Unlocking The New Testament

Ephesians

David Pawson says the best defense against heresy is solid, good teaching and that’s what Paul gave to the Ephesians via this letter, protecting them against false teaching. This teaching is the very foundation of Christian living. Ephesus was a key town in the history of the early church. A port city, it had an enormous temple to the goddess Diana. Silversmiths sold reproductions of a meteorite which had fallen to Ephesus, supposedly symbolising the goddess and Paul’s preaching had brought hostility from these silversmiths. His letter is in two clear halves, dealing with our relationship with God in Christ and our relationship with others in the Lord. David terms the first half Salvation worked in (doctrine – what we are saved by) and the 2nd, Salvation worked out (duty – what we are saved for). We are not saved by good deeds, but we are saved for good deeds. David says that a Gospel that doesn’t work out in life is not the full Gospel. We need both halves – and in the order presented because we cannot live the Christian life before we’ve been saved. Paul’s teaching is couched in a hymn of praise for God’s power and purpose. Our battles are not with flesh and blood. David beautifully explains predestination.

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Philippians & Philemon 1

’A colony of heaven’ Paul termed the Philippian church though it was in a Roman- occupied city. David Pawson says that God had his eye on this strategic city and sent Paul there. Thus this became the first church in Europe. Paul was now under house arrest in Rome, hence the need to write a letter of gratitude for a gift he’d received, including an ‘apostle’ to help him. David discusses what it is to be an apostle, and also what healing is for. From this letter we have a glimpse of Paul as a person and the kind of relationship he had with his converts. ‘Fellowship is far more than a cup of tea.’ With real fellowship, what happens to one happens to all. Though facing possible death, Paul’s favourite word in Philippians is joy – plus rejoice and thanksgiving. He lived for Christ and therefore he had nothing to lose. Paul’s true address was ‘in Him’, that’s where he lived.

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