Author Archive for: meiling

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 3:1-6.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 3:1 (NIV)
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles– 

On verse 1:  Paul was writing this letter to the Ephesian church while he was in prison — most likely in Rome or in Caesarea — for preaching the Gospel.  Up to this point Paul had focused his ministry on reaching Gentiles (non-Jews) with the gospel message.  That is why Paul refers to himself as “I, Paul, a prisoner for Jesus Christ on behalf of you Gentiles” (v1 English Standard Version).

Likewise, no matter what title you may currently have or what job you do, may you also be clear on whom you are living for and whom you are called to serve.  For example:

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 2:11-22.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 2:11-22 (NIV)
11  Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)–
12  remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

On verses 11-22:  By the time Paul had written Ephesians, there had already been centuries worth of hostility between Jews and Gentiles (non-Jews).  Generally speaking Jews and Gentiles would not interact with each other except under special circumstances.  The Jews contemptuously called the Gentiles “the uncircumcised” (v11).

Even between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians, there was uncertainty as to how much they should interact with one another and how different or similar they were to each other.  Since Jesus was a Jew, did that mean Jewish Christians were on a different level than Gentile Christians?  Were Gentile Christians second class citizens in God’s kingdom?

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Ephesians 2:1-10.  Let’s go!

In Ephesus 2:1-10 we find one of the best summaries of the Gospel anywhere in the Bible.  Here Paul summarizes the core message of Christianity.  When I read Ephesians 2:1-10 with an open heart, it makes me want to shout and cheer because of how incredibly good and undeservingly kind God has been to us.  Praise God!

Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV)
1  As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
4  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions–it is by grace you have been saved.

On verses 1-5:  These verses show us the “before” and “after” pictures of what happens when we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

BEFORE:  We were dead in our sins (v1).
AFTER:    God made us alive with Christ (v5).

Hi GAMErs!

Today we begin Ephesians, one of the most important letters in the New Testament.  Written around 60 AD, Ephesians is a letter by Paul to the church he started in the city of Ephesus.

Today’s passage is Ephesians 1:1-10.  Let’s go!

Ephesians 1:1-10 (NIV)
1  Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2  Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

On verses 1-10:  After identifying himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ and greeting his church (v1-2), Paul begins by giving praise to God (v3).  Then in verses 4-10, Paul describes some of the spiritual blessings we have received in Christ: how He chose us (v4), predestined us to be adopted as his sons and daughters (v5), redeemed us (bought us back) with His precious blood (v7), forgave our sins (v7), lavished His grace on us (v7-8), and is making His will known to us (v9).