Ephesians 3:20 & 21 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
The glory of God is here resident in Jesus. Amen, that is indeed so; however, consider the other PP (prepositional phrase), the one that comes before: ‘in the church.’ The church, the gathering where Jesus is present, is equally the place of God’s glory.
Reflection Questions
How is glory manifest in Jesus?
How is that same glory manifest in the church?
Finish this statement: Christ in you______..
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Ephesians 3:19 ..And to know the love of Christ, which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
I do not understand the depth of this verse, but I am determined to recite this prayer over my own life, and the lives of others.
Reflection Questions
No questions here; rather a sincere appeal to you that you pray vv14 to 19 over your life right now. Perhaps even committing it to memory.
Our Final breakfast is this Saturday at 9 am where we get together to discuss the reflections and share our thoughts. Please let us know if you plan to come by signing up below:
Ephesians 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord..
You might want to read the verses prior to 11 to determine what ‘this’ is. Apparently, the unified Church of Christ is on display. In other words, ‘Have you considered my servant, Job?’ Do not fear; the powers of darkness may hate you, but always remember, you are in Christ.
Reflection Questions
How do you feel about this role?
Who is our enemy and what is he about?
Every Saturday there is a breakfast at 9 am where we can get together to discuss the reflections and share our thoughts. Please let us know if you plan to come by signing up below:
Ephesians 3:6 ..to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel..
The ‘mystery’ concept has come up before – Med#7 – but it bears another look. I do not think the content of the mystery is the whole issue, but the mere scope and extent of the truth to me makes it utterly unfathomable.
Reflection Questions
How do you explain the mystery?
How could this immense truth be abused?
Can you summarize the gospel in one sentence?
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Ephesians 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles..
The fact that Paul the Jewish apostle to the Gentiles, formerly Saul the Pharisee and persecutor of the church, makes this statement has an array of implications.
Reflection Questions
How is Paul a prisoner?
How does Paul’s apostleship affect us?
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Ephesians 2:21&22 ..in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Both verse 21 and 22 begin with the PP ‘in whom’. I love – as do you – my personal existence with my Lord; I would be dead without Him. And, I should also equally love ‘the house’, that is the temple built of human blocks which provide a dwelling for God; only Jesus could do this!
Reflection Questions
How is the church unique among human gatherings?
How is the church special to you?
Oh, incidentally, another Trinity cluster.
Every Saturday there is a breakfast at 9 am where we can get together to discuss the reflections and share our thoughts. Please let us know if you plan to come by signing up below:
Ephesians 2:18 ..for through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
In other words, through Jesus, Jews and Gentiles possess full access in the Spirit to the Father. It never ceases to amaze me how much we emphasize our differences in the body of Christ.
Reflection Questions
Why do we have sooooo many factions in the Body? Do they serve a purpose?
How have you been blessed by someone or something from ‘across the tracks’?
I would like to take a brief moment here to introduce a New Testament feature I like to call a Trinity cluster. We believe in a triune God not because the NT defines or explains the Trinity but rather because this concept is just there. Over and over the three parts simply present, as in Ephesians 2:18. Thoughts?
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Ephesians 2:14 – 16 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. (see Isaiah 57:19)
Romans 5:1 tells us that because we believe, we have peace with God through Jesus. That is good news indeed. But the above mentioned peace goes further: it seems Jesus desires and provides for peace with others.
Reflection Questions
How did Jesus abolish the enmity?
How can the Law be a barrier to peace?
How far does the peace of Jesus extend?
Every Saturday there is a breakfast at 9 am where we can get together to discuss the reflections and share our thoughts. Please let us know if you plan to come by signing up below:
Ephesians 2:12&13 ..remember, that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenant of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
‘Separate’, ‘excluded’, ‘strangers’, hopeless, godless: this is us without Christ. Paul tells us to remember these things, but I suggest you do not dwell too long on them.
Reflection Questions
Why do you think Paul instructs us to remember?
How does the ‘excluded’ clause affect you?
We know there is no God without Jesus. So how did you embrace this truth?..and how do you relay it to your skeptical, unbelieving friends?
Every Saturday there is a breakfast at 9 am where we can get together to discuss the reflections and share our thoughts. Please let us know if you plan to come by signing up below:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
The JPP (Jesus prepositional phrase) here connects the Son with Creation, your creation. And, we know we are not saved by our works; but post salvation, we should be busy.
Reflection Questions
How do we know that these ‘good works’ are not our own?
Can you list some? (See John 6:29, 14:12)
Is our view of ‘works’ somewhat narrow?
Every Saturday there is a breakfast at 9 am where we can get together to discuss the reflections and share our thoughts. Please let us know if you plan to come by signing up below:
