Where our religion is true, it will affect every relationship in life. The love of Christ must find its manifestation in nursery and in kitchen, in workshop and in municipal chamber. But notice that its duties are reciprocal. We must give on our side, just as we expect others to give on theirs.

The first duty of children is obedience. They must be taught to obey because it is right, and their conscience bears witness to the rightness. Never plead with a child to do what is right, nor bribe it by a reward. Take your stand on that primeval sense of right and wrong, which is the foundation of morals and will be the stay of the child’s whole after-life, when once its supremacy is established. But parents should hlelp their children by removing irritation or passion from their own speech. Slaves formed a large proportion of the early Church. Their obedience must be explicit, and they were taught to believe that Christ took their faithful service to their earthly owner as service to himself. But masters must ever deal with their servants as liable to be called to account by the great Master of all. The center of all authority is Christ, and he will demand an account of our treatment of every servant he has sent into our homes.

Ephesians 6:13-24. Many would be strong, but fail because they forget that they can be effectively so only ‘¢in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.’’ Paul had a very vivid conception of the powerful forces

that are arrayed against the Church. He is not dealing here especially with our personal temptations, but with those hosts of wicked spirits that lie behind the evil of the world. It is probable that the vast systems which oppose the gospel—the philosophies, temples, and priests of false religions; the trade in strong drink, impurity, and like evils; and such iniquitous institutions as the system of indentured slavery—are directly promoted and furthered by the agency of evil spirits in arms against God.

We must be pure and holy, if we are to prevail against evil; and especially must we give ourselves to prayer. To prevail in this warfare we must diligently employ the weapon of all prayer. Tychicus carried this letter. He was faithful to the end, Acts 20:4; 2 Tim. 4:12. The Epistle closes, as it began, with uncorrupted, that is, pure and eternal, love. Alford says, ‘‘This is the only truth worthy to be the crown and climax of this glorious Epistle.’’

Into what two parts does this Epistle naturally divide, and what is the theme of each? :

What different relationships of the Christian does it treat?

What was the occasion of Paul’s first visit to Kphesus? Who continued the work which the Apostle began?

How long did Paul labor here at a later time? When did he see the elders of the church for the last time?

When was the Epistle to the Ephesians written? What other Kpistle does it closely resemble? What is said of its theme and style?

(Bach question applies to the paragraph of corresponding

What is this Epistle sometimes called? What is the condition of a blessed life?

How does Paul describe the position occupied by the risen Christ?

What are the achievements of grace in the believer ?

How is the present condition of the Ephesians con trasted with their former condition?

Why was it remarkable that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs of the promise in Christ?

What was Paul’s great prayer for the Ephesian Christians?

What are the fruits of Christ’s ascension for believers?

What are some of the different offices in the Church? What ia their common purpose?

What are the practical evidences of a godly life?

How is the Christian to be distinguished from the worldling?

How is the marriage relation sanctified in Christ?

What is the armor of the Christian? What is Paul’s final request of the Ephesian church?