LESSON 3-Chptr 2-EPHESIANS
Our Position in Christ
The Church as the Household of God
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, (Gr. Poiema, poem, poetry; We are God’s poem) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
2:10 We are engineered by His design, He manufactured us in Christ. (Greek, poeima, we are His poem, God finds inspired expression of Christ in us.) We are fully fit to do good. God has prepared a highway for us to lead us like kings out of death into life, (just like it was in Oriental custom, where people would go before a king to level the roads to make it possible for the king to journey with ease and comfort.) Mirror
Related Scriptures:
Psalm 139:13-16 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
(Jer. 1:5) Before I formed the in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations”
Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them also He justified: and whom he justified them he also glorified.” Romans 8:30
The Masterpiece
In Ephesians chapter two, Paul gives us a wonderful description of how our position (and corresponding identity) completely changed. I say back to the original.
Can you see who you were? You were darkened/dead in your trespasses and sins. You were a son of disobedience in the kingdom of darkness. You were a child of wrath (living as self). You were living in the lusts of your flesh and indulging yourself in those lusts of body and mind.
But God . . .
Made you alive with Christ.
Raised you up with Christ.
Seated you in heavenly places with Christ.
So that he might show (display) the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ.
For you are his masterpiece!
Created to perform good works.
The word “masterpiece” in the Greek literally is poiema which means something which has been handcrafted or composed, such as a poem or art, His supreme artwork. This is an artistic expression of the life and nature and character of the Artist and His creation.
Created in Christ Jesus For Good Works,
Here, the Paul tells us that since we have been created in Christ Jesus, we are to walk in (perform) good works. This is the duty (and privilege) of a Christian. What are these good works? They are things the Lord has commanded us to do., the will of God, our destiny. LOVE ONE ANOTHER is the big one.
Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
The Lord tells me to act toward other people like I want them to act toward me, not like they act toward me. This is the golden rule although is not stated directly in Scripture, it is implied. I want people to help me when in need, so I help them. I want them to be kind and understanding and forgiving toward me, so I am kind and understanding and forgiving toward them. If I am a Believer, I will behave toward other people the way I want them to behave toward me, not to get something back but because as said this is the will of God.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do goodto all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneselfunspotted from the world” (James 1:27).
Which God Prepared Beforehand That We Should Walk in Them.
This is the plan of God or the Book prepared from the beginning.
Eph. 2:10 For we are His workmanship, (Gr. Poiema, poem, poetry; We are God’s poem) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
2:10 We are engineered by His design, He manufactured us in Christ. (Greek, poeima, we are His poem, God finds inspired expression of Christ in us.) We are fully fit to do good. God has prepared a highway for us to lead us like kings out of death into life, (just like it was in Oriental custom, where people would go before a king to level the roads to make it possible for the king to journey with ease and comfort.) Mirror
Related Scriptures:
Psalm 139:13-16 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb.14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
(Jer. 1:5) Before I formed the in the belly I knew you; and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you, and I ordained you a prophet unto the nations”
Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them also He justified: and whom he justified them he also glorified.” Romans 8:30
The Masterpiece
In Ephesians chapter two, Paul gives us a wonderful description of how our position (and corresponding identity) completely changed. I say back to the original.
Can you see who you were? You were darkened/dead in your trespasses and sins. You were a son of disobedience in the kingdom of darkness. You were a child of wrath (living as self). You were living in the lusts of your flesh and indulging yourself in those lusts of body and mind.
But God . . .
Made you alive with Christ.
Raised you up with Christ.
Seated you in heavenly places with Christ.
So that he might show (display) the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ.
For you are his masterpiece!
Created to perform good works.
The word “masterpiece” in the Greek literally is poiema which means something which has been handcrafted or composed, such as a poem or art, His supreme artwork. This is an artistic expression of the life and nature and character of the Artist and His creation.
