Paul’s Greatest Hits, with Nijay Gupta: Eph. 2:4-5
Aug 28, 2023
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Nijay Gupta, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, discusses their admiration for the book of Ephesians and their changed perspective on Paul's letters. They explore Ephesians chapter two and the lavishness of God's grace as described by Paul in prison, reflecting on one last sermon.
God's grace overflows with richness and great love towards humanity, surpassing our needs and expectations.
God's grace has the power to transform us, giving us full participation in Christ's blessings and ownership of his storehouse.
Deep dives
The Lavishness of God's Grace
In Ephesians 2:4-10, Paul reflects on the lavishness of God's grace. Despite the previous state of being dominated by sin, Paul emphasizes that God's grace overflows with richness and great love towards humanity. He highlights the incomparable wealth of God's grace in kindness and how it is freely given to us. The vivid imagery of a grocery store overflowing with unexpected gifts signifies the abundance of God's grace, which far exceeds our needs and expectations.
Full Participation in Christ's Benefits
Ephesians 2:5 underscores the transformative power of God's grace. Paul states that even though we were dead in our transgressions, God made us alive together with Christ. Through grace, we are not only raised up but also given full participation in Christ's benefits. This means that we are not merely granted possessions or privileges, but we receive ownership of the entire storehouse of Christ's blessings. Paul's focus on this remarkable truth attests to the extravagance of God's grace and the magnitude of what it means to be saved by grace.
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Exploring the Beauty of Ephesians: A New Perspective
In our last episode of Season Four (Season Five beginning soon), Prof. Gupta imagines Paul in prison reflecting on one last sermon that captures and expresses without restraint the wonder and truth of God’s grace as he has preached and known it. We begin with the great “But God” of Ephesians 2:4. Dr. Nijay Gupta, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary (Chicago), has authored several books and articles, including Paul and the Language of Faith and Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. He contributed an earlier episode to this series.
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