Sep 15, 2019
Prayer: We ask God for insight into His blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:15-23
By: (All)
We’ve read Paul’s praise to God for His blessings to us in Christ, which are complete in every way (Ephesians 1:3-14): We have been eternally chosen to be holy and blameless adopted children of God, recipients of and witnesses to His grace, with our sins freely forgiven.
So, what can be added? What can be given to a person who has everything? Only the knowledge of these blessings and how they work!
The mystery of God now revealed in the gospel becomes effective ONLY as its blessings are known, believed, and applied. Just as money in a checking account does nothing until a check is written, neither do God’s promises and blessings while we are ignorant of them or fail to apply them because of fear or doubt. 1 Cor. 10:1-14; Heb. 4:1, 2
So Paul’s prayer for us is that through the Spirit’s operation, we will know God, and be clear about our destiny, identity, and the power with which God has made us His inheritance.
The blessings of God are neither automatic nor mechanical. They are living and relational realities that must be received as gifts and experienced (put into practice) in real time, real life circumstances.
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- Sep 15, 2019Prayer: We ask God for insight into His blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:15-23
Sep 15, 2019Prayer: We ask God for insight into His blessings in Christ. Ephesians 1:15-23By: (All)We’ve read Paul’s praise to God for His blessings to us in Christ, which are complete in every way (Ephesians 1:3-14): We have been eternally chosen to be holy and blameless adopted children of God, recipients of and witnesses to His grace, with our sins freely forgiven. So, what can be added? What can be given to a person who has everything? Only the knowledge of these blessings and how they work! The mystery of God now revealed in the gospel becomes effective ONLY as its blessings are known, believed, and applied. Just as money in a checking account does nothing until a check is written, neither do God’s promises and blessings while we are ignorant of them or fail to apply them because of fear or doubt. 1 Cor. 10:1-14; Heb. 4:1, 2 So Paul’s prayer for us is that through the Spirit’s operation, we will know God, and be clear about our destiny, identity, and the power with which God has made us His inheritance. The blessings of God are neither automatic nor mechanical. They are living and relational realities that must be received as gifts and experienced (put into practice) in real time, real life circumstances.
- Sep 8, 2019How God’s Glory and Promises Find Fulfillment in His Son Exploring Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
Sep 8, 2019How God’s Glory and Promises Find Fulfillment in His Son Exploring Paul’s Letter to the EphesiansBy: (All)The Bible is a library of books about God. He creates the world which immediately turns against Him. But instead of casting sinners away, He seeks them out and offers them pardon, all the while warning them of judgment for those who continue in rebellion. But how can a just God also be merciful? How can a perfectly holy Deity interact with sinful man? And how can sins even be forgiven? It’s a mystery, a mystery none of the world religions even pretends to answer. But what has been hidden, even from the prophets, now is revealed through Jesus in the gospel. We will see that while there are many questions to answer, and many mysteries which have been hidden, they all are answered and resolved in the ONE mystery, which is the revelation of God in Christ: Both Jew and Gentile are now one in Him. This is the idea of this unique New Testament book. Paul is not correcting errant doctrine, or dealing with division in the church. He is explaining to all churches for all times in all places how Jesus Christ not only is the central figure of human history, but also the only Person who can bridge the moral canyon between repentant sinners and a holy God and span the ethnic/cultural chasm between Jew and Gentile. Let’s think through how Paul explains this amazing mystery, how it has been revealed, and how it applies to us.