Created in Christ Jesus For Good Works,
Here, the Paul tells us that since we have been created in Christ Jesus, we are to walk in (perform) good works. This is the duty (and privilege) of a Christian. What are these good works? They are things the Lord has commanded us to do., the will of God, our destiny. LOVE ONE ANOTHER is the big one.
Jesus said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
The Lord tells me to act toward other people like I want them to act toward me, not like they act toward me. This is the golden rule although is not stated directly in Scripture, it is implied. I want people to help me when in need, so I help them. I want them to be kind and understanding and forgiving toward me, so I am kind and understanding and forgiving toward them. If I am a Believer, I will behave toward other people the way I want them to behave toward me, not to get something back but because as said this is the will of God.
“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do goodto all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneselfunspotted from the world” (James 1:27).
Which God Prepared Beforehand That We Should Walk in Them.
This is the plan of God or the Book prepared from the beginning.
Eph.2: 10 continued – The Book of Life
Eph. 2:10, AMP For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us, (taking paths which He prepared ahead of time) that we should walk in them-living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live.
Related Scriptures:
Ps. 139:14-16) I will praise You; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works aremarvelous, and my soul knows it very well. My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret and skillfully formed in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my embryo; and in Your book all my members were written, the days they were formed, and not one was among them.
(Ps. 40:7-8) Then I said, Lo, I come, in the volume of the Book it is written of Me; I delight to do Your will, O My God; and Your Law is within My heart.
(Heb. 10:7) Then I said, Lo, I come in the volume of the Book it is written of Me (Christ) to do Your will, O God.”
1 John 4: 17b says: ……………. “as He is, so also we are in this world.”
Some scholars say that the book is the will of God in your life.
God knew us in Christ before we entered this world. He pre-planned “the good life” (Eph. 2:20, AMP) for each of us (Rom. 8:28; 1 Pet. 3:10).
(Rom 8:28) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:29-30 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
All things work together for good—The condition is when we pray in the Spirit Rom 8:26-27.
(1Pe 3:10) For he that wants to love life and to see good days, let him restrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile. (speak truth and blessing) Peter tells us we must be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for we were called for the very purpose that we might inherit a blessing (1 Pet. 3:8-9, ESV).
Living Epistles– (2Co 3:2-3) You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men, it having been made plain that you are the epistle of Christ, ministered by us, not having been written with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not on tablets of stone, but in fleshly tablets of the heart.(Eph. 1:11) in whom also we have been chosen to an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His own will,
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11 NLT
This is the testimony of Jesus. Walking in the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Wrong timing- you get the glory. Perfect timing- God gets all the glory.
But what about Revelation 20:15, those whose name is not in the Book of Life? This brought an interesting response. “Why are you so sure you know what the Book of Life really is. I’ve never defined it.”
MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT YOU CAN YOURSELF BLOT OUT YOUR NAME.
There are seasonal realities in life where we lose sight of our true self. The King within doesn’t blot us out, but bad choices cause us to not experience our true being for a season.
Could it be you can blot your name out by not fulfilling your book/ your destiny? I think this is what the Judgment/Bema Seat of Christ is all about. Perhaps that’s what the tears in heaven are all about.
FULFILLING DESTINY
Revelation 3:5 “He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.
Rev. 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
Spiritual View: Books is plural; here judging the dead are those who have died to carnality and have the life of Christ in them, who have fulfilled their book.
It is all about overcoming.
And the reward? Ruling and Reigning!!
Reigning Over Whom?
In the future over what or whom will we rule with Christ?
Reigning Our Heavenly Occupation
First, we do know that reigning with Christ is our future occupation and we are involved in on-the-job training here on earth today. There are many references. So, let’s just list a few:
In 2 Timothy 2:12 we read, “If we endure, we will also reign with Him…”
In the book of Revelation we read we will be “priests of God and of Christ” and we will “reign with him for a thousand years” …”over the nations” (Rev. 20:6; 2:26).
