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Post by Josh on Feb 10, 2007 11:09:35 GMT -8
9/17/06:
Just a few initial thoughts on verses 1-14:
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Paul really knew how to write an intro!
I think the first part of this chapter (v. 1-14) presents us with some amazing verbage. It's such an active way to look at the beautiful mystery of our faith:
we are blessed, chosen, predestined, given grace freely, redeemed, forgiven, lavished with riches, revealed mysteries, included, and marked with His seal.. all in 14 verses!
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Verse 10: "To bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ"
Wow. That is a powerful reality to look foward to- the eventual marriage of heaven and earth, as Jesus told us to pray for in the Lord's prayer
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I'm not quite sure I'd picked up before on how similar verse 11 is to Romans 8:28: "him who works out everything in conformity to the purpose of his will."
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That's all for now...
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Post by Josh on Feb 10, 2007 11:11:35 GMT -8
9/22/06:
Several commentaries I've read have pointed out how positive Ephesians is in comparison to many of Paul's other writings, which seek to address errors or heresies. Here, indeed, Paul is trying to expand our minds and hearts to experience the beauty of the gospel in ever increasingly deeper ways.
Ephesians, in a sense is all about the believer "knowing Him better" (Eph. 1:17)
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Post by nic on Feb 10, 2007 11:14:47 GMT -8
9/26/06:
The first chapter of Ephesians is so amazing to me. Reading through it just helped me fell the overwhelming love the Lord has for me. I read the first chapter over and over, trying to wrap my head around the passages.
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Post by Josh on Feb 10, 2007 11:15:51 GMT -8
9/28/06:
I know... the descriptions of what God has given us are so mind-boggling!
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Post by rose on Feb 10, 2007 11:16:46 GMT -8
9/22/06: One of the things I picked up from reading the first chapter is regarding the Holy Spirit. I think it's pretty cool that we are "marked with a seal", that the Holy Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing our inheritance. I don't really remember ever realizing this about the Holy Spirit. I know Him as a comforter and one who convicts us in our hearts/minds, but a deposit of our inheritance - that's an interesting concept. I wonder where I'm marked with my seal? The last few verses of this first chapter also spoke to me. It speaks of God's great power raising Christ from the dead and sitting Him at His right hand. And that He appoints Jesus to be the head of the church. I love the powerful imagery of those words... Ephesians 1:18-23 18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
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Post by Josh on Feb 10, 2007 11:17:45 GMT -8
9/22/06:
Never noticed this before-- an almost unimaginable statement about the Church in Eph. 1:23: His body= the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.
We get to become His fullness?!
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Post by rose on Feb 10, 2007 11:18:39 GMT -8
9/25/06:
...and if Christ fills the church body with everything, in every way, we need to be content with what we have as a church body. Yes, let us have goals/dreams/desires for our church, but let us also remember that He fills the gaps and holes and is with us even when we're fumbling.
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Post by rose on Feb 10, 2007 11:19:16 GMT -8
9/26/06: Wow, good word, Rose! Timely observations- just another reason I married you
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