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.

EPHESIANS – CHAPTER TWO

Our Position in Christ–The Church as the Household of God

Eph. 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead (darkened, a walking corpse) in trespasses and sins,

2:1 Picture where God found us, we were in a death trap of an inferior lifestyle, constantly living below the blueprint measure of our lives. (sin, hamartia, ha + meros, without our allotted portion) Mirror

DEATH- Different kinds of death:

Seven types of death are mentioned in the Bible.

1. Spiritual Death/Darkness Eph. 2:1, Rom. 5:12, Rom. 6:23, 1 Cor. 15:22. I do not teach this, rather spiritual darkness. The spirit is eternal, cannot die. Gen 1:1, 2 Cor.4:6.

2 Corinthians 4:6For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has    shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2.  Physical Death. The separation of the spirit from the body. Matt. 8:22, 2 Cor. 5:10, Rom. 8:38,39, Phil. 1:21. Many refer to this as passed away instead of death especially for the believer.

3.  The Second Death. The perpetuation of spiritual death into eternity; occurs at the beginning of eternity future. This is the final judgment of the non-Christian. Heb. 9:27, Rev. 20:12-15 . There are many questions arise as to what will happen here. I do not have the answers. Some say hell others say, they do not believe in a God that will kill billions at the end of the age.

4. Operational Death. The failure of the believer to produce divine good. Producing wood, hay, and stubble instead of gold, silver, and precious stones. James 2:26

5.  Positional Death. Part of retroactive Positional Truth. Rom. 6, Col. 2:12,20; 3:3. I would relegate  this to not knowing who you are.

6.  Temporal Death. This is the believer in a state of carnality, out of fellowship.
Rom. 8:6, 13, Eph. 5:14, 1 Tim. 5:6, James 1:15, Rev. 3:1, Luke 15:24,32

7.  Sexual Death. The inability to procreate. Rom. 4:16-21, Heb. 11:11,12

Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Romans 5:18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.                

Gen.3:22 Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—23 therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken.24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

 Some do not teach spiritual death but spiritual darkness.

Adam and Eve became spiritually darkened, in the state of the natural, or unregenerate man.  The unbeliever is spiritually darkened until he acknowledgesChrist. Then God says, “Let there be light, “and the spirit is recreated, renewed.

(Gen 1:3)  And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

(2 Cor 4:4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

(2Co 4:6)  For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

(2 Pet. 1:19)And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

(Rev. 21: 23)The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light.

2^nd Death

Rev. 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with Him a thousand years.

We have eternal life now in Christ Jesus.

1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you maycontinueto believe in the name of the Son of God.

We were much like the parable of the prodigal son.

The Prodigal Son, an Allegory (A View of the World)

A CALL BACK TO SONSHIP

Referring to Father God as Papa

The prodigal son imagines a selfhood apart from papa’s house. Now the Father/Abba/Papa is the ONE Creator and Sustainer of all that is. And the son, though prodigal, is made in Papa’s image, powerfully creative. And so, when the son imagines leaving home, he has no place to go for only the ABODE of the ONE PAPA exists. And so, the son can only imagine this madness.

The prodigal son is creative, made in the image of Papa, and next thing you know, the son has imagined a far country and wow! A finite counterfeit universe appears in his vain imagination–a virtual universe wherein the son and his fellow prodigals walk around on seeming hard ground, thinking they are wearing earth suits and calling themselves “persons.” They have forgotten who they were.

Soon the dream becomes SO real that ” Prodigal” is hypnotized by it, lost in it, a land of finitude, of death, of opposing powers, of hard edges, of discord, and disease, the “valley of the shadow of death.”

What appears in this land always rots, decays, dies. The prodigal’s dream becomes restless, uneasy. He becomes parched, starving for the infinite abundance and love of Papa’s house. Of course, Papa knows the son has gone dreaming (has left home) and is patiently waiting for him to wake up, allowing him to play out his fantasy, not interfering, allowing his son to choose Life once more when he is ready, yet knowing that what descends in consciousness will sooner or later return home to God-Consciousness. (There is, after all is said and done, only the ONE and Its will to LOVE–perfection).

Not wanting to rouse the son prematurely, before he has learned that he cannot have a selfhood outside of the ONEness with God, Papa utilizes his loving GRACE to gently nudge prodigal and then remind him of his loving home, knowing he will sooner or later return. Papa knows, and when “Prodigal” returns to God/ Father/ Abba/Papa, his name will again be “I AM.”, as He is so am I.

Eph. 2: 1-3 is one sentence.

Eph. 2:1And you He made alive, who were dead (a walking corpse) in trespasses and sins,

2:1 Picture where God found us, we were in a death trap of an inferior lifestyle, constantly living below the blueprint measure of our lives. (sin, hamartia, ha + meros, without our allotted portion) Mirror

Eph. 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world (world system), according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

2:2 We were all part of a common pattern, swept along under a powerful invisible influence;  we are a spirit- energy,  that  now are adopted as sons  even though we were in through unbelief. Mirror

Once Walked According to the Course of This World (Cosmos or Aeon, World System)

Cosmos- The Greek word cosmos that is translated world at least in the King James Version of the English Bible means “arrangement”. This was a very positive concept with the Greeks and even with many people today. here are also two other words “aeon” and “oikoumene” translated as world in the King James Version of the Bible that are not used as often as the word cosmos that mean respectively an eon or age and the whole inhabited earth from we get our English word ecumenical.

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:21

This verse states that God’s wisdom is different than that of the world system dominated by non-believers. God’s wisdom is more through humility while the world’s way is more through pride and force. The people of the world system in their wisdom did not recognize this but the apostle Paul under divine inspiration says that it is preaching rather than military means that God has chosen to save and bring into a relationship with Him through faith in His Son Jesus Christ and the revelation of His death for our sins on the cross and resurrection from the dead.

Here is the really good news!

Related Scripture:

Colossians 2:8  Beware lest anyone ^[a]cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

According to the prince of the power of the Air

The spirit Who Now Works in the Sons of Disobedience,

The enemy only works in those who are disobedient.

Disobedient Scriptures:

Romans 1:30

backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

Romans 10:21

But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”

Romans 11:30

For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience,

Romans 11:31

even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy.

2 Timothy 3:2

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

Titus 1:16

They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Titus 3:3

For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

1 Peter 2:7

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

1 Peter 2:8

and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

1 Peter 3:20

who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

 

Greek disobedient- Cognate: 545 apeithḗs (an adjective) – literally, unwilling to be persuaded (by God) which shows itself in utward disobedience (outward spiritual rebellion); disobedient because unpersuaded.

 

545 /apeithḗs (“unpersuaded”) begins with the decision to reject what God prefers, with His offer to persuade about His preferred-will (cf. 2307 /thélēma). See 543(apeitheia).

 

In closing this lesson, Ephesians 2:2-3, we are describing stereotypes/unbelievers, aliens, enemies in their minds, people who walk according to this world, as being creatures of DARKNESS, DISOBEDIENT AND WRATHFUL.

 

2 Timothy 3:2-5a For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, ^[a]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power.

Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

Eph 5:8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.

 

So, the requirements for living in this dark world is:

 

1. To be children of Light and to walk as children of light, doing everything to please the Lord.

2. As children of light in this dark world, we are to expose the deeds of darkness (5:7, 11-14).

Before we accepted and acknowledged Christ were we really children of wrath?

As we have studied, I believe we did not inherit a sin nature, but as Adam succumbed to a sense realm life, being led by what he saw thought, felt, heard etc. We lived according to the 5 senses/flesh. And were eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, flesh, 5 senses, self instead of eating from the tree of Life, Jesus.

Of course, some believe we did inherit sin nature.

The word wrath means passion.

GK. orgé: impulse, anger, passion. This is where we get the English word orgy, any actions or proceedings that are uncontrolled or wild:

So, we know now that were children of passion, satisfying our own selfish desires. We were all there, but God. As Eph 2:4 states But God, who is rich (plousios wealthy in abundance: love, mercy, justice, holiness) in mercy, (eleos, kindness, a benefit which results from compassion) because of His great love with which He loved us, (agapao)

We will continue with Lesson 3 next week.

