Abel, Adam's second son, offered God a thanksgiving sacrifice using the blood of his livestock. God was pleased with Abel’s offering more than Cain’s fruit of the soil, symbolizing the atoning sacrifices humans would offer to God from the beginning. This foreshadowed the gospel mission of Jesus, who was sent to save humanity through his sacrifice on the Cross.
God's plan unfolded further with Abraham, promising him spiritual descendants as numerous as the stars. Abraham, through faith granted by God, became the forefather of those spiritually reborn. His lineage symbolized God’s chosen people, prepared to fulfill the gospel mission.
Through Moses, God gave the Law to Israel, initiating the age of sacrifices and worship in the tabernacle and Temple. However, when the Israelites turned corrupt, God ended the age of the Law. This prepared the way for the new covenant, centered on spiritual worship rather than physical sacrifices.
In time, God sent Jesus to fulfill this new covenant. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus brought spiritual salvation to God’s chosen people, reconnecting them with God. Believers received the Holy Spirit, allowing them to live spiritually reborn lives, just as Abraham did by faith.
This spiritual life mirrors the purity of Adam's life in Eden before sin. As Paul noted in Ephesians 2:6, believers are spiritually raised with Christ, living lives aligned with God's eternal plan, and awaiting the ultimate life in His Kingdom.
Apostle Paul, during his third missionary journey, preached the gospel in Ephesus and expressed his intent to visit Rome after Jerusalem (Acts 19:21, Romans 15:22-29). Paul completed three missionary journeys but faced opposition from Jews in Jerusalem and Asia Minor, who wanted to kill him for advocating the new covenant over the old one. Roman authorities intervened, saving Paul as he was a Roman citizen. Governor Felix imprisoned him for two years, and his successor, Festus, eventually sent Paul to stand trial before Emperor Caesar upon Paul's request (Acts 24:1-27, Acts 25:21).
Paul’s journey to Rome was tumultuous. Accompanied by Luke and Aristarchus, he traveled via Myra, Fair Havens, and endured severe storms before reaching Malta. After wintering there, they resumed their journey, reaching Rome in AD 61. Paul stayed in a rented house under Roman guard for two years, where he preached to both Jews and Gentiles and wrote several epistles: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon (Acts 27:1-44, Acts 28:11-30).
After his release in AD 63, Paul traveled to Ephesus, Crete, and Nicopolis, continuing to preach despite persecution. He was later arrested and imprisoned in Rome in AD 64 and executed around AD 66-67. Despite his sufferings, Paul remained steadfast, spreading the gospel and strengthening the early church. His letters, particularly Ephesians, continue to inspire and guide believers today.
David Kwak, author of the Explanatory Book of Ephesians, provides detailed spiritual insights to help readers understand and share God's message of salvation.
David K. in the Lord