Ephesians  2

Ephesians 2

Description of the Spiritually Dead

Ephesians 2:1-3

Ephesians 2:1 As for you, you were dead in [by reason of] your transgressions and sins, NIV

2:1 And you He made alive [added words], who were dead in trespasses and sins. NKJV

2:1 And you, being dead in your trespasses and sins--Berean Literal Bible

This phrase is an intentionally incomplete sentence to leave readers in suspense as they wait for the solution to their spiritual dilemma, as Paul presents it in Ephesians 2:4-10. 

You Ephesians

Paul reminds the Ephesians that before they became Christians, they were dedicated pagans. They resisted anything that would cause them to lose allegiance to the Roman and Greek pagan gods and their temple rituals.

You Were Spiritually Dead

In Greek, it means a dead body or corpse. Not able to respond to impulses; unresponsive to the things of God. Our thoughts and plans our minds when  “governed by the flesh is death” (Rom 8:6). For the “mind governed by the flesh [sinful nature] is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm [pursuits, activities] of the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:7).

“At one time” before we were aware of the love and mercy of God, “we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). This was our collective life apart from being awaken by the great gospel account of the love of God.

You were Dead in Transgressions and Sins

The Ephesians were living as Pagans; they had no awareness or need of God in their lives. They were not able to discern the evil of even simple things, such as lust for a neighbor’s spouse or anger at another. Nor have the power to stop its dominance. In a sense, they were like walking corpses, with a long history of many transgressions. They lived their lives without reference to God, depending on the help of Idols for success and their favors. This is our condition before we come to Christ, before we are “made alive in the Spirit” (1 Pet 3:18). Our “understanding” is dark.

We are “separated from the life of God.” We are very ignorant of God, and our “hearts” are hardened (Eph 4:18). Mentally, we have a mindset; our thoughts and planning generate transgression, for “those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God” (Rom 8:8), and can never please Him all on their own.

• “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks God. All have turned away…there is no one who does good, not even one…Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know; there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom 3:10-18).

But the awakened in Christ and Spirit-filled believers can and do live to please God. For “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Rom 8:26).

The Virus of Transgression

“The mind [thoughts] governed by the flesh is death” (Rom 8:6). The “flesh” is a reference to our mind, soul, and body, which are all affected by the virus of constant transgression. Thus, from within the hearts of humanity, there is an inability to regenerate ourselves, to save ourselves, to use our own will to choose to come to God. All of humanity is born spiritually dead. They do “not believe the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thess 2:12).

 They are unable to come to the “light” which “consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (Eph 5:9)—without God’s “rich mercy” and “great love” (Eph 2:4) toward them, drawing them to Himself, they would remain this way forever, facing the day of judgment—lost forever.

Evil is Sourced from Man, not God.

This was a common way that Paul described Roman and Greek unbelievers: “they are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Eph 4:18). When the heart is darkened, it affects our understanding of what we think is right and wrong, good and bad. Jesus testified about the condition of humanity, “For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes” (Matt 13:15).

Jesus describes how evil arises: “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7:21,22). Many blame the problem of evil on God. Jesus places the source of evil in the darkness, ignorance, and hardening of human hearts.

Evil is not from God at all, but from within ourselves, unless through God’s “great love” (Eph 2:4) and “through the grace of our Lord Jesus…we are saved” (Acts 15:11). For God is anxious to “forgive” our “wickedness and…remember” our “sins no more.” (Heb 8:12). What a joy and freedom await those who love “true message of the gospel” (Col 1:5).

Modern Idols in our Society

In our modern Western Society, the old Roman and Greek gods are no longer worshiped. What has taken their place is the status of wealth, becoming media or sports stars, success in business, or having an elite educational status and creating wealth for oneself. When we have no desire to know God, we look to our money, our own resources, to help us in life. Some abandon honesty, integrity, or justice to pursue a selfish end, taking advantage of opportunities with little regard for the pain it causes others. “Their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” (Rom 1:21,22).

