Paul Closes his letter to these Ephesian Believers
Ephesians
6:21-24 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a
beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all
things: Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our
affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. Peace be to the
brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Amen. To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus. KJVPaul now closes this epistle to these Ephesian believers by first saying, “But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:” (Ephesians 6:21). It is most likely that the Apostle Paul wrote this letter during his imprisonment in Rome as he called himself not the prisoner of Rome but instead the prisoner of Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 3:1), therefore, he wanted all of the Churches that were established by the preaching of the Gospel of Christ through him to know what his current condition was in Rome. In order to accomplish this, Paul sent Brother Tychicus to them from Rome to declare and make known to them emphatically what Paul’s status was under his confinement as he also sent this same trusted Brother to the Colossian believers to do the same for them as it is written with these words, “Tychicus, a beloved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, with Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you all things which are happening here.” (Colossians 4:7-9).
Paul knew that these fellow believers would be concerned for him and he wanted them to not be distracted from their proclamation of the Gospel by their concern over what was happening to him in Rome and also he wanted to know their spiritual condition, so he sent Tychicus to them. The Apostle called Tychicus a beloved Brother and faithful minister in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, which shows his deep affection for him and his complete and total trust in him to carry the message just as Paul declared to him and to bring back an honest report of the Ephesians spiritual condition no matter the findings. The Apostle sent Tychicus to them to comfort them as he said in this manner, “that he might comfort your hearts” (Ephesians 6:22). This English phrase “that he might comfort” is translated by one Greek word parakaleo and it appears over 100 times in the Bible and it means to call near, that is, invite, invoke (by imploration, or consolation): - beseech, call for, (be of good) comfort, desire, (give) exhortation, entreat, pray. In other words, the Apostle Paul wanted them to know how he handled the reality of being persecuted for the sake of the Gospel even unto bonds which was his current condition in Rome. Paul wanted them to not be shaken by his imprisonment for the sake of the Gospel, but rather that they would see the Grace of God working on his behalf and that that would encourage, empower, and energize them to be even more fervent in their declaration of the same Gospel of Christ in their region of Asia and beyond just as he Paul had done.
The Apostle Paul was always and at all times concerned for the Churches that were formed or founded under his preaching of the Gospel of Christ. His concern was always for their spiritual condition wanting to know that they received the truth of the Gospel and that they were continuing in that truth and not being swayed away from the truth and he expressed it vehemently to the Galatian believers with these words, “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different Gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7). This was the Apostle’s concern and fear that these troublers would also get to the Ephesian believers so Paul sends a fellow Brother “in Christ” and also a fellow Asian Tychicus to them to bring first comfort to them concerning Paul’s condition and then bring back a report to Paul of their spiritual condition. We also recall how the Apostle after listing all of the harsh and cruel treatment he endured at the hands of the human instruments being used by the devil to stop him from declaring the true Gospel that he was more concerned for the Churches than for his own physical safety as he wrote to the Corinthian believers with these words, “From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness --- besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the Churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:24-28).
Paul now ends his letter to these Ephesian believers as he began it and most of all of his other letters written to the other Churches by saying, “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 6:24). The Apostle Paul wants them to continually experience the peace from our Lord Jesus Christ that belongs to every true son and daughter of His as He Himself said would be ours with these words, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27). When our Lord Jesus says, “My peace” He is speaking of a part of His being, His nature, His essence, His character and thus no one or nothing is able to ultimately steal this peace from these Ephesian believers and all we believers today. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ works itself out in our sincere/un-hypocritical love for “one another” in Christ Mystical Body as the Apostle Paul declared to the Galatian believers with these words, “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:5-6) and also as the Apostle Paul had at the very beginning declared about these Ephesians when he wrote these words just prior to his first prayer for them in this letter, “Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:” (Ephesians 1:15-16). This same Apostle Paul referred to faith and love as a breastplate when writing to the Thessalonian believers (1 Thessalonians 5:8). Paul then declares that, “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.” (Ephesians 6:24). The Apostle wants these Ephesian believers and we believers today to know that the fountain of Christ Grace from His Throne of Grace only flows to those of us who love Him in sincerity. This English word sincerity Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word aphtharsia which means un-decaying or incorruptibility; generally unending existence; (figuratively) genuineness. It is genuine love for Christ that opens up His Fountain of Grace to flow into His children who continue constantly with love to Him.
“Both his temporal and spiritual affairs; as that he was in bonds, and how he was supported under them, and of what use they were to others; how that he preached in his own hired house, and with what success; and what ministering brethren he had with him to assist him; and in what condition was the church at Rome where he now was: the Apostle’s life and actions would bear the light, and what he did was worthy of imitation, and must be both delightful and useful to know; and the account he sends, by a messenger hereafter named, of whom he gives the following character, that credit might be the more readily given to his relation.” Dr. John Gill
“Believers in Christ are sometimes disconsolate, by reason of indwelling sin, Satan’s temptations, the hidings of God’s face, afflictions and persecutions, their own sufferings, and those of others; and it is the business of the ministers of Christ to comfort them; their commission is to speak comfortably to them; and they are qualified for it, by inward comforts in their own souls; the Gospel they preach, and the message they bring, is of a comfortable nature; the Spirit of God acts by them, and with them as a comforter; and sad indeed is the state of Zion, or the Church of Christ, when it has no comforters.” Dr. John Gill
“Christ is the object of love, and a lovely object He is: He is to be loved because of the loveliness of His person, and the transcendent excellencies that are in Him; because of His suitableness and fullness as a Savior; and because of His great love shown to His Church and people; and because of the relations He stands in to them, and the communion they have with Him: love to Christ is a grace of the Spirit, and is in all believers; and though it is imperfect, and sometimes cold, it will abide forever; it ought to be universal and superlative; all of Christ is to be loved, and He is to be loved above all: and it shows itself in a value for His Gospel, and the truths of it; in an esteem of His ordinances, and a regard to His commands; in parting with all for Christ, when called for; and in bearing all for His sake; in a well pleasedness in His company and presence, and in a concern for His absence, and in an uneasiness until He is enjoyed again: it should be fervent, and constant, and cordial” Dr. John Gill
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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