Ephesians Chapter Three Part One

Continuing-    

1 FOR THIS reason

[ because I preached that you are thus built up together], I, Paul, [am] the prisoner of Jesus the Christ for the sake and on behalf of you Gentiles—

As a born again believer, occasionally you may find yourself involved in situations and circumstances that you just don’t understand. How is it that life could gang up on you in this way, you may think.

The truth is, that once you are born again you are sanctified unto God through Christ who ‘is’ your sanctification.  This means that He alone controls your life and what happens in it. It really is the best thing that could happen to you, because, He is God! and He is Love! So, the greatest Love possible, the Love of God is the motive behind the circumstances you find yourself in. In everything give thanks. Also, He has a plan for you. Obey God in your actions and attitude as your response to whatever your life brings. He is working in you to bring this obedience about. He is conforming you into the image of His Son Jesus. 

Paul knew God well enough to recognize that God had imprisoned him for the sake of the Gospel to the Gentiles. It was from prison that Paul wrote, ‘Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice’. Can you learn to rejoice in the Lord during those times that you would rather not experience?   

Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace (His unmerited favor) that was entrusted to me [to dispense to you] for your benefit,  [And] that the mystery (secret) was made known to me and I was allowed to comprehend it by direct revelation, as I already briefly wrote you.

By now, the fame of the extraordinary teaching by Paul of the Gospel of free grace also to the non-Jew had probably already reached Ephesus as well as the other churches. In this epistle however, the very enlightened one, the very one to whom God’s mystery was made known and whose heart was made to comprehend this new knowledge with true revelation was personally writing.  Understand then, that all scripture is God breathed and is for you food for your spirit.

When you read this you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ.  [This mystery] was never disclosed to human beings in past generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles (consecrated messengers) and prophets by the [Holy] Spirit.

A breakthrough in all human history from the God of the universe. The coming of Christ. His death and resurrection. The revelation now of His purpose and His Love. Learn. Learn what He accomplished in His terrible gift. Make it your own. Do not leave this world without filling your faith to it’s maximum. Ask God to give you a love for His Word. After all, it was given for you. Say a loud yes to His offer and believe and receive.

Paul explains God’s mystery.

[It is this:] that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel).

This mystery lay hidden in the covenant God made with Abram in Gen. Fifteen. For the promise that Abraham would become the ‘Father of many nations’ fell true for those who possessed the faith to believe and become the children of Abraham and therefore heirs according to the promise.

The covenant God made with Abraham is the covenant that the born again are in. I mean you and I. I need to write a post on our covenant with God to show that we simply stepped into this age old relationship with God. A promised relationship that was already there waiting for us.   

Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power.

Here then are the ingredients that make up a Godly ministry. Every ministry must begin with God’s grace. This word grace really does mean: underserved favor. If you have a ministry you’d be smart to realize you have no secret ‘goodness’ that entitles you to whatever ministry you have. It’s because of His grace at work in you. This grace cannot be faked and can never be earned. It is bestowed on you and His called out ones by the exercise and the working in all its effectiveness of HIS POWER.

That Grace is fundamental to all true ministry can be seen in God’s calling to Moses.

After spending his first forty years of life as the son of Pharaoh in Egypt, Moses was, in effect, run out of Egypt after killing an Egyptian. His next forty years were spent living on the back side of the desert. Quite a change from the luxury he enjoyed as the son of Pharaoh. After the humbling of Moses was accomplished by God, his commission occurred. One day while Moses was walking in the desert, his attention was caught by a bush on fire- yet the bush was not consumed. God spoke to Moses out of this flaming bush and instructed him concerning his calling, to lead the coming deliverance of Israel out from the bondage of Egypt.  

I want you to notice the bush. It’s on fire and it should burn yet it doesn’t. This is Grace. For we are all bushes. Engulfed in a God who is a consuming fire. We should all be consumed by the flames. There is nothing in our nature or in our body to protect us from being incinerated by the fire of the presence of a God as righteous as He is. This understanding is the launching pad of every true ministry. It is only the free righteousness that God imputes to us because He loves us that protects us. We don’t deserve it. But we have it. It is all the Grace of God – alone. 

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out],

Paul believed he was the least of all the saints because he once persecuted the church and led many saints away captive. This happened, of course, before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. Inspite of Paul’s feelings of past guilt God chose to grant His Grace to him and also to entrust to Paul, in God’s Grace, the declaring to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ that God had for them through faith. This was, indeed, wealth which no human being could ever have searched out. That such a man as Paul should be saved through grace means that any who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Also to enlighten all men and make plain to them what is the plan [regarding the Gentiles and providing for the salvation of all men] of the mystery kept hidden through the ages and concealed until now in [the mind of] God Who created all things by Christ Jesus.