Ephesians 2:2 [While spiritually dead] in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler [prince] of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. NIV

2:2 in which you once walked according to the course [currents] of this world, according to the prince [ruler] of the power [authority] of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience [people characterized by disobedience] NKJV

You Followed or Walked in the Ways, the Course, of the World

While the Ephesians were living like this, they were spiritually “dead” (Eph 2:1). This is the normal and universal condition of all fallen humanity, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). God looks down from heaven on all humanity to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. “Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Ps 53:3; 14:3)

They are the “sons of disobedience” (Eph 5:6; Col 3:6). They lived inside the moving current of the values, trends, and ideals of society. “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another” (Titus 3:3). Before the Ephesians were believers, they were “dead in trespasses and sins” (2:1) following all the trends of Roman society that embraced a normal lifestyle of sinful disobedience.

 The Power of the Air

The Devil is the ruler or prince of the kingdom of the air. This is the culture of the world’s society. In Paul’s time, it was the Greek-Roman way of life, focused on wars of aggression, oppression, slavery of thousands, and paganism in every form was promoted and encouraged. Rome was a proud empire; it was proud of the Roman Way and was prejudiced against non-Romans.

The Internet, the Kingdom of the air

Little did Paul know what we know today about the air—the internet and the public media. It is worldwide, with its movies entertaining minds young and old. Through the secular media, there are thousands of channels in every language in the world. It offers a large percentage of humanity: endless meaningless talk and endless nonstop entertainment. Often violent or sexually based, it is devoted to physical beauty alone. Frequently filled with hours of sports talk, which are devoid of the “words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

Government leaders can be influenced by what Jesus called “the prince of this world” (John 14:30; 16:11) in their legislation and policies. Through the media, government policies, and educational institutions, the ruler of this world spreads his dark ideals to millions, even billions, on an hourly basis.

At one time, it was just newspapers and radio that evil could use to create dark influences. From Hitler's book Mein Kampf and the books by Vladimir Lenin, evil and darkness created war and loss of life in the millions.

Now, evil can use the cell phone in the hands of young children and adults, who make up about 90% of the world’s population. Evil can be just nonsense: hours spent on games and sports channels, leaving no room for spiritual endeavors. Instead, the mind is on the “things of man,” not the “things of God” (Matt 16:23 ESV). Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “If your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness” (Matt 6:23). Even many believers in Christ are “deceived by the serpent’s cunning; your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ” (2 Cor 11:3).

The Defeat of the King of Darkness

This Prince creates a “dominion of darkness” (Col 1:13) that consists of many “fruitless deeds of darkness” (Eph 5:11) that his children follow. This prince has a global and inescapable presence and agenda, seen far and wide in nature, science, all world cultures, education, and national governments.

Satan is called the “God of this age” (2 Cor 4:4). This prince of the air creates a “dark world” because he uses “spiritual forces,” that is, his supernatural, non-human spirit powers, to create an “evil” (Eph 6:12) environment to influence humanity. Jesus said that the devil “was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

At the end of Jesus' public ministry, in his final remarks, he declared the defeat of the Devil in his life on behalf of every believer in Him. “The prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me” (John 14:30). This is a huge benefit believers possess over the Devil, since we are privileged to live “in Christ”; Satan loses his control. We become “children of the light” (Eph 5:8) and recognize the darkness that the Devil has created, and we “expose” it (Eph 5:11).

Jesus has no controversy with the Devil. He is not in conflict with the Devil as if Satan has some power over Him or the faith of His followers. No, instead, the Devil is defeated, always defeated, always on the run, by the command of Jesus our Savior, on behalf of believers in Him. “Jesus gave a command to the demon, and it went out of the boy, and at that very moment he was healed” (Matt 17:18 GNT).

The defeat of the Devil is repeated in Revelation: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God, day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him [defeated him] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death” (Rev 12:10,11). The “word of their testimony” is their faith in Christ and in the “blood of the Lamb” which forgives all their sins, thus leaving Satan and his host of darkness in utter loss, fear and total defeat. 

When Jesus “stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time, this man had neither worn clothes nor lived in a house, but had lived in tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man” (Lk 8:27-29). Take notice that Demons are afraid of Jesus, for He has the ability to force them to vacate this man and do so in terror of the holy authority of Jesus.

When “the Lord is my shepherd…Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil” (Ps 23). Why should we? We have the same assurance as Moses when he wrote, “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God” (Ps 90:1,2). “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31).

