Do you know who some historians have recorded as "America's Greatest Miser?" When she died in 1916 "Hetty Green" left an estate valued at over $100 million. Yet, because it cost money to heat it, she ate her oatmeal cold. Because she was looking for a free clinic and did not get her son's leg cared for properly, it became incurable and had to be amputated. Even though this woman was very wealthy she chose to live as though she were a pauper.

We might think she must have been eccentric and perhaps crazy. In contrast to Hetty, many today live beyond their financial means. She hastened her own death from a ruptured blood vessel in her brain arguing about the value a drinking skimmed milk. Could it be that Hetty is an illustration of many Christians today? With unlimited Spiritual wealth at their disposal many Christians choose to live as paupers. It seems that this would be descriptive of some of the Christians to whom the letter of to the Ephesians was written.

As we begin to study this epistle today I would like us to consider three A's:
Author, Assembly, and Aim.

I. Author

The author clearly identifies himself as Paul, "an apostle of Christ Jesus, by the will of God," in these opening words of the letter. Characteristic of Paul, he opens telling of what he speaks of as his only claims to fame. He was an apostle of Christ Jesus and that privilege was not of pride, but through the will of God.

Paul certainly remembers his days prior to becoming a Christian. He was a devoted rabbi, Saul of Tarsus, a leader of the movement that opposed Christianity. The Lord Himself stopped Saul in his tracks on the road to Damascus to persecute followers of Christ. Saul met Jesus Christ and his life was never the same. He became Paul, zealously serving the Lord whose followers He had previously opposed.

The author belonged to Christ and lived no longer as he desired, but as God wanted him to live. What a transformation. As an apostle, he had a mission, a commission from Jesus Christ. Rather than focus on apostle as a title we should think about its meaning one who is dispatched or sent out. It might be used of a service person sent out on an expedition for the army, navy or marines. It may also be used of an ambassador who is sent out by his native country. Apostle refers to one sent out with some special task to do. If you and I are followers of Jesus, we, like Paul, have a mission for serving Christ in the world. We may not necessarily become an author.

In the book of Acts (13) we find that while Paul was serving God in Antioch, the Holy Spirit called him to take the gospel to the Gentiles. The Lord led Paul on three missionary journeys during which many persons came to know Jesus Christ and churches were established. Paul had evangelized in Ephesus for a while and then returned there later. During this latter, longer visit a church was founded in that city which had been dedicated to the worship of the goddess Diana. it was probably about ten years later when Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Ephesus. At this time Paul was imprisoned in Rome, on trial for his life. Yet, he was deeply concerned about the spiritual needs of the people in the churches where he had served God.

II. Assembly

The author went on to address the assembly. Who was that assembly? He wrote, "To the saints who are in Ephesus, and who are faithful in Christ Jesus." It is possible that you are reading from a translation that does not include, "who are in Ephesus," because these words do not appear in all of the ancient manuscripts. Some scholars have suggested that this letter may have circulated to all of the Asian churches in which Paul had ministered. Regardless, it is addressed to saints who are faithful in Christ Jesus. We are not an Asian church, but this is also a message for us.

It is unfortunate that many people think of saints as dead persons, who years later are given the title saint because of their godly way of life. Dictionary definitions carry on this concept. For example, a person who has died and is in heaven, or a person of great purity, sainthood. A dead person's life may be examined carefully to see if his character and conduct is above reproach and then if he has been responsible for working miracles, perhaps he may be called a saint. Rather than focus on a religious group granting sainthood this is not how I see the word saint being used in the Bible. In Paul's short letter to the Christians at Ephesus he addressed them as saints nine times. Yes, they had previously been dead in their sin, but at the time he wrote, they were alive, physically and spiritually. I think God wanted that assembly and the assembly of believers today to be lively saints.

In the Greek New Testament, a saint referred to one who had been set apart. When we sinners trust Jesus Christ as our personal Savior we are placed in Christ. While we live in this world, we are set apart for Christ. The people at Ephesus became saints through faith in Jesus Christ by God's grace.

Remember, grace describes a gift that we are unable to produce for ourselves and which we do not earn or deserve. The focus is on the generosity of God for his deeply loved, but undeserving people.

III. Aim

As we begin this study of Ephesians we have talked about the author and the assembly to whom it was written. Before we close today look at the aim, the theme of this epistle. The aim is to tell of the Christian's riches in Christ. This is spelled out in verse three: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." We will talk more about this next week, but let's begin to look at this theme before we close today. The source of these blessings is not Fort Knox, a huge bank account, a certificate of deposit, a wise land investment, or a big win from the racetrack; it is God. In our worship today we have taken the time to remember some of our local saints that have gone before us. However, all those alive today who have placed their faith in Christ are rightly called saints also, even if some may be uncomfortable with such a designation.

Some years ago John Paul Getty was thought to be one of the richest men in the world, worth an estimated $1.3 billion. The weekly income of some oil sheiks runs in the millions, but all this wealth is small compared to the spiritual wealth we have in Christ. He promises to supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. This however is not a promise that we will all have great material wealth or a life free from pain, but spiritual riches are more important than material riches. Let's live as lively saints.

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