Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10 Paul describes our condition as being dead in transgressions and sins before God made us alive in Christ. It does not mean that everyone was terribly evil and committed all wrongdoings before they came to Christ, but the context says that we were not under our own control and were completely led by other forces. But God who … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 1:15-23 Most of us are familiar with the saying “be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”1 Although the quotation is supposed to remind us to understand others and to be kind to others, it often resonates with us in the other way: we feel that we are fighting a battle that others do not know … 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 1:1-2 (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 →
