Refuge Audio Podcast

Ephesians 1 opens with a beautiful doxology to God. In one sentence, the Apostle Paul highlights God's goodness and grandeur, ushering us into awe and wonder at God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. Over the past few Sundays, we’ve had the opportunity to consider not only each member of the Trinity, but also what happens when each member blesses humanity. This past Sunday, we focused on the two verses about God the Spirit and considered seven subsections of truth about the Spirit’s work in a believer's life. Watch our study of Ephesians 1:13-14 and reflect on the nature of the Spirit and the many ways He blesses a believer to the praise of His glory.

“In Him…” This phrase is repeated ten times in Ephesians 1:7-12, highlighting the importance and blessing of being found in the Beloved. But who is the Beloved? And why is it important to be found in Him? He died and defeated death so we could be forgiven, set free, and be with Him forevermore. He is God the Son, Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 begins the longest sentence in Scripture. Over the next 12 verses, a single sentence describes three subjects: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. A similar phrase ends each section (“to the praise of His Glory”), making each a doxology—a hymn of praise to God. The first segment contains eight phrases to highlight God’s goodness and grandeur. Watch our study of Ephesians 1:3-6 as we read these magnificent phrases that draw us into adoration of God the Father.

The first two verses of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians contain three phrases. Each phrase has four components. And in those four components, we find enough to unpack and unfold to edify and stir us up in our relationship with God. But if you just read through it, you might think these verses are just an unremarkable greeting that’s in the way of the good stuff. And while it’s true that Paul needed to start his letter somewhere, we would miss a treasure of insight and understanding in these words if we see them only as an opening greeting.

In our first study in Ephesians, we considered the congregation to which this letter was addressed—their past, present, and future. In our study this past Sunday, we considered the writer of this letter—his past, present, and future. We know the author as Paul, but he wasn’t called by that name at first. ​When we’re first introduced to him in Scripture, he is known as Saul, a zealous man who was breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. But then, he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. From that moment on, everything changed—his heart, his mission, and even his name.

What would you do if you had all power and all authority? Would you choose to lay down your life? Would you choose to pick it up again? Would you want to share that power and authority with others who abandoned you at your darkest moments? Would you be willing to be a suffering servant so that others might live? ​And yet, this is what Jesus did. With all power and all authority, He chose to lay down His life to save wretched people like us. Then He picks up His life again and entrusts us with His message so that others might pass from death to life. As our study of the Gospel of Matthew draws to a close, we consider the power and authority Jesus had and what He chose to do with them, so that we might partner with Him in His mission.

In Matthew 27, we observe God's sovereignty and humanity's responsibility as we approach the cross at Calvary. We see God’s sovereignty woven into what transpired perfectly and purposefully for all of mankind. We also see the responsibility humanity had for the death of Jesus–those who were at Golgotha, and even us today–for we must acknowledge that our sin and Jesus’ love kept Him on the cross until the work of salvation was finished. Watch our study of Matthew 27:1-54 as we humbly consider God’s predetermined purpose and plan to offer up His one and only Son, who was arrested, beaten, mocked, crucified, and ultimately killed at the hands of sinful men.