christianity
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Filled Up to All the Fullness of God
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that… Continue reading
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Brought to Light
“To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things” (Ephesians 3:8-9). Paul was able to… Continue reading
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A Holy Temple in the Lord
“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.… Continue reading
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Christ Our Peace
“And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:17). This statement recalls the words of Isaiah 57:14-19. In that passage the Lord’s message through the prophet was about God’s condescending love toward his people. It was a message about the loving concern of… Continue reading
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God’s Handiwork
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).The apostle Paul makes a remarkable statement about who we are as Christians. We are God’s workmanship. Workmanship in this verse is a term that could refer to any finished or manufactured product,… Continue reading
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Growing in Spiritual Discernment
Paul’s prayer for the saints at Ephesus (Eph. 1:15-19) expressed his thanksgiving for their faith in the Lord Jesus and their love for one another. He had heard of their spiritual progress, and he was thankful. It did his heart good. But he also knew there was room for continued spiritual growth. So, his prayers… Continue reading
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To the Praise of His Glory
The opening section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a grand eulogy, or word of praise, about God. “Blessed be God,” the apostle begins, for his abundant spiritual blessings bestowed in Christ. The entire section (Eph. 1:3–14) extols such blessings in terms of an eternal purpose, the plan of the ages. The eternal plan… Continue reading
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A Perspective for Perseverance
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). We all experience troubles in this life. Paul experienced much that might have disheartened him. But he courageously pressed on. What enabled the apostle not only to endure the sufferings… Continue reading
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Some Thoughts on Creation
Our Bible reading for this week included passages from the early chapters of Genesis, including the account of creation. It reminded me that creation has enormously important implications that help form our worldview—our understanding of the world, who we are as human beings, and our relationship to the Creator. Creation is one of the ways… Continue reading
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Justin Martyr: Apologist and Teacher
Justin Martyr (c. 100–165) lived during a time when persecution of Christians was increasing. In about 112, the Roman emperor Trajan supported the policy that a person brought into court and accused of being a Christian should be punished for that crime. Another wave of persecution broke out around mid-century during the reign of emperor… Continue reading
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Like a Tree Firmly Planted
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields it fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (Psalm 1:3). This quote comes from Psalm 1. It’s a short psalm that is worth reading and re-reading. It deals with the most fundamental choices… Continue reading
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In the Fullness of Time
“But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son” (Gal. 4:4). The most important historical sources we have for the beginning of Christianity are those found in the documents of the New Testament, all of which were composed by the end of the first century. The Bible record is, of course,… Continue reading
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