As Paul wraps up his letter, he begins his closing with a shout out to Tychicus as a “beloved brother and faithful minister.” Tychicus is mentioned five times in the New Testament, usually in the context of him bringing a letter from Paul to a church or even an individual.
Consider the weight of the responsibility of bringing those messages, messages we are still reading today. Behind every Paul is a legion of Tychicuses, faithful church members taking the message out and doing the work of the ministry.
Keep in mind the difficulty of travel in the First Century – Tychicus’ task was not easy. The roads were long, the seas were rough, but he was diligent and got the message out.
We need to do the same in our own lives. We should want the words at our funeral to be about the seeds of the gospel we have sowed in people’s lives – sometimes big seeds, sometimes small ones. God can use all of them.
In the next part of the closing, Paul wishes peace, love, faith and grace to the Ephesians. This echoes the opening of the epistle when Paul wishes “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is a moment to consider the role of these concepts in our own relationships. Grace, the unmerited favor of God that we have received – are we extending that same grace to others?
Peace, then, is not simply the absence of violence, but the wholeness and stillness that comes when things are working in the way intended by the creator, especially between people.
Faith, next – the gift of God that connects us to His grace. But more than a single moment, we are meant to grow in faith as we mature.
Then love, a word used 14 times in the book of Ephesians. We see the love here from Christ and for Christ. A question arises around the term translated as “love incorruptible.” Is our love incorruptible? Not generally, but we know that Christ’s love and grace are both eternal. The New Living Translation may have it more correct here – “May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.”
And that closes the book. To review, Chapter 1 walks us through this concept of predestination. Some of us may be uncomfortable with that concept, but we should consider that this is a discussion of God’s nature, rather than our response to Him.
Chapter 2 we walk through both the darkness of our struggle with sin and separation and the path into the light – by faith, which we are given as a gift, preparing us for good works.
Chapter 3 focuses on reconciliation, both of us to God and between people and peoples, through the mystery of the gospel – all with the purpose of the glory of God, the church here in order to make known the manifold wisdom of God.
In chapter 4, we get clear instructions on how to behave towards each other as we seek unity: “with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We must be “truthing in love,” tender hearted, bearing with one another with that same grace we have received.
In chapter 5, that gets even more real – we must imitate Christ, discarding immorality and filthy talk. Look for the fruit and, oppose deception. Then it shifts into a call to submit to Christ and each other, in our direct relationships, husbands and wives to start, then children and parents, then masters and slaves as we move into chapter 6 – mutual submission being the theme across each of them, with special attention to those hiding earthly power.
And then from earthly power to the “power and principalities” we are called to stand against. This brings up the “armor of God,” the tools we use in order to stand against the powers of darkness. These battles are battles that require righteousness, faith, truth, peace and the word of God. And Paul moves into the close we discussed today with a call to prayer and to recognize its power.
– Sermon Notes, Bart Hodgson, Seed Church, Lynnwood WA, March 21, 2021