Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 For a church or churches that he has personally taught for over 3 years,1 for the saints who he knows have received every spiritual blessing from God, for the believers for whom he thanks God unceasingly for their faith in the Lord and their love toward others, the apostle Paul offers this prayer to God: that the … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-16 A person who has a true faith in God should be a loving person. A life which is truly changed by Christ is a life full of love. We know that “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”1 We have also been told that in Christ, all external differences are of no … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 Praises and petitions are very closely connected and are often offered together, as we see here in the opening of the Epistle to the Ephesians. After the opening praise to God, Paul moved on to a prayer for his readers. While it must have brought tremendous joy to Paul when he heard about the Ephesians’ coming to Christ … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14 (text at bottom of post) We have mentioned early on that Ephesians 1:3-14 is one single sentence. It is a praise to God and at the same time an invitation to praise God. Regconizing it as one sentence and praise will remind us to respond with praise. Hopefully it will also prevent us from entering into endless … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14 (text at bottom of post) When Paul offered his praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, he mentioned the salvation that God had prepared, accomplished and guaranteed for us, but he did not explain any detail because that part of the letter was really a praise to God and not a lesson in theology.1 … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14 (text at bottom of post) We have talked about the core message of Ephesians 1:3-14 being “praise be to God who blesses us with every spiritual blessing.” Next we are going to look at the long part of the sentence. Before that, let us visit the core sentence again and compare it with v. 3: “Praise be … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14 (text at bottom of post) Psalmists in the Old Testament remind us to praise God and not to forget His grace. Most of us are familiar with what David says in Psalm 103:2, “Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” David then proceeds to list the benefits that he has received from God: … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:3-14 (text at the bottom of post) As God’s chosen people, we are to give praise to God. This is what Paul reminded the Church after his greeting, and it is also a good reminder for us to give praise to God and to live a praiseful life.
Continue reading →Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2 (text at the bottom of the post) The Apostle Paul opened his letter with a greeting to the Church, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” In Paul’s day, the standard greeting is “be happy” or “happiness!”1 It is a common greeting, and there is nothing wrong with it,2 but … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:1-2 (text at the bottom of the post) Imagine you live in the city of Ephesus, you are a member of the Church in Ephesus,1 and you know Apostle Paul. He came to Ephesus many years ago and started the church you currently attend. He stayed with your church for a while but then left to visit other churches … Continue reading →
