Ephesians 1-3

[wolfpurplemoon]

Those that are blessed were predestined to be saved, God chose them before the foundation of the world.

Everyone near and far has been preached to in peace and are therefore no longer foreign to each other as they are fellow citizens in God's household.

Paul had the divine secret made known to him by revelation, a secret not disclosed to any previous prophets, that everyone can be saved rather than just the chosen few (though they have to have been predestined as it said in the previous chapter). Paul's calling is to reveal this secret plan to everyone after it was hidden for ages.

The love of Christ surpasses all knowledge so you can be filled up to the fullness of God, you don't want knowledge filling up space that could be used for God.

Comments

New Reader

[(Anonymous)]

Oh man, your already at ephesians and I just started following your blog. I found you on youversion can you include a link to your passages so I might make informed comments after visiting your site first?
I'm looking forward to this exploration, don't disappoint me with text regurgitation.

TOR on, why are you logging IP addresses?

Predestination

[blesserbeing.livejournal.com]

Basically, if you read this within this context, he is talking about the predestination of the Ephesians. God knew that many would be willing to listen to his Word in each city, and he predestined these to be for the praise of his glory. God had been planning for the coming of Jesus for a while, so that it would be at the right time and in the right place. Everyone knew Greek, thus making Paul's trip much easier. The Romans had built roads, so that Paul and the apostles could travel much more effectively. The Israelite martyrs brought a hope to people. This all occurs in the 400 years of silence.

Pleasant Surprise

[blesserbeing.livejournal.com]

I'm reposting this b/c I posted it on a much older page, unsure if you would've seen it. Anyway.
Wolfpurplemoon, I'm unsure if you are reading this to make sarcastic remarks, to better understand Christians, or to look the bible through for inklings of truth. My advice to you would be to read it without any preconceived notions, and try to find real truth within the text, for instance, the fact that God's law IS reallly written on our hearts, and in our minds.
C.S. Lewis was an atheist until JRR Tolkien told him to ACTUALLY read the bible without intentions of bashing and ridiculing it. This is what he did, and he eventually came to accept A God, and then, eventually, THE God of the Bible.
I think you would find a biography of C.S. Lewis quite interesting. I recommend you read one, or any of his work, even the Chronicles of Narnia, which basically shows what God would be like in a different world.
Anyway I just wish for you to be open-minded, thank you for your time.
-Brennen

[zen-says.livejournal.com]

dear wolf, why should you read c s lewis while you can waste your money on the trilogy,,,

read godless by dan barker, cosmos by carl sagan or even stephen hawkins,,,

what the hell. get a anthrophology degree, physics, biology and whatever degree to refute the bible,,,,

maybe you should pick up greek and hebrew and history to get the bible into "CORRECT" context,,,

wtf,,,, better travel through time in a telephone booth of Dr Who and see the history for yourself,,,,,,,,

haha,,,,, or another just read the bible, complete y=what you set up, finish it, and throw into the bin and find something more realistic like santa claus

John 6:61-65

[1100010724.livejournal.com]

"Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you-—they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."

God's Word offends people. For those who are Christians, it's something to accept. God will manifest Himself to those who desire it by accepting Jesus, since no one can know the Father except through the Son. Separating science and God is absurd, as God is the most ingenious and creative scientist that ever existed or will exist. Everything on Earth is logical, ordered, and has a process; it makes sense. Look a building, you will know that there was an architect because of the complex intricacies and physics involved in erecting the building, and it certainly did not build itself. Looking at your own reflection in the mirror is no different. Those who do not accept this truth simply do not accept it. No matter of human argument or logic will change that, only God can turn a person's heart.