When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Ephesians 3:1-6 

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. Ephesians 3:4-5

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 3:1-6 where Paul continues to emphasize the theme of unity between Jews and Gentiles.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: The mystery of God is made known through His revelation.  He hardens and softens the hearts of those according to His will - this is certainly a mystery - that He choose some to be saved and others not to be saved.  We should also be aware that there is both general and special revelation.  V5: This revelation of Christ was not made known to Israel in the Old Testament, but was through the apostles (including Paul) through the Holy Spirit.  V6: The mystery of Christ includes how Gentiles are "fellow heirs" of the Jews, "members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus[.]"  The text reinforces chapter 2 where Paul emphasizes the unity of the church - Jews and Gentiles together form the church.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Paul describes himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus.  Another way of describing this "captivity" is how scripture describes us as either slaves to sin or slaves to God.  Some may believe that they - on their own accord - can produce an enlightened mind that is free from sin, yet this is a fallacy and wrong thinking.  Only God and the Holy Spirit can do this.  Romans 12:2 describes how the mind can be renewed, and this renewal is by and for God as the text shares how once our minds are renewed we are aligned with God's will. God thoughts and ways are not like ours (Isaiah 55:8) but He will make them like His.  2 Corinthians 10:5 describes how we then take thoughts captive to "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God."  V2: Paul also describes himself as a steward of God's grace - implying that such grace is something to used carefully and wisely - for use in sharing the Good News and for building up the church.       
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid thinking that our human efforts can produce righteousness - no, Christ alone saves and renews our minds.  We should claim the promise that all believers are heirs to a rich inheritance (eternal life) that is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14).  We should follow the example of Paul and be a good steward of the grace given to us by God.  In return we should share the Good News, and through our testimony show grace to others by working with God and the Holy Spirit to save others. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who revealed Himself to me and gives me mercies that never cease and are new every morning.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Ephesians 2:11-22 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.  Ephesians 2:19-21

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 2:11-22 where Paul emphasizes how Christ removed the "wall of hostility" between Jews and Gentiles and not only reconciled both to Christ, but to each other - bringing peace and unity.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv14-16: Christ is our peace - He died for Jews and Gentiles from all nations who believe, and reconciled not only both to Christ, but to each other - bringing peace and unity through the creation of the church.  He also abolished the Old Testament rituals - the ceremonial law.  Vv20-22: Christ is the cornerstone of the church, and the Holy Spirit knits the church together by living in each member of the church.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V12: Building on vv1-10 (see post yesterday on how we were all spiritually dead), Paul seeks for believers to understand that pre-salvation, we were "separated from Christ", alienated from the commonwealth of Israel," "strangers to the covenants of promise," and "having no hope and without God in the world." V13: God brought us near to Him - again not through our own efforts but through His death on the cross. Vv18-19: All who believe are united as one body with the same access to Him, and are "no longer strangers and aliens," "but are fellow citizens with the saints," "and members of the household of God[.]"  V22: God knits us together as a church and unites us through the Holy Spirit that lives in each of us.     
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid having no hope by remaining separated from God. Claim the promise that God brings all near who believe in Him, and unites us as a church.  We must remember our pre-salvation state and praise God for how He saved us and brought us near to Him.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who through Your death on the cross, saved us, brought us near to You, and united us together with the in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

...[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-10 

...[God] raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 2:1-10 where Paul shares how believers were saved while still an enemy and hostile to Him, and not through our own efforts.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv4-8: God is rich in mercy and He has great love for believers such that despite how we were sinful and an enemy of Him (see also Romans 5:10), He reached down into the pit to save us.  Our salvation (1) includes being raised up with Jesus to be with Him where He is saving a place for us; (2) was done to demonstrate "the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus;" (3) was a gift from God; and (4) was done for us to do good works prepared in advance for us that we could (emphasized by repetition of the same description from v7) be the Light of Jesus for others to see.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Before accepting Jesus, all believers were spiritually dead and condemned - slave to sin. This is a horrible state for anyone - and believers should have mercy on those who doubt and seek to snatch them from the fire (Jude 22-23).  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid being dead in your sin - know Jesus and accept Him as Your Lord and Savior.  Claim the promise that God is saving a place for You in Heaven.  Follow the example of Paul who turned from His sin and allowed Christ to work through Him.  Remain humble as you should recognize that faith is a gift from God and to be used for His glory. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is rich in mercy and great love as You saved me while sinful and hostile to Him.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I know my faith is not of my own doing and I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

 

[I am praying that God] may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Ephesians 1:15-23 

[I am praying that God] may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. Ephesians 1:16-21

