January 13
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UNITY IN THE CHURCH
14 For this reason I bend my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner self, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. -Ephesians 3:14-21
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In this letter, Paul asks the Ephesians to humble themselves to the Father and acknowledge Him as the source and reason for all creation. He intercedes for them and prays to the Father that the Holy Spirit would strengthen their inner self so that there is nothing of the flesh that will stay in them, but only the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes in verse 17 that Christ can only dwell in them if they have faith and he also stresses the importance of walking in love and being grounded in that love that comes from believing in Christ alone. In verse 18 Paul he reiterates that it is only through their faith and walking in love that they’ll be able to grasp the width, length, height and depth of God’s love for us. He wants them to know that only the love of Christ can exceed knowledge. Paul also prays for them to be filled with God’s fullness which can only happen if they abide in Christ. It is only the Holy Spirit who can strengthen the believer. Paul wants the Ephesians to remember that apart from their faith and their love for God and one another, they cannot have the fullness of God in them. In other words, they cannot spiritually mature if they do not wear their new nature in Christ which was granted to them at the beginning of their commitment to Christ.
Paul reminds the church to be build up by their faith and love for God and for one another. Each part of the church does its share. Each part of the church is given a function and each of the members of the church make up the whole. We all should work in unity for one purpose, to give God the glory. When we do not build the body up, we will not grow in the faith and the love of God.
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REFLECTION
• Why do some believers not do their part in the growth of the church?
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MYSTERY OF CHRIST REVEALED ILMA’S VLOG
January 11
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MYSTERY OF CHRIST REVEALED
For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. -Ephesians 3:1-7
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According to David Guzik, during his Roman imprisonment Paul was under house arrest. In the day he was free to move around the house with the supervision of soldiers, but every night he was chained to a soldier to make sure he did not escape before his trial before Caesar. Yet he saw himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ. He knew that Jesus was the Lord of his life, not the Roman government, so if he was a prisoner, he was Jesus’ prisoner. The entire reason he was under arrest and awaiting trial was because of his missionary efforts on behalf of the Gentiles. Paul suffered for the very truth he would explain to the Ephesians, and this did not make him back down one bit.
It is interesting how Paul spoke to the Ephesians with authority. In verses 2-3, he speaks to them of God’s administration which was given to him by revelation. According to Paul, the mystery of Christ has been revealed to him which was never done in past generations.
The word dispensation speaks of the “implemented strategy” of God’s plan in the church. According to Woods as in Ephesians 1:10, however, it is to be interpreted rather as the implementation of a strategy.” Clarke comments that “By the dispensation of the grace of God we may understand, either the apostolic office and gifts granted to St. Paul, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles… or the knowledge which God gave him of that gracious and Divine plan which he had formed for the conversion of the Gentiles.” In verses 6-7, Paul declares to the Ephesians the responsibility of ministering to the Gentiles and that he is to use all his gifts to bring to them the mystery revealed to Him by the Spirit of God.
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REFLECTION
• How can you as a believer bring other baby Christians into the mystery of Christ?
MYSTERY OF CHRIST REVEALED ILMA’S VLOG
January 11
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MYSTERY OF CHRIST REVEALED
For this reason, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the administration of God’s grace which was given to me for you; 3 that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before briefly. 4 By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which in other generations was not made known to mankind, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; 6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, 7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. -Ephesians 3:1-7
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According to David Guzik, during his Roman imprisonment Paul was under house arrest. In the day he was free to move around the house with the supervision of soldiers, but every night he was chained to a soldier to make sure he did not escape before his trial before Caesar. Yet he saw himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ. He knew that Jesus was the Lord of his life, not the Roman government, so if he was a prisoner, he was Jesus’ prisoner. The entire reason he was under arrest and awaiting trial was because of his missionary efforts on behalf of the Gentiles. Paul suffered for the very truth he would explain to the Ephesians, and this did not make him back down one bit.
It is interesting how Paul spoke to the Ephesians with authority. In verses 2-3, he speaks to them of God’s administration which was given to him by revelation. According to Paul, the mystery of Christ has been revealed to him which was never done in past generations.
