EPHESIANS: The Body of Truth and Love! Parts I and II CH 4:12-32

As we began this study in chapter 4, Paul was admonishing that the saints there in Ephesus, and all of us who are "the faithful in Christ Jesus" to walk worthily of the vocation wherewith [we] are called". With meekness and patience, and a forgiveness towards one another, we saints are commanded to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". The scripture then went on to describe this unity in all its properties (vs. 4-6).

The remainder of the last study pondered the many gifts that God has granted to His body: spiritual men of God ordained as "apostles, prophets, evangelists and some pastors and teachers." This is where we concluded the last study, and thus, we pick it up in vs. 12.

A SMOKE SIGNAL - I'm Dying to be More Like JESUS!

Consider Jesus Christ: His character, His nature, His embodiment of truth and love, His integrity, humility, compassion . . . I could go on and on!

Who of us as Christians don't want to be more like Him, but at the same time, how many of us struggle in our endeavors to be more Christ-like?

We see a war going on within us (Romans 7:23): the clashing of our two natures - that nature we inherited from Adam, what's been called the Adamic (sin) nature -

Rom 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

And as born again believers, we also have a new nature, installed within us upon the point of salvation and spiritual regeneration -

2 Peter 1:4
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust(see also Titus 3:5).

Like John the Baptist, we must declare:
John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Yet how? How do we overcome our sinful nature, how do we actually become more like Jesus?

The same instrument that effectively decreases our sinful nature is the same instrument that we find (continual) new life in Christ: THE CROSS!

That's why I can say, and so can all of you: "I'm dying to be more like JESUS!"

Let's have a look at some scripture and see what they say about all of this:

Mat 10:38-39
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Seen any one carrying crosses lately? Well, there was Arthur Blessitt, the traveling evangelist who would literally carry a cross on his back (though it had wheels on its base for easier passage), but other than that, any one?

What's this mean, "taking up his cross"? The answer is found, in part, in vs. 39 there of the same passage. If you lose your (self/sinful) life on that cross, then you shall find life, that is Christ and holiness, and all that this entails (consider the brief description of the LORD at the start of this post).

Again, consider more these verses:

Mat 16:24-25
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. See also in regards to the cross: Mark 8:34-35; 10:21; Luke 9:23; 14:27; 1 Cor. 1:17-18; Gal. 5:11; 6:12-14; Eph. 2:16; Col. 1:20; 2:14 and Heb. 12:2.

When each of us received forgiveness for sin at the cross of Christ, repenting of our sinful life, and receiving new life through our Savior, we also encountered the provision by which we can "die daily (1 Cor. 15:31)" and become more and more like Jesus our great LORD and LOVE!

Ponder this passage personally and perceive the primary importance of which it pertains (how's that for alliteration?!):

Rom 6:1-7
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.

The 'old man' is not a reference to your father... its the old nature, the sinful nature that would've been judged by God on Judgment Day and dealt for us the death sentence in that Court of Holy Law for all eternity. This is what Jesus suffered for on the cross, the judgment of our sins, and the subsequent separation from the Father (which He had never experienced before the Cross!)!! When He died, He took with Him not only our sins, but the dominating power of sin over our lives! We can "reckon" that is, take into account as being true, that our old self (our 'B.C.' persona, if you will - is officially dead; on the day of our spiritual new birth, we should have had an obituary taken out for ourselves, for that sinful power is no longer the dominating force in us, that person is essentially dead.

Further down in this chapter we read (note key words in green):

Rom 6:11-13
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. (See also Gal 5:16)

And here - Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts (see also Gal. 2:20).

And this - 1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Consider these verses as well - 2 Cor 4:10-11, 16
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. (see also Romans 8:13 and Col. 3: 5-14)

The next time you are tempted by sin, consider the work of the cross, and just as you received salvation, that is justification, FROM the PENALTY of sin (death and hell), you can now, daily, receive salvation, that is sanctification, FROM the POWER of sin (over your life).

Deny any such temptation as a trespass into your mind, which no longer belongs to yourself, but your mind is now the prized possession of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, just as your spirit and body are! Resist that temptation not in your own power (because you're dead and one can't tempt a corpse) but in the power of Christ and His Spirit that reigns in you.