Embrace the idea that God, on behalf of your faith in His Son, has made it possible for you to defeat all evil or demonic influences that seek to control your thoughts and actions. “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Cor 9:8). As a result, evil, demons, and all their forces and dark arts are helpless before the youngest believer in Jesus’ name.

Ephesians 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings [lust] of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts [imaginations]. Like the rest [all others], we were by nature deserving of wrath. NIV

2:3 Among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind [thoughts], and were by nature children of wrath, just as [all] the others. NKJV

All of us Once Lived in Such a Way and Deserved God’s wrath

All humanity is in a spiritual wilderness, where the desires and imagination are focused on what pleases themselves. Who can escape? John pictures just two groups: one is the “children of God,” and all the rest of the world are “under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

John the Apostle of Jesus entitled the Devil five times “the evil one,” following the example of Jesus who taught us to pray to God to “deliver us from the evil one” (Matt 6:13). John further explains that in Jesus “the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them” (1 John 5:18).

Children of Wrath

Where the continual practice of doing wrong with evil intent makes them deserve the judgment of God. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness” (Rom 1:18); this is all of us, the whole of humanity.  Because of the very righteous core of mercy and kindness of God, “in his forbearance he had left the sins committed,” sins we practice, “beforehand” before finding forgiveness in Christ, “unpunished” (Rom 3:25), so that he could provide a way to “justify those who have faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26).

God’s standard approach is to pass over the guilty sins that should, in justice, be punished, looking ahead to a time when God himself can justify, that is, declare us not guilty. To those who have faith in the forgiveness made available in the life and death of His Son.

God’s Calling Sets us on a Different Path

Paul is portraying the hopeless condition of all humanity: They live in sin and live among a sinful society, indifferent to God, following the trendsetters of society of “those who are disobedient” (Eph 2:2). In the next sentence, Paul abruptly changes the topic, showing how God delivers those who are dead in sins and deserve the wrath of God because of their sinful behavior. God does not ask them to choose to use their free will to come to Him. No, God comes to us, calling “sinners” (Mk 2:17), not in reproof—but in “great love” (Eph 2:4). God breaks through our natural resistance toward Him. It is His doing. Our salvation is due to the “calling” (2 Cor 1:11; Eph 4:1) of God, not our free will. For “God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phil 3:14).

Paul tells us that his calling by God started when He “set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me” (Gal 1:15-16). We should be forever settled that it is not by our free will that we stand by faith in Christ today; God “has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time” (2 Tim 1:9). Peter agrees with Paul when he writes that “the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ” (1 Pet 5:10).

God Calls Us to show us Grace and Mercy, in Christ.

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom 8:29,30). God’s personal call to you is the reason why you are a believer today.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Pet 2:9,10). How could we declare God’s praises if, by our choice, we chose to serve God? Thankfully, it is by the choice of God that He offered us mercy, and we received it.

See Appendix for: 

Loss of Free Will From Eden and its Restoration in Christ

Made Alive with Christ

God’s Great Love—In Multiple Superlatives 2:4-10

Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy [compassion], because of His great love with which he loved us NASB

2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us NKJV

2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy NIV 

2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the intense love which He bestowed on us. Weymouth New Testament (1903)

2:4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us. AMP

God is Rich in M\ercy.

God makes the first move toward our “dead” (Eph 2:1) corpse-like spiritual condition. If God did not reveal himself to us, we would be incapable of coming to spiritual life and understanding all by ourselves because “wisdom and understanding” is what “the Spirit gives” (Col 1:9). Thank God “for He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves” (Col 1:13).

God’s first approach to us lost sinners is not wrath, our well-deserved criminal condition. It is with mercy that is so rich that it can’t be overlooked. For “the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy” (Ps 103:8). Paul, talking about God’s choice of Jacob over Esau, concludes, “It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God’s mercy” (Rom 9:16).

Since “all have sinned” (Rom 3:23) and thus find themselves in a hopeless condition, God offered them “a righteousness of God.” By faith in Christ, “all are justified freely by his grace” (Rom 3:24). That is, “apart from the law” (Rom 3:21) that demands obedience and reveals to us our guilt.

