Grace and peace,
Hello brothers and sisters. Today the Chapter Memory Study is in Ephesians 2. Filled with many memorable and critical verses, Ephesians 2 emphasizes God's grace and peace through the work of Christ.
The memory passage is
Ephesians 2:8-10, 13-14 (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
The outline theme is Grace and Peace in Him.
Beginning, as he should, in the beginning, Paul takes us back to our lives before life; being dead in our sin. We walked in the course of the world, followed Satan's deceptions, were disobedient to God, gratified the desires of the body and mind, and were on course to inherit wrath with the rest of lost mankind.
Then see the strength in verse 4; But God. What a contrast is to follow our fallen state; God's work of redemption through Christ. We now can be alive with Him and receive the inheritance of eternal life in heaven.
But never forget that it is from God. By grace, through faith; not by me, but by Him. And not only did He save me by His grace, but He also prepares the way for me to walk with Him and serve Him. Salvation, sanctification, and service are all part of His will for us.
In addition to our salvation by His grace, He grants us peace; with Him and with each other. Physical or national differences are 'broken down' because of the unifying nature of Christ's peace. We all (Jew and Gentile) have been brought near by His blood. The dividing walls have been obliterated in favor of unity and peace in the faith. He literally 'made us both one'. And now we all have access, by Christ through Holy Spirit, to the Father. We are citizens, saints, and fellow members of God's house.
Verses 20-21 remind us of the cost and the cornerstone. We must never forget that this grace and peace came at the cost of the Son of God. By Him the whole structure of the church must be measured and built upon. Then, and only then, will it be a holy temple in the Lord. Not only corporately as we join together, but individually we are being wrought into a dwelling place for God; Holy Spirit indwelling.
No matter the opinion or distinctive of a brother or sister in Christ, we all can find true grace and peace because of the work of Christ, by the power of Holy Spirit, through the grace of God our Father.
How does this affect my worship?
In order to have an intimate encounter with God, we must have access to His presence through relationship. This is only possible through Christ, in the Spirit. Christ not only broke down the wall of hostility between believers, but also between the believer and God (Rom 5:1). In this peace we can approach the throne of God and offer our worship, thanksgiving, and requests. The work of all Three Persons is evident and must be present in our worship.
How does this affect my discipleship?
Verses 19-22 summarize the unity and growth of the 'structure' of the body of Christ. It must be built on the foundation of Christ, measured against His character and works, joined in His peace, and growing together into a dwelling place for God. What better context for these things to be passed on from believer to believer than through intentional, relational discipleship?
May the grace and peace of God go with you now and always,
Ethan
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Ephesians 1
Greetings,
Today I continue the Chapter Memory System in the book of Ephesians. Chapter 1 is notable because of its long sentences and carefully crafted Theological summaries.
To review, the main purpose of this Chapter Memory System study is to study one chapter of the Bible over the coarse of one week and to memorize a passage (3-6 verses) that contains the main theme or elements of that chapter. There are 'good' verses that are not memorized in this study (but should be in other contexts) in favor of verses or passages that trigger the contents of the chapter.
The memory passage this week is;
Ephesians 1:3-4, 15-16 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
The outline theme is Blessing and Praise in Him.
After a classic Pauline greeting including an affirmation of Paul's apostleship and a blessing of grace and peace to his readers, Paul begins a sentence that stretches from verse 3 to verse 14. He blesses God who has blessed us through Christ with every spiritual blessing. The phrase 'in Him' appears four times in this first section (4,7,11,13) and serves to outline the work of the Trinity in the lives of believers. The Father chose us, in Him, before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him because of the work of Christ. Christ, through His own blood, bought our redemption and opened the floodgate of grace, wisdom, insight, and true peace in Him. He also redeemed us so that we could receive adoption as sons (Gal 4:5). Holy Spirit, after we heard and believed the Gospel of Christ (Rom 10:17), becomes the seal and guarantee of our salvation until we obtain possession of it.
Each section ends with the tag 'to the praise of His glory' (6,12,14); all of His work in all His people ultimately gives glory where it is due.
The last section of chapter 1 is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. Because of their vertical (faith in Jesus) and horizontal (love for the saints) relationships, Paul blesses them and gives thanks for them. He prays that God would give them wisdom and revelation as they increase in the knowledge of God (not knowing about Him, but knowing Him); that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened to the true hope that lies in the rich inheritance we receive from God as adopted sons; that we might know His greatness and power that was demonstrated when He raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to rule over all authority, power, dominion and name that ever was, is, or will be.
