“In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance…” (Ephesians 1:13–14, CSB)   The New English Translation says it this way: “When you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)—when you believed in Christ—you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit, who is the down payment of our inheritance…” (Ephe

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).   Some “spiritual blessings” … no! Many “spiritual blessings” … no! “Every spiritual blessing!” … Hallelujah!   Allow me to put that sentence in my own words. “All praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has already freely gifted us with every spiritual advantage, assistance, and allowance in the heavens…”

While in a Roman prison, the Apostle Paul wrote letters to churches in Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae. His inspired words contain Divine promises of power and protection, of riches and rewards.   He spoke of the “reward of an inheritance” (Colossians 3:24), “the immeasurable greatness of his power … the mighty working of his strength” (Ephesians 1:18-19). He promised “that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion” (Philippians 1:6), and that as sons

We’ve been remembering the events of Holy Week, the days between Palm Sunday and Easter. Now, let’s watch the Messiah’s final moments upon the cross.   “It was nine in the morning when they crucified him” (Mark 15:25). “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice … ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’ ” (Matthew 27:45-46).   For six hours Jesus bore our sin and shame. Aband

“At the place called The Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals, one on the right and one on the left” (Luke 23:33). The criminals were … criminals! They had committed heinous felonies and were presumably being punished in accordance with those crimes. Were they, like Barabbas, insurrectionists and murderers? Maybe.   As the Sinless Son of God hung upon the tree, gasping for each breath, He was overheard voicing a short prayer. “Father, forgive them, becaus

On Mount Moriah, God instructed Abraham to offer Isaac, but, by God’s grace, a lamb was “caught in the thicket” (Genesis 22:13). Isaac lived, but the lamb didn’t.   On the night before the exodus from Egypt, a faithful family sacrificed the Passover Lamb to save the life of the eldest son. God promised, “when the Lord passes through to strike Egypt and sees the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, he will pass over the door and not let the destroyer enter your houses to

The stillness of the night air was shattered by “a company of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees” who had come “with lanterns, torches, and weapons” (John 18:3). The rabble, led by Judas the betrayer, arrested Jesus and “led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened” (Matthew 26:57).   Long before sun-up, a kangaroo court of religious high muckety-mucks was gathered with a predetermined verdict. “

A few years ago, Carla and I walked through the ancient olive grove atop the Mount of Olives. Though you can see Jerusalem just across the Kidron Valley, Gethsemane was quiet, peaceful, still.   Two-thousand years before, in the late hours of a long day, Jesus and His disciples withdrew to this serene sanctuary. It was a favorite place … “Jesus often met there with his disciples” (John 18:2).   The Rabbi told His disciples, “ ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray’ … He be

On the night of His betrayal, “Jesus … looked up to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you’ ” (John 17:1). He started this intimate conversation by praying for Himself.   He then turned His attention to the Apostles, those men that had spent just over three years in His shadow. “Oh Father, He prayed, ‘they were yours, you gave them to me … I pray for them … Holy Father, protect them … Sanctify them by the truth; your wo

At the final Passover celebration, Jesus forecast the coming of His Holy Spirit. “I am telling you the truth. It is for your benefit that I go away, because if I don’t go away the Counselor will not come to you. If I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).   The Christian Standard Bible translates the Greek word “paraclete” as “Councilor.” The English Standard Version, King James, New King James, and New American Standard translate the same word “Helper” while the New En