Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ

I figured today i'd go on into Eph 2 cos Eph 1 was so awesome...

1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature [a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Before Christ, we were under the jurisdiction, ways and power of the prince of this world - the devil. And even now, the Bible says, he is at work in those who are disobedient. Other translations call them the sons of disobedience. I believe this is refering to non believers. Because we believers are now sons of God. Strong's translation of the word disobedience is actually unbelief. And we are now believers of Christ. But as the Word goes on to say, we were all deserving of wrath.

But it is because of ONE reason that we are now no longer sons of unbelief, sons of disobedience, subjected to the whim and fancy of the prince of the air. It is for the ONE reason that we now sit in Christ, clothed with His majesty and authority. Clothed in the robe of righteousness that is from God. That we are seated with Him in Christ Jesus so that as He is, so are we in this world. That ONE reason is this..

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

Why have we been saved? From a position of sin and death, from being called sons of unbelief, sons of disobedience. How were we saved? Did we fulfill the commandments? The Bible says that death is the penalty of sin. Jesus Himself said :"19Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven... 20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." ... "21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,[a] and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause[b] shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire."

Which of us have never been angry with another? Which of us have never insulted another? "Raca" means "worthless". Jesus said that even anger and insult is worthy of the charge of murder before God according to the commandments! Is this an insult to the law? No! It is the uncompromising, unwavering upholding of the law!

So then how were we saved? Go back to Ephesians 2:4 again.

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

And to emphasize again, the letter to the Ephesian church went on..

8 For it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for us all. That those who believed on Him would be saved. That we who were once sons of disbelief, sons of disobedience are now brought near to our Heavenly Father through the blood of Christ. Now we are reconcilled with the Father and can be called the sons of God. Believers.

How? Because Christ set the law aside in His flesh. And gave us, the Holy Spirit.

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Thank you Jesus for your Sacrifice. That I may now call God Abba Father. That the Holy Spirit now dwells in me. That as You are seated at God's right hand in heaven, so am I in this world. Amen.

To The Praise of His Glory

I havent written here in a very long while. There might prob not be anyone reading my site anymore. But I am writing here for myself and because I feel led to.
I was trying to get to sleep cos i have an early morning tomorrow. But as i laid down, I felt so awake and refreshed. I had just finished reading the Bible and my spirit was asking for more. I didnt know how much was just my logic and told God that if He wanted me to read more, He would keep me awake, and if not He would bless me with slumber. Several minutes later, and a visit to the toilet, I'm here writing my first blog after a long long while.

I had finished reading Jonah. It is an amazing short story about a man that God wants to use but runs away initially. As the story goes, when God wants to use someone, and has anointed him for his purpose, there really is nowhere for him to run! Interestingly, I was in a discussion tonight with Josiah Kelvin if he ever feared when the thought of possibly being used in a leadership position in church crossed his mind. Long story short, he told me it was natural, the things I felt, and that if God has blessed me for where He has called me, no one can take it away. And if not, then my efforts can never prosper me. My desires if they are in God’s work are true and will be from Him.

That was b4 I tried to sleep. After getting back up, I went on to read Galatians 5 where I had discussed with Kelvin tonight. And went on the Gal 6, and finally to Ephesians 1.

The Lord reassured me through the following verses:

Galatians 6
3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature[a]will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

It hit right on the nail because I was testing myself in some things that I did. Testing my thoughts and intentions. And doubting myself as well. Yet verse 6 assured me once again that it was God. And verse 7 fortified me that I had sown a seed and it was pleasing to God.

Ephesians 1 was amazing.

11In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.

God has a purpose and a will in which He predestined before the creation of the World. And He has a will for you and me. And it is FOR THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY.

Do you know why our salvation is acceptable and sure! It is irrevocable. Incorruptible. It is permanent and Irrefutable.
Because

13And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.

When we heard the Word of truth, [the Word of Truth is the Gospel of our Salvation! – Gospel being good news. Salvation being Jesus One Act on the Cross. Salvation is Hebrew also means Yeshua which means Jesus. Jesus is our Salvation. Although the new Testament is in Greek.] we believed. It just says we believed. I believe in my heart that God is gracious and His heart is for us to be saved. So even for those who doubt later, but for that one moment when they received the Word, they believed. And therefore they are saved. How saved?
We were marked in him with a Seal. The Holy Spirit. He cannot be broken. This seal CANNOT be broken! And He guarantees our inheritance! (later further expounded in verse 18) Until when? Until the redemption of those in God’s possession. Who are these? Those who believed! Jesus will return and redeem us. Now the song My Redeemer Lives takes new meaning in my heart!

And once more why God do all this? TO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY. It is not about you and I. It is about God.

Ephesians 1: 15+
For this reason…
16I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

I want to know Him better. And the Spirit inside me leapt out when I read verse 16 and said out aloud "Amen". And the Spirit inside me spoke – that I have claimed Paul’s prayer for myself. Because God transcends time! Hallelujah!
I want to know Him better! The prayer continues by the way.

18I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

He has called us to hope! And to the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints. And it gets better!

19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength, 20he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.


That we might also know His great power for us who believe! What is this power? The SAME POWER THAT RAISED CHRIST AND SEATED HIM AT THE RIGHT HAND…
This SAME POWER is FOR us!

22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.