1 Cor 6:20
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

As we yield to God, and allow our members to be used by God's Spirit as instruments of righteousness, we are allowing this new life to permeate those areas of our minds, and thus are they being transformed to Christ-likeness. The battle is indeed for the MIND and if our MINDS are transformed, this will directly affect our character and life so that we will in truth, become more and more, incrementally like JESUS!

And finally, from the group, Kutless, we have a song: Dying To Become -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGP6P9_UySA

Rom 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

EPHESIANS: Walking Worthily of the King According to Grace - CH. 4:1-11

As we continue in this study of the Epistle to the Ephesians, we enter into chapter 4. Chapters 1-3 entailed a doctrinal review of such things as the divine origins of the church, the plan of salvation, a rich spiritual inheritance as well as resurrection; spiritual enlightenment by the power of the Holy Spirit, as well as the sealing by Him which secures the believer in Christ Jesus and His work of salvation in all of its aspects. This epistle emphasizes that our life as Christians is based on grace, not on works, as is our very salvation. Good works in our lives demonstrate and follow salvation; salvation is not derivative or based on our good works. These first three chapters speak on the unity between Gentiles and Jews as one body in Christ; it elaborates on the divine purpose of God, both for Paul and for the church. The last half of chapter three comprises of another marvelous prayer by Paul for the church. 

The SEVEN LETHAL LEVELS LEADING INTO SIN

We Christians are engaged in a war of such fantastic dimensions, with such high stakes, against so powerfully deceptive an enemy, that we cannot live our lives frivolously or carelessly. This world for us is not a playground but a battle field!

Spiritual warfare in good Christian conduct is all about "upright and outreach". It's about living our lives pleasing to the LORD, contrary to the kingdom of darkness, being proper examples of the believer, keeping faithful stewardship over our hearts and lives, living in the Light of God's Word and honestly examining ourselves for any compromises into sin. That's being upright.

We are to be able ambassadors, and powerful evangelists, bearing the precious seed of the Word of God, sowing the life-giving Gospel into the lives of the lost. Evangelizing the sinner and encouraging the saint. That's competent outreach. Satan wants to do everything he can to compromise our walks, drawing us into the sinfulness of carnality and away from the LORD and the saints: "divide and conquer" by isolating Christians and bringing them to a place of lonely vulnerability; ruining our testimony and crippling our walk.

EPHESIANS: His Purpose; Our Passion! CH. 3:10-21

Now we continue with the blessing of looking into God's Holy Word, and mining (in part) its depths to discover the treasure trove of this Divine Love Letter, written especially for US, accepted into the beloved!

Since we ended half way through chapter 3, we need to back up just a bit to recap the context. We finished up to and included vs. 10 so we can begin here.

EPH 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Paul was addressing the "manifold wisdom of God" and how by such wisdom we have entered into "the fellowship of the mystery" (vs.9), that is, the mystery of Christ, and all of the spiritual dynamics that this encompasses. There can be no such "fellowship" apart from the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, Who was the true Veil rent, so that we may enter into the Holy of Holies, and there have fellowship with God as our heavenly Abba!

EPHESIANS: Mystery From the Messiah - The Church- CH. 3:1-10

After some weeks we will now return to the study in the book of Ephesians!

We begin with chapter three of this marvelous book that Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at Ephesus, but also "to the faithful in Christ Jesus." (EPH 1:1) Is this book then applicable to you and I? Are we faithful in Christ?

If you find yourself lacking in faithfulness, bring it before the One who loves you supremely; He can work this good fruit into your lives; sow the seed of God's Word into your heart, be diligent in prayer in this matter, yield to His power by the Spirit who alone can empower us to obedience, then march out in faith, trusting that He will in fact perform this good work in you (PHIL 1:6; EPH 2:10)!

WANTED - Righteous Raiment, Purified Gold and Sanctified Salve

Nehemiah was a cup bearer to the king of Persia; many of his countrymen had moved back to Israel after their seventy year captivity in Babylon finally ended. The prophet Daniel was long dead, but his writings were preserved for posterity and Nehemiah had every hope that one day, all the Jews would return home, that the people would return to God in righteousness, and that the LORD God would bless them once again.