Paul in Rome
Onesimus, a new believer - runaway slave of Philemon who lives in Colossians
Acts 19:8-10
Act 20:25-27, he is facing his eternal depart.
And so what is that Paul thought that God wanted them to know? What is Paul reminding them about? What does God want you and I to know?
Ephesians 1:3-23
v.3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
He highlights the spiritual blessings by stating :
[these are blessings be cause we are united with Christ]
- He blessed us with every spiritual blessings
- He chose us from the very beginning - He still give us freewill even thought He knows we make poor decisions in live, still He chose us from the beginning.
- He adopted us because He loves us.
- We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus - not by some personal act
- Our sins are forgiven completely
- He has given us the Holy Spirit so that He can always be with us.
as inheritance
if we don't actualize, hold on to it, it won't make us any good.
"..You forgot who you are, because you forgot who I am.." -Mustafa, the Lion King
Eph 1:15-19
The first part of Paul's prayer after thanking God for the Christian's faith in God and love for others he prayed that we would received wisdom and revelation so that we would :
- Grow in our knowledge of God. That we would know Him better - including heart knowledge, through the relationship with God. Knowing God and knowing about God is totally different!
Matt 16:15-17
v.17 "for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven"
God wants us to understand Him with our heart.
Matt 13:13
2 Kings 6:17
Psalm 119 : 18
Paul prayed that we would know God better, and our eyes would be open to :
- Know the hope to which he has called you.
Hope : Jesus will come and take us all to heaven. So the hope is a firm and assured hope, not still hoping.
- Know the riches of His glory inheritance in the saints - sanctify : have you sins forgiven, make you holy. If we become a follower of Jesus, we are saints.
- Know and His incomparably great power for us who believe - Holy spirit. God has resurrected: body to spirit.
Remember these 3 important things:
In spite of your circumstances, continue to serve God
example : Onesimus
We have all received spiritual blessings and we should know them and put them to use.
He highlights the spiritual blessings by stating :
- He blesses us with every spiritual blessing
- He chose us from the very beginning
- He adopted us because He loved us
- We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus not some impersonal act
- Our sins are forgiven completely
- He has given us the Holy Spirit so that He is always with us.
Paul's prayer for us to:
- Grow in our knowledge of God. That we would now Him better. Not just head knowledge.
- Know the hope to which He has called you.
- Know the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints : what does it mean to be a saint? learn about it, and apply it!
- Know and His incomparably great power for us who believe. The power of God so that we can serve God, always will be enough in our life to live to Him
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