The blessings of the Lord are upon you whether by    blood, adoption/sonship or assignment. The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Prov. 10:22

Chptr 1-EPHESIANS

Eph. 1: 1-23

1^st Ephesians Prayer – Prayer for the Saints vs 15-23 (prayer for dullness of perception and discernment)

(Eph 1:15) Therefore I also, hearing of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the saints,

(Eph 1:16) (I) do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers,

1:15 I am sure you can appreciate how the news of your faith and love greatly inspires me.

1:16 I am so happy for you; my thoughts and prayers are full of you. Mirror

Related Scriptures:

(Eph 6:18) praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance andsupplication for all saints.

(Col 1:3-4) We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, ⁴ since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;

The preceding 12 verses (vss. 3-14) represent a single sentence in the Greek New Testament. Paul, in those 12 verses, traced the entire program of God for His children from eternity past to eternity future. He now shares with his readers his prayer burden for their spiritual enlightenment.

Paul admonishes the believers at Ephesus of their faith and love

Admonish-to express warning or disapproval to especially in a gentle, earnest, or solicitous manner. This, however, is not a warning or disapproval but an approval.

After he had heard of the Ephesians’ faith in Jesus Christ and their love for all the saints, he initiated a personal prayer campaign for them. He unceasingly gave thanks for them in his prayers. Often Christians are driven to prayer upon the awareness of difficulties or hard times, for themselves or others, but it is rare to find them so driven as the result of good news. Here Paul finds it appropriate to praise and thank God for the good fortune and report of other brethren—a great example for all believers.

It was their faith in and of the Lord Jesus (established from the faith of God in them) that brought them eternal salvation, but it was their love for the saints that demonstrated the reality of their inner conversion to Christ—they showed others their living faith by their divine good (works)—James 2:18.

It is important to note that the Lord Jesus is the true object of their faith—not a creed, a church or any earthly person. Only Jesus is worthy of the Christian’s faith—both for salvation and sanctification (Colossians 2:6-7).

The last point regarding verse 15 is that when a believer experiences a livingfaith, which is a genuine trust in Jesus to provide the filling of (control by) the Holy Spirit, he will in fact love other Christians.

Faith and Love Work Together – Colossians 1:4

Love and Faith. Faith Opens the Door to Belief

Love Opens the Door to God’s Kingdom

There is an incredible relationship between Love and Faith. They are inseparable. Let’s compare their roles and their relationship to each other:

LOVE

I Corinthians 13:7 (Love) bears all things, (Love) believes all things, (Love) hopes all things, (Love) endures all things. (8) Love never fails.

God’s love in our hearts actually does the believing.

Eph 5:2 walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us….

Romans 5:5 ..hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Love turns our hopes into faith.

FAITH

Jude 20 But you beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, (21) keeping ourselves in the love of God….

Faith only truly exists within the heart, while God’s love is active.

II Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight…

Galatians 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.

Faith in and faith of God

We also have the same faith that Paul had.

Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Paul did not say that he lived by faith IN the Son of God but by the faith OF the Son of God. The measure of faith that Paul had was the same measure that Jesus had. It was Jesus’ faith. If there is only one measure of faith (Rom. 12:3), then we also have the faith of Jesus.

Faith does the work of love’s desires

Giving Thanks to God: What 99% of prayer and communication should be.

Psalm 136:2-3 – Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever.

1 Chronicles 16:8-9 – Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his miracles. 

 

Psalm 136:4-9 – Give thanks to him who alone does mighty miracles. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavens so skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who placed the earth on the water. His faithful love endures forever. Give thanks to him who made the heavenly lights — His faithful love endures forever. The sun to rule the day, His faithful love endures forever and the moon and stars to rule the night. His faithful love endures forever. 

Psalm 118:1 – Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

Psalm 138:2 – I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I will give thanks to your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness, because your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.

Jeremiah 33:11 – The sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, `Give thanks to the LORD Almighty, for the LORD is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD. 

 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Notice the Word says give thanks in everything not for everything

Heb. 12:28-29 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”

 

2 Cor 9:15″Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!” 

 

Rev. 11:7″We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” 

 

Rev. 7:12″Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 

 

Giving Thanks to the Lord

The Power of a Grateful Heart, 7 Things It Can Do:

 

1. It gets our eyes off ourselves, and helps us to focus back on God.
2. It reminds us we’re not in control, but that we serve a Mighty God who is. It keeps us in a place of humility and dependency on Him, as we recognize how much we need Him.
3. It helps us to recognize we have so much to be thankful for, even all of the little things, which often we may forget to thank Him for…but they really are the biggest, most important things in this life. It takes our attention off of our problems and helps us instead to reflect on, to remember, the goodness of His many blessings.
4. It reminds us that God is the Giver of all good gifts. We were never intended to be fully self-sufficient in this life. A grateful heart reminds us that ultimately God is our Provider, that all blessings and gifts are graciously given to us by His hand.
5. A heart of gratitude leaves no room for complaining. For it is impossible to be truly thankful and filled with negativity and ungratefulness at the same time.
6. It makes the enemy flee. The forces of darkness can’t stand to be around hearts that give thanks and honor to God. Our praise and thanksgiving will make them flee.
7. It opens up the door for continued blessings. It invites His presence. Our spirits are refreshed and renewed in Him. God loves to give good gifts to His children.

I am thankful for my health, stamina, energy, my family and friends, my brain power that God has given me and for Holy Spirit who guides me everyday. There is much more, but I challenge you to get up every morning thanking for your life.

Ephesians 1:16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

(Eph 1:17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation (understanding) in the knowledge of Him,

1:17 I desire that your knowledge of the Father will be undiluted, that you will draw directly from the source; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ imparts the spirit of wisdom to you in the unveiling of His Master Plan (glory.) Mirror

Remember this is one long sentence from Eph. 1:16-23

Related Scriptures:

(Col 1:9)  For this cause we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

(1Co 2:9-12)  But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” nor has it entered into the heart of man, “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.

(Eph 1:18)  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1:18 I pray that your thoughts will be flooded with light and revelation knowledge; that you will clearly picture His intent in identifying you in Him so that you may know how precious you are to Him. The saints are His treasure and the glorious trophy of His portion! (We are God’s assets and the measure of His wealth!)Mirror

Gk. Word here is photoizo- exposed to light

Unbeliever-(Acts 26:18) in order to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

Believer- (John 15:7) If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you and John 15:5, 2 Cor. 5:17

What does it mean to abide?

Abide in the Gk. Means in relationship, married to, rooted in  Christ.

(Eph 1:19) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to (to the same degree) the working of His mighty strength (megos).

1:19 I pray that you will understand beyond all comparison the magnitude of His power towards us who believe.Mirror

Meaning dominion, strength, manifested power (strong in the power of His might) Eph. 6:10

Paul prayed specifically for spiritual illumination so that we might become increasingly more aware of all the components of God’s inheritance and His power. He specifically prayed the following :

1. That God will give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Even though the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation” (Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10), this is not referring to Him. The Holy Spirit in fact indwells permanently every believer. Paul is not praying that these Ephesian Christians receive something that they already have. Here he is using a figure of speech that refers to the ability to possess revelation (doctrine) and the ability to properly use it (wisdom).

2. That their “eyes of their understanding” (hearts) be enlightened.

The word “understanding” is the translation of the Greek word dianoias, which means “understanding, intellect or mind.” This is the word used in the King James Version and the New King James Version of the Bible; although, in most ancient Greek manuscripts and the majority of existing Greek manuscripts the word kardias is used, which is translated “hearts.”

