The Spirit of God actually grieves over our sinful choices…choices that assault His holiness and spit on His unfailing love. The good news is that God continues to stand ready to forgive! The grieving God rejoices in his child’s return.
My Words Reveal My Heart: 4 Warnings for My Words
Ephesus was a major city in the Roman Empire. It was wealthy, diverse, and deeply influenced by pagan worship, particularly the cult of Artemis. The city’s culture was full of immorality, coarse speech, and idolatrous practices. So, Paul is urging the church to stand out from that surrounding culture. He admonishes them to live and speak in ways that reflect their new identity in Christ.
4 Ways to Work for More Than a Paycheck
Salvation doesn’t just forgive sin; it transforms life (II Cor. 5:17)! The one who took now gives! Theft was common in city life under Roman rule. By calling believers to work honestly, Paul is promoting a new moral identity rooted in Christ. This would be an identity that stood out sharply from the surrounding culture.
6 Marks of Betrayal Still True Today
4 Parts to Thankful Worship
Stewarding Relationships: 7 Root Causes to Anger
Proving Jesus is the Son of God
5 Realities that Emphasize the Significance of Truth
An odd instruction is given by the apostle Paul to the church of Ephesus: stop lying! You would think that would be obvious, right? Paul is exhorting Christians to walk away from lying. Two things concerning contextual background need to be mentioned to help understand this passage. FIRST, Paul is….
Evaluating Your Investments: 9 Places God Calls the Church to Invest
7 Choices to Move Forward in the Fear of the Lord
What do you do when confronted with fear? What kind of fear do you possess? There is a right and a wrong kind of fear. Most would be afraid of the demon possessed men; in fact, no man would go near them. However, it is not the devils that are to be feared. It is actually the devils that are afraid of Jesus.