I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie.
Summary: We take a second look at truth-telling and telling lies.
Continue reading “Galatians 1:20 – The Line (Part II)”Ephesians 5:13b – Flipping the Switch
— and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.
Summary: Understanding the metaphor of light and dark opens up a world of understanding about the spiritual realm.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:13b – Flipping the Switch”Ephesians 5:8a – Spiritual Light and Dark
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Summary: Paul has the unenviable task of explaining realities that we cannot see with our human eyes. To give us a picture of what he is talking about, he uses an illustration of light and dark.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:8a – Spiritual Light and Dark”Ephesians 1:18c – A Different Kind of Hope
… in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you …
Summary: Language takes on a new dimension when we begin to see things from a spiritual perspective. The word “hope” is no exception.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:18c – A Different Kind of Hope”Ephesians 1:17b – Wise Guy
… the Spirit of wisdom …
Summary: One of the gifts Paul prays for is a gift with a prestigious history in the Bible. Solomon prayed for the same gift, and the result of having that gift was a boon to the nation of Israel.
Continue reading “Ephesians 1:17b – Wise Guy”1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure, Part II
Even angels long to look into these things.
In yesterday’s post, I started by saying, “Peter is telling us about salvation. Broadly speaking ‘salvation’ in this case refers to several things.” And then I went on to tell you about only one thing. Today I would like to follow up on that thought with another thing related to salvation.
As we discussed yesterday, the first thing salvation refers to is the restoration of our relationship with God. The second “thing” is that the restoration of this relationship is complicated. Human nature was irreversibly altered by the sin of Adam and Eve. In Genesis 3: 5 the serpent says,
“For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Continue reading “1 Peter 1:12 (b) — Beyond Measure, Part II”