‘That is that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.' This is the revealed mystery, that the Gentiles come on the same basis as believing Jews and partake of all the promises of God without having to beco... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God which was given me according to the working of His power.' In mentioning the Gospel given to the Gentiles he cannot but remember how God graciously took him and made him a minister of that Gospel to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Unto me who am less than the least of all saints was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.' The more Paul preached and proclaimed the Gospel, the more humbled he became that he could be allowed such a wonderful privilege. Having just spoken of ‘the holy Apos... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And to make all men see what is the stewardship of the mystery, which from all ages has been hid in God who created all things, to the intent that now to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places might be made known through the church the many sided wisdom of God, according to the et... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Wherefore I ask that you may not faint at my tribulations for you, which are your glory.' Some of his readers were clearly very constrained at what Paul was enduring. They were dispirited and concerned. Why did God not step in and deliver him so that he could carry on with his powerful ministry. W... [ Continue Reading ]
‘For this reason I bow my knees to the Father from whom every Fatherhood in Heaven and on earth is named, that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.' Paul n... [ Continue Reading ]
PAUL'S PRAYER FOR HIS READERS (3:14-21). ‘For this reason -.' Compare Ephesians 3:1 which begins in the same way. Does this mean that this is the continuation that he would have made had he not made a diversion? There are good grounds for suggesting that that occurs in Ephesians 4:1 when he returns... [ Continue Reading ]
Enjoying the empowering of the Spirit and the indwelling of the risen Christ their very being will be rooted and grounded in love, for love is the basis of their salvation (John 3:16; Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:9), the nest in which they find their rest (1 John 4:8), the goal ever set before them (1 John... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all the generations of the age of the ages. Amen.' As Paul looks back over what he has prayed he recognises the great... [ Continue Reading ]