20160825 Thursday, August 25 2016
Ephesians 06: The First Commandment With Promise

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth"

God is called our Father ("20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God" John 20:17 KJV) for a reason, and for a purpose (see The Patriotism Prophecy).

The true Church of God is referred to as a "woman" ("12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" Revelation 12:17 KJV) for a reason, and for a purpose (see Eve Was Created From Adam; What Woman Was Created From Jesus Christ?).

The Ten Commandments were given to all of humanity for a reason, and for a purpose (see When Did The Ten Commandments Begin? and The Ten Commandments In Prophecy). Consider, for example, The Fifth Commandment.

"20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12 KJV)

But notice the greater reason and purpose for the Commandment - they all look far beyond physical life (see What Was The Lesson Of John 3:16?).

"6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 6:3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." (Ephesians 6:1-4 KJV)

Throughout the New Testament, the followers of the Messiah referred to themselves by a number of words and terms such as the "faithful," the "elect," the "saints," the "believers" and the "church" (the literal meaning of the original word for church meant ones who are called, i.e. church actually means repentant and converted people, not a building or a corporate organization).

Christian, from the Greek word pronounced christ-ian-ohs, was originally a term used by unbelievers to describe the followers of Jesus Christ as slaves (i.e. the suffix ianos was popularly used to specify the slaves of the one whose name with which it was compounded i.e. Christianos meant slaves of Christ), and was the name given to the church by the Greeks and Romans who most often intended it in a derogatory manner.

The critical manner of using the term in those early years is perhaps the reason that, surprisingly, Christian is found only three times in the Bible, and Christianity does not occur at all. It was however eventually adopted by the followers of the Messiah themselves, and was thereafter used in a positive way, at least among "Christians (see Where Believers Were First Called Christians).

The apostle Paul (see Paul, The Apostle To The World), in referring to himself, made reference to that slave, or servant, meaning word in a positive way by honorably calling himself a "a servant of Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:1 KJV). He also used it to portray the true followers of God. Again, he used the analogy of "slaves" (which did not mean the same in the ancient time as it does now).

"6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 6:7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

6:8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

6:9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him." (Ephesians 6:1-9 KJV)

The famous "armor of God" is the uniform of the "slaves" of Christ (see Why Does The LORD's Armour Attract The Devil's Fire?).

"6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 6:20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:10-20 KJV)

Paul closed the epistle (see The Epistles: What Is An Epistle?), which he dictated while at Rome, as it was recorded by Tychicus (see also The Apostle Paul's Gramma) with "Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (see Who Sits At The Right Hand Of God?).

"6:21 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: 6:22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

To the Ephesians written from Rome, by Tychicus." (Ephesians 6:21-24 KJV)

Fact Finder: Were the Israelites in Egypt made slaves because the LORD had abandoned them - or because the LORD had greatly blessed them?
See I Will There Make Of Thee A Great Nation and How Long Were They Slaves?