Ephesians
Introduction to the study of Ephesians
This study grew out of a situation that compelled my wife and me to leave the traditional church and to begin assembling within our home. After having been very involved in the Evangelical movement all of our married lives, we slowly came to realize that if we were going to be true to the Word of God (and that was, and remains, our primary desire), then we could not do so while remaining a part of the Evangelical community. As painful as it was, we pulled our roots up, which were deeply embedded within the rocky soil of Evangelicalism, and began to look around to see what the Lord would have for us. After trying a couple of other organized churches, we soon became aware of the fact that moving from one church to another only led to variations of the same difficulties. We realized afresh that we are personally accountable to the Lord, and we cannot hide behind the trappings of a church (no matter how fundamental they might claim to be). We then began a study of the Word of God in our home, and we started with Ephesians.
This study took place over a period of about three years, with some breaks here and there. As we delved into the Scriptures, we found that much of what we had always considered to be sound theology (what we had been taught within Evangelicalism), often did not measure up to the Word of God. Throughout this study, I have endeavored to adhere to the Scriptures, and to compare Scripture with Scripture, rather than seek the counsel of commentaries as my primary resource. Additionally, I have purposed to take the Scriptures, and apply them to what we see around us (something that is clearly missing within most churches).
May the Lord bless all of you who desire to take His Word as your final authority on all matters of life, and may you be prepared to take the time so that you can discover what God really has to say to you. He has not changed, and will not change, but the Evangelical landscape continues to crumble into the pool of apostasy. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16). This is one of many warnings for us to adhere to the unalterable Word of God; it is His Word that has been pronounced and preserved for our benefit. Let us search the Scriptures so that we are able to measure the worth of all that we hear and read (Acts 17:11).
© 2008
Updated 2012, 2017, 2022
Bert Esselink
Box 875
Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0
All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version, unless otherwise indicated.
This study took place over a period of about three years, with some breaks here and there. As we delved into the Scriptures, we found that much of what we had always considered to be sound theology (what we had been taught within Evangelicalism), often did not measure up to the Word of God. Throughout this study, I have endeavored to adhere to the Scriptures, and to compare Scripture with Scripture, rather than seek the counsel of commentaries as my primary resource. Additionally, I have purposed to take the Scriptures, and apply them to what we see around us (something that is clearly missing within most churches).
May the Lord bless all of you who desire to take His Word as your final authority on all matters of life, and may you be prepared to take the time so that you can discover what God really has to say to you. He has not changed, and will not change, but the Evangelical landscape continues to crumble into the pool of apostasy. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16). This is one of many warnings for us to adhere to the unalterable Word of God; it is His Word that has been pronounced and preserved for our benefit. Let us search the Scriptures so that we are able to measure the worth of all that we hear and read (Acts 17:11).
© 2008
Updated 2012, 2017, 2022
Bert Esselink
Box 875
Three Hills, AB T0M 2A0
All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version, unless otherwise indicated.