Encounter the Truth

Continuing to unwrap our spiritual biography, Paul tells us that we were dead in our transgressions, doomed to judgment, and following the evil one. Out of love, God saved us by grace and even seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms, with the purpose that we should do good works. A great transfer has occurred – all of grace. This prevents us from boasting, and fills us with gratitude and praise.

Paul prays that the Ephesians will be enabled to know better all that God has given them in Christ and all that he has in store for them. In particular, he wants them to know God’s power for them – the very same power that he exerted to raise Christ to the place of supreme authority on high. The right aim for this message is for us to gain a deeper and wider grasp of these things ourselves – to have an enlarged vision of all that God has done for us and has in store for us in Christ.

Paul prays that the Ephesians will be enabled to know better all that God has given them in Christ and all that he has in store for them. In particular, he wants them to know God’s power for them – the very same power that he exerted to raise Christ to the place of supreme authority on high. The right aim for this message is for us to gain a deeper and wider grasp of these things ourselves – to have an enlarged vision of all that God has done for us and has in store for us in Christ.

The spiritual biography of every Christian humbles us and points to God’s glory: we have been chosen in Christ, included in in him through the gospel, and sealed by this Spirit. This story of our salvation comforts and assures us, and it prompts us to glorify God.

The spiritual biography of every Christian humbles us and points to God’s glory: we have been chosen in Christ, included in in him through the gospel, and sealed by this Spirit. This story of our salvation comforts and assures us, and it prompts us to glorify God.

God is worthy of all praise because he has blessed us so richly, and without our merit. He has purposed to include us in Christ – even as he plans to bring all things in the universe under the headship of Christ – all for the praise of his glorious grace.

God is worthy of all praise because he has blessed us so richly, and without our merit. He has purposed to include us in Christ – even as he plans to bring all things in the universe under the headship of Christ – all for the praise of his glorious grace.

The Kingdom is the greatest treasure we could ever find. True Kingdom people are single-minded and passionate about taking hold of the treasure. The Kingdom may look mixed and messy at the present time, but at the judgment, the evil will be separated from the righteous, and only the good will be admitted. Treasure the Kingdom—and make sure you truly belong by faith!

The Kingdom is the greatest treasure we could ever find. True Kingdom people are single-minded and passionate about taking hold of the treasure. The Kingdom may look mixed and messy at the present time, but at the judgment, the evil will be separated from the righteous, and only the good will be admitted. Treasure the Kingdom—and make sure you truly belong by faith!

The Kingdom will grow in ways that will surprise us. On the one hand, ungodly people will be mixed in among the godly. The fact that the Lord allows this may surprise us, but he will bring a clear division at the judgment. Despite the messiness of this, Kingdom growth will be unstoppable and dramatic. All this should encourage us to see and believe that the Kingdom will indeed grow, despite all the messiness involved—and despite the fact that we do not see all the growth immediately.