Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10, Ephesians 4:1-6, Genesis 6:5-7, Lamentations 3:22-24, John 4:1-15, Romans 5:12-17
This Is the New Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. As we read, we’ll gain a broader understanding of the redemptive story of Scripture. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we move from the Gospels and Acts into the Pauline Epistles.
The Book of Ephesians: In this letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul called the Ephesian believers to unity in Jesus because of the gift of salvation they had received. He wrote that this unity is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit.
How Ephesians Fits into the Story: Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is an anthem to the grace of God displayed toward sinners in Christ. It contains some of the worst and best news in all of Scripture: We were once spiritually dead because of sin, but God made us alive through Christ. Because of this grace and the gift of salvation, we are called to live righteous lives.
Reflection Questions:
1. Read Ephesians 2:1–6 again. According to verses 1–3, what were the conditions of our old life? According to verses 4–6, what are the conditions of our new life?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
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47 thoughts on "Ephesians"
We were dead in our sins following our passions, and ultimately, following the world’s culture which is lead by Satan.
But now, we are alive in Christ, following Him, and created for good works He has created for us to do! We are redeemed! Jesus paid the price for our sin and God in His great love for us, created this plan. Why, because his love and mercy never come to an end.
Praying for all!
I was a dead woman, walking, dead in my trespasses, and sins, without hope. Now because of God‘s great love and grace I was made alive in Christ. I am raised with him and seated with him in the heavens.. I am His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared for me ahead of time to do. I am praying that I will walk worthy of the calling I received. His mercies, never end, hallelujah.
I feel intimately familiar with all the verses read today. Eph. 2:1-6 Living in, and living out sinful desires has been the nature of mankind since.the beginning. The passage from Genesis was a good example to pair with Eph.2:1-3.
Then along comes Eph 2:4 and everything shifts! “But God”! 2 words that Tina has taught many of us to love, find hope and rejoice in!
Lamentations reminds us to rely on The steadfast love of the Lord and his unending mercies.. Not in our own efforts or reputations..
The small Christian school that first my husband and then my children attended sang the Lamentations passage after every basketball game they played regardless of whether they won or lost. They still do 20 years later. It is a great testament of God’s unchanging grace and I always enjoyed singing along.
These verses today are a reason to celebrate. This is a resurrection story about us! We celebrate Easter but what about our resurrection?
Verse 1 of Ephesians says, “And you were dead in your sins…”
We were made alive in Christ!
Ephesians 2 verse 5-6 “made us alive in Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You were saved by grace.He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus.
We have a new identity! We have a new position. We are no no longer the living dead.
This is a transformative miracle. This is redemption. A new place in life, a new status, a a new identity. We are no longer who we used to be because of grace!
We have moved from the grave yard to a new place!
Thank you Jesus for this miracle!
Genesis 6:6
The LORD regretted,
He wasn’t disappointed…
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HE REGRETTED!
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I want to use the word that means poo,I mean, regret to me, is a much harder form of disappointment! It evokes to my mind ‘ I should NEVER have done that or bothered..
And as if regret wasn’t enough HE GRIEVED!
HIS heart was broken from the actions, thoughts and doings of our ancestors.
My heart hurts that we can do that to our ever loving, has our best interest at heart Father God..
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Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us of the ‘Before Christ’ life that was lived, and lets face it, we still do live it..
Verse 4… tells us, (my heart leaps in joy for this).. indeed
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BUT GOD..
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AMEN,!
Who is rich, oh so rich in Mercy, Love,Grace and is our Hope. brought us back to life and gives us the opportunity to be alive again, with and through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Saved by Grace, I feel a song coming on, Cee Gee, are you with me.. I’m thinking Bill and Gloria Gaither ..
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A verse..
If you could see what i once was,
If you could go with me.
Back to where i started from,
Then I know you would see
A miracle of love that took me
In itssweet embrace
And made me what I am today,
Ja
just on old sinner saved by Grace.
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CHORUS..
I’m just a sinner saved by Grace
When I stood condemned to death,
He took my place.
Now I live and breathe in freedom
With each breathe of life I take,
Loved and forgiven, backed with a living,
I’m just a sinner saved by Grace..
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Nuff said..
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Amen.
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Happy Friday, my dears..❤️
The Lord knew that after my last week of sleep and anxiety attack I had right before lifting up my Bible to read that “His mercies are new every morning “ was going to show up in our readings. I am trying to shift my mind frame and focus on what the Lord has done for me today rather than what I am lacking.
Sometimes I feel that it’s harder for the “good people” to see their need for the Lord than for those who are living in “the pig pen” (as Rhonda mentioned). I have been very involved in church my entire life and never really went through a wild period. God constantly reminds me that I am the worst of sinners, that I am totally saved by His grace, and I need to stop spiritually patting myself on the back. Can anyone relate to this?
I am praying for each of you and your needs, dear sisters. ❤️
Yes!! I, too, got saved at a young age and never really rebelled. Somewhere along the line I got the sense that God was really lucky to have me on his team. Praise the Lord, He used a discipleship program at a church to show me the pride and self-righteousness of my heart and my own desperate need for the gospel. So thankful!