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” (Isaiah 9:7).
“Then the sovereignty, the dominion and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One…” (Daniel 7:27).
(Rev 11:15) And the seventh angel sounded. And there were great voices in Heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ. And He will reign forever and ever.
As He is so are we!! 1 John 4:17
In Psalm 8 we understand the Psalmist declares that all of the magnificent creation – including the moon and the stars – are the work of God’s fingers. Man, although insignificant today, is destined to rule over the works of God’s hands!
(Psalm 8:3-6) When I look at Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have established; 4 what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man, that You visit him? 5 For You have made him like God (Elohim), and have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You made him rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet: 7 all sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field; 8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, and all that pass through the paths of the seas.
That would include future mankind reigning over the cosmos itself. The apostle John declares, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). That is what we will eventually rule.
To that end we need to develop certain character traits – Kingdom leadership qualities – in order to rule effectively. After all, the final goal for all Christians is to gain Christ like qualities such that we may rule with Christ over the universe. We will become “partakers” or “companions/friends” of Christ if we hold fast.
(Heb. 3:14) For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of
our confidence steadfast to the end,
We will become “metochoi” or servant kings once we have overcome, fulfilled our book. There are 12 promises to overcomers in the book of Revelation.
The apostle Paul says we are to “rejoice in our suffering/overcoming, knowing that suffering/overcoming produces endurance, and endurance produces character”(Romans 5:3-4, NASB).
We, the church, have been given a ministry of reconciliation to God (2 Cor. 5:18-21). We know that rulers and authorities in the heavenly places are learning about “the manifold wisdom of God” demonstrated through us – the church (Eph. 3:9-10). We also know that all things will ultimately be brought under the headship of Christ (Heb. 2:8).
It may be that this combined ministry of reconciliation, teaching the manifold wisdom of God, and bringing all things under the Lordship of Christ extends beyond our earthly sphere into the galaxies themselves. Only God knows. But, we can be sure we have a glorious, magnificent future filled with awe and wonder in service to Christ.
“…so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10 NKJV).
Some translations say shall or will, others say should.
That is the ultimate purpose of your book so the knowledge of the glory of God fills the earth as the waters of the sea.
Hab. 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, As the waters cover the sea.
One of your individual purposes: The Chief End of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. St. Augustine
Eph. 2:11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
Eph. 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, (in our minds only) being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
2:11 Remember where you came from; (not only were you spiritually darkened but) it wasn’t long ago when you were still classified as non-Jewish, judging on the surface you had nothing that linked you to them. They sneered at you because you didn’t share their distinguishing mark of circumcision; which for them it was their claim to fame! Mirror
2:12 During that time you were distanced from the Messianic hope, you had nothing in common with Israel, you felt foreign to the covenants of prophetic promise, living a life with nothing to look forward to in a world where God seemed absent. Mirror
Aliens- apallotrioō From G575 and a derivative of G245; to estrange away, that is, (passively and figuratively) to be non-participant.
Some teach that we were never separated from God only in our minds.
Romans 3:8 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. NLT
Past, present future
NO SEPARATION
NEVER HAS, NEVER WILL
Related Scripture: Col.1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.
Others do not teach this.
Gentiles in the Flesh- Unbelievers lead by the sense realm
Uncircumcision and Circumcision (made in the flesh by hands)
The Biblical notice of the rite, circumcision, describes it as distinctively Jewish; so that in the New Testament “the circumcision” and “the uncircumcision” are frequently used as synonyms for the Jews and the Gentiles. The rite has been found to prevail extensively in both ancient and modern times.
According to Genesis, God told Abraham to circumcise himself, his household and his slaves as an everlasting covenant in their flesh. Those who were not circumcised were to be ‘cut off’ from their people (Genesis 17:10-14). Note the connection between circumcision and slavery. It is alluded to in the New Testament.
