Ahaz was called to trust in a promise.  We have been called to trust in a promise fulfilled.  Ahaz's sign was a child that would be called Immanuel because God was going to be with the remnant. Our sign is a child that WAS Immanuel because He WAS God with us. (A sermon preached by Christ Taylor, former TGC Associate and now Church Planter).

What Child is this? This, this is Christ the Lord, the Son of God, the Savior of sinners!

The wonder of the incarnation - the Word became flesh! No wonder the angels were singing!

The saints of old looked forward to the birth of the Messiah and the inauguration of the New Covenant.  Without Christ, the covenants would be empty since they are fulfilled in Him.

After having firmly rooted the Ephesians in their standing in Christ Jesus, Paul now calls them to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.  The walk of the believer should be very different than the world around.

While Paul has been emphasizing and talking about the unity of the body of Christ and its corporate nature, he know goes to show that the unity of the body is enhanced and encouraged by each individual within the body using his or her gifts for its good.

After Paul has shown us the wonders of Christ and all our riches in Him, he now moves from showing us who we are in Christ Jesus to how we should live before a watching world - he calls us to walk in a manner worthy of our great calling.

The Apostle Paul transitions from the wonder of what God has done in Christ for his people to the call for those who belong to Him to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.  In preparation for that, he reminds them of the power of God and the deep love of Jesus.

We often look around the world and wonder if there's meaning to what's going on.  We wonder if there's purpose to to history.  The Scripture says "yes." God is working out His plan and purpose according to His promise that is realized in Christ Jesus.

In the body of Christ, it is not us who offer peace to each other or to others.  Peace is graciously imposed upon the body by the blood of Jesus.