In Scripture the word “heart” is rarely used as the physical organ (2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Kings 9:24). In most cases it is used figuratively in various ways, such as:

(1) the inner man (Psalm 44:21; Proverbs 25:3),

(2) the consciousness center (Exodus 7:23; Deuteronomy 29:4; Proverbs 22:17; Isaiah 42:25; 44:18; Acts 16:14; Luke 2:19),

(3) the emotional center (Isaiah 65:14; Psalm 27:14; 2 Samuel 17:10; Proverbs 12:25; 25:20; Ecclesiastes 2:20; Nehemiah 2:2; Deuteronomy 28:28),

(4) the moral center (Psalm 17:3; Jeremiah 12:31; 17:10; 20:12; Psalm 26:2; Proverbs 11:20; 17:20; 26:23; Job 36:13; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26),

(5) the seat of the conscience (Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 3:19-21), (6) the receptacle of the love and peace of God (Romans 5:5; Colossians 3:15) and

(7) the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the Lord (2 Corinthians :22; Ephesians 3:17).

 I teach the heart is the mind of the spirit. 

Romans 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ESV

Therefore, whichever Greek word the reader believes to be correct, the meaning is the same. Paul prayed that their minds or intellect and hearts regarding spiritual issues would be improved.

We deem this as the theological terms legal and vital positions. 

Our legal position is what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross,  ( finished work) while our living /vital condition is what Jesus requires of us in our response to Him. In our legal position, we stand before God by possessing His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Our legal standing before God is so glorious that it will never be improved upon—not even with the perfection of a resurrected body—because we received Christ’s very own righteousness. Our legal position relates to receiving His righteousness instantly on the day that we are born from above.

Our living/vital condition, on the other hand, relates to growing in righteousness progressively as our mind is renewed, causing our behavior and emotions to be transformed by the Holy Spirit in us.

Ephesians 1:16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

(Eph 1:17) that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation (understanding) in the knowledge of Him,

1:17 I desire that your knowledge of the Father will be undiluted, that you will draw directly from the source; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ imparts the spirit of wisdom to you in the unveiling of His Master Plan (glory.) Mirror

Remember this is one long sentence from Eph. 1:16-23

Related Scriptures:

(Col 1:9)  For this cause we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

(1Co 2:9-12)  But as it is written, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,” nor has it entered into the heart of man, “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us by His Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For who among men knows the things of a man except the spirit of man within him? So also no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. But we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit from God, so that we might know the things that are freely given to us by God.

(Eph 1:18)  the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

1:18 I pray that your thoughts will be flooded with light and revelation knowledge; that you will clearly picture His intent in identifying you in Him so that you may know how precious you are to Him. The saints are His treasure and the glorious trophy of His portion! (We are God’s assets and the measure of His wealth!)Mirror

Gk. Word here is photoizo- exposed to light

Unbeliever-(Acts 26:18) in order to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the authority of Satan to God, so that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.

Believer- (John 15:7) If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you and John 15:5, 2 Cor. 5:17

What does it mean to abide?

Abide in the Gk. Means in relationship, married to, rooted in  Christ.

(Eph 1:19) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us, the ones believing according to (to the same degree) the working of His mighty strength (megos).

1:19 I pray that you will understand beyond all comparison the magnitude of His power towards us who believe.Mirror

Meaning dominion, strength, manifested power (strong in the power of His might) Eph. 6:10

Paul prayed specifically for spiritual illumination so that we might become increasingly more aware of all the components of God’s inheritance and His power. He specifically prayed the following :

1. That God will give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Even though the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation” (Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 2:10), this is not referring to Him. The Holy Spirit in fact indwells permanently every believer. Paul is not praying that these Ephesian Christians receive something that they already have. Here he is using a figure of speech that refers to the ability to possess revelation (doctrine) and the ability to properly use it (wisdom).

2. That their “eyes of their understanding” (hearts) be enlightened.

The word “understanding” is the translation of the Greek word dianoias, which means “understanding, intellect or mind.” This is the word used in the King James Version and the New King James Version of the Bible; although, in most ancient Greek manuscripts and the majority of existing Greek manuscripts the word kardias is used, which is translated “hearts.”

In Scripture the word “heart” is rarely used as the physical organ (2 Samuel 18:14; 2 Kings 9:24). In most cases it is used figuratively in various ways, such as:

(1) the inner man (Psalm 44:21; Proverbs 25:3),

(2) the consciousness center (Exodus 7:23; Deuteronomy 29:4; Proverbs 22:17; Isaiah 42:25; 44:18; Acts 16:14; Luke 2:19),

(3) the emotional center (Isaiah 65:14; Psalm 27:14; 2 Samuel 17:10; Proverbs 12:25; 25:20; Ecclesiastes 2:20; Nehemiah 2:2; Deuteronomy 28:28),

(4) the moral center (Psalm 17:3; Jeremiah 12:31; 17:10; 20:12; Psalm 26:2; Proverbs 11:20; 17:20; 26:23; Job 36:13; Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 18:31; 36:26),

(5) the seat of the conscience (Hebrews 10:22; 1 John 3:19-21), (6) the receptacle of the love and peace of God (Romans 5:5; Colossians 3:15) and

(7) the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit and the Lord (2 Corinthians :22; Ephesians 3:17).

 I teach the heart is the mind of the spirit. 

Romans 8:27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ESV

Therefore, whichever Greek word the reader believes to be correct, the meaning is the same. Paul prayed that their minds or intellect and hearts regarding spiritual issues would be improved.

We deem this as the theological terms legal and vital positions. 

Our legal position is what Jesus accomplished for us on the cross,  ( finished work) while our living /vital condition is what Jesus requires of us in our response to Him. In our legal position, we stand before God by possessing His righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21). Our legal standing before God is so glorious that it will never be improved upon—not even with the perfection of a resurrected body—because we received Christ’s very own righteousness. Our legal position relates to receiving His righteousness instantly on the day that we are born from above.

Our living/vital condition, on the other hand, relates to growing in righteousness progressively as our mind is renewed, causing our behavior and emotions to be transformed by the Holy Spirit in us.

Ephesians 1:22  And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

1:22 I want you to see this: He subjected all these powers under His feet. He towers head and shoulders above everything. He is the head, Mirror

Ephesians 1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

1:23 the church (His redeemed image and likeness in man) is His body. The completeness of His being that fills all in all resides in us! God cannot make Himself more visible or exhibit Himself more accurately.

The four wall building is a gathering. The church is an  living organism with Christ as the Head, the shoulders to speak. 

Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,and the government will be on his shoulders.

We are the ecclesia,  the called out ones, the goeverning body in the earth.

Related Scriptures:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. Colossians 1:18

He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.John 2:19-22

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.Galatians 3:27

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Colossians 2:19

and not holding fast to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Ephesians 4:11-15 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, ¹² for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the ^[a]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—

Ephesians 4:15-16 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

Colossians 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

Romans 12:6-8 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

The Fullness of Him Who Fills All in All

Christ fills all in all. Or as the present tense and the middle voice imply: Christ is now filling for himself all in all. Christ is filling every sphere of existence everywhere in the universe. “Filling all things” is what Jesus/Yeshua does with the authority he has as the risen ruler over all things.

He is “above ALL rule” (v. 21). He is over “EVERY name” (v. 21). God put “ALL THINGS” under his feet (v. 22). He is head over “ALL THINGS” (v. 22). And by this authority he will sovereignly fill all his territories with absolute sway. He will accomplish his purpose in every sphere. He will make himself unmistakably known in every place. He will be preeminent in every nook and cranny of the universe. Even the outer darkness of hell will be filled with his authority and His power and the knowledge of his wisdom.

Romans 14:11 For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

Philippians 2:10 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,

Notice Romans 14:11 and Phil 2:10 in most translations say, “Every knee shall  or will bow. NKJ says should.

