Ephesians for Easter #2

Purpose. Does God define our purpose?

As you consider the thought of what are those things that take us into the walk for God that results in us achieving His goals, a good text to look at is Philippians 1:27-2:2. As you read this text, consider what it is that Paul wishes would be in their life and how what is said in 1:27 relates to what is said in 2:1-2, especially relative to purpose.

Man and the evil in the world (2:1)
As we look at the lesson for this week we need to consider first where we started. Chapter one may be one of the broadest chapters in the bible. In this first chapter Paul takes a sweep of all eternity. From the beginning of time the Lord has been working out our salvation to the end of time marked by our future inheritance. God's plan includes all things. God is not separated from the history of man, but is purposefully involved in the history of man, and maybe more importantly He is purposefully involved in our life.

Chapter 2 starts with a description of man. The course of this world is driven by a morality that is established by humans. Other creatures in nature are important, but God has chosen humans as the central element of history. The first and most important awareness about man is his lostness.

The coarse of this world is being driven by a the violent past of man, the selfish present of man, and the desolate future of man. Humans do walk "according to this world." That is who we are in our historical self. This fallen condition is not the life that God desires for us to live, but is a life given over to destruction. We were all free in this condition but we choose against God. Saying no to God in this condition results in consequences. This world has evil in it and without Jesus people are a part of that evil. The world would say, and does, that evil is not real but it is a metaphor for very bad luck.

Thought to comment on: Is this world full of evil and how is it demonstrated?