The word dispensation speaks of the “implemented strategy” of God’s plan in the church. According to Woods as in Ephesians 1:10, however, it is to be interpreted rather as the implementation of a strategy.” Clarke comments that “By the dispensation of the grace of God we may understand, either the apostolic office and gifts granted to St. Paul, for the purpose of preaching the Gospel among the Gentiles… or the knowledge which God gave him of that gracious and Divine plan which he had formed for the conversion of the Gentiles.” In verses 6-7, Paul declares to the Ephesians the responsibility of ministering to the Gentiles and that he is to use all his gifts to bring to them the mystery revealed to Him by the Spirit of God.
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REFLECTION
• How can you as a believer bring other baby Christians into the mystery of Christ?
GRACE TO PREACH WITH PASSION AND BOLDNESS ILMA’S VLOG
January 12
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GRACE TO PREACH WITH PASSION AND BOLDNESS
8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, 9 and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; 10 so that the multifaceted wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask you not to become discouraged about my tribulations in your behalf, since they are your glory.
-Ephesians 3:8-13
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We hear Paul’s humility in verse 8 when he says that he is the least of all saints and yet the Lord has given him this wonderful gift to bring God’s plan into action to all the Gentiles. In verse 10, we hear Paul reveal to the Ephesians that such multidimensional wisdom of God. He has given to the church the mystery that has long been kept from many of God’s people. In verse 11, God’s plan is to carry out his eternal purpose for all of mankind and was carried out through Jesus Christ Himself. Only in Christ can we have the boldness and access to confidence by believing in Christ alone. He pleaded the Ephesian not to lose heart. Paul wrote the Letter to the Ephesians from prison. He was imprisoned because on a visit to Jerusalem he had the chance to preach to a big crowd near the temple mount (Acts 21:39-22:22), but since the Jewish crowd could not stand the idea of the good news of the Messiah being extended to the Gentiles (Acts 22:21-22), they had Paul imprisoned.
According to a commentary, Paul tried to figure out the greatness of God’s grace, and started tracking it out as one might track out the shore of a lake. He soon discovered that it wasn’t a lake at all, but an ocean, an immeasurable sea. God’s riches are unsearchable; we will never know them completely. Having been entrusted with such riches, Paul’s passion was to make this gospel known to all people. He wants everybody to see and share in the fellowship of this mystery – which is a mystery precisely because it was unknown and unknowable until God revealed it.
How many believers would do what Paul did under the same circumstances he was in? It was an amazing grace how Paul continued to preach the gospel no matter what.
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REFLECTION
• Share an experience when you were on fire to share the gospel to someone?
BUILT FROM THE CORNERSTONE ILMA’S VLOG
January 10
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BUILT FROM THE CORNERSTONE
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:17-22
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In this verse, we hear Paul talks about the teaching of Jesus on peace. According to a commentary, as they respond to the same gospel, the same peace that is preached to those far off (Gentiles) and those near (Jews). They enjoy the same access to God, access that comes by one Spirit to the Father. Not only are Jews and Gentiles saved by the same gospel, but they also have the same essential walk with God and access to Him. One group does not have a greater access than the other does. Paul refers to Christians of Gentile background. They should not regard themselves as “second-class citizens” in God’s kingdom in any regard. They are not only full citizens, but also full and equal members of God’s household. When conflict arises among Christian groups of different backgrounds, you can be sure that they forget that they were saved by the same gospel and that they have the same access to God. One or both groups usually feel they have superior access to God. Clarke comments that “This text is a plain proof of the Holy Trinity. Jews and Gentiles are to be presented unto God the FATHER; the SPIRIT of God works in their hearts, and prepares them for this presentation; and JESUS CHRIST himself introduces them.”
In verse 20 Paul uses one of the attributes of Jesus. He is the cornerstone in whom each part of his temple is fitted together so that they can be a dwelling or home of God. According to Wood “This corner stone “literally means at the tip of the angle. It refers to the capstone or binding stone that holds the whole structure together… often the royal name was inscribed on it. In the East it was considered to be even more important than the foundation.” Hebrews 13:15 says that the Church is a temple, holy and set apart to God. We serve there as priests, offering the spiritual sacrifices of our lips and hearts, our praises to God
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REFLECTION
• Why do Christians often forget the cornerstone that they have been built on?