I continue my study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Today I focus on Ephesians 1:15-23 where Paul thanks the church at Ephesus for their faith and love of those in the church, and also prays for the church to have the wisdom to appreciate what their faith provides for them.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  V17: God is the source of wisdom and knowledge - all good and perfect gifts are from above (James 1:17) - we must pray that He help give us wisdom and knowledge.  Scripture gives us this wisdom and knowledge because it is the basis for our faith, and our relationship with Him.  He renews our minds through our knowledge of Him and aligns our thoughts and desires to be like His (Romans 12:2).  V18: God gives us hope and a rich inheritance - this same inheritance (e.g. eternal life, etc.) that is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. Vv19-20: God gives us power that is "immeasurab[ly] great" and it is the same power that raised Christ from the dead and "seated him at [God's] right hand in the heavenly places." V21: God does not just reign - He does so at a level that humanity cannot fathom - God rules "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named...." eternally.  V22: God put everything under Christ's feet and made Him head of the church and the church is His body.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv15-16: Paul thanks the church in Ephesus for their faith - once again - see post yesterday;  he also prays for them in vv17-23 that they have wisdom from God to appreciate what their faith provides to them. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Ultimately, as Revelation 2:4-5 points out, the faith of the church in Ephesus weakens and this happens to everyone - we must avoid weakened faith by remaining in Him and a focusing on spiritual disciplines of corporate worship, prayer, daily study of His Word, etc. We must claim the promise of our guaranteed rich inheritance in Christ. We should follow the example of those with faith and those who love God and others (most important commandments).  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God reveals Himself through Your Word and through the Holy Spirit who guides us and renews our mind. Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.]

Ephesians 1:1-14 

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.] Ephesians 1:13-14

Today, I start a study of Paul's prison epistles - Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.  Specifically, my study today examines Ephesians 1:1-14 where Paul writes to the church in Ephesus to highlight how believers there should appreciate how they have been "blessed...in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V3: God has blessed believers "with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places[.]"  This is impossible to fully fathom on this side of heaven - blessed indeed!  V4: He chose "believers in [Christ] before the foundation of the world...[and views us as] holy and blameless before him."  We are guiltless and justified before Him!  V5: He "predestined us for adoption[.]"  God knows everything about us, including the sin that we will commit, yet He loves us and saves us!  Vv7-10: Expanding on vv5-6, Paul shares that we have "redemption" and "forgiveness," and these were provided as "grace" and he "lavished" these blessings upon us by "making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him."  Any one of these alone describe lavishness, but together is again - mind blowing.  Vv11-12: These spiritual blessings are described as an inheritance, planned in advance (predestined), so that believers "might be to the praise of His glory."  We exist for His glory - we should understand this and act accordingly.  V13-14: God sealed our salvation by providing the Holy Spirit that "guarantees...our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.]"      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V1: Paul describes himself as "an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God."  No one can claim that they accomplished faith through their own works - on the contrary it is Christ alone who saves.  Paul then describes the saints - believers - in Ephesus as faithful.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should avoid thinking how it is our own efforts that save us and that anything other than Christ is our highest treasure.  We should claim the promise of our guaranteed inheritance of the riches of Christ.  We should pray that we can be faithful as described by Paul for the church in Ephesus (keeping in mind that later this church would be described in Revelation as "falling").  We should pray that God gives us the power to appreciate spiritual blessings He bestows upon us and remain in Him.   

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who graciously and lavishly bless me beyond my comprehension - including how You save and guarantee an inheritance.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

Psalm 115:3 

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Psalm 115:3

I have have yet to identify my next study, so this morning I continue to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today examines how God is sovereign, is never trapped or coerced, and that He does what He pleases.  

Colossians 1:15-17 shares how God is the firstborn of creation, how all things were created by Him, through Him, for Him, and how He holds all things together.  The devotion shares how, unlike humanity, God is not "constrained," "backed into a corner," or "coerced." No, as the Psalmist writes, God does whatever pleases Him.  Even at the one point where one may think God does something that He does not want to do, scripture says otherwise - we are directed to Romans 8:32, Ephesians 5:2, and John 10:18 where scripture describes willingly gave up His own Son, how Christ's crucifixion was seen as "a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God," and how Christ's life was not taken from Him but He freely offered it as He (per the devotion) had "legions of angels at his disposal." On the contrary, Jesus was not trapped, but He looked beyond the cross, was "totally in charge," and was focused on "the joy set before Him" (Hebrews 12:2).  We must acknowledge how Jesus is sovereign and reigns over all matters in Heaven and on earth, while at the same time, He is abounding in grace and love, saving those who confess their sin and surrender to Christ as Lord. This is who God is...and more!         

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is sovereign over all matters in heaven and on earth, and You know everything about me (including my sin!) - yet You are full of grace and mercy as You loved me while still a sinner and saved me. Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope."

Matthew 12:18-21 and Isaiah 42 

"Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope." Matthew 12:18-21

As I have completed my study of Jonah and have yet identified my next study, this morning I use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which examines how Christ is both the Lion and the Lamb.  

Among His many attributes, God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent.  He is all of these things at the same time and much more. In Matthew 12, Christ is described as God's Chosen Servant, and during His ministry, He heals those who followed Him.  In the devotion today, John Piper uses two attributes of Christ - how he is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and how He is the spotless slain lamb of God who lays down His life for all of humanity.  These two attributes are used to depict two seemingly opposite ends of a spectrum - on one hand the lion is ferocious and as an apex predator - no other animal is higher than it on the food chain.  On the other hand, you have the lamb who follows the shepherd and is a portrait of meekness - going and doing as the shepherd leads.  Jesus is both and in the text today, we see an emphasis of His servant-hood and meekness, and how He cares for those in His flock.  All of us at various points in our life are in need of the humble and gentle care described here - we are the bruised reed and the smoldering wick.  We also see others who need this same humble and gentle care.  We are created in His image to be His ambassador during our time here, so believers must allow Him to work in us so that others can see His Light in us and be drawn to Him.        

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who reigns, serves, and saves!  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.