By God’s grace, He declares us free from guilt, even in the face of the truth that we know about ourselves. God justifies us, declaring us forgiven of all our sins, mistakes, hidden evils, and open rebellions. Why? So that we can find a welcoming place with God, at the table beside God. As the father embraced his wayward prodigal son with a celebration of life, God takes hold of us with delight. 

God’s rich mercy is:

 First: Toward those who were “dead in their transgressions and sins” (2:1). Paul, referring to his past said, “I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy” (1 Tim 1:13). Each one of us, can say the same thing—"I, undeservingly, was shown mercy and I know it.”

Second: His mercy is directed to those who have none and don’t deserve to get any. “God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness” (Rom 4:5). A righteousness that instantly forgives all their sins saying, “Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them” (Rom 4:8). God now accounts, reckons or credits us with the very “righteousness of God” (Rom 1:17) that comes from within Himself. What royal treatment do we sinners receive from a very merciful God!

Third: His mercy is vast and abundant, directed to the entire human population, more than what is ever needed. “Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (2 Tim 1:2) is announced to the whole world.  Why does God offer us a trinity of favors—grace, mercy and peace? Because “God so loved the world” (John 3:16). That is, all of us who are born in this world are loved by God. The Lord awakens us, in our “inner being” (Eph 3:16), to know this, feel this, realize it as undeniable truth.

Fourth: God’s mercy is visionary; He has “predestined us” (Eph 1:5), “promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2), from the distant, unknowable past to the present reality of your life today. God has been planning for you for a very long time.

Fifth: God’s richness in mercy is seen in holding back the wrath of his judgment against sinners who deserve it. So that he can show mercy to rebellious, sinful humanity around the globe and save them to live with Him in glory, after his conviction of sin, when King David had stolen Bathsheba from her husband, committing adultery, he prayed to God for forgiveness due only to the mercy of God. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies…Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit” (Ps 103:1-2, 11-12 NKJV).

“Above the mountains of our sins,

 the floods of his mercy rise.

The saints live by his saving mercy,
are preserved by his upholding mercy,
are cheered by his consoling mercy, and
will enter Heaven through his infinite and everlasting mercy.”

 Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

God is rich in Great Love.

First: God is pleased to love us; it is not a burden, difficulty, or inconvenience. Paul confessed that he lived “by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). Jude, the stepbrother of Jesus knew about God’s rich love wrote, “To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance” (Jude 1,2).

Second: God cannot have great love for sinners without having non-stop great mercy. “Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds” (Ps 36:5 NKJV), which means that God’s mercy toward us, who are faulty to the highest degree, is so abundant that it is compared to the distance from the earth to the clouds. There is more than enough to cover you with God’s special mercy, because God loves you and is faithful to his commitment.

Third: God’s love is not from the earth, but from the cosmos where He reigns, meaning it is extraterrestrial

For God has “blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world” (Eph 1:3,4). “In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2). This is way beyond eons of time, long ago. God planned to reveal His love to you. Imagine the excitement of God when the time came, when He was able to do just what he, before time was counted, promised to Himself He would do—give you a “new birth into a living hope” (1 Pet 1:3).

Fourth: Few people can love very long when it is not returned. God has declared “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness” (Jer 31:3 NAS). This is a love that does not dim down into a dormant state but is vibrant over unnumbered light-years of time.

Fifth: God waits a long time for us to say, “I love you, Lord.” Like Peter said to the Lord Jesus after his resurrection, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” (John 21:15). If you feel that God is calling you, respond right now like when God called the young man Samuel he replied, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam 3:10). When Peter was sinking in the water of the lake, “he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” (Matt 14:30-31).

Sixth: God loves us when there is no reason to love us, except He does. God’s love is his joy and our assurance. Jesus said about us, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27,28). When God’s love finds you, He holds on to you, not due to our love for Him, but due to his commitment to love us.

Seventh: Divine love is the only love that can penetrate our resistance to God. “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love” (John 15:9 NKJV). Once you see for yourself that God has loved you—abide in it day by day in song and praise. Live in the knowledge that God loves you.

