That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.
Summary: With this passage, Paul shifts gears and leads us to his next main point.
In music, there is a form or pattern that is repeated, followed by an interlude. The interlude is a variation of the theme of the song or melody and leads back into the original pattern at the beginning. This transitional interlude is called a “bridge.”
Paul is using this passage in a similar way.
Before this, Paul has been explaining where we have come from as Gentiles. He reminds us how our thinking was futile and our understanding “darkened” (Ephesians 4:18). We had hardened our hearts and become insensitive to spiritual things.
Now Paul reminds the Ephesians that they know better. They know better because Paul himself taught in Ephesus briefly, and he has confidence in the people who stayed after him to continue teaching the Ephesians.
Paul is changing the focus of his letter to provide his readers with a momentary pause. “Stop and think!” he seems to say. He wants to affirm to his readers that what he is writing about supports what they were originally taught. He is building a bridge between the harsh words describing what the Ephesians used to be and the words he is about to share that provide encouragement and guidance.
And why do the Ephesians need more encouragement and guidance?
They are human, just like we are. We are not elephants with their fabled memories. We are people with short attention spans. We need to be reminded. We need Paul’s words.
Application: Remember what you have been taught.
Food for Thought: What does Paul mean by “the truth that is in Jesus?”
What does Paul mean by “the truth that is in Jesus?”
That we are separated from God, but through Christ’s sacrifice we have a way back to the Father.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
That God loves us, so much so that He gave of Himself, His Son, and His Son gave His life, willingly, and with purpose.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God looks at us as valuable, redeemable, and that He gives us the grace to turn away from our sin and come back to Him. Not in mindless allegiance to something we don’t understand, but in understanding, so that our turning back is a truth in our lives. Something meaningful that the world can’t offer. We an trust in the truth that is Jesus.
Ephesians 1:7-8 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,
Thank you, Chris!
I especially like the John 14:6 passage where Jesus says, “I am … the Truth…”
We have to bend our brains a bit to wrap our heads around that one. 🙂
Thanks for another great devotion brother. And I thought of the same verses as CH, whose comments are excellent as usual.
Jesus is truth. Jesus came to testify to the truth (John 18: 37). And the truth is He is the only Savior and way to the Father (John 14: 6; Acts 4: 12).
Thanks Rich!
There is the physical representation of Truth that we see in Jesus. Then there is the True Message that Jesus contains as you point out. Nicely said!
07-07-2023, What does Paul mean by “the truth that is in Jesus?”
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Truth is foreign to the natural man, is only found through our submission to Jesus Christ who dwells in all believers through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Truth is God’s written Word, His gift of His Son to all mankind, the foundation of all righteousness. Truth is pure, the unpolluted reality we live in. Truth never changes, Truth gives peace, rest to all who seek Him.
John 3:16, 10:35, 14:6, 17:17
Ron,
I like the way you put your answer into words: “Truth [is] the unpolluted reality we [meaning believers in Jesus] live in.”
When we chose to believe in Jesus, and accept his Lordship over our lives, things change. Our reality changes. We find ourselves floating above the “ways of the world” in the unpolluted reality you describe.
Thank you!
What does Paul mean by “the truth that is in Jesus?”
….. first things first. I turned to my wife and said that I don’t agree with your last comment. We don’t need Paul’s words. We need God’s words. That were given to Paul to write down.
By grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
Okay TAN, fine. Be that way. We need God’s Word.
Happy now?!
🙂
Immensely 😁