“Your kingdom come, your will be done in earth (me) as it is in Heaven.” Matt. 6:10

Conclusion to Ephesians Chapter 1

OUTLINE

I. INTRODUCTION (1-3)

   A. THE AUTHOR (1a)

      1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ

      2. By the will of God

   B. THE RECIPIENTS (1b)

      1. The saints (who are in Ephesus)

      2. The faithful in Christ Jesus

   C. THE SALUTATION (2)

      1. Grace and peace

      2. From God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

   D. THE THEME OF THE EPISTLE (3)

      1. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is to be blessed

         (praised)

      2. For He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the

         heavenly places in Christ

II. OUR SPIRITUAL POSSESSIONS IN CHRIST (3-14)

   A. BLESSINGS INVOLVING THE FATHER (4-6)

      1. We are chosen by God (4)

         a. Chosen in Christ before the world began

         b. Chosen to holy and without blame before Him in love

      2. We are predestined by God (5-6a)

         a. Predestined to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself

         b. Predestined according to the good pleasure of His Will

         — To the praise of His glorious grace

      3. We are accepted by God (6)

         a. Accepted by virtue of His glorious grace

         b. Accepted in the Beloved (Christ)

   B. BLESSINGS INVOLVING THE SON (7-12)

      1. God has redeemed us (7a)

         a. Redeemed in Christ

         b. Redeemed through His blood

      2. God has forgiven us (7b-8)

         a. Forgiven us of our sins

         b. Forgiven us according to the riches of His grace

            1) Which God has made to abound toward us

            2) Abounding in all wisdom and prudence

      3. God has revealed His will to us (9-10)

         a. Revealed the mystery of His will

            1) According to His good pleasure

            2) Which He purposed in Himself

         b. Revealed how He will gather together in one all things in

            Christ

            1) Things in heaven

            2) Things on earth

      4. God has given us an inheritance (11-12)

         a. An inheritance predestined by God

            1) According to His purpose

            2) Who works all things according to His will

         b. An inheritance…

            1) For those who first trusted in Christ

            2) So they can be to the praise of God’s glory

   C. BLESSINGS INVOLVING THE HOLY SPIRIT (13-14)

      1. The Holy Spirit is our “seal” (13)

         a. Having trusted in Christ after hearing the word of truth,

            the gospel of salvation

         b. Having believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of

            promise

      2. The Holy Spirit is our “guarantee” (14)

         a. The guarantee of our inheritance

         b. The guarantee until the redemption of the purchased

            possession

         — To the praise of God’s glory

III. PAUL’S FIRST PRAYER:  FOR THEIR ENLIGHTENMENT (15-23)

   A. THAT WHICH PRECIPITATED HIS PRAYER (15-16)

      1. Having heard of their:

         a. Faith in the Lord Jesus

         b. Love for all their saints

      2. Resulting in his:

         a. Unceasing thanks for them

         b. Making mention of them in his prayers

   B. THE CONTENT OF HIS PRAYER (17-23)

      1. To whom addressed (17a)

         a. The God of our Lord Jesus Christ

         b. The Father of glory

      2. That God would…

a. Give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation  (17b)

         b. Enlighten the eyes of their understanding (18a)

      3. That they might know…

         a. The knowledge of God (17c)

         b. The hope of His calling (18b)

c. The riches of the glorious inheritance in the    saints)18c)

d. The exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe (19a)

      4. Regarding this power toward us who believe…

a. It is according to working of God’s mighty power in Christ(19b-20a)

         b. The same mighty power which…

          1) Raised Christ from the dead (20b)

 2) Seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places (20c-21)

 a) Far above all principality, power, might,  dominion, and every name

          b) Not only in this age, but also in that which is to

           come

          3) Put all things under His feet (22a)

 4) Gave Him to be head over all things to the church (22b-23)

          a) Which is His body

          b) Which is the fullness of Him who fills all in all

 

 I’ve included a personalized EPHESIANS, COLOSSIANS, PHILIPPIANS AND GALATIANS PRAYERS.

EPHESIANS, COLOSSIANS, PHILIPPIANS AND GALATIANS PRAYERS

Ephesians 1:18-19, 3:16-19; Philippians 1:3,9:11; Colossians 1:9-10, 23; 2:6; 3:1; 4:3, 12; Galatians 5:18,22 6:8

I have not stopped giving thanks for _________________, remembering _____________in my prayers. I ask that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give ____________ the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, [of insight into mysteries and secrets] so that (he/she) may know (the deep and intimate ) knowledge of Him. I pray also that the eyes of ____________’s heart may be enlightened (eyes of your heart flooded with light) in order that (he/she) may know the hope to which He has called (him/her), the riches of (his/her) glorious inheritance in the saints, (His set-apart ones) and[that you can know and understand]  His incomparably great power for us who believe. I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen ____________ with power through His Spirit in _____________’s inner being, so that Christ may dwell in ____________’s heart through faith. And I pray that ____________ , being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that may be filled to the measure of all the full fullness of God. And this is my prayer: that ____________’s love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that ____________ may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. I always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for ________________, because I know of your faith in Christ Jesus. I pray that God would fill ____________ with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And I pray this in order that may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that ____________ may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified ____________ to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. I pray that ____________ continue in (his/her) faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the Gospel. I pray that just as ____________ has received Christ Jesus as Lord, that he/she continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith, and overflowing with thankfulness. Since ____________ is raised with Christ, may ____________ set his/her heart on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. And may his/her mind be set on things above, not on earthly things. And I pray that God may open a door for ____________’s message, so that ____________ may proclaim the mystery of Christ. And I pray that may proclaim it clearly. May ____________ be a wrestler in prayer for others. May (he/she) stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. I pray that ____________ will live by the Spirit, keep step with the Spirit and be filled with the Spirit.  May the fruit of the Spirit increase: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May ____________ sow to please the Spirit. I pray that ____________ will be led by the Spirit so that (he/she) will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature because ____________ sin nature is dead and ____________may glorify You in every way. AMEN

Chptr 1-EPHESIANS

Eph. 1: 1-23

Our Identity & Inheritance in Christ

 

Who We Are in Christ
Our Position in Christ

Scripture reference are NKJ and Mirror translation unless otherwise specified. Parentheses are Amplified version or Greek text exegesis.

Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle (Gk, apostolos, ambassador, one who is sent, has delegated authority) of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints (consecrated, set apart ones) who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus. (by the will of God)

Mirror translation–1:1 Paul, employed by the delightful resolve of God and commissioned to represent Jesus Christ to the saints that are in Ephesus; also to every believer in Christ Jesus.

 

The Greek word for “apostle” is apostolos, which means “sent one” or “one sent on a specific mission,” such as a special messenger or ambassador. Paul was commissioned in accordance with the “will (purpose) of God” for the specific purpose of representing the Yeshua Ha’ Mashiach, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Of course, there were and are women apostles. Related Scriptures:

Ephesians 3:8-9: “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.” In other words he was sent by God to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and to teach the great truth concerning the Church. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

 

The Lord said to,”Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15)

Romans 11:13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the Church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the Word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:24-27)

Ephesians 5:32This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
“In Christ” is one of the key expressions of Ephesians. There are two closely related lines of truth in the NT—the truth of the believer’s position and the truth of who we were and are in Him. In Ephesians alone, in Christ, in Him, in Whom, in Jesus 92 times.

2 Corinthians 5:17: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” If a man is in Christ there is new love, there is new vision, a new dream, a new life, a new hope, a new dedication.”

The truth is: Whenever we focus on the NATURAL life, trying to make it Godly, we are veiled to our true identity from the beginning. However, when we TURN to the Christ WITHIN, the veil is removed, and we see ourselves as sons of God (spirit), not sons of Adam (flesh). Our concern is not whether our action is right or wrong (Tree of Knowledge) producing death, but whether it produces LIFE (Tree of Life), Jesus Christ.
Until we are secured in God and His identity for us, we will remain insecure, touchy, wearing feelings on our sleeves, comparing ourselves and our notoriety with others and potentially contentious.
MUST KNOW WHO WE WERE and ARE IN CHRIST AND WHO CHRIST IS IN US!!From the beginning as well.
Colossians 1:27 (NKJV)To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: [a]which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

This is the mystery unveiled!!

See 1OO LEGALITIES THAT I AM IN CHRIST- separate document, sent to you by email request ms_davis@bellsouth.net)

We will continue with lesson 2 next week.