Paul  also was called to show to all men that the salvation possible for the Gentiles meant that salvation was available for all men through Christ Jesus. This was the plan of the mystery concealed in the mind of God until Paul’s commission. God who created all things by Christ, who became the man, Jesus.

[The purpose is] that through the church the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects might now be made known to the angelic rulers and authorities (principalities and powers) in the heavenly sphere.

The purpose of this mystery is that the angelic rulers, authorities, principalities and powers who exist in the heavenly sphere- the unseen spiritual realm- might know the complicated, many-sided wisdom of God in all its infinite variety and innumerable aspects- through the church.

This is in accordance with the terms of the eternal and timeless purpose which He has realized and carried into effect in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord,

That God’s plan for the church was to communicate, demonstrate and reveal to authorities in the spiritual realm… the wisdom of God, is basic to the terms of His eternal and timeless purpose. This has been realized and carried into effect in the person of Christ Jesus our Lord.

That’s it for now. Our next post will deal with the second (and very important) prayer for us in Ephesians.

May your trust be in God and Love your goal. 

Ephesians Chapter Two part two

And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Continuing where we left off-

You are in Christ because you have been born again. This scripture above speaks to us of the greatness of His power toward us who are saved. Being literally placed in Christ by God. This is your completeness in the unseen spiritual world and the true source of all that applies to  your heart’s change from death to life- in whom you are now seated.

Perhaps you’re not yet aware of this truth in your everyday life. In some ways it reminds me of the life of a tree. A seed is planted in the ground where it dies. You, being a spiritual being in the first place, were planted into the cursed ground that makes up the dust of fallen Adam. Born here on earth you were born dead (spiritually) wearing the body of Adam.

Dead because Adam’s life was lost when he ate of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This death was passed on to all born in Adam, which is everybody… except Jesus. The last Adam. So, like a tree you began your life in death. But, glory to God, the time came when the Father drew you to Christ and gave you the faith to believe and at that point Life began to show up in you. Like the tree grows- this Life grows in you almost unnoticed until it begins to break through into your belief system and you begin to apprehend whatever Truth it is that God happens to be dealing with and in you,  by faith. All the overcoming you achieve in this life through God grows this life in you. I’m talking about all that bad stuff. Your tree trimmer.

He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

He was moved to do this for you in the first place, in order to glorify Himself. His true nature is the essence of what He is : Love. Showing through and in us the limitless, surpassing riches of love by His Free Grace. He is a person who loves the unlovely. You and I for instance. Shows Himself in the kindness and goodness of heart toward us that exists in the spirit of life that waited for us in Christ.

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 

Make sure you really catch this word ‘Free’. No cost. Remember not to try to pay anything. The illusion that you could ever pay God anything except praise is from the dark side. Like this scripture says, your salvation and everything that that involves is not of yourself or because of anything you could ever do or ever work for. This whole idea of whose righteousness you are walking with and towards will challenge you many times and many days. God’s spirit will work it all out in you.

Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast.  For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may 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].

No man will be able to claim anything that he did or didn’t do as any reason that he should be born from above, but rather he will give himself up to praise, adoration, and deep gratitude as God reveals His extreme love against the knowledge of how dark and unworthy man really is. Like all of us. Such an impossibly wonderful God we have as our Father. Avoid the very thought of ever earning anything from God Stand in ONLY His Grace.

You will look back on your life one day as a trail marked with monuments erected  within your heart celebrating the many, many times and ways He has shown up personally in your walk just because of His love for you. Your walk with Him is prearranged and made ready by God Himself. 

Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands.

Realize, you didn’t even have any part in His chosen people Israel. Leaving you (in that state) without any hope at all.

[Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God.

Before God found you you were separated from all that Christ is. Excluded from all part in Him, utterly estranged and an outlaw to the rights of Israel as a nation. Possessing no share in the sacred compacts of Israel’s promises or covenants. You were in this world without God.

But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near.

Now that you’ve been born again and in Christ you are no longer far away from God. The blood of Christ has brought you near to God making Him your Father. A couple little sentences for your most important event in your life. 

For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace.

He doesn’t just give peace between the Jew and the Gentile. He (Christ) Himself is our peace. He annulled the Law itself and the enmity between the Jew and the Greek, that is, between Israel and the Gentiles when His flesh was crucified on the cross. For God creates ‘One new man’ with the two ‘In Christ’. You must be born again into Christ to be part of this at all. Anti-semitism in the heart of a born again Christian is impossible.

