"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also." - Eph...  Read More

"And you were dead in your trespasses and sins." — Ephesians 2:1   I experienced the need for salvation for the very first time as a young boy—not in a spiritual sense, but in a physical sense. One summer Saturday in Texas, my family was enjoying some time at our local lake when I was probably 9 or 10 years old. I'll never forget the scene that day. There was a beach where people would hang out, a...  Read More

"In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory." — Ephesians 1:13-14   Over the past couple of weeks, we have been looking at who we are in Christ. Paul’s words in Ephesians 1 ar...  Read More

"He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him." — Ephesians 1:9-10   In Old Testament times, God's plans and goals weren’t as clear as they are today. We have clarity now regarding God’s purpose and the “mystery of His will”...  Read More

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace." — Ephesians 1:7   One significant spiritual blessing we experience "in Christ" is our redemption. The concept of being redeemed refers to the act of buying something out of the market, and in biblical terms, it paints the picture of a slave market. Because of the sins in our live...  Read More

"He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will." — Ephesians 1:5   The Bible tells us that when we are saved, we immediately become part of the family of God. This adoption into God's family is not something we earn; it happens instantly upon salvation. As children of the King, we receive the same rights as Jesus Himself. In th...  Read More

"For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him." — Ephesians 1:4   Have you ever wondered about your purpose in life? According to Paul, if you are "in Christ," you have been set apart for a specific purpose: to reflect the holiness and goodness of God to the world around you.  This concept of being "set apart" is deeply significant. Paul t...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." — Ephesians 1:3   When you think about being blessed, what comes to mind? Many of us might envision receiving something unexpected or wonderful, something that makes us feel special or lucky. But what if we misunderstand what it truly means to be blessed by God? Ofte...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3    Being blessed is receiving something you didn’t earn. Think about your paycheck. When you receive it after two weeks of work, do you ever exclaim, “Wow! This is such a blessing!”? Probably not. That paycheck is compensation for your labor, somethin...  Read More

"Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ." - Ephesians 1:3    The Apostle Paul provides a powerful and concise answer to our questions about our identity: if you have been saved, your identity has been transformed. You are now in Christ. Paul also tells us that as followers of Jesus, we are considered saints ...  Read More

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." - John 8:12   A young boy once toured Europe with his parents, visiting many of the great old cathedrals. He was mesmerized by the massive stained-glass portraits of the disciples and other saints. Upon returning home, his Sunday School teacher asked him about his trip. Reflecting on his...  Read More

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 1:2    When Paul used the phrase "grace and peace" in his letters, it wasn't just a cliché to sound spiritual. This phrase carried deep significance and helped Paul connect with various subgroups in the first-century church. It's hard to grasp its full meaning in English, but in Paul’s context, it bridged cultural ...  Read More