 

Scripture reference are NKJ and Mirror translation unless otherwise specified. Parentheses are Amplified version or Greek text exegesis.

(Eph 1:2) Grace (God’s ability working in you) be to you, and peace (harmony, unity, undisturbness) from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:2 I greet you with the grace and peace that proceed from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Mirror

 

Grace- 5485-Greek – Xaris-Charis-grace, kindness, favor, gift, unmerited favor; empowerment that comes from the heart of God (freely given power that works in you).

xáris/charis (“grace”) answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná (“grace, extension-toward”). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.

Grace- Hebrew-850- chen-favor- other definitions- adornment, charm, pleasing or pleases.

Grace-working definition-  God’s unmerited favor and God’s freely given ability/power working in you.

We have received grace. We are grace. Also, we can grow in grace. Growing in grace means becoming like Christ. We are already like Christ in our spirit. Yet, we grow in grace in our soul, sense realm.

Peace is a tangible fruit of love, grace, faith and salvation. Just like the other fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

(2Pe 3:18a) But grow in grace and in knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(2Pe 1:2) Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

Peace- 7965 Hebrew- shalom (a parting greeting): completeness, soundness, welfare. Other Definitions: harmony, unity, undisturbness, ease, favorable, health, prosperity, safety, security, wellness, wholeness, oneness. We know shalom as nothing missing, nothing broken.

Greek- 1515 eiréné: oneness peace, quietness, rest.  Other Definitions:  peace of mind; to join, tie together into a whole”) – properly, wholeness, i.e. when all essential parts are joined together; peace (God’s gift of wholeness).

God-  there are more thatn 956 names/titles of God, not to mention different spellings.

1.yah [YH] or Jah —transliteration from Hebrew
This is a contraction of the name YHWH, consisting of its first 2 letters.
Hebrew: יָהּ
Appears in the word “hallelujah” (literally “Praise Jah”)
2.Yahweh or YHWH or YHVH —transliteration from Hebrew-Hebrew: יהוה
Pious Jews carefully avoid saying this name, and substitute such words as Hashem, Adonai, “The Name,” etc.

 

The full title of our Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. or the Lord Christ Jesus. Hebrew Yeshua or Yashua Ha’ Mashiach.

Full Understanding of Yeshua Ha’ Mashiach

Yeshua- Jesus (Latin)- taken from Joshua- Captain of my salvation

The title of Mashiach came from the Hebrew language and means “Anointed One.” Mashiach refers to an individual who is set apart to serve YHVH. Also refers to His many membered Body, the Body of Christ. See 42^nd generation of Jesus’geneology.

http://equippingthesaintsministries.blogspot.com/2014/08/42nd-generration.html

Matthew 1:1 :17; Luke 3:23-39

As Lord He is our absolute Master, with full rights to all we are and have. As Jesus He is our Savior from sin. As Christ (Messiah)He is our divinely anointed Prophet, Priest, and King. How much His name unfolds to every listening ear! (Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald)

As Paul opens his letter to the Ephesians with a pronouncement of grace and peace, he ends it with the same (vss. 6:23, 24).

Eph. 1: 1-23

Our Identity & Inheritance in Christ; Who We Are in Christ; Our Position in Christ

(Eph 1:12) for us to be to the praise of His glory, who previously had trusted in Christ;

1:12 It was our initial privilege (as Jews) to cherish the Messianic hope; our lives in Christ were destined to promote the celebration of His glorious plan with man (doxa, intention, opinion.). Mirror

Praise of His Glory:

We exist for the praise of God’s glory.

What is glory?

If you were to ask the average Christian what the word ‘Glory’ meant the chances are they would give a vague and fuzzy answer. Close analysis of the original Biblical texts suggests that this may be due to a weakness of the English word ‘glory’ rather than poor education on the part of the congregant. It is actually the case that the Biblical word ‘glory’ is a translation of twenty different words; twelve in the Hebrew and eight in the Greek.

Glory is defined as great beauty, splendor, honor, brightness, majesty, excellency, abundance, weightiness, goodness: MAGNIFICENCE

There are many definitions for glory. 2 words are Greek- doxa; Hebrew- kabod

Another definition of glory is the manifestation of God, everything He is and everything He does. And another word for glory is God’s opinion and intention for us. Jesus Christ,Yeshua Ha’ Massiach is the Glory of God.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 quotes God’s intentions for His people. ”For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope’” (NASB).

But His loving intentions toward us are not enough by themselves. There must be action on our part. The passage continues with these words, ‘

“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:14

When we call upon Him, when we pray, commune with Him, we now He is in us.  Of course, in actuality. God finds us, we do not find Him. Holy Spirits draws us to Him.

Isaiah 60 describes so well the glory of God in us and coming up upon us.
Isaiah 60 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
² For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. ³ The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

We are called and privileged to glorify God, not just in singing and praying, not just in doing things we identify as “spiritual,” but also in every part of life, in every action, every thought, every feeling.  This is what Paul said is praying without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray without ceasing,

I call it “Practicing His Presence.”

Intimacy–  INTO ME, YOU SEE–The more intimate we are with Him, the more He will share His heart with us and the more we will want to pray and intercede. That is praying without ceasing.

SO ITS ALL ABOUT PURSUING GOD, SEEKING GOD, PRACTICING HIS PRESENCE

Enjoying the Person, Presence and Power of the INDWELLING CHRIST.

First we must:

1.      Consider the fact of His presence.

“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5).

Even Jesus was called Immanuel –“Immanuel…God with us” (Matthew 1:23).

2.     Consider the fact of His indwelling. God in us.

I will carry this further, Christ in us, through us and as us.

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27).

John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

“At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I IN YOU” (John 14:20).

Go about your day acknowledging Him in everything you do and say. It takes time, practice and patience to get there. We all haven’t reached that pinnacle yet. But, I do admonish you and myself to practice His presence everyday.

Just think of how different your life might be if you began to think of glorifying God as the core purpose of everything.

Paul uses of the phrase “we who first trusted in Christ” appears to be referring specifically to the Jews.  The apostle speaks of himself and other believing Jews as “we who first trusted in Christ.” He is thinking of the godly remnant of Jews who responded to the gospel in the early days of Christianity. The good news was first preached to the Jews. Most of the nation of Israel flatly rejected it. But the godly remnant believed on the Lord Jesus. Paul was one of that number. (Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald)

Every believer is a full-partaker in God’s inheritance that He has designated for His Son, Jesus Christ. Everything that God has for His Son, He has for the person who by faith (we have the faith of God) alone and as we acknowledge the union (eternal salvation) with Him. This involves many blessings/promises accessible by faith in this life. And this, along with all other blessings in Christ, was predetermined by God for the purpose of bringing praise/ glory to Him.

Sonship, redemption, inheritance, the Holy Spirit, access to God, participation in God’s work in and as Christ: all these blessings, and many more, Christians receive through Jesus Christ. Just to name a few.

May God give all of us in Jesus Christ a spirit of knowledge and wisdom to enlighten our hearts, so we may know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe!

LESSON 1-EPHESIANS, THE CROWNING GLORY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

Introduction: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Vital Statistics: Purpose: To strengthen the believers in Ephesus in their Christian faith by explaining the nature and purpose of the Church, the Body of Christ.

Author: Paul; some scholars say that an admiring follower of Paul wrote this letter and signed his name to it. This is contrary to the Word. This is heresy that has been spread throughout history. There is nearly universal consensus in modern New Testament scholarship on a core group of authentic Pauline epistles whose authorship is rarely contested: Romans, 1 and 2

Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon. Several additional letters bearing Paul’s name are disputed among scholars, namely Ephesians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus. Scholarly opinion is sharply divided on whether or not Colossians and 2 Thessalonians are genuine letters of Paul. The Holy Spirit inspired all Scripture and will lead us into all truth. It is not the letter of the Word but the Word revealed by Holy Spirit.

