesus as “The Saints and Faithful in Christ”.
Ephesians 1:1
Paul’s letter was addressed to the saints at Ephesus, that is, to the Christians who were members of the body of Christ there.
The notion that the word “saints” is for some extremely holy and chosen dead Christians has no place in scriptures. All faithful Christians are saints and all saints are Christians.
Anyone who is not a saint in this life can never be declared a saint hereafter. He also called them “faithful” which means that they have been truthful and loyal to Christ and His word since they believed. Paul used such excellent appellation for the brethren at Ephesus, because at the time of writing, the brethren were following Christ’s manner of life. They had supreme love for God and for one another, in addition to laboring earnestly for the kingdom of God.
Question 3.) What is the state of a man without Christ and how can such a person benefit from the Mission of Christ on Earth?
Ephesians 2:1-3, 11-12, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 2:8-10, Romans 10:9-10, John 1:12
Any man without Christ is a sinner; sin defiles and disqualifies us from fellowship with God. Such a person is lost, hopeless, and dead in trespasses and sins. He is under the control and influence of the devil. He lives to fulfill the list of the flesh and does not consider God in his life. He is not a member of the family of God and as such has no allegiance to Christ Jesus. Christ is never the reason for his action and inaction.
Christ’s major purpose for coming to this world is to save sinners (Matthew 1:21). For anyone to benefit from Christ’s mission on earth, he must confess and forsake his sins. It is written “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9. Such a person must repent from sin, believe and accept Christ as Lord and personal Savior. All relationship with satan and his agents must be broken and Christ must be enthroned in such a life.
Question 4.) Paul praised God for blessing us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly realms. Mention in specific terms the components of our spiritual blessings. Ephesians 1:3-14. How do we appropriate these spiritual blessings as believers today?
Paul adores God for blessing believers with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms that you can ever think of. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, made us holy and blameless. He foreordained and adopted us into the family of God. He showered us with His grace, made us accepted in God, redeemed us and forgave our sins. He made His will known to us and gave us an inheritance among those that are sanctified. He sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise.
The package in our salvation is very rich and the whole purpose is for us to bring praise and glory to His name (Ephesians 1:12). These precious and great blessings we have in Christ can only be useful when we know Christ and begin to see ourselves as people endowed with such blessings.
Question 5.) Read the following scriptures and identify some factors that can enhance making Christ the reason and center of our lives.
Ephesians 1:15, John 5:39, Philippians 1:20-21, 4:4-9, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Making Christ the reason and center of our lives begins by accepting Christ as Lord and personal Savior. This translates into a new life in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) which generates supreme love for God and the saints (Ephesians 1:15).
Searching the scriptures and preaching them strengthens our resolve to follow Christ and thereby making Him the reason and center of our lives (John 5:39).
To magnify Christ in our lives, we must discipline our bodies, bring them into subjection and focus on those things that promote godliness and righteousness. We must also pray always and have constant fellowship with the trinity and the brethren. The Holy Spirit must be made our indispensable partner every day.
Question 6.) Read Ephesians 1:16-33 and highlight the prayer request of Apostle Paul for the believers at Ephesus. Do you think such prayer is still relevant for today’s believers”
This prayer request of Apostle Paul reflects God’s highest desire for every Christian. He prayed that:
God will give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ.
That the eyes of their understanding be enlightened and know the hope of their calling and the riches that await them in glory.
That they appreciate the exceeding greatness of God’s power according to the power that works in us.
That they should advance in grace and have victory over satan and sin. It is pertinent to note that Paul’s prayer emphasis was on Spiritual things. Such prayer is still relevant for today’s Church. When we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, He takes care of us (Matthew 6:33).
Daily living Application
Christ is the Creator and sustainer of the universe. He is the head of the church, the focus of history, the center and reason for everything we do. Christianity is all about Christ Jesus. The life that pleases God must be a reflection of the life of Christ; such life begins at new birth experience (2 Corinthians 5:17). Christ imparts His righteousness on us as we follow Him daily, He reproduces His life in us. Have you made Him the Lord of your life yet? Everyone is called upon to make Christ the reason for living.
Memory Verse:
Ephesians 1:3
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ”.