Equality in Christ

Meditations on the Book of Ephesians

June 5, 2020

Equality in Christ

And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

Read: Ephesians 5:21-33

Remember Paul’s dream for Christian communities: “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). Equality in Christ, for all people, is a theme Paul continually reinforces.

As you consider the application of Paul’s writings today, keep in mind that Paul’s model for someone in a superior position is Jesus. In Philippians 2: 5-11, Paul shows the self-sacrificing manner in which Christ loved us. Paul says this is the way that a husband should love his wife. In Paul’s day, women and children were seen as inferior subjects. Paul raises everyone to an equal standing before God. That was hugely counter-cultural for the church in Ephesus, just as it is today.

Paul seems to use the words, respect and submit, interchangeably. He also begins this passage urging the church to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Submit to or respect one another. Wives are called to submit to or respect their husbands. Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church. These do not seem to be onerous expectations for those within the Body of Christ.

My Takeaway: Paul believed intently that when we keep our eyes on Jesus, when we submit ourselves to God, and allow the Holy Spirit to transform us by the renewing of our mind, we begin living the life in Christ; we begin living as people created in the image of God. I believe that too.

Sē’lah

<><  <><  <><  <><

(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.