God put all things under Christ and gave Him as Head over the church. This is His body, which is being filled by Him as the One who fills all things with all blessings.
How does this affect my worship?
Just as our blessing, doctrine and belief start with Him, so must our worship. As He pours out His spiritual blessings on us through the work of His hands, we must turn it all back to praise. Let us never forget that His goal from the beginning of any of His work is that they be to the praise of His glory. The way Paul phrases this tag in verse 12 hits the point; that we might BE to the praise of His glory. It isn't just what we do, say, or sing, but who we are and who we are becoming.
How does this affect my discipleship?
An exposition of chapter 1 could be a tremendous study in disciple-making. The doctrine is sound and concise; it contains theological depth including the Trinity, election, adoption, redemption, sanctification, glorification, etc; and it serves as a model for prayer. Whatever one studies in disciple-making, the questions I would ask before-hand would be; is it Biblical? Is it receivable? Is it reproducible? Discipleship study should be based on Scripture, in a form a disciple can use it, with the goal of the disciple re-using it in their own disciple-making.
May we abound in faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints,
Ethan
Today I continue the Chapter Memory System in the book of Ephesians. Chapter 1 is notable because of its long sentences and carefully crafted Theological summaries.
To review, the main purpose of this Chapter Memory System study is to study one chapter of the Bible over the coarse of one week and to memorize a passage (3-6 verses) that contains the main theme or elements of that chapter. There are 'good' verses that are not memorized in this study (but should be in other contexts) in favor of verses or passages that trigger the contents of the chapter.
The memory passage this week is;
Ephesians 1:3-4, 15-16 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,
The outline theme is Blessing and Praise in Him.
After a classic Pauline greeting including an affirmation of Paul's apostleship and a blessing of grace and peace to his readers, Paul begins a sentence that stretches from verse 3 to verse 14. He blesses God who has blessed us through Christ with every spiritual blessing. The phrase 'in Him' appears four times in this first section (4,7,11,13) and serves to outline the work of the Trinity in the lives of believers. The Father chose us, in Him, before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him because of the work of Christ. Christ, through His own blood, bought our redemption and opened the floodgate of grace, wisdom, insight, and true peace in Him. He also redeemed us so that we could receive adoption as sons (Gal 4:5). Holy Spirit, after we heard and believed the Gospel of Christ (Rom 10:17), becomes the seal and guarantee of our salvation until we obtain possession of it.
Each section ends with the tag 'to the praise of His glory' (6,12,14); all of His work in all His people ultimately gives glory where it is due.
The last section of chapter 1 is Paul's prayer for the Ephesians. Because of their vertical (faith in Jesus) and horizontal (love for the saints) relationships, Paul blesses them and gives thanks for them. He prays that God would give them wisdom and revelation as they increase in the knowledge of God (not knowing about Him, but knowing Him); that the eyes of their hearts would be enlightened to the true hope that lies in the rich inheritance we receive from God as adopted sons; that we might know His greatness and power that was demonstrated when He raised Christ from the dead and exalted Him to rule over all authority, power, dominion and name that ever was, is, or will be.
God put all things under Christ and gave Him as Head over the church. This is His body, which is being filled by Him as the One who fills all things with all blessings.
How does this affect my worship?
Just as our blessing, doctrine and belief start with Him, so must our worship. As He pours out His spiritual blessings on us through the work of His hands, we must turn it all back to praise. Let us never forget that His goal from the beginning of any of His work is that they be to the praise of His glory. The way Paul phrases this tag in verse 12 hits the point; that we might BE to the praise of His glory. It isn't just what we do, say, or sing, but who we are and who we are becoming.
How does this affect my discipleship?
An exposition of chapter 1 could be a tremendous study in disciple-making. The doctrine is sound and concise; it contains theological depth including the Trinity, election, adoption, redemption, sanctification, glorification, etc; and it serves as a model for prayer. Whatever one studies in disciple-making, the questions I would ask before-hand would be; is it Biblical? Is it receivable? Is it reproducible? Discipleship study should be based on Scripture, in a form a disciple can use it, with the goal of the disciple re-using it in their own disciple-making.
May we abound in faith in the Lord Jesus and love toward all the saints,
Ethan
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