Who was to be circumcised? Abraham, his descendants and those who were bought with their money (Genesis 17:12-13). Also, all the males of a household were to be circumcised if one of them wanted to join in the Passover celebrations (Exodus 12:43-49).
However, there is a puzzle. Laws commanding circumcision are said to come through Moses (e.g. Leviticus 12), but the Children of Israel abandoned circumcision during Moses’ leadership (Joshua 5: 4-7). Exodus 4: 24-26 tells us that Moses had not circumcised his own son.
This suggests several scribal traditions. In the first, Moses did not practice circumcision, and the custom was abandoned under his leadership (Joshua 5: 4-7). In the second his wife is made to conform to the practice (Exodus 4: 24-26). Finally, in the third tradition, he is given the command to circumcise from the LORD himself.
Circumcision of the Heart, the True Mark of a Child of God—Romans 2:28-29
“A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God” (Romans 2:28-29).
Circumcision began with Abraham, but this token was evidence of the righteousness he had obtained through faith (Gen. 15:6; Rom. 4:11). This righteousness could not come from following the commandments in the Law because Abraham had been declared righteous over 400 years before the Law was given (Gal. 3:17). His righteousness came from faith because he believed God’s promise to Him. So, his circumcision was a reminder of that promise and of Abraham’s resolve to believe God. It was a symbol of their covenant.
What makes this profound is that Paul is clarifying that being a Jew is not because someone was born into that nationality or religion. Being of God’s chosen people (1 Pet. 2:9) comes through circumcision of the heart, which is spiritual rather than natural. This spiritual transformation comes by being united with Christ and born again or realizing you were born from above, accepting acknowledging that reality. (Col. 2:11).
Born again is translated born from above. (Gk. 313 anagennáō (from 303 /aná, “up, again,” which intensifies 1080 /gennáō, “give birth”) – properly, born-again or “born from on high.”
“In the Gospel or John chapter 3, Jesus has a famous conversation with Nicodemus in which says, “You must be born again.” The Greek word translated “again” actually has one meaning: “from above.” Whenever it is used elsewhere in John, it means “from above” (Jn 19:11, 23). That is what Jesus appears to mean in John 3 when he speaks with Nicodemus: a person must be born from above in order to have eternal life in heaven above. Nicodemus misunderstands, though, and thinks Jesus intends the other meaning of the word, that he has to be born a second time. “How can I crawl back into my mother’s womb, he asks, out of some frustration. Jesus corrects him: he is not talking about a second physical birth, but a heavenly birth, from above.
He goes on to explain in Galatians, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:28-29).
In other words, the Church is now God’s chosen people on earth. Both Jews and Gentiles who have put their faith in Jesus, who have experience a circumcision of the heart, are part of the kingdom of God, one new man. The inward reality of this faith is the true mark of a child of God!
Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Yes, Gentiles (unbelievers) were alien from the commonwealth of Israel and stranger from the covenant of promise (Covenant made with God the Father and Jesus with Abraham lying in a sleep)
Notice Paul said no hope without God in the world system.
It is taught that we were alienated/separated from God
But Col.1:20-21 says otherwise. In your minds only.
Col 1:20 and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens.
Col 1:21 And you, being once estranged and enemies in comprehension, (in your minds) by wicked acts, yet now He reconciles.
As said before, reconcile means make peace and agree with.
We use the word reconciled and the Bible uses it often meaning it happened more than once. But the word is “conciliated” means at peace. God has conciliated, already made at peace the world to himself and is not reckoning their offenses to them and he wants us as ambassadors to entreat the world to be conciliated , at peace, with Him.
Replace conciliated, at peace, in all these verses.
Reconciliation is apokatallasso in Greek.Conciliate is katallasso in Greek.
2 Co 5:19 how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation.
2Co 5:20 For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ’s sake, “Be conciliated to God!” (At Peace)
Rom 5:10 For if, being enemies, we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being conciliated, we shall be saved in His life.
