More from the Salutation (Eph. 1:1-2)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 10/18/2018 10:53 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  More from the Salutation

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 1:1-2

            Message of the verses:  “1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

            In today’s SD we have two sub-sections to look at.

THE DUAL BLESSINGS OF BELIEVERS

Ephesians 1:2a

“Grace to you and peace.”

            We begin by looking at the Greek word and meaning for the word translated “grace.” 

“1) grace

1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

2) good will, loving-kindness, favour

2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

3) what is due to grace

3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace

3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit

3b1) a gift of grace

3b2) benefit, bounty

4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward.”

            It has been well said that grace means that God gives us what we do not deserve or could ever earn, and mercy is God holding back what we do deserve, and what every person who has ever lived on planet earth deserves is God’s wrath.  John MacArthur writes of grace:  “Grace is God’s great kindness toward those who are undeserving of His favor but who have placed their faith in His Son, Jesus Christ.”  When the early church greeted a fellow believer with the word grace it was in this way much more than a wish for their general well-being.  This was also the acknowledgment of the divine grace in which we stand, and this has made us mutual members of Christ’s Body and also of God’s divine family, and that is something to praise the Lord for.

            MacArthur goes on to write “Grace is the fountain of which peace (eirene) is the stream.  Because we have grace from God we have peace with God and the peace of God, ‘which surpasses all comprehension’ (Phil. 4:7).  Peace is the equivalent of the Hebrew shalom, which, in its highest connotation, signifies spiritual prosperity and completeness.”

THE DUAL SOURCE OF BLESSING

Ephesians 1:2B

“from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

            We looked at the dual source of authority in our last SD which came from 1:1a, and as we look at the dual source of blessing it comes from the dual source of authority, that is God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I want to look at the connection of God the Father which is seen in the word “and” which in the Greek is “kai” and this word can indicate equivalence, and in this passage it indicates that the Lord Jesus Christ is deity just like God our Father.  Paul teaches that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and is co-equal with God, which some people have a difficult time understanding and believing.  The Bible teaches that there is a Triune God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; One God but three persons.  I know that this is hard to completely understand, and it is one of the things that we believe by faith because that is what the Bible teaches.

            MacArthur’s concluding remarks:  “Paul’s message throughout this epistle is that believers might understand and experience more fully all of the blessing granted by their heavenly Father and His Son and their Savior, Jesus Christ.”  I would say that this is also the goal for studying this book too.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is my desire to be as much in tuned with the Holy Spirit of God as I can be, praying that He will be the One who teaches me what it is that He desires me to learn from this important book found in the NT.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to pray that my heart will be teachable as I study Ephesians.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Seven fat ones and seven lean ones” (Genesis 41:1-4).

Today’s Bible question:  “What did Paul count fleshly gain?”

Answer in our next SD.

10/18/2018 11:29 AM