I digress.
This woman was very excited about her new Bible study book labeled "Ephesians." She said it was a verse-by-verse study of the Book of Ephesians and was enamored by what the author brought out. That day's "study" covered the first two verses of Ephesians chapter 1:
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
The author of the book then proceeded to teach her readers what she thought the passage was saying:
"God has a will for your life. God has a plan for your life. How exciting to know that God has a plan and a will for your life! Be assured that if God has a will for your life, He will fulfill it in you!
In the notes section of this study, write down five things you will do this week to fulfill God's will in your life."
Ladies and gentlemen, this is wrong.
These two verses are not teaching that God has a will for your life. What these verses are teaching:
Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus.
Paul identifies himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ.
He said his apostleship was by the will of God.
He addresses the saints at Ephesus.
He addresses the faithful in Christ Jesus.
He extends grace to them, and peace, from God.
He identifies God as "our father," using a possessive plural pronoun.
He includes Jesus Christ in the grace and peace.
He identifies Jesus Christ as Lord.
There is no application in these verses, yet they are just as powerful as all other verses in the Bible.
Here's how to study the Bible:
Read what it says.
Do not read anything into it.
Do not filter it through past teachings you've heard.
Read it again.
Ask God to help you understand.
Read it again.
Read it again.
Determine the context of the words by reading what came before and after the verses you're reading.
Ask yourself who's writing, who they are writing to, where they are, where their intended audience is, whether they are writing to an individual or a group, if there is more than one person writing, who the writer is in relationship to the recipient(s), etc.
Ask yourself who's writing, who they are writing to, where they are, where their intended audience is, whether they are writing to an individual or a group, if there is more than one person writing, who the writer is in relationship to the recipient(s), etc.
Read it aloud.
Look up confusing words in a Bible dictionary (not a regular dictionary) or lexicon to clarify their meaning.
Read it aloud again.
Memorize it.
Read it again.
Think of it as you go through your day.
Read it again.
Take no one's word for what the Bible says.
Take no one's word for what the Bible teaches.
Read only the Bible, not a commentary or Bible study book.
Read it again.
It will nourish your soul.
You will grow.
The Holy Spirit, not a human author, is your guide.
The Holy Spirit, not a human author, is your guide.
The answer to the blog title is, No. Ephesians, in these two verses, is not teaching what the book author taught, that God has a will and plan for your life. Do not be fooled by this teaching; it is Secular Humanism.
God has so much more for you in His Word. Do not settle for shallow teaching that only fills the human ego and does nothing for the soul. Stop shortchanging your Christian walk with books and faux "Bible" studies that water down and filter God's Word.
I'll never forget when my son was deployed to Iraq for the first time. It was 2004, the war was hot and heavy and my son was so very young - just 19. Nineteen. I wrote him a letter every single day and he would often receive them in batches so I made sure I numbered them so he'd know what order they came in. He wrote a few letters to me during this time, too, and I remember being glued to those letters, taking in every word, studying his handwriting, looking for a hidden message that would tell me he's ok. I was breathless when reading his letters. I still have every single one. I realized I would never be satisfied if someone else read his letters for me then summarized them. I would never have taken anyone else's word for anything he said. I had to see for myself! I had to read each and every letter over and over and over till I had them practically memorized.
This is a good reminder on how to approach God's Word. Take no one else's summary or thoughts, but go directly to God yourself and see what He has to say to you.
I'll never forget when my son was deployed to Iraq for the first time. It was 2004, the war was hot and heavy and my son was so very young - just 19. Nineteen. I wrote him a letter every single day and he would often receive them in batches so I made sure I numbered them so he'd know what order they came in. He wrote a few letters to me during this time, too, and I remember being glued to those letters, taking in every word, studying his handwriting, looking for a hidden message that would tell me he's ok. I was breathless when reading his letters. I still have every single one. I realized I would never be satisfied if someone else read his letters for me then summarized them. I would never have taken anyone else's word for anything he said. I had to see for myself! I had to read each and every letter over and over and over till I had them practically memorized.
This is a good reminder on how to approach God's Word. Take no one else's summary or thoughts, but go directly to God yourself and see what He has to say to you.
~Tricia