Jesus taught exactly what is taught through the Old Testament, namely that God’s race is born from an original sowing. We were begotten from the beginning. Gen. 1:26
I worship the good Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, who created us from the foundation of the world holy and righteous, a friend of sinners, who loved us before we loved him, who accepted us before we believed, who disavowed the entire system of Law, and reminds us of our status as the children of God from the beginning.
Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off (in our minds only) have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
2:13 But now, wow! Everything has changed; you have discovered yourselves to be located in Christ. What once seemed so distant is now so near; His blood reveals your original value. Mirror Translation
THE BLOOD OF CHRIST CONT.’:
The blood of Christ is the basis for all of the salvation doctrines of the New Testament, including the following:
Redemption “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Pet. 1:18,19 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.” Eph. 1:7
Justification
“Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Rom. 5:9″Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God:” Rom. 3:25
Advocate with the Father
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:7-9 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” 1 John 2:1-4
The Blood of Jesus – Christ Revealed!!
The Blood of Jesus revealed who He was and is and ever shall be!
The Blood of Jesus revealed how valuable we are!
The Blood of Jesus is more valuable than the entire universe.
The Blood of Jesus answers all claims against all acts of sin. The Blood of Jesus cleanses absolutely.
Jesus purchased our self from ourselves by His Blood. Since we are bought by Blood, we are valued by that Blood.
The Blood of Jesus always washes over us. The Blood of Jesus flows every moment over our eyes.
We see all things through the Blood of Jesus. The Blood of Jesus flowing through us is life forever.
The Blood of Jesus is Absolute, means FREE. (Webster’s 1926) Free from imperfection; complete in its own character; perfect. Free from mixture; simple, pure. Free from limit, restriction, or qualification.
The Blood and the Way
Having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us. – Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. Heb. 10:22
The Blood consecrates the way in which we walk, making our path holy and pure. All of His ways concerning us are perfect. The Blood is the boldness by which we stride right into the holiest place in the universe, the very throne room of the Almighty. Blood is the boldness by which we sit down upon that throne.
Our hearts are sprinkled with the Blood. Jesus sprinkled His Blood once. Jesus sprinkled His Blood upon the Mercy Seat of Heaven. Jesus sprinkled His Blood upon our hearts.
Source of Life
God … raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). You are already seated upon that throne; you have already turned around.
It is by the Blood that we turn around; it is by the Blood that our way, this way in which we walk, is not “going into God,” but is now going forth together with God as rivers of living water bringing life and healing and joy to all.
But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out (John 19:34). Here is the source of the river of life, the very Heart of Jesus, broken for us, the birthing of the Church.
When I See the Blood
When I see the Blood. God said to Moses: When I see the blood, I will pass over you.
Read all of Hebrews 10; make note, here, of verses 1-4.
If the blood of an animal cleansed from sin, then there would be no more consciousness of sins. Then, Hebrews 9:11-14. But Christ came … not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. … how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience (consciousness)
from dead works to serve the living God?
An Evil Consciousness
Sprinkled from an evil consciousness.
No Consciousness of Sin
My Statements:
Whenever I look into myself, I see only the Blood. And then, looking through the Blood, I see only Christ filling my heart with His glory, filling all that I am with His Person. This has become my only consciousness, the only story I tell myself about myself.
I never ever look for evil, not in my heart nor in anyone else’s. I walk with no consciousness of sin. But in the consciousness of righteousness. I enter the Holiest of All with absolute boldness of heart.
Not to say that I do see my soul (mind, will, and emotions) are being renewed daily. I know that I am being pruned and refined by this process, a mind renewal process.
I am very good as God said in Gen.1:31 and certainly not evil.
(Note: The world is the system of relationships among people and demons. The world system is all evil.)
One or the Other
No consciousness of sin is a negative. We do not live by negatives; we live by Christ.
