Scripture: Ephesians 1 to 3 In Ephesians chapters 1 to 3, Paul explains that God is to be praised for all spiritual blessings he has given to believers through Jesus Christ. Although we might think of praising God as saying prayers, singing hymns or praise songs, and those are indeed forms of praising, Paul explains in chapters 4 to 6 … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 3:20-21 Christians who are familiar with traditional hymns know very well a poem written by Fanny Crosby. The poem starts with a beautiful line: “To God be the glory, great things He has done! So loved He the world that He gave us His Son….” We do not know whether Ms. Crosby uses Ephesians in this particular poem, … Continue reading →
Scripture: Ephesians 2:1-10 We were spiritually dead, but God, out of his mercy and love for us, made us alive in Christ! That God made us who were dead alive shows his power, and his willingness to save us, because of his mercy and love, shows his grace. Understanding God’s blessing and his grace is part of Paul’s prayer for … Continue reading →
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 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.
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