Dear sisters, I come to you again asking for prayer for my son Brett. He has been sober for a month and has a job interview today. Please pray that it goes well as he desperately needs a job. And while you’re at it, prayer for him to seek the Lord with all his strength, mind and heart! Sending love and prayers to all of you!
Oh how hard that must be, praying for your son! I know as a mama how much you want them to succeed, and pray they find ultimate freedom from addiction. I will add him to my prayer list! Praying this could be the job that is for him and does great things for his motivation to stay alcohol free!
Praying for Brett as he interviews today, praying for his sobriety, and praying for him to come to Jesus! Praying for your mama heart too. ❤️
❤️
Praying for Brett
I was lost, now I am found.
The funny thing is, especially growing up in church, we don’t really see OURSELVES as sinners. We think it’s not me…it’s all the ones “out there!” Outside the church, non-attending friends and family, and acquaintances. I just grew up kinda assuming I was a good one. It didn’t really “click” that “I” WAS the lost..that I truly had to “get it” that I, even though I was comparably good, I can’t be enough ever with Jesus. Does that make sense..I knew, but my sin didn’t “Convict” me to really grieve me. Then in my 20’s I totally drifted away, unbeknownst even to myself, I was in the pig pen…I had mud and muck all over me. Yet, didn’t even realize it- for I was still proudly saying I was a Christian. This is where it’s sad, because we are saying something out of our mouth, but not living what we are saying. It’s confusing to non-followers. For if we believe- it should convict us to live differently…
Finally, for once, I really looked in the mirror and SAW all the mud on me. I saw my dirtyness. It really hits hard, that how had I not seen it. I am filthy rags, not because all I had done, but because I hadn’t acknowledged that I was a sinner…truly a sinner, cannot ever be right without wanting, and needing Jesus in a way that. It is the other son. I was half prodigal…leaving to blow my inheritance, and part son that thought I deserved more because I grew up in church and never thought I left.
Does any of this make sense? Usually I write, then after pushing enter Wendy B’s comment will be there that always sums up what I was trying to say in such perfection! lol
Hope ya’ll have a great Friday and a good wkd planned! :)
All the verses show that God has such a Fierce Love for all his creation and sent his son for us, to give us a way to be right! I love how much God loves us, and his mercies are NEW every morning! Every day we need to follow him, and die to ourselves, surrender…and let him be the center!
❤️ God’s Fierce Love. That phrase grabbed my heart and gave it a big hug.
“Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that is greater than all my sin”!!!
Hi Linda! Good to see you here, hope you are feeling love and comfort in your loss of dear Gene.
❤️
Smen
The readings today remind us that faith is a gift from God that he grants even though our human sins grieve him tremendously (Gen 6:6). Paul reminds us in Romans KJV 5:20 that it was true then and it’s true now: “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”
I think reading the chapter in Genesis really helped me to reflect on how much grace God has! I wonder if He has days where similar thoughts consume His mind and yet, He remembers His covenant with Noah that He would never destroy mankind again. That is true grace & mercy!!
SO true! Great insight.
Praying for your peace and for good results for you Danielle ❤️
Good morning my fellow She’s. Asking for prayer this morning as I have my annual MRI this morning as my ongoing follow up for the tumor they removed last year. I’ve been calling on God that there be no more tumors and also asking for His peace and comfort during the test. It is an unnerving test. I’d appreciate all the prayers.
Joining the many here in prayer for you!
The Lord bless you with peace that surpasses your understanding this morning. May you have faith as you walk in those doors.
Praying Danielle!
Praying Danielle!
Prayers for you, Danielle, that the Lord be with you and calm your soul ❤️
Lifting you up, Danielle!
Praying, Danielle, for comfort during the test and for clear images. May God surround you today and keep you in His perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Praying for you Danielle. May God’s presence and peace be near and the MRI confirm that there has been continued complete healing and no evidence of cancer. ❤️
Praying for peace and comfort during your MRI and for “all clear” results, dear sister! ❤️
Praying for the Holy Spirit’s peace and comfort to surround you and for clear results!!❤️
Praying Danielle
The old life was spiritual death, BUT GOD brought me eternal life by His grace, through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice! (Whoop, whoop)
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Today’s reading frames the story of my redemption from the spiritual angle. From my conception I was dead in sin, only by God’s s grace was I birthed into life in the spirit and given “good works” to do for God’s glory.
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Praying for your requests as they are posted.
Before Christ, I was dead in my sin, enslaved to my fleshly passions and following the ways of the devil. Now, praise God, by His grace I am saved out of darkness, freed from the bonds of sin, and free now to live a God-honoring life through the power of the Holy Spirit! He has redeemed by life from the pit and given me everlasting, abundant life! May I always live and walk in that kingdom and freedom reality!
Me too. ❤️ Amen and Amen!
Amen❤️
I have just lost all i have written…
grrrr.
Happy Friday my loves.. it is well..❤️
:-<
Hope you have a grace-filled day
Boo :(
Sorry!
Oh, no! I hate that for you and us, sister! May the rest of your day be smile-worthy! ❤
❤️
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