Ephesians 4 - 6

Ephesians 4


Ephesians 5


v. 32 - something profound happens around us everyday.  It remains to be profound, and yet we take it for granted as it is common. But its profoundness is not reduced one bit by its commonness.


Ephesians 6

Ephesians 3

I often wonder how the revelation to Paul was made.  At his time, what he would have as Scriptures would be the Old Testament as we know it.  I can imagine that in addition to God illuminating the Word to him as he meditate on it, God is also verbally instructing him, in the same way that He spoke to people of old.  So in a way it would be different from how modern-day self-proclaimed prophets style themselves as having a revelation from God, even if it contradicts Scriptures.  Whatever revelation Paul would have received, it would be in the form of a confirmation or understanding of Scriptures.  Which would probably became clear to him in the light of current events.

Ephesians 2

To be saved by faith requires that it is fully from God.  In a sense, even the initiative or desire to seek God must have come from God.  This seems to be the essence of the Bible, since even the slightest idea that some effort was from us would invalidate the fullness of Jesus' sacrifice.  The efforts only come after the salvation.  In a way that's the only way it would make sense if we really believe that we are "dead in our trespasses", because how can the dead even make an effort?

Ephesians 1

Ephesians 1

Predestination is quite a complex topic, but one that Paul seems to articulate very easily here.  It almost carries the notion that it is expected.  What is undeniable is the fact that God controls everything that happens.  What isn't so clear is how predestination can exist side by side with free will.  In a way, predestination is also counterintuitive to the Great Commission.  And yet, this is a topic that one should be very careful in not reading in one's own intentions.

I am actually getting inclined to dig deeper into this topic, but I am deciding that if I ever do so, it should not be to the detriment of the daily readings.


I'm curious how much the Old Testament has to say about predestination.    In this particular passage, Paul is not even analyzing how predestination is possible. He is merely stating the fact of what a Christian is predestined to be.