… in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Summary: Coming in the name of Jesus carries with it both responsibility, and power and authority.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:20b – In His Name”Ephesians 5:6b – The Choice
… for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
Summary: What is “wrath?” Is it something we should worry about? Does God really get angry with us? These questions are important when we consider where we want to spend eternity after this body of flesh we live in stops working.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:6b – The Choice”Ephesians 5:5b – Who Then Can Be Saved?
— has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Summary: Paul has some strong words for us in this passage. Looked at in the wrong way, they can seem like a death sentence for us all. Looked at through the lens of Jesus’ love for us, the meaning becomes clear. We need Jesus!
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:5b – Who Then Can Be Saved?”Ephesians 5:3a – What God Thinks
But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality,
Summary: People argue about all sorts of things, including morality and what it means to be “moral.” Paul tells us to avoid “even a hint” of immorality. Unpacking that concept in Christian terms opens the door to important insights about God.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:3a – What God Thinks”Ephesians 5:2b – The Second Chance
… just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Summary: Why was it necessary for Jesus to die on the cross? Is it possible for us to fully understand the answer to that question? Probably not, but Scripture provides us with many clues.
Continue reading “Ephesians 5:2b – The Second Chance”Ephesians 4:27 – Right and Wrong
… and do not give the devil a foothold.
Summary: The NIV Bible uses an interesting word to describe giving the devil an opportunity to sway your thinking and actions. The word is “foothold.”
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:27 – Right and Wrong”Ephesians 4:25a – Snakes and Doves
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood …
Summary: The devil is the master of lies. You might say he is the father of falsehood. Paul is guiding us away from Satan’s influence.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:25a – Snakes and Doves”Ephesians 4:24 – Intro to Part II: All the Work
… put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Summary: Why does it feel like “putting on” this “new self” is a lot of work? The answer, like so many things in life, depends on how you look at it. Looked at correctly, we are not doing any work at all. Instead we are honoring our King, Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24 – Intro to Part II: All the Work”Ephesians 4:24b – Following Jesus
… created to be like God …
Summary: The idea of being like God can feel a little intoxicating … to the old self. To the new self, being like God is to be like Jesus.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:24b – Following Jesus”Ephesians 4:17a – A Kind of Test
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do …
Summary: Paul’s problem is that people who believe in God act differently than people who don’t. Being the “Apostle to the Gentiles” carried with it the added burden of educating Gentile believers about this difference.
Continue reading “Ephesians 4:17a – A Kind of Test”