Not Storing Up Anger
Anger, when accumulated, can result in bitterness, so it is not surprising to see Paul talking about handling anger just before talking about bitterness.
Continue reading →Category Archives: Ephesians
Ridding of All Bitterness
Bitterness, however, has something to do with long term hurt/anger and accumulation of resentment against a person or a situation. We are angry with someone….
Continue reading →Putting on the New Self (or: Reading and Applying the Bible) – 2
Scripture: Ephesians 4:20-27 It takes some efforts for the word of God to have effects in our lives. In addition to meditating on it and memorizing at least some part of it so that our lives can be transformed by renewed minds, we sometimes need to deeply search our souls in order to recognize our spiritual problems and to … Continue reading →
Putting on the New Self (or: Reading and Applying the Bible) – 1
Scripture: Ephesians 4:20-25 As believers in Christ, we have new lives, but from time to time all of us need to be reminded to live up to the new lives. To put off the old self, to be made new in the attitude of minds, and to put on the new man, are reminders that Paul gave to believers in Ephesians (4:22-24). … Continue reading →
Living Out Our New Lives!
Scripture: Ephesians 4:17-24 As people who have received spiritual blessings from God (1:3-14), we are called to live our lives worthy of his calling (4:1). As members of the Church, we learn to maintain unity so all believers may be rooted in the truth, speak truth in love, and continue to grow toward Christ (4:1-16). As individual believers, we learn to … Continue reading →
Maturity: Goal of Believers and of the Church (2)
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16 A lot have been said about the maturity of believers and of the church. In 4:12 we have the threefold purposes of the church: to equip the saints, to do the work of ministry, and to build up to body of Christ1 Then v. 23 describes the three goals of the church: to reach unity in the faith and … Continue reading →
Maturity: Goal of Believers and of the Church (1)
Scripture: Ephesians 4:1-16 Different people seem to have different images of Christian maturity, so it is important to look at what the Bible says about it. It is also important to realize that this particular passage is talking about corporate identity, the church, rather than about individual believers.1 Earlier Paul has mentioned that that all should maintain unity and work … Continue reading →
From Unity to Unity (5): Aim for Unity
So we have the unity of the Spirit; we make every effort to keep the unity through the bond of peace; we understand the spiritual basis of unity; and realizing the gift of Christ, we all serve with diverse roles and positions. But what do we actually do? What are we trying to achieve? What is the ultimate goal of … Continue reading →
From Unity to Unity (4): Serve in Unity
Scripture: Ephesians 4:7-13 Believers are given the unity of the Spirit (4:3) and are expected to make every effort to keep it as there is a strong basis for unity (4:4-6). But unity is not to be maintained just for the purpose of our own enjoyment. Rather, it is so that, with the grace of God, every believers can take … Continue reading →
From Unity to Unity (3): Remember the Basis of Unity
Scripture: Ephesians 4:4-6 Immediately after explaining the spiritual blessings from God (chapters 1 to 3), Paul urges believers to live a life worthy of God’s calling. He starts with a call to keep unity and to live a harmonious life among believers. In doing so, he gives the spiritual basis of the unity already given by God. The basis mentioned … Continue reading →