“Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Eph. 6:23-24). So Paul concludes his epistle to the Ephesians, yet even here we are once again presented with the overarching themes of this […]
As Paul begins to bring his epistle to a close, he exhorts the church to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Eph. 6:10). He masterfully weaves together the many themes present throughout the letter in order to encourage the saints to put on the gospel armor of God in its entirety, […]
What does it look like to be filled with the Spirit? Many answers are given in response to such a question. For some, it’s experiencing a replication of Pentecost. For others, it’s providing evidence of being endowed with particular spiritual gifts such as tongues or divine healing. Yet the Apostle Paul, in Ephesians 5, provides […]
While the psalmist has praised the Lord for his protection, strength, and victories won for his people in the first half of the psalm, he now calls for the gates of the temple to be opened that he may worship the Lord in his presence (Ps. 118:19). But even while God may have been the defense […]
Paul, called to be an apostle to the Gentiles and compelled by the love of Christ, gave his life to the stewardship of God’s grace that had been given to him (Eph. 3:1-2). Amidst persecution, suffering, and imprisonment for the sake of Christ, he continued to proclaim the mystery of the gospel to the known world. But why […]
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, that we should walk in […]
“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: just as Christ has been […]
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 right standing before God, growth […]
As we read through Ephesians 1:3-14, seeing and savoring all of the wonderful spiritual blessings that are ours in Christ Jesus, we are presented with a stunning description of the Triune nature of God and the specific work of each Person in the Godhead. Moreover, this passage also encompasses all history, all people, and all things from eternity past to eternity […]