THE PRINCE OF PEACE ILMA’S VLOG
January 9
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THE PRINCE OF PEACE
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. -Ephesians 2:13-16
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In this letter of Paul to the Ephesians, we get an understanding of the value of the blood of Christ. You may be asking what is the importance of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. In verse 14, Paul explains to us the two groups which are the law keepers and the one who lives under grace. By dying on the cross, he reconciled all human beings with God. In verse 15, he further tells us that that act of dying on the cross is to crash the walls dividing the Jews and the Gentiles. The objective of the sacrifice on the cross is the reason why our Prince of Peace was sent in the first place. Verse 16 says that reconciliation to God through his death is fulfilled because he now has put aside the hostility and conflict that exists between the two factions.
David Guzik comments on the blood of Jesus as: “Many people suggest different ways to come near to God. Some think you can come by keeping the law or by belonging to a group (such as Israel or even the church). But the only way to be brought near to God is by the blood of Christ. What Jesus did on the cross, suffering as a guilty sinner in the place of guilty sinners, brings us near to God.” Jesus Himself is our peace;
The wall of separation is gone because the common Lordship is greater than any previous division. If the Lordship of Jesus Christ is not greater than any difference you have with others – be it political, racial, economic, language, geography or whatever, then you have not fully understood what it means to be under the Lordship of Jesus. The source of contention between Jew and Gentile was the fact that the Gentiles did not keep the law. But since Jesus fulfilled the law on our behalf, and since He bore the penalty for our failure to keep the law, we are reconciled through His work on the cross – putting to death the source of contention.
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REFLECTION
• How has the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross change your life as a believer?
• Why does the world think peace-keeping is the same as peace-making?
BY GRACE ALONE, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED ILMA’S VLOG
January 8
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BY GRACE ALONE, YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. – Ephesians 2:8-12
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According to an article online, “The gospel message is the good news of God’s grace, so it is important to know what grace is and to constantly seek to get a better view of what grace does in our lives. Grace is an essential part of God’s character. Grace is closely related to God’s benevolence, love, and mercy. Grace can be variously defined as “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly, in spite of the fact that we don’t deserve to be treated so well or dealt with so generously. To fully understand grace, we need to consider who we were without Christ and who we become with Christ. We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), and we were guilty of breaking God’s holy laws (Romans 3:9–20, 23; 1 John 1:8–10). We were enemies of God (Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1:21), deserving of death (Romans 6:23a). We were unrighteous (Romans 3:10) and without means of justifying ourselves (Romans 3:20). Spiritually, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and dead. Our souls were in peril of everlasting punishment.
Paul reminds the believers in Ephesus that they were saved by God’s grace and they can never boast that they made a contribution for it or take credit for the gift of salvation. It is given to undeserving sinners. Paul reminds them of their lives before they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, they were hopeless. When Christ gave up His life for all undeserving people like us, He changed our standing with God. We are now saved and cleansed of our sins. We can make a fresh new start with God. We have hope in the knowledge that we can be reconciled with God and will have an entirely new beginning. What gracious and generous God we have!
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REFLECTION
• Why do many people miss the true meaning of grace? Why do some people struggle with the concept of grace given to those who believe in Christ?
PREDESTINED FOR ADOPTION ILMA’S VLOG
January 4
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PREDESTINED FOR ADOPTION
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are at Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, with which He favored us in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight – Ephesians 1:1-8
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According to David Guzik’s commentary, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is different compared to many of the other New Testament letters he wrote. Like Romans, Ephesians was not written so much to address problems in a particular church; more so, it was written to explain some of the great themes and doctrines of Christianity. If the Letter to the Romans focuses more on God’s work in the individual Christian, Ephesians includes the great themes of God’s work in the church, the community of believers. Ephesians has many similarities with Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Since Paul wrote both of them from his Roman imprisonment, his mind may have worked on the same themes when he wrote each letter.
