Jensens survey of the old testament adam 497
Bạn đang xem bản rút gọn của tài liệu. Xem và tải ngay bản đầy đủ của tài liệu tại đây (199.23 KB, 4 trang )
(1:7-12)
Salvation: The Spirit applied it
(1:13-14)
Two notable prayers appear at 1:15-23
and 3:14-21.
1. Prayer of 1:15-23. This prayer is closely
related to the hymn of 1:3-14. That hymn
was Paul’s testimony of praise to God for the
boundless spiritual blessings in Christ. The
prayer of 1:15-23 is the apostle’s
intercession for saints, that they may know
the extent of their blessings in Christ. So in
1:3-14 the appeal to the reader is for a heart
of praise; in 1:15-23 the appeal is for a spirit
of wisdom. The Christian who earnestly
covets and cultivates both of these is the
maturing Christian, growing daily in the
grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Prayer of 3:14-21. Read the prayer.
Compare it with 1:15-23.
B. DOCTRINE
Ephesians is a storehouse full of many
doctrines of the Christian faith, as already
noted. Observe where the following appear
in the letter:
CHART 85: EPHESIANS: CHRIST AND THE
CHURCH
1. Salvation: as a deliverance from, and
deliverance unto.
2. Union with Christ: an inscrutable yet
real relationship.
3. The church universal: as the Body of
Christ, who is its Head.
4. Holy Spirit: the source of every blessing
and power in the Christian life.
5. Will and work of God: for man’s bene t
and God’s glory.
6. What doctrines are taught by these oftquoted passages: 2:4-10; 2:19-22?
C. PRACTICE
At least half the epistle is devoted to the
practical walk of the believer in Christ. The
Christian’s walking (4:1) and standing (6:11)
are based on his sitting (2:6). His life in
Christ (chaps. 4-6) is drawn from his
heritage in Christ (chaps. 1-3).
Chapters 4-6 are the chapters of the plains
and the cities where Christians reveal by
their deeds who they really are. In 1:1—
3:21 the apostle has written much about the
Christian’s heavenly standing; now he says
some things about the believer’s earthly
walk. In the rst half of Ephesians the
emphasis is on the Christian’s position in
Christ. Now the spotlight turns on Christ’s
