Week 32, August 2–8: Jeremiah 48–52; Psalms 105–106

• Sun      Aug 2  Jer. 48–49       Ps. 105
• Mon     Aug 3  Jer. 50–52       Ps. 106
• Tue      Aug 4  Gal. 1–3         
• Wed     Aug 5  Gal. 4–6         
• Thu      Aug 6  Eph. 1–3        
• Fri        Aug 7  Eph. 4–6        
• Sat       Aug 8  Phil. 1–4         
• Our reading this week turns from Jeremiah to Galatians. This epistle of the apostle Paul is a corrective letter to a group of churches who are in danger of losing sight of the true gospel. Paul uses some of the harshest language in all the NT to rebuke them for turning to “a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1:6–7)

We walked through Galatians in a sermon series a few years ago, and reading it again now gives us another chance to heed its warning. We must reject anything that adds to or changes the gospel of God’s gracious salvation. The gospel is the good news of God saving us through the atoning death and resurrection of Jesus. By reminding ourselves of what God has done for us in Christ, by rehearsing the gospel repeatedly, we seek to live out its truth by bearing fruit that can only be produced by God’s own Spirit.

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20)

This week’s reading also includes a couple of Paul’s other shorter Epistles: Ephesians and Philippians.

Ephesians is perhaps the most profound and relatively concise treatment of the gospel’s implications for the church. It is packed with rich theology and practical instruction and exhortation. Paul’s letters often have a characteristic structure in which the first part focuses on theological teaching, truth for the recipients to understand; and the second part unpacks practical implications of that teaching, exhortation for living in light of gospel truth.

However, it is important not to overstate this two-part structure. Some of Paul’s letters do not have a clear demarcation between first-half theological teaching and a second-half practical exhortation. And in every one of his letters, practical and ethical instruction is integrated within the theological teaching, and the exhortations to live godly lives are always thoroughly expressed as rooted in the theological truth of the gospel.

The good news of what God has done for us in Christ crucially impacts our lives as Christians, and it bears fruit in the healthy function of local churches and the universal Church. The only way for Christians and churches to behave in ways that honor Christ and display a God-glorifying unity is for them to be grounded in the knowledge of Christ and the gospel.

In Ephesians, the first three chapters cover rich, worshipful theology about God’s gracious acts for us through Christ. Paul blesses and thanks the God who called us to himself and sovereignly carries out the purposes he knew he would accomplish before time began. Paul reminds the Ephesian church, and us, that apart from Christ’s saving work, we were dead in our sins. It was only by his grace we were saved, and nothing of ourselves contributes to our salvation. Those who were previously far off from God are reconciled to him by Christ’s blood, and all, both Jew and Gentile, are included in this gospel plan for his church. This plan is meant to display God’s manifold wisdom to the world and beyond the world to the heavenly realm. Paul prays for his readers to grasp the immeasurable love of God, then concludes the first half of the book with a beautiful doxology.

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Eph. 3:20–21)

The second half of Ephesians, chapters 4–6, picks up where the first half left off. Paul moves into instruction and exhortation for the church by urging them to walk in a manner worthy of the gracious calling they have received from God in Christ. They are to conduct themselves—we are to conduct ourselves—“with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bod of peace.” (Eph. 4:2–3)

This exhortation is based on the unity of God himself (4:4–6). Since we have been brought from death to life by God who loves us, we are to walk in love. We are to put off our old self and put on the new life we have been graciously given, a life marked by sacrificial love. This should impact all our relationships—in our family, our workplace, our public life, and especially our church life. And we cannot live the life we are called to live without the strength of the Lord, the armor of God himself, the power of Christ in us, working through his Spirit and his word. The message of Ephesians is a message worth reading, re-reading, meditating upon, and praying through.

Philippians comes next. Like Ephesians, Philippians was written by Paul while he was in prison. He wrote to the Christians who gathered as a church in Philippi, exhorting them with a reminder of the gospel and an encouragement to carry on joyfully in humble unity with one another. Three themes that are repeated throughout Philippians are Joy and Rejoicing, Partnership in the gospel, and God’s glory in Christ. Watch for those themes as you read through, and after reading Philippians, you may find it helpful to go back and review this list of verses that include these themes in the book.

Joy and Rejoicing

• 1:4 Paul prays with joy
• 1:18 Paul rejoices that Christ is proclaimed, and he will rejoice
• 1:25 Paul will continue for the Philippians’ joy in the faith
• 2:2 Paul asks the Philippians to complete his joy
• 2:17–18 Paul is glad and rejoices with the Philippians and asks the same of them
• 2:28 Paul sends Epaphroditus that the Philippians might rejoice
• 2:29 Paul tells the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus with joy
• 3:1 Paul tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord
• 4:1 Paul tells the Philippians they are his joy
• 4:4 Paul tells the Philippians, and tells them again, to rejoice in the Lord
• 4:10 Paul rejoiced in the Lord at the Philippians’ concern for him

Partnership/fellowship in the gospel

• 1:5 “your partnership [fellowship] in the gospel”
• 1:7 “partakers with me of grace . . . in the defense and confirmation of the gospel”
• 1:27 “worthy of the gospel of Christ . . . striving side by side for the faith of the gospel”
• 2:1 “participation [fellowship] in the Spirit”
• 2:22 “served with me in the gospel”
• 2:25 “my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier”
• 3:10 “share his sufferings”
• 3:17 “join in imitating me”
• 4:3 “true companion . . . labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers”
• 4:14 “share [partner in] my trouble”
• 4:15 “partnership with me in giving and receiving”

The glory of God in Christ

• 1:11 “to the glory and praise of God”
• 1:20 “Christ will be honored in my body”
• 1:21 “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
• 1:26 “to glory in Christ Jesus”
• 2:9–11 “God highly exalted him . . . the name that is above every name . . . every knee should bow . . . every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
• 3:3 “who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus”
• 3:21 “to be like his glorious body…”
• 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
• 4:20 “To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.”