The theologian John Mackay once described the book of Ephesians as “the distilled essence of the Christian religion, the most authoritative and most consummate compendium of our holy Christian faith.” Writing to a church facing timeless challenges, the apostle Paul set out to remind his readers of all that God has accomplished for us in Christ—and what we then do and become in response. Throughout history, the resulting six chapters have brought countless people to an understanding of their place in the purposes of God and the wonders of His grace and peace.
Paul knew believers were bound to face relational conflict. In light of this, he offered a challenging instruction: in their marriages, families, and workplaces, they were to submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. For today’s world, relationships continue to be the source of both grievous hurt and immeasurable blessing. In volume 9 of this study, Alistair Begg urges us to consider the Bible’s invitation to introduce the world to Christ through our interactions with spouses, parents, children, and coworkers. How will we respond?