Chronological Order of Paul’s Books

 

Many believe the lie that Paul did not write Ephesians. Like I said all truth is revealed by Holy Spirit.
Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.

To whom written: The church in Ephesus and to all believers. This letter was circulated among other churches, known as a circular or open letter. Later it became and epistle and part of the Pauline revelation. The words at Ephesus 1:1 are not part of the present manuscript. Paul intended for this letter to be circulated to all the churches in that area and later to all believers.
Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, 1 To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:

 

Setting: This letter was not written to confront any heresy or problem in the churches. It was sent to Tychicus to strengthen and encourage churches in that area. Paul had spent over 3 years with the Ephesian church.
Similarities with other books of the Bible: Ephesians is one of four shorter epistles written by the apostle Paul while he was in prison, the others being Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. Ephesians shares many similarities in style and content with Colossians; it may have been written about the same time and delivered by the same person.

Structure of the Epistle:
Ephesians divides naturally into two halves:
• a lofty theological section (chaps. 1–3),
• and a section of ethical appeal and application (chaps. 4–6)

1. Paul begins by greeting his readers and assuring them that they have been blessed with God’s gracious favor—redemption in Christ—from before the foundation of the world (1:1–14).

2. Paul then prays that God may grant them an even greater measure of spiritual wisdom and revelation (1:15–23).

3. Chapter two begins with perhaps the clearest statement of salvation by grace through faith in all the Bible (2:1–10). Although the Ephesians were once alienated from God, now they are reconciled both to God and to one another by Christ, who is “our peace” (2:11–22). We know now we were alienated in our mind. Col. 1:21

4. Paul was made an apostle to proclaim the “mystery of Christ”—the inexhaustible riches of the gospel to the Gentiles (3:1–13).

5. Paul brings the first half of the epistle to a close with a prayer that the Ephesians may understand the depth of Christ’s love (3:14–19). A benediction concludes the doctrinal section (3:20–21).

6. An appeal to adapt one’s life to one’s faith (4:1) marks the transition to the second half of the epistle.

7. The Christian fellowship should pattern itself after the unity of the Godhead (4:1–16), and Christians should pattern themselves after the example of Christ (4:17–5:21). As new people in Christ they should walk in love, light, and wisdom.

8. Paul cites Christ’s relationship with the church as a model for wives and husbands (5:22–33), children and parents (6:1–4), and servants and masters (6:5–9).

9. The epistle ends with an appeal to put on the whole armor of God and to stand against the forces of evil (6:10–20), followed by final greetings (6:21–24).

Ephesians bears the name of Paul (1:1; 3:1), and it sets forth many of the great Pauline themes. Ephesians is known as the highest revelation that Paul received. We know, for instance, that Paul spent three years in Ephesus (Acts 19:1–40), and it is clear that the Ephesians cherished his ministry among them (Acts 20:17–38).
Date: Paul probably wrote Ephesians about the same time as the Epistle to the Colossians. Both Ephesians and Colossians agree to a large extent in style and content. Both letters were delivered by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21; Col. 4:7). Furthermore, Paul was in prison at the time, presumably in Rome. This would suggest a date in the late 50sAD or early 60sAD.

Historical Setting.

The general nature of Ephesians makes it difficult to determine the specific circumstances that gave rise to the epistle. It is clear, however, that the recipients were Gentiles (3:1) who were estranged from citizenship in the kingdom of Israel (2:11). Now, thanks to the gracious gift of God, they enjoy the spiritual blessings that come from Christ.

Other significant facts about Ephesians:

Ephesians is not a didactic/ designed for teaching purposes epistle. Although it certainly is. The Epistle to the Ephesians is written to one of the most well-taught churches that ever existed. Paul spent nearly 3 years teaching in Ephesus. Apollos had ministered there as well. And in Paul’s absence he wrote two epistles to this group of believers. He also sent Timothy to minister at Ephesus as his representative (some would call Timothy an ‘apostolic legate’). While He was at Ephesus, Paul wrote two personal letters to Timothy, which contained instructions that applied to this church (1 & 2 Timothy). In other words Ephesus believers were well taught. This letter was for encouragement and confirmation of who they (we) were and are and shall be for eternity.

Colossians is considered a companion book to Ephesians.

The main focus in Ephesians is who you (we) are and have always been.

What Ephesians is and is not:

 

Ephesians is not a “need-meeting” epistle, nor is it a book which tells us how to be successful or effective. In writing Ephesians, Paul breaks the rules of homiletics, as often taught today. Generally, sermon introductions try to address a “felt need” in the listener, which the preacher tries to convince his audience his message will address and meet.

 

Paul is not preaching or teaching in Ephesians as much as he is praising, praising God for who He is and what He has done, as evidenced in the person and work of Jesus Christ and in the gospel. After a brief greeting in verses 1 and 2, Paul’s first words in Ephesians begin, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ …” The tone of Ephesians, and especially the first three chapters, is one of praise toward God. The first three chapters are addressed to God as much as to men, with the reader being given the privilege of overhearing Paul’s response to God in both praise and petition, and then having the opportunity to join with him. In the midst of chapters 1 and 3, Paul turns to prayer. Ephesians is the “Waterloo of Biblical commentators.” This characterization of Ephesians suggests to us that this book has proven to be greater than the minds of those who have studied it. Ephesians is one of those books which, like the God of whom it speaks, is beyond the grasp of the finite minds of men.

 

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known (1 Corinthians 13:12).

 

 

It is not that Ephesians is unclear, but that the truths of which it speaks are beyond our grasp, that is in our minds or in the soulish realm. We should not be frustrated by the fact that we cannot “master” this epistle own existence and intelligence. Only by the Holy Spirit’s guidance can we grasp these revelatory truths.

 

This is true of all canon of Scripture.

 

Ephesians is the “high road” of New Testament revelation, changing our perspective from that of a citizen of this world to that of a citizen of heaven. Faith in Jesus Christ, often spoken of as being “born again, born from above in the truest sense.” (see John 3:3ff.), brings about a radical change.  Born from above is the correct rendering.

 

 

If salvation brings one from “death” to “life,” from the “kingdom of darkness” to the “kingdom of light,” then one would expect that conversion would likewise bring about a vastly different way of viewing life. No epistle penned by the Apostle Paul is so extensive in the change of perspective which it challenges us to adopt. The Book of Ephesians seeks to expand our knowledge and understanding in virtually every dimension. Yet it is called “the mystery of His will.” Made known to us through revelation.

Listen to what Paul himself says about this matter:

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you, and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe (Ephesians 1:15-19).

For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19).

 

 

I have a personalized copy of the EPHESIANS, COLOSSIANS, PHILIPPIANS AND GALATIANS PRAYERS for you. Email me: ms_davis@bellsouth.net

Our spiritual “center of gravity” is too low, too human, too temporal, too material, too earthly, too selfcentered. Ephesians is written to challenge and to change our “center of gravity.” In this epistle, Paul writes to change our perspective, to see earthly appearances in the light of heavenly realities, time in the light of eternity, the spiritual life as a struggle a spiritual warfare,( I call it spiritual joyfare) not merely with human opponents, but with a host of heavenly forces.

Ephesians seeks to change our orientation from one which is man-centered to one which is God-centered. We smile to ourselves when we think of the ancient view that the world is flat, or that the earth is the center of the universe. And yet, we see man as the central focus, rather than God. Ephesians unapologetically challenges this view, and calls us to a God-centered focus. But the gospel is the good news that God is the allsatisfying end of all our longings, and that even though he does not need us, and is in fact estranged from us because of our sense realm thinking he has, in the great love with which he loved us, made a way for us to drink at the river of his delights through Jesus Christ. And we will not be enthralled by this good news unless we feel that he was not obliged to do this. He was not coerced or constrained by our value. He is the center of the gospel. The exaltation of his glory is the driving force of the gospel. The gospel is a gospel of grace!