The problem with sin is not the sin itself; it is turning our eyes from Christ. To see sin is not to see Christ; to see Christ is not to see sin. One or the other. All pure or all evil.
You and me? We see Christ alone. When we look inside ourselves, the only thing we see is Christ. The only thing God sees is Christ. And the first part of Christ is Blood. We see all things through Blood; we live only by Blood; we enter the Holiest with all boldness by Blood. God sees us that way as well.
The word translated as “abolish” here is the Greek word katargēsas. This literally means “to render inoperative,” or “to remove all power from.” Paul’s intent is to say that the purpose of the Law had been completed. He calls the law good in other places (Romans 7:12; 1 Timothy 1:8), yet his emphasis here is that it no longer separated Jews and Gentiles from one another. Instead, the focus of a believer should be on common salvation, in Jesus, which makes us one family.
Before the death of Jesus, He told His followers, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Following His resurrection, we read, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you'” (John 20:19).
Ephesians 2:1-22
Eph. 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
Eph. 2:18 For through Him we both (Jew/Gentile, believer, unbeliever) have access by one Spirit to the Father.
2:18 Through His action (of sacrificial death) He restored an equal access for everyone to the Father in one spirit. Mirror
Ephesians 2:18 And now, because we are united to Christ, we both have equal and direct access in the realm of the Holy Spirit to come before the Father! The Passion Translation
To Translate, “For it is through Him (John 14:6; Heb. 10:19) that we have our access (Eph 3:12; Rom. 5:2), both of us, in (that is, united in, that is, “by,” 1Cor. 12:13, Greek) one Spirit to the Father,” namely, as our common Father, reconciled to both alike; whence flows the removal of all separation between Jew and Gentile. The oneness of “the Spirit,” through which we both have our access, is necessarily followed by oneness of the body, the Church (Eph. 2:16).
Access by One Spirit
We must stay in touch with God to live in this world.
ACCESS TO GOD
James 4:8a Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.
Many times, we have cried out to my Lord for help; He always answers.
Whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom.10:13 (obtain the benefits of salvation)
Psalm 103:2-6 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
1. Provides acquaintance with him. Job 22:23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up;
You will remove iniquity far from your tents.
2. Acquires a knowledge of his ways. Isaiah 58:2 Yet they seek Me daily, And delight to know My ways, As a nation that did righteousness, And did not forsake the ordinance of their God. They ask of Me the ordinances of justice; They take delight in approaching God.
3. Secures His listening ears. And Jesus said: 41 Then they took away the stone [a]from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, John 11: 41-42a
To Come Before the Father- The Joy and Privilege of the Believer’s Access into the Holy of Holies; into the Very Presence of God in Heaven
Related Scriptures:
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
[Heb. 10:22]
The Lord is near unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. [Ps. 145:18]
The Lord is near unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit. [Ps. 34:18]
HOW CLOSE IS HE? HE’S IN YOU, AS YOU, AND WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU. And if you ponder on this you will realized he never forsook you even from the beginning.Heb.13:5, Deut. 3:16
A. Draw Near through Adoration:
Believers are to draw near through their adoration, praise, worship, and thanksgiving.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know you that the Lord he is God: it is He that has made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
[Ps. 100:2-4]
B. Draw Near through Meditation: (of the Word of God)
Believers are to draw near through prayerful meditation on the Word. The gates into the Father’s presence are gates of prayer. They have been perpetually opened by the blood of Jesus. To neglect prayer/communion is to neglect God.
C. Draw Near through Obedience:
Believers are to draw near to God’s Word, even when it’s not popular to be obedient. We may draw near to Him even when we are disobedient.
Adam’s story shows us:
Gen 3:8-11 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”11 And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”
We see here that Adam was afraid of God and hid. But God sought him out anyway.
God was not mad but loving, merciful and forgiving. And he told Adam, “ Who told you, you were naked!”
Colossians 3:1-3 and engage your thoughts with Throne room realities!
