“the mystery…that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ…”
God reveals a “mystery” to Paul (something that had it not been revealed, could not have been discovered).
This is big stuff; we are given the chance to be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers in the promise of Christ. I think these are things we might often take for granted, assuming that God would give them to us, why not, right?
The Jews were God’s chosen people, now we can be part of that. It doesn’t say, however, that the Gentiles should be the only heirs. The Jews are not abandoned by God.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Ephesians 2:10
“we are His workmanship…”
The term is poiema in Greek meaning poem.
Not only does God save us, and then make us adopted sons of God, he also makes us beautiful poems, or works of art.
The term is poiema in Greek meaning poem.
Not only does God save us, and then make us adopted sons of God, he also makes us beautiful poems, or works of art.
Ephesians 2:8
“For by grace you have been saved through faith…”
Faith does not save us. It’s by grace that we are saved. That grace is received by faith. Its God’s doing not ours.
Faith does not save us. It’s by grace that we are saved. That grace is received by faith. Its God’s doing not ours.
Ephesians 2:7
“that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus”
If you were the God of the Universe how would you demonstrate you power, knowledge and love to your creation?
Demonstrating His power seems easy enough, he created all things and sustains them.
“He is excellent in power” (Job 37:23) In Job 38 we see God’s power and greatness spelled out.
God has infinite knowledge of all things. One way He has chosen to demonstrate this to us, is through His prophets. We see that God knows all that has happened and will happen.
But how do you demonstrate ultimate love? People say I love you to one another and do random acts of kindness, but what is the ultimate proof of love? God says “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15). The ultimate sign of love was God giving His only son as a sacrifice for us. There was no greater or more powerful way for God to demonstrate His love to us.
If you were the God of the Universe how would you demonstrate you power, knowledge and love to your creation?
Demonstrating His power seems easy enough, he created all things and sustains them.
“He is excellent in power” (Job 37:23) In Job 38 we see God’s power and greatness spelled out.
God has infinite knowledge of all things. One way He has chosen to demonstrate this to us, is through His prophets. We see that God knows all that has happened and will happen.
But how do you demonstrate ultimate love? People say I love you to one another and do random acts of kindness, but what is the ultimate proof of love? God says “greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15). The ultimate sign of love was God giving His only son as a sacrifice for us. There was no greater or more powerful way for God to demonstrate His love to us.
Ephesians 1:5
“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will”
He predestined us to adoption.
God would have been glorified in just saving us from our sins. We would have had reason to be completely satisfied in loving Him and giving Him our lives, with just salvation.
But he gave us so much more. He calls us, actually predestines us to be His adopted sons. In the culture at the time adoption meant a lot more than it means today.
An illustration I heard goes as follows. If we see a poor person on the street, we have a lot of options. Obviously we could simply ignore him, but as far as helping him or “saving” him goes we have different options. We could give him some money and be gone. Or if we are really generous, we could bring him home, clean him up, even find him a job and let him live in our house. God in a sense does all this and more. We have not only been saved and given life and invited into God’s house, but we belong in His house. We are called sons of God because He has chosen us to be His sons. We aren’t just lucky beggars that have a roof over our head; we are His chosen, and His children.
He predestined us to adoption.
God would have been glorified in just saving us from our sins. We would have had reason to be completely satisfied in loving Him and giving Him our lives, with just salvation.
But he gave us so much more. He calls us, actually predestines us to be His adopted sons. In the culture at the time adoption meant a lot more than it means today.
An illustration I heard goes as follows. If we see a poor person on the street, we have a lot of options. Obviously we could simply ignore him, but as far as helping him or “saving” him goes we have different options. We could give him some money and be gone. Or if we are really generous, we could bring him home, clean him up, even find him a job and let him live in our house. God in a sense does all this and more. We have not only been saved and given life and invited into God’s house, but we belong in His house. We are called sons of God because He has chosen us to be His sons. We aren’t just lucky beggars that have a roof over our head; we are His chosen, and His children.
Ephesians 1:4
“…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”
God chose us not just for salvation, but to be holy and without blame before Him in love.
God chose us not just for salvation, but to be holy and without blame before Him in love.
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