Ephesians 1:11 In Christ we too have been claimed as God’s own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of Him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of His will 12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. 13And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) – when you believed in Read more…
There are dozens of things that God has done for us through Christ. Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the Read more…
Ephesians 1:6 to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8 that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. BSB These verses are bracketed by grace with redemption and forgiveness in the middle. This grace is not limited as it is both freely Read more…
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; NHEB The blessings are spiritual because they come from the spiritual dimension. The Greek word translated here as “heavenly places” will appear four more times in Ephesians. The Adam Clarke Commentary explains it this way: “Some think the word should be understood as signifying blessings of the most Read more…
On their second journey Paul and company wanted to go to Asia, in particular the provincial capital of Ephesus, since it was such a strategic and important city in the Roman Empire (only surpassed by Rome and Alexandria). They tried to come in from the south and were forbidden to do so by the Holy Spirit. They also tried to come in from the north and were again denied. Paul meets Priscilla and Aquila (who Read more…
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints being in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: BLB Ephesians is one of the four letters Paul wrote during his first imprisonment in Rome (the other three are Philippians, Colossians and Philemon). The letter is a little different from some of his other letters which leads some to doubt whether or not Paul actually wrote the epistle. Paul is Read more…
Genesis 12:1 Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and all the families of the earth will Read more…
Genesis 11:1 The whole earth had a common language and a common vocabulary. 2 When the people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. 3 Then they said to one another, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” (They had brick instead of stone and tar instead of mortar.) 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens so that Read more…
Genesis chapters 1 and 2 are a paradise but things start to unravel in chapter 3. Next, we see a pattern that begins by God telling humanity what He expects. (As image bearers, we have the capacity to connect with God and to respond). The response is an active rebellion as humanity proceeds to do the things God tells us not to do and to not do the things we should be doing. Then comes Read more…
Romans 2:14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 16 on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed Read more…