Through the Bible for Skeptics, Seekers, and Disciples

Paul continues writing to those who follow Jesus about living differently in their households. Our homes are to be known by the way we love, honor, and respect one another. Paul addresses masters and slaves which is not his way of approving of this living arrangement. Instead it was an acknowledgment of where most people were as 80% of the Romans world were enslaved. This was not race-based or the result of kidnapping others. This was a way to have a place to live or pay off debts. Either way, Paul does advocate for freedom in the letter to Philemon. Paul ends this letter sharing about the armor of God which includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, shoes with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit. This armor protects us from the attacks from spiritual darkness enabling us to stand firm in our faith. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

Followers of Jesus are called and equipped to live differently. We are to be a light in our dark world by living a life of love. This means hating what is evil by choosing to avoid doing the things that bring death and destruction to our lives and the lives of those we love. This all means that in all of our relationships we submit to one another out of reverence to Jesus. If we are married, our marriage represents the relationship between Christ and the Church, a relationship that honors and respects each other. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

Paul urges believers to live in a manner worthy of their calling in Christ, emphasizing qualities such as humility, gentleness, patience, and love. He stresses the idea of maintaining unity through the bond of peace. Paul likens the Church to a body, with Christ as the head and individual believers as its various parts, emphasizing the interconnectedness and mutual dependence of believers within the community. Spiritual leaders have the various roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. These gifts are given to equip the members of the Church for service and to promote spiritual maturity. Those who follow Jesus grow to become more like Jesus. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

Paul explains the mystery of God's plan for humanity, which was previously hidden but has now been revealed through Jesus. This mystery is essentially the inclusion of Gentiles in God's plan of salvation alongside the Jews, on an equal footing, through faith in Christ. Paul also highlights the immense depth of God's love and the spiritual power available to believers. He prays that the Ephesians would grasp the fullness of Christ's love and be filled with the fullness of God. This chapter underscores the idea that God's plan is not limited to one group but is open to all who believe in Christ, and it encourages believers to seek a deeper understanding of God's love and to rely on His power to live out their faith. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

Every one of us begins life disconnected from God and spiritually dead. Through Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross taking on the sins of humanity, we can be forgiven and made right with God. The Spirit of God comes to live within us and makes us alive in Christ! Paul explains how this happens: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ We are God’s masterpiece created to do good works. Remarkably, Jesus removed the barriers between Jews and Gentiles bringing us together into one multiethnic family. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

Paul writes to help those who follow Jesus know how to live in a pagan world. He begins by reminding us of our identity in Christ. In Christ, we are blessed, loved, chosen, holy, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, included, marked, and called. Paul prays followers of Jesus would experience greater spiritual understanding, enlightenment, and insight into the depths of the incredible power and hope that comes through faith in Jesus. He desires for them to know God more deeply and to fully grasp His love, power, and grace. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

The letter to the Ephesians was actually a circular letter written by the apostle Paul. It was meant to be passed from church to church as he included guidance on on how to live for Jesus in a pagan world. Paul lived and served in Ephesus for 2 years (and may have been imprisoned there for another year). Ephesus was the 3rd largest city in the Roman Empire behind Rome and Alexandria. There were 250,000 people living there in what was the most prominent city in all of Asia. Ephesus had a giant Temple to Artemis which was 4 times bigger than the Parthenon. As people came to Christ, they stopped buying idols to the goddess Artemis and sorcerers even burned their scrolls. As a result, Paul and the church experienced persecution including the famous moment where 25,000 Ephesians chanted for their goddess while Paul hoped to speak to the rowdy crowd. The letter to the Ephesians describes our identity and Christ, our calling to be people who walk the way of love, our invitation to live as children of light in a multiethnic church community, how to have healthy households, how to put on our the armor of God, and how we are made alive in Christ. #NewTestament, #Ephesians, #BibleStudy, #Christianity, #BibleCommentary, #ScriptureAnalysis, #Faith, #ReligiousEducation, #Devotional, #ChristianLifestyle, #SpiritualGrowth, #ChristianTeachings, #Church, #EarlyChurch

Paul begins by urging believers to restore and help one another when someone stumbles or falls into sin. He emphasizes the importance of gentleness and humility in this process, encouraging the stronger members of the community to come alongside the weaker ones to offer support and guidance. The chapter continues with the concept of accountability and personal responsibility. Paul encourages each person to carry their own load and fulfill their obligations, while also emphasizing that the community should share in one another's burdens. He underscores the idea of contributing to the needs of others, both spiritually and materially. Paul introduces the principle of sowing and reaping, using agricultural imagery. He explains that the choices and actions we make in life have consequences, just as sowing seeds in a field leads to a harvest. He encourages believers to sow good deeds and to persist in doing what is right, trusting that in due time, they will reap the benefits. Paul concludes the letter by reiterating the centrality of the cross of Christ. He emphasizes that boasting should only be in the cross, which represents the transformative power of Christ's sacrifice. He also mentions the marks on his body that symbolize his dedication and suffering for the sake of the gospel. #newtestament #galatians #outreach #bless #mission #jesus #faith #spirituality #christianity #evangelism #discipleship #diversity #earlychurch

Paul begins by emphasizing the freedom that believers have in Christ. He contrasts this freedom with the burden of legalistic observances and highlights that relying on circumcision or following the law for salvation is unnecessary. Instead, he stresses that faith in Christ is what truly matters. The chapter then shifts to the concept of living by the Spirit. Paul explains that when one follows the Holy Spirit, they experience transformation and produce positive attributes known as the "fruit of the Spirit." These include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Paul also discusses the inner conflict between the desires of the flesh and the promptings of the Spirit. He lists various acts of the flesh, such as immorality, idolatry, and jealousy, which are in contrast to the Spirit-led life. He encourages believers to crucify the desires of the flesh and walk in step with the Spirit. The chapter concludes with a call to live in harmony and love within the Christian community. Paul encourages believers to support and bear one another's burdens, exemplifying the law of Christ, which is the law of love. He highlights the importance of humility and avoiding conceit. #newtestament #galatians #outreach #bless #mission #jesus #faith #spirituality #christianity #evangelism #discipleship #diversity #earlychurch

Paul begins by comparing the time when people were under the law to a period when they were like children under the guardianship of rules and regulations. Just as a child is subject to tutors and guardians until a certain appointed time, humanity was under the constraints of the law until the coming of Christ. Paul highlights the significance of Jesus' arrival, explaining that through his life, death, and resurrection, believers are adopted as sons and daughters of God. This adoption brings them into a new and intimate relationship with God, allowing them to address Him as "Abba," an affectionate term for father. The chapter also delves into the contrast between the old way of living under the law and the new life of freedom and grace through faith in Christ. Paul expresses his concern that the Galatians are returning to legalistic practices, observing days, months, seasons, and years, as if they were still bound by the law. He urges them to embrace the true freedom that comes from being heirs of God's promise through Christ. Paul employs an allegory involving two women, Hagar and Sarah, and their sons, Ishmael and Isaac, to illustrate the difference between the two covenants. Hagar represents the covenant of the law, while Sarah represents the promise of grace. Paul explains that those who rely on the law are like children born to Hagar, while those who have faith in Christ are like children of promise, born to Sarah. #newtestament #galatians #outreach #bless #mission #jesus #faith #spirituality #christianity #evangelism #discipleship #diversity #earlychurch