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EPHESIANS

EPHESIANS. And POSTMODERNISM By Roy H. Lanier, Jr. What We Face Today.

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EPHESIANS

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  1. EPHESIANS And POSTMODERNISM By Roy H. Lanier, Jr. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  2. What We Face Today “It is one of the great conceits of our time to imagine that we can sweep away the past and simply begin all over again at the beginning. We cannot. For in a thousand and one ways (many of them unknown to us) our past and its traditions have made us what we are…” – Allen, Cruciform. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  3. What We Face Today • “Second, Churches of Christ began as a sect in the early nineteenth century and evolved into a denomination during the course of the twentieth century. The fact could hardly be striking, …were it not for the fact..rejected these labels…as pertinent to their own identity” – Hughes, Ancient Faith. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  4. Ephesians as a Book • Ephesians was written about 62 A. D., during Paul’s Roman imprisonment, one of four such “prison epistles.” • Paul visited Ephesus twice – Acts 18:19-21; 19. • It has been called the “Alps of the New Testament” due to its sublime form. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  5. Ephesians as a Book • Key words include: • “in” • “grace” • “Spirit, spiritual” • “Body” • “walk”“heavenly” • “mystery” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  6. Ephesians as a Book • A brief outline could be: • Doctrinal – 1-3 • Practical – 4-6 • It has often been called the “church book,” due to its doctrinal emphasis about the body of Christ. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  7. Ephesians as a Book • A major theme was the “one body.” • There was not to be a Jewish church and a Gentile church; they were reconciled to God in one body through the cross. • Jesus Christ is “our peace,” the cornerstone of the fitly framed body composed of all believers regardless of race. – 2:14, 21-22 Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  8. Chapter 1 Relationship • Notice a relationship: • V. 3 - “every spiritual blessing in Christ” • V. 4 - “chose us in him” • V. 6 - “grace bestowed on us in the Beloved • V. 7 - “in whom we have our redemption • V. 9 - “purposed in him” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  9. Chapter 1 Relationship • V. 10 - “sum up all things in Christ” • V. 11 - “in whom we were made a heritage” • V. 13 - “in whom…heard the truth” • V. 13 - “in whom…believed, sealed” • V. 20 - “wrought in Christ” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  10. Chapter 2 Relationship • V. 5 – “with Christ” • V. 6 – “with Him,..with him” • V. 6 – “in Christ Jesus” • V. 7 – “in Christ Jesus” • V. 10 – “in Christ Jesus” • V. 13 – “in Christ Jesus” • V. 13 – “in the blood of Christ” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  11. Chapter 2 Relationship • V. 16 – “in himself” • V. 18 – “through him” • V. 21 – “in whom…holy temple in the Lord” • V. 22 – “in whom builded together” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  12. How does one get into Christ? • Acts 2:37-47 – Penitent baptized persons were added. • Rom. 6:3 – baptized into Christ Gal. 3:27 – baptized into Christ 1 Cor. 12:13 – baptized into the body John 3:1-5 – birth of water and spirit 1 Pet. 1:23 – begotten again by seed Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  13. “Extremely Sectarian”? • “At times we have been extremely sectarian by effectively denying that anyone outside our churches could be a true Christian because we are the only ones who taught and practiced the biblical doctrine of baptism. At other times we have admitted there might be Christians in other groups….” (Crux, p. 124) Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  14. Mean-spirited? • “…more and more of our members felt uncomfortable with what was, at times, a rigid, judgmental, and even mean-spirited view of others. This attitude did not square with what we were reading in Scripture.” – Crux p. 24 Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  15. Bible Mean-spirited? • 2 Thess. 1:7-9 – …”vengeance to them who know not God, and obey not the gospel, who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction” • Eph. 5:23 – Christ is the “saviour of the body.” • Heb. 5:9 – Christ is the author of eternal salvation to “all them the obey him.” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  16. Truth is Still There! • Mark 16:16 – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.” • 2 Cor. 5:17 – “…if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature….” • Anyone willing to affirm the non-believer and non-obedient will be saved? Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  17. Chapter 2 • 2: 8-9 – “for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory.” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  18. Chapter 2 • Salvation by grace: • “Grace” is mentioned 12 times in Ephesians, 3 times in chap. 2. • Grace is often defined as “unmerited favor.” • Faith is the avenue; obedience is man’s part. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  19. Access and Results • Rom. 5:2 – “through whom also we have had our access by faith into this grace” • Eph. 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  20. Grace Questioned? • “I spent too many years of my Christian life not knowing what grace was. The only thing I knew for sure was that ‘we’ didn’t believe in it” – Jim Hackney, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  21. Grace Questioned? • “In spite of years of negative, legalistic, ‘guilt-trip’ preaching, I discovered GRACE! I had absolutely nothing to do with my own salvation” – Jim Hackney, Handley Herald, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  22. Grace Questioned? • “Nobody has any right to preach anything other than the Gospel of pure grace. We are saved by grace plus nothing. You are saved by faith period. There is nothing you can do to be saved. There are no rules; there are no regulations in serving Jesus Christ” – Glen Owen, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  23. Grace Questioned? • “It is a scandalous and outrageous lie to teach that salvation arises from human activity. We do not contribute one whit to our salvation” – Rubel Shelley, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  24. Grace Questioned? • “For me, for years, Christianity was a moral code. It is now becoming a love affair. For years, there were rules and regulations, now, it’s a relationship” – Max Lucado, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  25. Grace Questioned? • “I believe deeply that the New Testament teaches that salvation is a free gift of God period. You are saved by grace alone….There is no human part of salvation” – Randy Mayeux, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  26. Grace Questioned? • “Grace and law are mutually exclusive” – Charles Hodge, Strait, p. 212. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  27. God’s Grace Always Conditional • Noah found grace – Gen. 6:8 • Faith was the principle that caused him to build the ark – Heb. 11:6. • Yet, he had to build an ark. Obedience was coupled with faith. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  28. God’s Grace Always Conditional • Jericho was God’s gift. • “See, I have given into thy hand Jericho” – Josh. 6:2. • Yet the Israelites were to compass the city for 7 days, blow the trumpets, and shout – 6:3-21. • Faith was coupled with obedience for the “gift.” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  29. Ephesians were saved by grace. • They heard the gospel – 1:13 • They believed the gospel – 1:13 • They repented – Acts 20:21 • They confessed – Acts 19:18 • They were baptized – Acts 19:1-5 • Yet they were the ones Paul said were saved by grace! Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  30. Paul was saved by grace. • “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not found vain:” – 1 Cor. 15:10 Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  31. Paul was saved by grace. • Paul heard Ananias preach the gospel –Acts 22:12-14. • Paul’s 3 days in Damascus show his penitence. • Paul preached confession of faith in Jesus as the Christ – Rom. 10:9-10. • Paul shared in the burial of baptism – Rom. 6:3-4. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  32. Chapter 3 Revelation was given to Paul. Paul wrote it down in a few words. Readers can perceive Paul’s understanding. Truth is knowable and absolute. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  33. Truth Was Revealed and Written • 3:3-5 – “how that by revelation was made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ;” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  34. Truth is Knowable • Paul wrote his inspired knowledge in a few words, and readers can understand what he wrote. • “Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Spirit teacheth” (1 Cor. 2:13) Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  35. Truth is Knowable • “All scripture is given by inspiration of God” (2 Tim. 3:16). • “…the things which I write unto, that they are the commandment of the Lord” (1 Cor. 14:37). • “For no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but men spake from God, being moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:21). Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  36. Ephesians is the “know” book • Paul said 11 times truths were to be known: the mystery (1:9; 3:3, 5), hope and riches (1:18), wisdom of God (3:10), the love of Christ (3:19), morals and inheritance (5:5), good thing (6:8), the Master in heaven (6:9), my affairs (6:21, 22). Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  37. Ephesians Affirms One Faith • 4:5 -- “one faith” • 2 Cor. 13:5 – “whether ye are in the faith” • Gal. 3:23 – “before the faith came…shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed” • Jude 3 – “the faith…once for all delivered” Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  38. No Pattern? • “…patternism assumes… assortment of specific rules dictating belief and practice in select areas…patternistic reading is inconsistent with the Bible’s full aim and form” (Crux, p. 159). • “A patternistic hermeneutic tends to blind us to these dimensions (salvation as a state and process both-RHL) of the Bible’s teaching for the church” (Crux, p, 158). Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  39. Not Addressed to 21st Century? • “We are not the original audience…nor is it essentially a book of ordinances immediately portable into our setting…no verse of it was originally composed directly to address the needs of a twenty-first-century church in America” (Crux, pp. 162-163). Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  40. Distance Gap? • “The distance of language, history, culture, and the fact that we are indirect recipients of literary texts originally aimed at someone else, all create a gap between us and the text” (Crux, p. 163). Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  41. Hermeneutics Set Aside? • “…but any conclusion reached by such a process (hermeneutics – RHL) should not be made a test of fellowship” (M. Phillips, Image, pp. 5-6). • So, what does one do with sprinkling, Lord’s Supper on weekdays, women preachers, even support of preachers? Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  42. Slaves to a Blueprint? • “Many of us grew up believing that God is just a heavenly prosecutor…” and that one sees “in Scripture a vibrant pattern for our lives, but not an exact blueprint that is to be copiously and slavishly followed” – M. Cope, Wineskins. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  43. Spectacles of John Locke • “Our movement, in part as a result of its historical epistemology, thrived. We perceived reality through the spectacles of John Locke, as mediated through the Scottish Enlightenment” – Olbricht, Hearing God’s Voice, p. 53. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  44. Holy Fire or Unholy Flirtation? • “Today’s readers may ask ‘modern’ questions that may not help us arrive at the theological message of the text. We ask, what really happened? Why do Egyptian records contain little or no mention of the plagues or the escape of slaves?” (M. Hamilton, Holy Fire, p. 99) Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  45. Holy Fire? • “When did the exodus occur? Did natural phenomena (volcanic eruptions, red tides) cause the plagues? How many people left Egypt, millions or thousands?…All of these are legitimate questions for historians, and scholars, Christian or not, come down in different places on them” (M. Hamilton, Holy Fire, pp. 99-100). Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  46. Holy Fire? • Are our Bibles the result of mechanical dictation or human research? (J. Thompson, Holy Fire, p. 30-31) • Where is God’s control and influence? • Straw-man is built up as if these extremes are the only answers. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  47. Holy Fire? • This definition of inspiration has at least 13 negatives: • 1. It took human mediation – p. 30. • 2. Passages are ambiguous – p. 32. • 3. Translators have no insight into intent of the author – p. 32. • 4. There are multiplied textual differences – p. 33. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  48. Holy Fire? • 5. It is a mystery how the books were collected – p. 33. • 6. The collection emerged only by a sifting process of churches – p. 34. • 7. The human element of style, education, culture, research, etc. can only admit errors --. 34-35. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  49. Holy Fire? • 8. Consulting other sources, research leaves open for many errors – p. 35. • 9. Bible is written only to specific situations, so cannot fit current churches – p. 36. • 10. 2 Tim. 3:16 is uncertain in its translation - p. 37. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

  50. Holy Fire? • 11. Inerrancy is not a helpful concept – pp. 39-44. • 12. The Bible is not accurate scientifically, nor in historical record, nor in sequence of events – pp. 39-42. • 13. Ancient writers worked with standards not our own – p. 41. Roy H. Lanier, Jr. - Southern Ridge Church of Christ - December, 2002

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