 

 

To sum up the essence of the contribution of Ephesians, this epistle draws our attention to the glory of God. The glory of God is not only the motivation, but the goal of God’s sovereign work among men. There is no more majestic theme, no more noble pursuit than the glory of God. Moses’ highest ambition and most noble request was to see the glory of God (Exodus 33:17–18:8). The first coming of Christ was a display of the glory of God (John 1:14; see also Matthew 16:27–17:8). The Apostle

Paul was encouraged and sustained by his awareness of God’s glory (see 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; 4:3-6, 16-18). The apostle Peter found the revelation of the “Majestic Glory” of our Lord a witness to the truthfulness of the prophetic word revealed through the apostles (2 Peter 1:16-19). Our Lord’s second coming will be a revelation of His glory, and the cause for the saints’ rejoicing (1 Peter 4:12-13). Every supreme goal of our every action is the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Epistle to the Ephesians is all about the glory of God.

God’s glory is everything He is.

The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of God’s manifold perfections. The infinite beauty, His weightedness—a manifestation of his character and his worth and his attributes — all of his perfections and greatness are beautiful as they are seen, and there are many of them.

Chapters 1-3 of the Epistle to the Ephesians urge us to be more heavenly minded so that, in obedience to the instruction laid down in chapters 4-6, we may be of more earthly good, to the glory of God. May God grant us an appetite for the “meat” of this great epistle, and may He also grant us the ability to grasp the breadth and length and height and depth of God’s glory, as seen in Christ and in His church.

What is the glory of God? The GLORY of God is the sum total of all that God is and does. Everything collectively that God is and that God does is characterized by His GLORY.  Too sum it all up. What is Ephesians? The gospel of God’s grace and glory.

 

LESSON 4- Ephesians

Chapter 3

The Mystery- Revelation

Our Inheritance in Christ Cont.’

Chapter 3:1-21

Ephesians 3:1-21

 

Eph. 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—

Eph. 3:2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you,

3:1 My ministry is not measured by the size of my cell, I am confined by His grace; Christ Jesus is the prison Keeper; you are why I am here. Mirror Translation

3:2 (I may be hidden away in a prison, but my ministry is not.) It is common knowledge that I have been entrusted with a message that reveals how included you Gentiles are in the grace gift of God. Mirror Translation

GRACE — favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves. Grace is also God’s freely given power working in you.

Greek words for grace: χάρη-sake, favor, on behalf of, comeliness, cuteness-χάρις-pardon favor. In Greek it is CHARIS and has the idea of graciousness in manner or action (Strong’s #5485) it comes from a root word CHAIRO to be cheerful, happy (Strong’s #5463)

Hebrew word for grace- The word ‘grace’ literally means ‘favor’ In Hebrew it is CHEN from a root word CHANAN – to bend or stoop in kindness to another as a superior to an inferior (Strong’s #2603)

In Greek it is CHARIS and has the idea of graciousness or gifting/enablement.

Grace in simple terms is God’s unmerited favor and supernatural enablement and empowerment for salvation and for daily sanctification.

Grace is one of the key attributes of God. His attributes are Himself. God is Grace! The Lord God is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Ex. 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience. As already said, GRACE IS ALSO God’s freely given power working in you, the ability of God.

In the Old Testament, the supreme example of grace was the redemption of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land. This did not happen because of any merit on Israel’s part, but in spite of their unrighteousness (Deut. 7:7–8; 9:5–6).

Some call this sloppy or cheap grace. There is nothing cheap about grace!!

Although the grace of God is always free and undeserved, it must not be taken for granted. Grace is only enjoyed within the COVENANT—the gift is given by God, and the gift is received by people through repentance and faith (Amos 5:15). Grace is to be humbly sought through the prayer of faith (Mal. 1:9). This is Old Covenant.

The grace of God was supremely revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was not only the beneficiary of God’s grace (Luke 2:40), but was also its very embodiment (John 1:14), bringing it to humankind for salvation (Titus 2:11). By His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the broken fellowship between God and His people, both Jew and Gentile. The only way of salvation for any person is “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 15:11).

God is grace! The grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ is applied to human beings for their salvation by the HOLY SPIRIT, who is called “the Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29). The Spirit is the One who binds Christ to His people so that they receive forgiveness, adoption to sonship, and newness of life, as well as every spiritual gift or grace (Eph. 4:7).

The theme of grace is especially prominent in the letters of Paul.

Eph. 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

He sets grace radically over against the law and the works of the law (Rom. 3:24, 28). Paul makes it abundantly clear that salvation is not something that can be earned; it can be received only as a gift of grace (Rom. 4:4). Grace, however, must be accompanied by faith; a person must trust in the mercy and favor of God, even while it is undeserved (Rom. 4:16; Gal. 2:16).

The law of Moses revealed the righteous will of God in the midst of pagan darkness; it was God’s gracious gift to Israel (Deut. 4:8). But His will was made complete when Jesus brought the gospel of grace into the world (John 1:17).

 

FACTS FROM GOD’S WORD ABOUT GRACE

• Grace is sufficient for every problem.

• Grace is greater than sin, ROM. 5:20.

• Grace is greater than satan, JAMES 4:6,7.

• Grace is God’s acceptance: EPH. 1:6

• Grace is confidence in God’s plan: 2 THESS. 2:16

• Grace is assistance in prayer: HEB. 4:16

• Grace is daily provision: PSA. 84:11; ACTS 4:33,34; ROM. 8:32

• Grace, Christ suffered so we could have it: 2 COR. 12:9,10

• Grace is God’s patience with us: PSA. 103:8-12

• Grace is releasing the power of God: 2 TIM. 2:1

• Grace is victory over sin: ROM. 6:14

• Growing in Grace is spiritual growth: 2 PET. 3:18; ACTS 20:32; 1 COR. 15:10

• Grace is spiritual gifts: God’s ability in you) ROM. 12:6; EPH. 3:7,8; 4:7

• Grace is stability: 1 PET. 5:12

• Grace is becoming gracious: 2 COR. 8:19; COL. 4:6; 1 PET. 4:10

• Grace is method of living: HEB. 12:28; 2 COR. 1:12; ROM. 11:6

• Grace is worship of God: COL. 3:16

• Grace is the production of divine good: 1 COR. 15:10; 2 COR. 6:1; 9:8-11; EPH. 4:29

• Grace is becoming gracious: 2 COR. 8:19; COL. 4:6; 1 PET. 4:10

• Grace is method of living: HEB. 12:28; 2 COR. 1:12; ROM. 11:6

• Grace is worship of God: COL. 3:16

• Grace is the production of divine good: 1 COR. 15:10; 2 COR. 6:1; 9:8-11; EPH. 4:29

Dispensationalist called this age the age/dispensation of grace or the age of the church. I simply ask the question when did grace begin and end. God is Grace! He is eternal. Grace has always been. Ec 3:14.

We will continue with Lesson 4 next week.

LESSON 4- Ephesians

Chapter 3

 The Mystery- Revelation

Our Inheritance in Christ Cont.’

Chapter 3:1-21

 

 Eph. 3:6 Continued:

Eph. 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

3:6 The essence of what I see reveals the fact that the multitude of humanity are joint participants in the same inheritance (together with Israel), we are all part of one and the same body, in Christ. The Good news is that God’s promise is equally relevant and applicable to all. Mirror Translation

 

 

Remember these verses—Eph. 2:14-15 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,

Ephesians 3:4-5 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), ⁵ which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

The Mystery (μυστήριον) Continued:

The word translated “mystery” is the Greek word μυστήριον. This unfortunate translation has confused most of Christendom. The word μυστήριον does not mean “mystery” as we think as in “strange,” “enigma,” “weird,” etc. It means a “secret”–something kept hidden, something previously unrevealed. Paul used the term to describe the body of doctrine the risen, ascended, glorified Lord revealed to him. God alone can keep a secret and He had kept these revelations hidden until He chose to disclose them. Paul called these doctrines “secrets” for was what they were. What were these secrets that Peter and the other apostles knew nothing about? Also, this is not a complete list. I’m sure there are mysteries hidden, those seals of understanding which have not been revealed. The good news is the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth.