Living, Made Alive!
Colossians 3:1-3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Ephesians 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
We are Seated with Jesus in the Heavenly Places (Ephesians 2:4-7) 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ …
YOU ARE THERE!!
With Access Comes: Romans 5:1-8
Romans 5:1-8 Therefore, having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces [b]perseverance; 4 and perseverance, [c]character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.6 For when we were still without strength, [d]in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
• Justification Through Faith (Rom.5:1)
• Peace with God
• Access to God’s Favor (5:2a)
• Hope of the Glory of God (5:2b)
• Cause for Great Rejoicing (5:3-4)
• God’s Love Poured Out of Our Hearts by the Spirit (5:5)
• Justification, Reconciliation, and Rescue (5:6-8)
Ephesians 2:1-22
Eph. 2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
2:19 The conclusion is clear, you are no longer standing outside as a stranger or a second grade citizen, you are where you belong; you are a joint indigenous inhabitant of your own country and part of an intimate family where no-one is suspicious, inferior or condemned. Mirror
Eph. 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
2:20 Your lives now give visible definition to the structure, having been built into it by God upon the foundation that the prophets and apostles proclaimed. The first evidence of this building was Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. (He is the first testimony to the restored image and likeness of God in human form.) Mirror Translation
Related Scriptures:
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple (naos, dwelling) of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
1 Kings 8:10-13 And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the Lord,11 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.12 Then Solomon spoke: “The Lord said He would dwell in the dark cloud.13 I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever.”
Acts 7:48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says:
God’s Project
Everyone in the body of Christ is in the Lord’s eyes – His temple. Jesus/Yeshua is the Headstone of this temple and He is also the foundation upon which it is built. He is both the beginning and the end of this building project that shall erect the great House of God. Every stone laid upon Jesus/Yeshua, Who is the Foundation, must be rightly fitted to conform to His image. God is building a temple and He will not REST until the temple is finished and full of Glory. Jesus is the Headstone of a COMPLETELY BUILT TEMPLE.
Jesus/Yeshua is the Head of a MATURE body. Jesus is the branch of a vine FULL of fruit. God started this work and He fully intends to have it finished. Even as Zerubbabel was the governor of the rebuilt Temple of God, Jesus is our Governor today in this building project.
Zech 4:6 says “not by might, not by power but by your spirit says the lord and the rest says:
Zech 4:7-9 Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you.
We are God’s Zerubbabels for this hour. We are God’s temple builders when we allow “Jesus the Governor” to have His way in HOW and WHERE to lay the stones and mortar. A temple builder is a minister of God who edifies the brethren in Christ. They do not operate on their own authority. They minister on the authority of the Name of Jesus/Yeshua.
What follows is another view of the great doctrine of Edification. Those whose faith is in Christ are like an edifice that is being built, the cornerstone and foundation having already been laid in place.
“and are built” – (epakodomeithentes), “built on something”. The verb is aorist passive participle, indicating that the subject, “you” of verse 19, receives the action of the built. That is, we do not build ourselves; rather, we are built by God.
The building process is described in Ephesians 4:11-16.
Note the process:
- The Lord Jesus Christ provided the 5 -fold ministry to the church, 4:11-16
The purpose is
- to bring “perfect” the saints so that the “work of the ministry” can be accomplished;
- to edify the body of Christ;
(c) to bring all believers into “unity of the faith”; and
- to bring believers into maturity, a maturity which is measured by “the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
3. The result of the edification of verse 12 is that Christians, who are becoming wise with godly wisdom, are no longer easily deceived by false doctrine.
4. Mature Christians know and speak the truth from a spiritual framework of love, and continue to grow in Christ, who is the Head of the body.
5. The end result is a mature church, a body that functions together in concert and harmony, because every part is mature and working, and makes “increase of the body, edifying itself in the sphere of love.”
