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.
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.
The church at Thessalonica was freaked out about the end of days. Paul assures them of the return of Christ and then prepares them to live in the reality of His return.
The church at Thessalonica is a model of church success. This leads to the big question: why? At the end of Chapter 2 we get the answer. It is God’s Word, Suffering, War, and the Win.
Jesus tells his disciples to ask, seek, and knock; they will receive, find, and open doors. The statement is unconditional and extends to everyone. Does this mean we can demand…