!!! !!! Paul s Farewell! Ephesians 6:21-24 (NASB)! Intro: Paul s endings are funny! I wrote this letter myself!!

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1 Paul s Farewell Ephesians 6:21-24 (NASB) I wrote this letter myself Intro: Paul s endings are funny 1 Corinthians 16:21 (ESV) I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If you don t love the Lord, you re cursed Maranatha. 1 Corinthians 16:22 (NASB) If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha. Demas left me, Cresens left me, Titus left me No one supported me, everybody deserted me Can you bring me my jacket, and perhaps a book or two? Alexander is a troublemaker God will make him pay 2 Timothy 4:10-16 (HCSB) Demas has deserted me, because he loved this present world, and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you, for he is useful to me in the ministry. I have sent Tychicus to Ephesus. When you come, bring the cloak I left in Troas with Carpus, as well as the scrolls, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith did great harm to me. The Lord will repay him according to his works. Watch out for him yourself because he strongly opposed our words. At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. Greet Prisca, Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junias, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apeeles, Aristobulus, Herodion, Narcissus, Tryphaena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, (his mom), Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Hermas, Patrobas, (his bros), Philologus, Julia, Nereus, (his sister), Olympas, and all the saints ~ Romans 16:1-11 I will repay for the damages; I just want to mention, though, that you owe me your life Philemon 1:19 (HCSB) not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self. Kiss everybody 1 Thessalonians 5:27 (HCSB) Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. Look at the big letters I m writing with Galatians 6:11 (ESV) See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. 1 of 5

2 But they are also inspired by God. 1 As benedictions inspired by God, they bear the weight of God s authority and revelation in our lives, and we should heed them. Although there is not one tightly flowing theme in the conclusion to Ephesians, there are at least two things that stand out. 1. An encouragement 2. A blessing of love Paul s encouragement On the heels of asking for prayer, he sends a friend to share Tychicus will make everything known to you. (21c) A desire to share Prison, church, health, etc. This reflects vulnerability We hate being vulnerable I ve learned the best way to prevent your heart from getting broken is to act like you don t have one. ~ Nishan Panwar So we close ourselves off from others We privatize our lives because we want to be strong. God helps those who help themselves < wrong Gospel: God helps those who cannot help themselves Ephesians 2:1,4 (NASB) And you were dead in your trespasses and sins But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ We get what we are saved from, but what we miss is what we are saved to Ephesians 2:19 (NASB) So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God s household. This (church community) becomes the kiln by which God forms us in his image Romans 15:1-3 (HCSB) Now we who are strong have an obligation to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one of us must please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even the Messiah did not please Himself. Galatians 6:2 (HCSB) Carry one another s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 1 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1: of 5

3 Examples: 1. This is where I m at (status) 2. God is blowing my mind (praise) 3. I m struggling with. (struggle) 1. Illust: Bri and Rizz Unfortunately, 51% of US adults say church is not important to their spiritual growth 2 If you have a personal relationship with Christ, but not a personal relationship with Christ s people, you have only an incomplete relationship with Him. The church is His body It s part of him. People can t bear your weaknesses or burdens if you aren t open with them. You are short-circuiting the body of Christ You rob yourself from healing, others from giving, and God from the joy of reconciliation. When we view ourselves through the gospel of Jesus (we are more sinful than we every thought, but more loved than we dared imagine), we see things how He sees them, and we embrace what he embraces Ephesians 5:29-30 (NASB) For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. so that you may know about us (22b) A desire to listen The gospel, which has it s meaning in relationships, makes us need each other. We sometimes give quick answers, or rebuke others in their pain, instead of listening. There are times to speak truth to others, but we must first know about them (insight). Examples: 1. How are you doing? 2. What s going on in your life? 3. How can I pray for you? that he may comfort [encourage] your hearts (22c) Godly insight brings encouragement in prayer This means we are not isolated. We are Ephesians 2:21 (HCSB) The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. 2 Barna Group. Accessed March 28, of 5

4 Paul s blessing Love from God (v23) (Chapters 1-3) AP In love He predestined us to adoption (1:4-5) because of His great love with which He loved us (2:4) to know the love of Christ (3:19) Love for God (v24) (Chapters 4-6) AP Walk worthy of the calling you have received accepting one another in love (4:1-2) Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah loved us (5:1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord (6:1) We love God because God loves us. 3 We love others because God loves us. Everything do flows out of our appropriation of what God has done for us. What do we do with this benediction? Allow the love of God to transform us, not just to listen to God s voice, but to each other. Are we involved in each other s lives? Are we opening up? Are we asking? You may say, I want God s love, just not his people But Paul s closing benediction suggests We know we understand God s love when we love others well. 4 I. Paul encourages us to share and listen, praying II. May peace, love, faith, grace be to all those who love God and are loved by Him. 3 Love is the primary Christian virtue that the apostle wants all believers to demonstrate in their lives (5:1-2). But it can only be displayed to the degree that Christians themselves have been profoundly touched by God s love in Christ. Clinton E. Arnold. Ephesians. (ECNT; Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010) p Elsewhere the letter has referred to God s love for believers (cf. 2:4) and Christ s love for them (cf. 3:19; 5:2, 25), to believer s love for one another (cf. 1:15; 4:2), to believing husband s love for their wives (cf. 5:25, 28, 33), and to believer s love in general (cf. 1:4; 3:17; 4:15, 16, 5:2; 6:23), but this is the only place where their love for Christ is made explicit. In this way, the letter closes with a stress pm believers personal relationship and commitment to Christ. For this writer, it is important not only that his readers are aware of the objective benefits of the great salvation God has provided in Christ but also that they have made their subjective response [to] the Lord Jesus Christ who loved them and gave himself for them. Andrew T. Lincoln. Ephesians. (WBC; Thomas Nelson, 1990) p of 5

5 Pray this for our church That God s eternal purpose in Christ which is to reveal the mystery of His love to sinners would create a family out of us. A family that would reflect the beauty, benevolence, and love of our God. That the same manifold wisdom You made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavens, the richness of your mercy, the great love with which you have loved us, and the grace that saved us would thrill our hearts. That our union with Christ would satisfy our deepest longings, fulfill our greatest desires, and reconcile our brokeness. That we might walk in a manner worthy of our callings, that we might imitate our God as dearly loved children, and that we might be strong in the Lord in the strength of His might. We do all of this in anticipation of the day when you will sum up all things together in Christ. 5 of 5