Isaac Watts (1707) knew the love of God personally and expressed it through majestic, sublime poetry set to classical, unforgettable music that lasts and lasts forever, always fresh and real.

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride.

 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

save in the death of Christ, my God!

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them through his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet,

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were a present far too small.

Love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.

What God’s Great Love Does for Us

Ephesians 2:5 [God] made us alive with [in] Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. NIV

2:5 [God] even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together [quickened KJV] with Christ (by grace you have been saved), NKJV (Note: there is no reason in Greek for brackets in the NKJV & KJV)

2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 2:5 even we being dead in trespasses, made us alive with Christ— by grace you are saved. Disciples’ Literal New Testament:

The expression "made alive in Christ" refers to the moment when you responded to the Gospel call. Afterward, you were able to see, with understanding, that God called you personally out of His “great love” (3:4). As the days and years pass, Christ, His love, His death and resurrection become overwhelmingly important to you. Your heart is touched, moved, centered, and focused on Jesus and the gospels, and you would have no other way.

This action was first and foremost entirely on the part of God, which makes us spiritually alive. God awakens us solely due to His abundant grace, not our free will, offered to the most unworthy.

By Grace

Grace is God’s foremost act when He finds us dead in our sins, indifferent to our sins and their effects in our lives. God’s grace is the reason we are believers today. “To the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Eph 1:6). For “all are justified freely by his grace…” (Rom 3:24).

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
  That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
  Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
  And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
  The hour I first believed!
John Newton (1725-1807)

The Word Grace means God’s Loving-Kindness and Goodwill Toward Spiritually Dead Sinners.

When we are enabled, by God’s intervention in our lives, to respond, to look up and seek Him, God credits His righteousness to the believer, and they are made alive with Christ.  Meaning they are drawn to Jesus; his life and teaching become a magnet. As a result, they want to do the “will of God from the heart” (Eph 6:6 NKJV). This is the work of God’s grace for “out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given” (John 1:16), or grace upon grace and more grace.

We Are Saved

The perfect tense in Greek, for you have been saved, is a completed action meaning exactly, “you have been saved.”  “Jesus turned around, and when He saw her, He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And the woman was made well from that hour” (Matt 9:22 NKJV).

The Greek word for “made you well” or “healed you” (NIV) is the same as the Greek word for “have been saved” in Ephesians 2:5. The context is that this woman was physically healed. John is teaching us that her faith also led to her salvation, or she was saved.

The basic meaning of being saved is that God changes you, heals you of your spiritual diseases, and gives you “new life” (Acts 5:20; Rom 6:4) in Christ. You are “born again” (John 3:3) and made alive with Christ. Alive in personal awareness of  God’s grace being active in your life. Alive to prayer, to praise, and to thanksgiving, gifts of the Spirit. When Jesus was “full of joy through the Holy Spirit, " He said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” (Lk 10:21). Praise springs forth naturally of those made alive in Christ.

Being Made Alive in Christ Is the Same Event as Being Anointed by the Spirit of God

John calls this same event of being made alive in Christ the “anointing from the Holy One… the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him” (1 John 2:20,27,28). When someone has been made alive in Christ, they are not taught about this new experience by another person or a book. It is internal awareness of the presence of God’s grace and favor that is deeper and different than any other natural human feelings of love, joy, or romance.

The anointing is a privileged gift, a wonderful blessing from our Father God, to keep us from being led astray and to help us remain abiding in Christ. “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He [God] anointed us, set his [God’s] seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor 1:21,22). And what is to come? Eternal life.

The anointing is the gift of the Spirit, “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Col 1:9). The gift imparts to us spiritual wisdom to the truth, for the Spirit is called the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17; 15:26). “The Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth” (John 16:13). The anointing is given to us to know what is right and wrong. To see for yourself if a teacher or book you are reading has the “Spirit of God” (4:30) or is a “counterfeit” (1 John 2:27).

Being Made Alive in Christ is the Same Event as Being Born Again of the Spirit

Jesus said that we must be “born again” (John 3:1,7), “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8) and “made alive in the Spirit” (1 Pet 3:18). “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor 15:22). We cannot claim to be Born Again without the presence of the Spirit dwelling, abiding inside us. “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ” (Rom 8:9).