John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

Mysteries or Secrets:

1.The Secret of the Gospel of the Grace of God

Paul’s gospel of the grace of God was the message of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Paul revealed that grace, not Law, is the realm in which the believer in Christ operates. Paul began every letter with a grace salutation to remind believers of his gospel of this new relationship. No word more clearly identifies Paul’s ministry that the word “grace.”

2. The Secret of the Blinding of Israel. Also the mystery of Making One New man.

Paul wrote in Romans 11.25-27,For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery [secret]—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ²⁶ and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION, HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.” “THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM, WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”

God laid the groundwork for His creation of a new race of people, the Hebrew/Jews, with His call of Abraham. Through the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, God began to reveal Himself. From that point, until the time when the ascended Lord commissioned Paul, God dealt with mankind through the nation of Israel. To the Jews belonged the Word of God, adoption, glory, and covenants, etc. (Romans 3.2, 9.4; Ephesians 2.12; Acts 3.25). God had revealed His prophetic plan through the Jewish prophets. This plan is summarized in Psalm 2: The Messiah’s Triumph and Kingdom

He, Christ, broke down the wall of separation making us One New Man.

3. The Secret of the Rapture and/or Resurrection of the Body of Christ

 In this divine event, members of the body of Christ will receive resurrection bodies. When the body of Christ is complete, God will take His body unto Himself. Paul called this the “fullness of the Gentiles” (Romans 11.25). Paul revealed this secret in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 

 

 

4. The Secret of the One Body

Paul alone taught the Body of Christ. How did Paul learn about it? The ascended Lord revealed the truth that the Church (1 Corinthians 12.12-27; Ephesians 1.22-23; Colossians 1.18, 24) was His body and that its nature was that Jew and Gentile were equal in Christ (Galatians 3.26-29). The Lord did not reveal this truth to Peter or the Twelve. Search the Scriptures–one will find no word about the body of Christ from anyone but Paul.

5. The Secret of Kingdom/Heavenly Citizenship

From Paul alone do we learn that the believer in the body of Christ has a heavenly position and heavenly citizenship. Peter and the Twelve looked forward to an earthly position, not a heavenly one. The Jew knew nothing of heavenly blessing. He looked forward to the kingdom on earth. This is why Jesus instructed his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6.10). Consider Peter’s question to the Lord and his answer in Matthew 19.27-28:

6. The Secret of His Will

The secret of his will is God’s plan to gather together in one all things in Christ. Only Paul revealed this truth. Paul wrote the Ephesians in Ephesians 1.9-10:

⁹ He made known to us the mystery [secret] of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him ¹⁰ with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.A parallel passage of this truth is from Paul’s letter to the Colossians: For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say,whether things on earth or things in heaven (Colossians 1.19-20).

 

 

7. The Secret of Identification with Christ

 All who believe the gospel (1 Corinthians 15.1-4) have been identified with Christ.

 8. The Secret of Lawlessness

 Paul wrote the secret of iniquity (KJV) or lawlessness (ἀνομία) was already at work. Paul used the term ἀνομίαin a generic sense for all that is opposed to God and godliness. 

 9. The Secret of the Faith

 What was this “secret of the faith?” It was the body of doctrines the risen Lord had revealed to Paul, which he communicated to the Church, the body of Christ. Faith was never a secret. The teachings of Paul were.

Like these verses: Gal. 2:16  yet we know that a man is not ^[a]justified [and placed in right standing with God] by works of the Law, but [only] through  the faith of [God’s beloved Son,] Christ Jesus. And even we [as Jews] have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by works of the Law. By observing the Law no one will ever be justified [declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty].

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by the faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

 

*See ‘the faith” Scriptures by emailing me at ms_davis@bellsouth.net

As we have noted in examining the doctrines above, none of these doctrines were known to the prophets, revealed by the Lord in His earthly ministry, or communicated by the Twelve. These were Pauline doctrines–secrets.

 10. Mystery of the Kingdom

 While Jesus announced that the Kingdom promised in the Prophets was near, he also spoke of other aspects of it which were not immediately understood. He referred to them as “mysteries.” A mystery is not something that is unknowable, but something which is hidden. It is not understood when first presented but the meaning is later revealed. Jesus often spoke in parables about the mysteries of the Kingdom, but revealed them to his disciples. In Luke 8:10, he told them, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”

The mysteries which Jesus taught his disciples revealed previously unknown aspects of the Kingdom of God.

Mark 4:11 He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside, everything is expressed in parables,

 

Matt. 3:11 Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. (to the wise and prudent, to the Scribes and Pharisees, to the multitude, to the bulk and generality of the people, to the rest that were blinded) 

The ultimate mystery/revelation, of course, is the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

We will continue with Lesson 4 next week.

LESSON 4- Ephesians

Chapter 3

The Mystery- Revelation

 

Our Inheritance in Christ Cont.’

Chapter 3:1-21

 

Eph.3:8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

  

 

 3:8 I am the lowest ranked saint by far. (My claim to fame emphasizes the fact that grace is a gift and certainly not a reward for good behavior.)  His grace alone qualifies me to declare this unexplored treasure of Christ in the nations. Mirror Translation

Eph. 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

3:9 The unveiling of this eternal secret is to bring into public view an association that has always been hidden in God; Jesus Christ is the blueprint of creation. Mirror Translation

 

 

Unsearchable Riches of Christ

The Greek for “unsearchable riches” is translated “boundless riches”, without measure, infinite.

 Paul taught and preached THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST.

 The unsearchable riches of Christ cannot be fully traced out without revelation from Him. “In Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” (Colossians 2:9), so the riches of Christ include all that God is.

 

 

 The unsearchable riches of Christ are the Glory of God, the Truth of God, the Wisdom of God, the Life of God, and the Love of God. In Christ, God “has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3). In Christ are hidden “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). In Christ, God “has given us everything we need for life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3).

The treasures of Christ are inexhaustible, they are unsearchable, and they are eternal, was, is and is to come.

Some of them are:

 

1.  Riches of heavenly knowledge, understanding, and spiritual revelation.
2.  Riches of redeeming love.
3.  Riches of pardoning mercy.
4.  Riches of sanctifying grace.
5.   Riches of consolation and hope.
6.  Riches of immortality and glory.

 

The riches of Christ are also unsearchable because their full value cannot be appreciated by mortal/sense/soulish minds. Unlike anything else familiar to us, their value cannot be diminished with time or use. In fact, time will actually increase their value.

Fellowship of the Mystery

Once again mystery is mentioned. In 20 instances, Paul speaks of a mystery or secret (Greek: mystērion) of God. So, this is very important.

 TO SEE THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY (God’s plan) ONE MUST NOT BE SENSE /SOULISH RULED. You can only receive revelation by the Spirit.

Related Scriptures:

 Hebrews 5:12-14″For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food.

“For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 

“But solid food belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

 

 

 Galatians 5:16-17 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Jesus said to his disciples that “the knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven has been given to you” (Matt. 13:11, Mark. 4:11 and Luke 8:10). The Apostle Paul speaks of the “mystery of Christ” and the “mystery of the Gospel” (Eph. 3:4, Col. 4:3 and Eph. 6:19).

Believers were “those entrusted with the mysteries of God” and they proclaimed the Word so that the hearers “may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ” (1 Cor. 4:1, Eph. 3:9 and Col. 2:2). This “mystery of godliness” and “the mystery of faith” had to be kept with a pure conscience (1 Tim. 3:9 and 3:16). 

 Look in previous lessons for a list (never inclusive) of The Mysteries.

 Mysteries of God are spiritual truths known only by revelation. God reveals His mysteries to those who are have an eye to see and hears to hear. Some of God’s mysteries are yet to be revealed.

 

• It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, Matt. 13:11.
• Though I understand all mysteries and have not charity, I am nothing, 1 Cor. 13:2.

 The Book of Revelation is the ultimate mystery revealed, The Revelation of Jesus Christ.

We will continue with Lesson 4 next week.