Articles
The Power of the Gospel at Ephesus
"For I am not ashamed of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek" (Romans 1:16, emp LS). The Ephesians are yet another example of the great POWER of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST.
CONDITION OF THE EPHESIANS. Paul, in addressing the Ephesians about their former way of life says, "And you hath he quickened, who were DEAD in trespasses and sins...That at that time ye were WITHOUT CHRIST, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having NO HOPE, and WITHOUT GOD in the world" (Ephesians 2:1, 12, emp LS). Paul says that the Ephesians were "dead in trespasses and sins", which as Paul told the Romans, "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). The apostle John adds, "death and hell" will be "cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:14). Paul also tells the Ephesians that they "were without Christ". My friend, take Christ out of the term "Christian", and all that is left is "ian" = "I ain't nothing"! Being nothing means, "having no hope, and without God". What a sad condition to be in, LOST, with NO HOPE, and WITHOUT GOD.
THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS TAUGHT. Paul, on his second missionary journey, came to Ephesus, as recorded in (Acts 18:18-21), and taught the Gospel of Christ in the synagogue of the Jews. On his third missionary journey, Paul again preaches the Gospel of Christ in the area of Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20:38).
THE RESULTS. When the Ephesians heard the Gospel of Christ, "they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5) and "the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed" (Acts 19:17-20). We also have recorded the results of the preaching of the Gospel of Christ to the Ephesians in the letter that Paul writes to them, "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, THE GOSPEL OF YOUR SALVATION: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13, emp LS).
WHAT THE EPHESIANS BECAME. "For by grace are ye SAVED through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...But now IN CHRIST JESUS ye who sometimes were far off are MADE NIGH BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST" (Ephesians 2:8, 13, emp LS). The Ephesians, who were "dead in trespasses and sin", after hearing and obeying the Gospel of Christ, were saved! The Ephesians, who were "without Christ", after hearing and obeying the Gospel of Christ are now "in Christ" (Galatians 3:26-27). All this was made possible by the POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. Have you obeyed the Gospel of Christ?
