Reading about the events when the apostle Paul was founding the Ephesian congregation in Acts chapter 19 that took place over a period of a little more than two years, we see three major divisions of the chapter that informs us of what happened during that period of time.
After the conversion of the first 12 “disciples” (Acts 19:1-7), Luke the author of the book of Acts, does not tell us the number of persons who were converted during the first two years or how many believers were in the Ephesian congregation. Nor does Luke tell us much about the life of the church just that they met in the “lecture hall of Tyrannus” for two years. Acts 19:9-10, “He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years…”
One fact that Luke tells us about the congregation is basically not any different than any congregations of believers today. That there will always be Christians who have made the decision to receive and profess Christ as their Savior and Lord of their life, but still allow in their life and practice many things that is not pleasing to God. In fact, some years later Paul in his letter had to remind the Ephesian congregation on several points to: “…put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires…”, Ephesians 4:22 “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness…”, Ephesians 5:11
18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.
19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.
When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.
20 In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.
Acts 19:18-20
Luke in Acts 19:18-20 points out two groups of believers of the congregation of Ephesus, who sometime after their conversion to Christ stillneeded to make the decision to “put off” (Eph. 4:22) and have “Have nothing to do with…” (Eph. 5:11) practices that were not pleasing to God and would clearly hinder their relationship with Him. It is important to note the number of believers who compromised their relationship with God by these practices were not a few, Luke tells us that there were “Many” (ver. 18). It is also important to note that both of these groups that Luke tells us about were“…those who believed…” (ver. 18). Both groups were believers from the church who realized there things that should not be part of their new life in Christ and importantly they knew what they needed to do. Luke tells us the first group “of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds.” (ver.18). We are not told what these believers in Christ confessed,we are just told that they were “evil deeds”. In the secular godless culture where they lived, there was an excepted “normal” way of; thinking, way of living, doing things, and talking. But now as believers in Christ their life was changed because their hearts and minds were changed by Christ.
In verse 19 Luke tells us about the second group of believers of this congregation, “A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.” As Christians we do not practicesorcery but there might be practices in our lives that we approve and do that are just as detestable to God. There are also practices of which our godless society calls normal and or legal which even some accept and or support thoeswho do them. Romans 1:32, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” Ephesians 4:1-2
Approximately eight years after the events of Acts chapter 19 the apostle Paul is in Rome as a prisoner waiting for his trial before the emperor Nero, he writes his letter to the very same congregation he founded. The church of Ephesus had grown and among the original church there were new believers who undoubtedly heard of how God used Paul and the wonderful things God did during the first two years. But now while in prison he was informed that there were those of the congregation, new and old alike who needed to understand that their new life in Christ was different than the way they use to live before Christ. The way they thought was different than the secular society thought and lived. They needed to understand and know how-to live-in God’s kingdom, which was their new normal way to live. To do this Paul in Ephesians 4:17-5:11 points out some characteristics that was normal in their life before receiving Christ into their lives, he starts by saying, 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Eph. 4:22-24). So what Paul was going to continue to tell them was not something they never heard before. As he continues in his explanation, he makes a comparison to many characteristics or practices that these believers in Christ were still accepting and doing in their lives that should not be normal in the life of God’s “dearly loved children”, (Eph.5:1b).
In the portion of scripture between Ephesians 4:17-5:11 Paul points out 10characteristics or practices that some believers in Christ were still accepting as something normal in their lives and many of which was also acceptable as normal in the society in which they lived. But with each of the 10characteristics or practices of the “former way of life” and their “old self”,Paul also tells them what is normal in the life of a Christian, in their “new self”.
Please note the list at end of this article.
(Facebook readers please note what is in the brackets { })
One of the purposes of this article is to help us to prayerfully look at what we believe as acceptable and even do in our lives as believers in Christ. Many of these things might be accepted and even are considered as legal by our society, but that does not make it right in God’s eyes.
Ephesians 4:17-19, 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.
It is important to note how Paul started this portion of his letter to the Ephesian church (Eph. 4:17-19) but it is just as important to note the encouraging words that he said to a congregation of believers who were still in the process of learning and experiencing what the new normal was in their lives and in their relationship with Jesus.
Pastor John
Ephesians 5:8-11
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord.
11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,
but rather expose them.
Ephesians 4:17 to 5:11
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
5:1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