Paul’s letters always begin with bringing peace that comes from God and Jesus Christ. In verse 3, Paul worships and gives praise to the only source of every spiritual blessing we will ever have, God and given through Christ. In verse 4, we hear Paul repeating the words of Jeremiah 1:4 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you.” In verse 5, Paul explains the doctrine of spiritual adoption which we were predestined for according to God’s will through His Son, Jesus Christ. In verse 6, we are given the purpose of our lives, to bring God all the glory through His beloved Son. In other words, we can never give God worship if we don’t believe in Christ. Verse 7 explains the doctrine of salvation through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus. All sins are forgiven through Him. Verse 8 gives us a vignette of God’s great lavishing of His love for us all though the wisdom and insight He gave us through the Holy Spirit’s inspiration.
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REFLECTION
• Why are Christian doctrines important in the life of a believer?
BOAST IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD ILMA’S VLOG
January 3
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BOAST IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD
11 See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand! 12 All who want to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they want to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. 16 And all who will follow this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 17 From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. -Galatians 6:11-18
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According to sources, Paul’s custom, typical in the ancient world, was to dictate his letters to a secretary. But he would often personally write a short portion at the end, both to authenticate the letter and to add a personal touch. Paul points out that he wrote his postscript with large letters. Many speculate this was because he had poor eyesight and could not read or write small print. But it is more likely that he made the letters large simply for emphasis. Stott comments “Most commentators consider that he used large letters deliberately, either because he was treating his readers like children (rebuking their spiritual immaturity by using baby writing) or simply for emphasis… much as we would use capital letters or underline words today.” Paul here referred to the legalistic Christians among the Galatians and wrote frankly about their motive – to make a good showing in the flesh. They worked to bring the Galatian Christians from a Gentile background under circumcision because it would be a good showing for them – but a good showing in the flesh. In verse 14, Paul’s heart cared nothing for the glory that came from fame. He cared nothing for the glory that came from riches. He cared nothing for the glory that came from status and power among men. He only cared about the glory of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Just as Paul was willing to pronounce a curse on those who taught false doctrines (Galatians 1:8-9), he was also willing to give a blessing to those who walk according to this rule. These are those who are the true Israel of God, the descendants of Abraham according to faith.
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REFLECTION
• Why should we only boast in the cross of Christ as believers?
WHAT ONE SOWS, ONE REAPS ALSO ILMA’S VLOG
January 2
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WHAT ONE SOWS, ONE REAPS ALSO
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let’s do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. -Galatians 6:6-10
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Luther comments “If we carefully weigh the words of Paul, the apostle, we perceive that he does not speak of doctrinal faults and errors, but of much lesser faults by which a person is overtaken through the weakness of his flesh. This explains why the Apostle chooses the softer term ‘fault.’ To minimize the offense still more, as if he meant to excuse it altogether and to take the whole blame away from the person who has committed the fault, he speaks of him as having been ‘overtaken,’ seduced by the devil and of the flesh”
Another commentary says that this job of restoration is often neglected in the church. We have a tendency to either pretend the sin never happened, or we tend to react too harshly towards the one who has sinned. The balance between these two extremes can only be negotiated by the spiritual. It should be normal to do what God says here, but it isn’t. It is all too easy to respond to someone’s sin with gossip, harsh judgment, or undiscerning approval.
In verse 1, Paul stresses the importance of the accountability between disciples. In verse 2, Paul emphasizes the importance of the law of sowing and reaping told by Jesus in Mark 4:26-29. He cautions the Galatians to ensure that they shouldn’t expect anything that they haven’t sown. In verse 8, he explains that if one sows what the flesh wants, he will reap destruction but quite the opposite if a person sows to the Spirit. They will reap eternal life instead. Verse 9 is a warning to be persistent in doing good so that discouragement won’t take over and make one hopeless and frustrated. In verse 10, he also reminds us to care for others but most especially to those who belongs in faith.
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REFLECTION
• Why do people have a discrepancy from what they expect and what they are actually sowing?
• What have you sown in the Spirit that you are now reaping in your life?