The love of the Christ received into our hearts by faith is the solid platform and nourishing soil from which we are ultimately inducted into the fullness of God.

In praying for the Ephesians, Paul requested the Spirit's strengthening for them to equip them for Christ's residence in their hearts by faith. Such a bold prayer was only possible because Paul measured his prayers by God rather than by himself.

Paul confidently prays for glorious things for the Ephesians because God is his and their Father, and they belong to the family of God.

Paul again summons the Corinthians to cultivate Christlikeness by a mature understanding as well as by ineptness in evil.

The true fear of God brings us into close, covenant communion with Him.

The appearing, or epiphany, of grace is the appearance of Christ because grace is so bound up in him, and the teaching of grace is the teaching of Christ by grace.

God's unexpected mercy interrupts the pattern where rebellion against his word leads to darkness by the introduction of the Son of promise who is the Mighty God.

The church is the instrument by which God unfolds his multi-layered wisdom to spiritual intelligences. Hence our lives in the church serve for a purpose greater than ourselves, although we do not always see it.

The response to the word of God, belief or unbelief, creates a dividing line even among the visible people of God.

In staggering grace, God gave to Paul (and to us) the gift of ministering in his church for the glory of Christ.