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Amos was one of the earliest prophets whose message was recorded at length.
He prophesied when Israel enjoys great prosperity, notable religious piety, and apparent security
Amos preached about repentance and the Day of the Lord to the people of the Northern kingdom (Israel)
Though his fifth and final vision depicts the destruction of the Temple, nonetheless, God would preserve a remnant for himself and restore the kingdom of David
Israel will possess the neighboring nations whom God has called to be his, thereby becoming part of the Davidic kingdom.
By this, God foretells the inclusion of the Gentiles among the people of God.
This restoration will be characterized by abundance; grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested.
The exiled will return, live in peace, and be secured in their land
The letter of Paul to the Ephesians recounts the nature of the people before they turned to Christ
They were dead because of their disobedience and many sins, following the passionate desires and inclination of their sinful nature, and by implication were subject to God’s anger
But God, in his rich mercy and love, gave the believers life when Christ was raised from the dead
The salvation of God came to these Gentiles when they believed in Jesus
Paul emphasized to the Ephesian believers that this salvation is a gift from God and not a reward for the good things they have done
Therefore, none can boast about it; for it is only by God’s grace that they have been saved
Now, they become a new creation who should carry out the good things God planned for them long ago
These good works are not the basis of salvation, but they are the evidence of God’s new creative work in them, which also applies to us