With all wisdom and understanding …
Summary: Paul points us to God’s wisdom and understanding and in doing so, points to our own need for them as well.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:8 – The Key to Wisdom”Ephesians 1:7c – The Pardon
… in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
Summary: Paul has a detailed way of conveying his thoughts. Sometimes his meanings can be lost in the words. It is worth stopping to ponder what Paul is saying and think about the story behind the words.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7c – The Pardon”Ephesians 1:7b – The Big Death
… through his blood, the forgiveness of sins …
Summary: Blood holds a unique place in Scripture and life. We cannot live without it. In the salvation narrative, blood is both the price of salvation and the symbol of salvation.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7b – The Big Death”Ephesians 1:7a – The Day God Died
In him we have redemption …
Summary: What does it mean to be redeemed? When it comes to spiritual matters, we may never fully understand them. But we can know this much; we need it!
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:7a – The Day God Died”Ephesians 1:6b – The One He Loves
… which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Summary: Keeping up with Paul’s train of thought can be a challenge. Today’s passage is the caboose on a long train of words that describe why Jesus came to earth as a man.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:6b – The One He Loves”Ephesians 1:6a – Motivation
… to the praise of his glorious grace …
Summary: Ever wonder why God does something? Today we take a brief look at how Paul sees God’s motivations.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:6a – Motivation”Ephesians 1:5 – He Made Us Anyway
And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it.*
Summary: The way God made us his own children is by adopting us into his family. Adoption changes who we are and changing who we are changes our future.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:5 – He Made Us Anyway”Ephesians 1:5a – The Cosmic Clock
In love he predestined us …
Summary: Knowledge is a concept that presumes something can be known. Imagination is the tool God gave us to fill in the gaps where knowledge is not possible. In between is a place where people argue over the meaning of words.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:5a – The Cosmic Clock”Ephesians 1:4b – The Plan is Jesus
… to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Summary: Being holy and blameless is not something we can achieve on our own. We need help! Fortunately for us, God has a plan. The plan is Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:4b – The Plan is Jesus”Ephesians 1:4a – The Meaning of “Chose”
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world …
Summary: Paul’s insights can be logically challenging. The Word of God can seem non-sensical from a worldly point of view. Viewed correctly, everything makes sense.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:4a – The Meaning of “Chose””