After experiencing the wonder of being “Born of the Spirit” (John 3:8) it can be said of us, “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thess 5:5). We belong to God; we are His children, “we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care” (Ps 95:7). Imagine leaving for work, taking care of present business; you are under God’s care, because you belong to Him.

The word “born again” (John 3:3) means God takes the initiative; we do not seek God; He seeks us. God acts on us; because of God’s mercy, love, and grace, we are awakened and regenerated into a new, spiritually sensitive person.  It is what God has done for humanity; not man- not even the smallest part is from man. We are in His hands, and where else would we rather be?

Paul repeats this same concept, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins” (Col 2:13). “Now the Spirit is to “dwell [live, abide] with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).  Praise God for such a plan to bring heavenly influences into our lives, our hearts, our home, into the things we love and care for! Giving us a sense of the nearness of God and “full assurance that faith brings” (Heb 10:22).

Alive with Christ—This Occurs When We First Come to Christ by Faith

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere” (2 Cor 2:14). Thanks be to God, who by His grace he made us spiritually united with Christ and every day it can be renewed which results in creating in us a desire to “please him in every way” (Col 1:10). To be “filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God” (Phil 1:11).

Daily we need “the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously…” (Titus 3:5,6).

This experience, also embodied in the “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8), gives us new alignment with God and Christ. Afterward, we become aware of our sins, no longer indifferent or blind to them. We become sensitive to inappropriate words or thoughts.  We are more alert to what is evil and wrong and are painfully mindful of some of our former sins and weaknesses. From this new alignment with Christ, there is a distaste for harshness of speech, malice, jealousy, harboring hard feelings toward others, and any form of lust that awakens evils embedded in our heritage and flesh. There is a desire to pray and read Scripture. Daily we can enter “His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him and bless His name” (Ps 100:4).

Joy is the Internal Evidence We Are Alive in Christ

It is said of the “disciples” that they “were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52). This is unique to Christianity; it cannot be faked, although society teaches us that riches give us joy, it has no comparison to the joy of being in the Lord, for “the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh 8:10).

Joy runs through the foundation of our lives, like a slightly heated floor. Joy is evidence we are in fellowship with Jesus and eating from the “living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51).  Jesus prayed to his Father, “but now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves” (John 17:13).

If we lose this joy, we need to find out why and what is obstructing it through prayer and by letting Scripture speak to us.

Don’t delay a moment; if you feel suicidal or that life offers little satisfaction and little wholesome joy—Come to God in even the smallest amount of faith, making a full surrender. Tell God so. Rest right there, for whatever time is needed. In quiet prayerfulness, read NT Scriptures. Quietly in stillness, “wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord, I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Ps 27:14,13).

• “The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” (Acts 16:34)

• “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17).

• “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith” (Phil 1:25).

• “Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (Col 1:12).

• “You welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess 1:6)

• “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Heb 1:9)

• “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Pet 1:8)

• “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Ps 16:11)

• “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days” (Ps 90:14)

• “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isa 12:3).

Ephesians 2:6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, NIV

2:6 And raised us up together [with Christ], and made us sit together [with Christ] in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus NKJV

2:6 And raised-us-with Him and seated-us-with Him in the heavenly-places in Christ Jesus, Disciples’ Literal NT

Ephesians 2:6 is a repeat of Ephesians 2:5, with additional information about what the grace of God has done for us when we were “dead in transgressions” (Eph 2:5)

1st. Due to the grace of God, He “made us alive with Christ” (Eph 2:5). God woke us up to hear and desire the gospel message of truth.

2nd. Due to  God’s grace, He raises us from our spiritually dead condition (Eph 2:6).

3rd. Due to the grace of God, He raises us up, like Christ in the resurrection, to the highest point in the cosmos, to sit together in Christ, in Heavenly places (Eph 2:6). What a thrill!

Raised us up

The Greek word has its origin in the rising of the sun, as to awaken from sleep and to rise up out of bed. In this context, it means God revives us from the sleep of spiritual death to be “alive with Christ” (2:5).

The corresponding Hebrew words express the idea of opening the eyes, to wake, literally and figuratively. Such as “Wake up, wake up, Deborah! Wake up, wake up, break out in song!” (Judges 5:12).

