The good news, which we marveled at in Ephesians 2:1-10, profoundly alters the way we understand who the people of God truly are. The Ephesians were uncircumcised Gentiles, not circumcised Jews. They were not the physical descendants of Abraham. In fact, they were “alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers...
Martin Luther, in commenting on the beautiful truths of this Psalm, wrote: “We sing this psalm to the praise of God, because He is with us and powerfully and miraculously preserves and defends His church and His word against all fanatical spirits, against the gates of hell, against the implacable hatred...
Just as we were once characterized by our spiritual death and alienation from and hatred of God, his immeasurable power in the gospel of grace has miraculously brought us from death to life for good works: “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand,...
The Psalms of lament are a wonderful source of encouragement, relief, and hope for those enduring times of affliction. They have often served as the prayers of the saints throughout the centuries.Though both Psalm 42 and 43 are full of questions, grief, and doubt, and though our souls are often downcast and surrounded...
“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked” (Eph. 2:1-2). So begins one of the most well-known and comprehensive gospel summaries in all of Scripture. Paul, writing to the Ephesian church, is determined to explain the immeasurable power of God that is at work in those who believe:...
Our God is a speaking God; he is a communicating God who reveals his glory in, through, and to his creation. As noted Christian apologist Francis Schaeffer put it: “He is there and He is not silent.” The apostle Paul writes that, “his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been...
Paul’s opening prayer for the Ephesian church – that God would give them “the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,” that they might know the profound reality of their hope, their inheritance, and the power of God (Eph 1:17-19) – is grounded in the great and immeasurable might of God....
It is often the case that the gospel which people want to hear preached is not the gospel that we preach from Scripture. The unregenerate desires a gospel that will promise physical health, wealth, prosperity, comfort, emotional/mystical experiences, and a better life now. However, the gospel of Jesus Christ offers forgiveness from sins, a...
Despite adversity and danger from his enemies, David continually trusted in the Lord for his preservation and security. Here in Psalm 16, David begins by petitioning God for protection yet immediately begins to recount the deep joys and blessings that his God is to him! This rehearsal of who God...