Again within the Nineteen Eighties, I smuggled Bibles into China. I can bear in mind the tears of pleasure that Chinese language believers shed had once they obtained their first Bibles. Till they obtained a Bible, Chinese language believers principally relied on copied bits of scripture.
Many people take the Bible without any consideration. We don’t actually learn it. We skim our favourite bits and ignore the remainder. If a scripture appears difficult or the language is archaic, we simply skip forward to one thing we perceive.
Which is a disgrace, as a result of Paul didn’t say “Components of scripture are helpful for coaching in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16). We’d like all of it.
Think about you lived someplace the place there have been no Bibles. For those who solely had entry to at least one e-book of the Bible, which might you decide? For me it will be a selection between the Gospel of John and the Epistle to the Ephesians. Or Romans. And Psalms. I can’t select.
However for the sake of argument, let’s say I picked Ephesians. Why Ephesians? Ephesians has been known as the crown of Paul’s writings. It’s an epistle full of images of a terrific God who has poured out his grace and favor upon us.
I really feel certified to say this as a result of I’ve simply completed writing a verse-by-verse commentary for your complete letter. Whereas writing The Grace Bible: Ephesians, I used to be usually amazed at how a lot treasure was contained in even the smallest verses. Contemplate this instance:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with each non secular blessing within the heavenly locations in Christ, (Eph. 2:3)
Let’s take a minute to take a look at these phrases intently.
“God and Father.” Every little thing Paul says in his breath-taking letter begins with a revelation of our God and Father and what he has carried out for us. God blessed us (Eph. 1:3); God selected us earlier than the muse of the world (Eph. 1:4); God predestined us to be his sons (Eph. 1:5); God redeemed us from captivity and forgave all our sins (Eph. 1:7).
Ephesians shouldn’t be about what you could do for God, however what God has carried out for you, and what you are able to do due to what he has carried out. As a result of he has redeemed you, you may reside free. As a result of he has blessed you, you may bless others. As a result of he has revealed his everlasting plan, you may reside with objective.
“Blessed.” There are three blessed phrases on this verse: blessed be (eulogetos) means God is praiseworthy; blessed us (eulogeo) means God speaks phrases of favor and prospers us; and blessing (eulogia) means bountiful favor. We bless God as a result of he has blessed or favored us with each form of non secular blessing. We reward him as a result of he’s an superior God who has carried out superior issues.
“Has blessed us.” God has abundantly offered every part we’d like for all times and godliness (Php. 4:19, 2 Pet. 1:3). He has blessed us with forgiveness (Eph. 1:7), salvation (Eph. 1:13), the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and an inheritance (Eph. 1:11). He has adopted us (Eph. 1:5), empowered us (Eph. 1:19), and constructed us into his holy habitation (Eph. 2:22).
We don’t have to beg and pound the gates of heaven to persuade God to bless us. Our half is to acknowledge each good factor that’s already ours in Christ Jesus (Phm. 1:6). Our half is to obtain by religion that which God has already offered.
“Religious blessing.” The blessings of God originate within the heavenly or non secular realm which implies they’re unmarred by this fallen world. God’s blessings are heavenly treatments for worldly woes. The blessings of God usually are not earned by means of service to the Lord or works of charity or by making donations. They’re given to us freely by grace and obtained by religion.
“Heavenly locations.” The non secular realm is the geography of angels and demons. This realm consists of the heavenly kingdom, the place Christ sits enthroned (Acts 7:55, Eph. 2:6). It additionally consists of the broader heavenly realm, the place non secular warfare takes place (Eph. 3:10, 6:12). “Heavenly locations” shouldn’t be confused with the pure heavens or the starry sky. The non secular realm is simply as actual because the bodily realm, however the two realms are distinct.
“In Christ.” All of God’s blessings are obtained and skilled by means of our non secular union with the Lord. “In union with Christ you have got turn out to be wealthy in all issues” (1 Cor. 1:5, GNB).
The phrase union doesn’t seem in lots of English Bibles, however our union, or fellowship, with the Lord is talked about tons of of occasions in scripture. It’s present in phrases like, “God with us,” “Christ in you,” “in Christ,” “with Christ,” “with him,” and “in him.” Like a department on a vine, the believer is one with the Lord (John 15:5). “You might be in me and I’m in you” (John 14:20). Our union with the Lord is intimate, unbreakable, and the means by which we expertise the plentiful life that flows from the fullness of his love.
Selah.
I’ve simply given you six entries or insights into a part of one small verse. In my new e-book, there are practically 700 entries overlaying each verse and phrase in Ephesians. The Grace Bible: Ephesians comes out on the finish of August, however advance assessment copies can be found now on Patreon and on the E2R Supporters’ web page.