Raised Us Up With Christ

We are not awakened to follow our own ideas or go our own way. When we are awakened, made alive, it is all in Christ. Meaning that we begin to naturally love God, love Scripture about God, and seek after spiritual things that we never did before. Now we have a desire to “do the will of God” (John 7:17) from within.

Paul further explains what it means to be raised with Christ. From our state of death in sins, we “were raised with Him” to live a new life by “your faith in the working of God” (Col 2:12). This new life is received by faith. It is not something you do; it is all God’s work. It is what God will do for us, has done for us, and will continue to do in us, through “the Holy Spirit who lives in us” (2 Tim 1:14).

When the “apostles” were “arrested” and thrown into “public jail,” at night “an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail.” The Angel told them to go to a public place, “stand in the temple courts” when many people are present, and “tell the people all about this new life” (Acts 5:18-20). “Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Rom 6:4).

• “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col 3:1,2).

Seated Together with God

To sit in His company, as if His arms were around you.

Perhaps when we are made alive, God assigns us our seat in heavenly places, ahead of time. Our name is placed on that seat. There may be many other believers seated closer to Christ and the Father. Yet, anything is possible; the ones further away will also be able to be close to Christ, by space dimensions we are unacquainted with.

Through this experience of being “alive with Christ” (Eph 2:5), and by God’s acts of mercy, we are raised up to sit beside Christ. This has a dual reference: first, as believers, we are raised to live a “new life” (Acts 5:20; Rom 6:4) on earth. Second, in the resurrection: “When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Col 3:4). God gives us, who were once dead in sins, a promise that we will someday be near and beside Christ.  “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” (Rev 19:9), a time soon to come when all the saved are officially adopted as sons and daughters of God Himself. As God has promised, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor 6:18).

Our Rightful Place Next to Christ

“And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Lk 22:29,30). The judgment of the tribes of Israel refers to the entire Christian world. Because we are raised up with Christ, soon to take our rightful place sitting next to Christ. There we are given powers of judgment that are far above any human living on earth.

As for now, Jesus said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Matt 7:1,2).

The expression of sitting on thrones with power to make decisions points to the redeemed in sharing cosmic authority within the kingdom of their Father. Perhaps a similar example we can understand is that the redeemed become a type of cabinet, made up of the sons and daughters of God, within the Father’s kingdom. From which they are given the privilege to share with our Father.

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived—the things God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:8). At this time, we cannot imagine that God would trust sinners like us with any serious cosmic responsibilities. But God can and does sit us beside Himself, sharing his glory and honor—so undeserved, unmerited a favor to be blessed with the light of the love of God for us and with us, in myriad ways impossible for us to even imagine today.

• “Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:12-14).

On the Meaning of “In Christ”

The motif “in Christ” is used by God the Father to channel His grace into our darkened hearts. This is why all can approach God, but they must be “in Christ,” “in Christ Jesus,” or “in Him” [Eph 1:3,4,5,6,7,9,11,12,13,14].

This is by faith “in Christ,” we are “rescued” from the “dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son He [God] loves” (Col 1:13). The focus is always on Jesus Christ, his life, teachings, and the letters of the Apostles. This is an important way to grow in understanding of “God’s grace” (Eph 1:6).

Today in Company In Christ

Jesus has given us a metaphor of how we can sit in company with Christ. The vine and branches illustration Jesus gave His disciples in John 15 illustrates what it means to abide in Christ. To sit with Christ is to have open communication, letting His words and teaching dominate our hearts: “by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil 4:6).

Believers can improve their spiritual life by spending more time with Scripture rather than sermons that are not Scripture-focused. There will be less growth in Christ when our spiritual food consists of sermons or Bible studies that are mostly focused on what the speaker thinks or on efforts to prove a specific church doctrine, at the cost of Biblical context.

The expression in Christ occurs about 165 times in Paul’s writings. It is an acknowledgment that we can do nothing to save ourselves. It is only by our union in Christ that any of these great spiritual blessings come to us. We are extensions of Christ and His Father’s grace in the world. This involves security, privilege, rejoicing, and fruitfulness. This is realized as we think and act in reference to Christ and his teachings, such as the Sermon on the Mount.

