Transcript

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 CEV, Ch. 3 NKJV

Podcast Introduction

It’s Epistles Sunday, and we’ll begin the book of Ephesians with chapters 1-3. I’m calling this episode “Come One, Come All.”

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Comments on Ephesians 1-3

I don’t know about your upbringing, how your parents and extended family and others around you treated you, but I’ve been around long enough to know that when a child is taught from his earliest years that he is really something special, that child begins to believe that he really is above everyone else. He believes that he is better, that he is entitled. Over the years I have met and gotten to know a few people who were famous, who had adoring fans all around the world. Some of these people began to believe that they were as special as their fans thought they were. (By the way, for those of you who have listened to my podcasts for years, don’t even try to guess who I might be talking about. The artists that I’ve had on my shows are dear friends of mine and each of them are wonderful human beings.)

You have probably met or known someone who thought much higher of him-or-herself than they should. 

In chapter 2 of Ephesians, Paul was talking to Gentiles, non Jews. Remember, Paul was raised as a Jew. It was common then for Jews to believe that they were better than non Jews because they were God’s chosen people. It’s easy to imagine how that might cause one to think pretty highly of one’s self, right? God gave us the promise! God speaks to our prophets! Etc, etc, etc. 

But Paul explained in verses 11-22 that anyone who believes in Jesus can be reconciled to God and become fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. This idea was a hard pill for some of the Jews to accept, and it was a glorious revelation for many Gentiles, of which I am one.

There is no longer Jew and Gentile. No longer the privileged and outcast. No longer black and white. In Christ, we are all one.

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Steve Webb 0:00That child begins to believe that he really is above everybody else.

Steve Webb 0:11This is the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. I'm your OG Godcaster. Steve Webb. This is the daily podcast where we're reading through the entire Bible in a year. How are ya? It's a pistol Sunday, and we'll begin the book of Ephesians. With chapters one through three. I'm calling the episode. Come one, come on. Let's get started with a prayer. Our heavenly Father, Lord, we thank You for Your Word. And for this time together as we gather to read, I pray that You would bless this time and open our hearts and our minds. I pray this in Jesus name, amen. Okay, let's get started.

Steve Webb 0:53Ephesians chapter one, from Paul, chosen by God to be an apostle of Jesus, to God's people who live in Ephesus and our faithful followers of Christ Jesus. I pray that God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace. Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the spiritual blessings that Christ has brought us from heaven. before the world was created. God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God's own adopted children. God treated us with undeserved grace because of the Son he dearly loves. And so we should praise God, Christ sacrificed his life's blood to set us free, which means our sins are now forgiven.