 And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end. 17 And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off and [peace] to those who were near. 18 For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].

He has released the Jew from the law and He released you and the Jew into Grace. Making peace.

Therefore you are no longer outsiders (exiles, migrants, and aliens, excluded from the rights of citizens), but you now share citizenship with the saints (God’s own people, consecrated and set apart for Himself); and you belong to God’s [own] household.  

You are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief Cornerstone.

In Him the whole structure is joined (bound, welded) together harmoniously, and it continues to rise (grow, increase) into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, consecrated, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].  In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you yourselves also are being built up [into this structure] with the rest, to form a fixed abode (dwelling place) of God in (by, through) the Spirit.

This all happens because the real church is everybody who is ‘In Christ’. Which is where you are-

Thank you for your interest in this post- may all be well with you and your family- trust Him

EPHESIANS, Part One of CHAPTER TWO amp.

AND YOU [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins

For the first time ever… since your mom gave birth to you. Something akin to magic has occurred to and for you. You have been made Alive! Believe. Something only the God of this Universe could accomplish. Not only that but he chose you! Not that He had to, there are many,many out there who were not chosen. But you were told by this book earlier that He actually chose you ‘In Christ’ before the foundation of the world. You didn’t know it but you’ve been watched over since forever and He still is watching you because you are always before Him in Love, having everything that could possibility condemn you or cause a blockage to stop you from fellowship with your Father completely eradicated by His wonderful cross. Don’t allow yourself to fall under the beaten spell of this world. You have been given everything and your victory is assured and locked in. You are no longer common. You are a child of God. Your spirit (which is the true substance of who and what you are) has been placed by God into the spirit of Christ. You and the spirit of Christ have become one!

But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with Him. 1Corth 6

I keep repeating this truth over and over because do you have any idea what this means? Do I have any idea what this means? All I really know is that we are somehow involved with the greatest most powerful thing imagined for the ages.This is a secret little walk all of us born again Christians are on as individuals with individual paths to cross. How dare I to judge another who is anointed by God and walking with Him. We need to love the brethren- we need to quit playing and get down to business for this is the most important event you’ll ever be in.

In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [Those who are still in Adam].  

Yes you did! It’s true. If that’s being guilty, we were guilty. We even believed that it could be kool  and sometimes heart filling. The truth was- however, we followed, Darkness. We were obedient to it! This scripture is simply saying what is true.

Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature],

It’s now all OK. Even, and especially the Apostle Paul and the disciples were found by God in the same condition.

obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. 

Here then is the trap we were found in. A trap that we didn’t even realize was a trap. We craved what our natural senses and our imaginations which had no light demanded.  Completely darkness. We were born into Adam and the great fall of mankind. The result being we were by our nature children of God’s wrath.  Hold on a minute. This was a very dire situation- we were in massive bondage.

 But God—

Whew! But God! How is it that we should find such a love fall on us… But God.

so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,  Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ;

The richness of His Mercy is beyond us. Like His love. But one thing you can know they are yours! Notice that this scripture says ‘Intense Love’! You need to hook into all of this with your life (which now for you is really the Life that is in Christ). 

When you were beyond any hope for yourself and when you were standing alone with nothing to offer a God such as this… He gave you Life with all the trimmings. Alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ.

[He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation).

Before we talk about this, I want you to see how this fits in with John Chapter One.

1 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (1  Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God  Himself. amp.  In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. 

 You see clearly here that Christ and the Word are the same. Here in John One we are seeing Him before  He put on flesh and was called Jesus.

In Him was Life. We are now in Him (In Christ) and there is Life. His life not ours. He gave us the very life of Christ Himself. The same life He gave Jesus when He rose Him from the grave! How amazing to contemplate that statement.

Pay attention and Believe. 

Not only that but He did it when there was no way we should deserve it. It is only by His Grace that He saved you. If He did this while we were so undeserving, how much more can we trust His Love now that we’re in Christ… forever! 

And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

Talk about feeling like science fiction- You were raised together when He was raised (only God could have you in Christ before you were born here). You are seated now with Him in the most spiritual realm because you are in Christ.

Perhaps it’s time I remind you that we walk to things we cannot see. We walk by faith and not sight. We have been talking about unseen things that God tells us are real but can’t be seen. So don’t be surprised if God scatters your brain a little by what He tells us is real. He is God after all. The maker of Black Holes. He can do what He says that He’s already done. So, get over it.

Alright, I think this is long enough for now. I will continue with the next post. God bless you all and may His face shine upon you.