In chapter three, Paul the author, pauses to give a snapshot of his life and current conditions to his readers. In this text we get a window into the mind…
In chapter three, Paul the author, pauses to give a snapshot of his life and current conditions to his readers. In this text we get a window into the mind…
Jesus came to build the Church, a community united around Him and
His work on our behalf. The text of Ephesians 2:11-22 reminds us of our state
before Jesus and now the manifold blessings of being part of the Household of
God through the Cross.
Ephesians 2:10 declares that we are God’s workmanship—His “poiema,”. And God has works for each of us to walk out before we join Him in eternity. These works are good, planned by God, and they are life giving activities we can miss out on.
After the lights go out in Ephesians 2:1-3, exposing the three big
problems in the universe, we find two glorious words – but God. In verse four the
lights are back on and we see God’s ways and God’s work to rescue the broken
world.
Ephesians One was a brilliant overview of God’s plan, salvation and
our eventual destiny with Jesus Christ. Chapter Two is a reminder of the miry clay
we have all been rescued from. While dark, it is vital for the believer to never lose
sight of our own desperate rescue or church becomes an exclusive club instead
of a hospital to meet the Great Physician.
Paul declares to this church that they are doing great and so now he
prays for more. They are ready for all that God has to give to them theologically
and practically. Paul concludes by pointing to Jesus as the example of how all
these graces from God the Father are lived out.
Christ died for our sins and was raised on the third day; Paul would
say this declaration is the most important thing you could ever do. More
important than anything you have or anything you could be. Today, let’s
examine what Jesus has done and praise Him for conquering the grave.
A brilliantly simple section of Scripture that tells us the Gospel saves
and seals us with the Holy Spirit when we hear and believe. However, this same
section of Scripture has been complicated by 2000 years of theology; we
attempt to bring clarity and comfort from these words.
