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.

It would be nice to imagine that being a Christian would mean we never encountered conflict any more—conflict with one another, conflict within the church. But sadly, the sinful nature within each one of us is such that we fail relationally and need to deal with the fallout. What do we do when others sin against us? Jesus says to pursue reconciliation and extend forgiveness. These are vital lessons for each of us to learn.

It would be nice to imagine that being a Christian would mean we never encountered conflict any more—conflict with one another, conflict within the church. But sadly, the sinful nature within each one of us is such that we fail relationally and need to deal with the fallout. What do we do when others sin against us? Jesus says to pursue reconciliation and extend forgiveness. These are vital lessons for each of us to learn.

The values of the kingdom of Jesus Christ are upside down and backwards when compared to the values of this world. Against the backdrop of a world where might is right—where we press our cause and make our case—Jesus commends to us the value of childlike humility. He calls each of us to have that childlike humility as we approach him, as we approach the ugly reality of temptation and sin, and as we approach one another.