I was thinking about what to write and many things came to mind. After a conversation with a friend I knew what I had to write about. While talking about a different topic, my friend said that many people cannot see the forest for the twig they are focusing on. This is a little spin on the idiom "they cannot see the forest for the trees", but seemed more profound to me. These people cannot even see the trees for the twig. While thinking about this I decided to write about the main thing: and that is God.
What can we learn about our relationship to God? The last few weeks I have been in Ephesians and the first chapter is definitely talking about God and how great He is. This passage (Ephesians 1:3-14 ) walks though how God has chosen us. In studying this passage, though, I saw so much more.
I saw three distinct sections (see bottom for more) that show us the Father (section one), the Son (section two), and the Holy Spirit (section three). Here is a place the Trinity is being revealed and we are also shown how each person of the Trinity interacts and affects us. The Father has chosen us, the Son has forgiven us, and the Holy Spirit is our assurance. This passage gets me excited because I love to see passages where we can learn about God and see Him acting as three persons.
Read this passage and think about how the Father in all His power and omniscience has chosen you and predestined you. Think about how the Son was so gracious and loving toward you that He died for you. Finally think about the Holy Spirit who has come down out of heaven to be your seal and promise. This passage shows me the Trinity and what each person of the Trinity has done for me and that I am to the praise of His glory. I am forever grateful! Amen
Pastor
Marshall
(More information)The three distinct sections in this passage (verses 3 through 14) are verses 3 through 6 and then 7 through 12. It finishes with verses 13 and 14. The first part opens with the Father who has chosen us and then expands on that idea with the fact that He predestined us. I saw this first section closes with "to the praise of the glory of His grace". Paul then transitions to the second section about Christ by showing that the Father has blessed us in the Son. This section talks about how Christ has blessed us in His grace, redemption, forgiveness, and has given us an inheritance. All these great things that we have and all that we are in Christ are "to the praise of His glory". Christ is the one we put our faith in to receive the Holy Spirit, our seal. Our guarantee of our inheritance is the Holy Spirit "to the praise of His glory". Each section begins with a person of the holy Trinity and ends with praising that person of the Godhead.
What can we learn about our relationship to God? The last few weeks I have been in Ephesians and the first chapter is definitely talking about God and how great He is. This passage (Ephesians 1:3-14 ) walks though how God has chosen us. In studying this passage, though, I saw so much more.
I saw three distinct sections (see bottom for more) that show us the Father (section one), the Son (section two), and the Holy Spirit (section three). Here is a place the Trinity is being revealed and we are also shown how each person of the Trinity interacts and affects us. The Father has chosen us, the Son has forgiven us, and the Holy Spirit is our assurance. This passage gets me excited because I love to see passages where we can learn about God and see Him acting as three persons.
Read this passage and think about how the Father in all His power and omniscience has chosen you and predestined you. Think about how the Son was so gracious and loving toward you that He died for you. Finally think about the Holy Spirit who has come down out of heaven to be your seal and promise. This passage shows me the Trinity and what each person of the Trinity has done for me and that I am to the praise of His glory. I am forever grateful! Amen
Pastor
Marshall
(More information)The three distinct sections in this passage (verses 3 through 14) are verses 3 through 6 and then 7 through 12. It finishes with verses 13 and 14. The first part opens with the Father who has chosen us and then expands on that idea with the fact that He predestined us. I saw this first section closes with "to the praise of the glory of His grace". Paul then transitions to the second section about Christ by showing that the Father has blessed us in the Son. This section talks about how Christ has blessed us in His grace, redemption, forgiveness, and has given us an inheritance. All these great things that we have and all that we are in Christ are "to the praise of His glory". Christ is the one we put our faith in to receive the Holy Spirit, our seal. Our guarantee of our inheritance is the Holy Spirit "to the praise of His glory". Each section begins with a person of the holy Trinity and ends with praising that person of the Godhead.
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