Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Ephesians 6 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”  4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Paul closes Ephesians with instructions for various places in life, after giving his admonition for husbands and wives at the end of chapter 5. He starts with families with kids and the fact that children should respect their parents. Then he gives a reason and promise for this command. The reason is that it is the 4th commandment. The promise is, " So that it will go well for you and enjoy long life on the earth." It's interesting that we don't stress this promise very much to kids today. Paul teaches about about the assurance of a great life, when one honors their parents. I have certainly fo...

Ephesians 5 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.  3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.[a] 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. Paul continues the application part of the letter to Ephesians with the general admonition to walk in the way of love. What does this mean? Follow Jesus' example. Jesus...

Ephesians 4 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary In chapters 4-6, Paul turns to practical application of the doctrine he laid out in chapters 1 - 3. Ephesians was probably the largest church at this point in the first century, and also very strategically located, It was sophisticated in its culture, which presented many challenges for these young Christians.  Unity and Maturity in the Body of Christ 4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Paul starts by transitioning and saying as a disciple of Christ I urge you to, " Live a life worthy of the calling they had received...

Ephesians 3 Enduring Word Commentary God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles 3 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Paul uses irony here as he is prison but also says he is a "prisoner" for Jesus Christ. A prisoner is someone who has lost their rights. Paul willingly gave up his rights to be a prisoner for Christ. He went to prison for preaching to the Gentiles, but in reality he went into prison because he was a follower of Jesus Christ.   During his Roman imprisonment Paul was under house arrest. In the day he was free to move around the house with the supervision of soldiers, but every night he was chained to a soldier to make sure he did not escape before his trial before Caesar. Yet he saw himself as the prisoner of Jesus Christ. He knew that Jesus was the Lord of his life, not the Roman government, so if he was a prisoner, he was Jesus’ prisoner. - Guzik 2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was...

Ephesians 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Made Alive in Christ 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 no...

Introduction to the Book of Ephesians- Chuck Swindoll Ephesians 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,  To God’s holy people in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:  2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians begins with Paul's standard greeting. Ephesians was a major hub of 1st century Christianity. Paul spent two years there. He wrote this letter from prison. Most of Paul's letters were written with a specific purpose for the church he was writing to, but in this letter Paul addresses more universal themes of doctrine, the church, and application for our Christian life. Chapters 1 - 3 focus on the theology of the church, and chapters 4-6 focus on application for daily living.  Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him...

Galatians 6 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary Doing Good to All 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load. 6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Paul gives the Galatians a model for dealing with someone who is caught in a sin. We all sin, but in this instance sounds like someone who is trapped in a sin somewhat similar to someone who addicted to alcohol, drugs, or sexual immorality. Paul says not just anybody should seek to restore this brother or sist...

Galatians 5 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary Freedom in Christ 5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. This is an important verse. Jesus Christ set us free from sin, death, and the power of the devil. Why would we return to it. The scripture says it is like " As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly. ". Proverbs 26:11  A graphic illustration but it gets the point across. Though it is so foolish to do, we often return to our sinful ways without thinking or the consequences. When we do so we are trading our precious freedom in Christ for being in bondage to sin.  2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ;...

Galatians 4   Enduring Word Commentary 4 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. Paul draws on the metaphor of being an heir to an estate. It is not until a certain age that the heir is able to inherit the estate. Until that time guardians and trustees are in charge.  In both Jewish and Greek cultures, there were definit...

Galatians 3 Enduring Word Commentary Faith or Works of the Law 3 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” Paul continues to hammer on the Galatians for going back to the Law, after he had preached only Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Paul then continues by asking them how they received the Holy Spirit. For Paul the only way one can live a Christian life, as we will see in Galatians 5, is by t...