Grace City Denver

What is the purpose of human life? We often default to acting like the goal is little more than happiness and health. Or trying to be a good person, whatever that means. Naturalistic evolution says there isn’t a reason or purpose for our lives since we are here by chance. The Bible says we were created to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. It is in savoring God – and being satisfied in him – that we find our purpose.

The human body is made up of numerous complex systems, but are we more than mere machines? And homo sapiens may share 99% of our DNA with chimpanzees, but are we more than mere animals? The Bible asserts that our fundamental nature is this, that we were made in the image of God. Our identity is not what others say of us – or even what we say of ourselves. We are who God says we are in Christ! And our lives have intrinsic worth because we reflect God, we are loved by God, and we are made to live with God forever.

There are countless myths, theories, and beliefs about the origin of the universe and, specifically, of human life. We either came from something personal (God or gods) or impersonal (a process like evolution). We are either the result of time + chance or we are the deliberate creation of a purposeful God. How we answer this foundational question, “Where did I come from?” is vitally important, because it impacts our view of identity, purpose, morality, and more.

As Paul closes this letter to the Ephesians, we see that he’s not just dispensing doctrine; he loves this church like family. So he reviews these key themes of peace, love, and grace to remind them how they all became spiritual family in the first place. And he sends a faithful and beloved brother, Tychicus, to help them understand and live in light of the gifts of God they’ve received.

Life is filled with conflict and trials, but the people who make our lives hard are not our true or ultimate enemy. The devil and his minions are. The devil schemes and deceives to try to undermine everything good God is building. We must know about him and recognize his tactics so we can oppose him with the strength and resources God supplies.

It wasn't just Jesus' body that was resurrected on Easter morning, it was God's whole purpose for our lives. Everything God created us for was marred by sin, but Jesus' resurrection gave our purpose a second life.

On Good Friday, Jesus died on a cross to save us from the debt, stain, and penalty of sin. He died to save us into a family that includes the redeemed from every people, nation, tribe, and tongue.

When Jesus came to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, the presence of God returned – briefly – to the Temple. It was a picture of why Jesus had come in the first place: to restore the presence of God with his covenant people. Though sin and self-righteous, performative religion had long separated people from God, Jesus was coming to be present with us now and forever.

In this challenging text, Paul takes on the institution of slavery with the subversive power of the Gospel. Over and over, he tells slaves to serve their earthly masters with the knowledge that they’re ultimate serving Christ. They can be people of integrity even if their masters are not. And he tells masters to treat their slaves as they themselves expect to be treated. They must use their power and authority to serve others. Paul tells each party to look out for the rights of the other – for, in Christ, they are not enemies, but brothers.

The Spirit-filled life demonstrates a distinctive way of interacting as

parents and children, including as adult children.