There will never be a mature church without edified believers. And a believer cannot be edified apart from learning the word of God under the teaching and control of the Holy Spirit. There are many Christian dabblers, religious buffs who like to hang around the edges of the Christian scene, or perhaps even “participate” to the full, but who are not daily involved in this edification process. An understanding of the doctrines of the Word of God, and how they apply to every problem that comes up, or any decision that has to be made, is a prerequisite to real progress in the Christian life. -“on the foundation” – (themekiw), “a foundation” A foundation is indispensable for any building.
“Apostles and Prophets” – the communicators who did the teaching.” Jesus Christ / Yeshua Ha’Masiach Himself being the chief cornerstone” – (akrogwniaiou), “the high stone” Jesus Christ is simply the “cornerstone”. There is only one cornerstone, and/or the capstone, in a building.
Ephesians 2:1-22
Eph. 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
Eph. 2:21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord
Eph. 2:22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
2:20 Your lives now give visible definition to the structure, having been built into it by God upon the foundation that the prophets and apostles proclaimed. The first evidence of this building was Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. (He is the first testimony to the restored image and likeness of God in human form.) Mirror Translation
2:21 In Him everyone of us are like living Lego blocks fitted together of the same fabric (conversation), giving ever increasing articulation to a mobile sanctuary intertwined in the Lord. Mirror
2:22 In Him you are co-constructed together as God’s visible spiritual residence. (You are God’s address on planet earth!) Mirror Translation
“In whom all the building”- Another reference to Union with Christ, positional truth. All activity in the Christian life is “in Christ”.” All the building” refers to the edifice, the result of God’s construction.1 Cor. 3:9, “For we are laborers together with God; you are God’s vineyard, you are God’s building. “fitly framed together” – Greek (sunarmologoumenei) – “joined together”. This word is also used in Eph. 4:16.
It is absolutely vital that you understand how the Lord brings Christians along in the Christian life and causes them to grow in “the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. You can’t grow in Christ by osmosis, or by putting your Bible under your pillow and learning in your sleep. There is a building process by which God uses His Word and His Spirit to change us from naive babes in Christ into mature, productive witnesses and warriors for the faith.
“grows into a holy temple in the Lord” – “increases”. John the Baptist said: “He must increase; I must decrease.” (John 3:30). First, Christ increases, then He causes us to increase. What is being built here is a Church, a “holy temple”, the temple of temples, the body of Christ, of Christ and “in Christ.” “In whom also you are built together”
Build, built. here means to edify, build up. We are all supposed to be “builders.”
We are being edified, built, for a great purpose – to be a habitation of God through Spirit. We are already are a habitation of God. But corporately, this is what is supposed to happen:
Eph. 4: 11-16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (servant leaders)12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the [e]edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
Eph. 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
We are perfect in spirit, but the Holy Spirit (Spirit of Christ) transforms us to be like Jesus in our (soul) sense realm and body.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. This is true prosperity, spirit, soul, and body.
This would be the Philadelphia Church Jesus talked about in Revelation.
Rev. 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens:
Jesus addresses Himself to this church as “the One who is Holy and the One who is true.” Our holiness is an emanation (action or process of issuing from a source)
of the One who resides in us.) Jesus calls them “ the one who has the key of David” The key of David is the authority of a king.
Symbol- of the Key of David- kingdom authority and power. (Matt. 16:19, Is. 22:21-22)
This phrase refers to various parts of a structure being brought together in a building, not a physical building but a spiritual one. We are “built together, corporately” and we continue to be “built together”.
What is our purpose in life?
Eph. 5:25-27, Christ also love the church, and gave himself for it. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word; that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
It is God’s plan for every Believer to be part of this process.
“for a habitation of God” – a dwelling place. Remember from Titus 2:11-12, we are to live so as to:
not to cause the Word of God to be slandered;
not to give the enemies of the gospel any evil thing to say about us; and
to “adorn”, decorate, the gospel of our Lord and Savior.