Believers Inhabit Two Worlds

Believers inhabit two worlds. Spiritually, they are raised and seated with Christ in heavenly places (2:16) while they still live here on earth, yet at the same time they have “citizenship is in heaven” (Phil 3:20).

This is God’s “incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms” (Eph 1:19,20).

Ephesians 2:7 [When seated with Christ] in order that in the coming ages he [God] might show [show off] the incomparable riches of his [God’s] grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. NIV

2:7 That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. NKJV

2:7 In order that He might demonstrate [show, display, prove] in the [soon] coming ages the surpassing riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” Disciples’ Literal NT

In the Coming Ages

After the resurrection at the second coming, eternity begins. Imagine yourself, with all the redeemed, sitting in honor next to Christ. By space dimensions unknown to us, all the redeemed will stand next to Christ. It could be similar to when anyone in the world stands in the sun’s rays; each has all the sun to themselves, all at the same time. 

Show Us Off

To the entire vast, unlimited galaxies and star systems in the cosmos, God Himself will show off his children that He “made alive” from being dead in sin, by means of being “Born of the Spirit” (John 3:8). There is a lot of space for God to display his redeemed. The brightest galaxy known so far has an equivalent luminosity of over 300 trillion times that of the Sun.

Heaven lost Satan and his angels, but heaven has gained in their place—you and me. After a short time, God will hold a victory parade for the redeemed, visiting the entire universe. Here, the unnumbered inhabitants of vast star systems will have a close-up view of all of us rebels, hell raisers, murderers, adulterers, criminals of every kind, who deserved to be in chains. Who once hated God and all that was good. Now they are “liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (Rom 8:21).

What a privilege made available “so in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith” (Gal 3:26). “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 Thess 1:4).

Mercy to the Worst of Sinners

Paul has expressed how God has “shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners.” So that through “Christ Jesus” God “might display his immense patience” with him, Paul, “as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Tim 1:6). Think of the patience of God for you! Part of the cosmic display of the redeemed in the coming ages does not focus on how great those who are redeemed are, but instead on how great God’s “forbearance and patience” (Rom 2:4), which have lavishly provided us with so much grace and undeserved favor. Were it not for the incomparable riches of His grace, none of us would be present in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Incomparable and Exceeding Riches of God’s Grace

This word means to go over, beyond, and above; the giving of the Riches of His grace to us sinners. This points to the boundlessness of divine wealth in the currency of grace. If we could open the vaults of heaven to see the stored gold and silver, what would we see? God’s vast, unmeasured, unweighable, uncountable currency of grace, something undeserved, for sinners like you and me.

God spends His currency in overflowing grace, in giving rich benefits to the unworthy, due to his grace toward the unruly and helpless. There is not enough English prose to describe God's superlative great mercy toward us.

The reason why we have redemption and forgiveness is all because of the riches of his grace that makes them available to us.

• “In him [in the beloved, the one he loves, 1:6] we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (1:7)

• Paul uses the word riches five times in Ephesians: 1:7,18; 2:7; 3:8,16

         “Riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people” (1:18)

         "Boundless, unsearchable riches of Christ” (3:8)

Mystical Spiritual Union with Christ

Paul uses terms such as “In Him,” “In Christ,” or “in Christ Jesus” about 165 times in his writings. This is the mystical, spiritual union with Christ that takes place after being born of the Spirit (John 3:6). This is the heart of Paul’s teachings, often the most neglected. As a result of being united to Christ, we are enabled to pray to God and receive the things we pray for, as Jesus said, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (John 15:7).

Better yet, best of all, through this union with Christ, by the Spirit abiding in us, our Father is honoured that we “bear much fruit” (John 15:8). What a privilege to bring honour to God, what a hallowed place to be in, where we know what it means to “abide in my [Christ] love” (John 15:9) and to experience “my joy in you” (John 15:11). It is almost too sacred to even read.

1.      We were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4)

2.      We are redeemed in Him (Eph 1:7)

3.      We are justified in Him (Gal 2:17)

4.      We are sanctified in Him (1 Cor 1:2)

5.      We are enriched “in every way” (1 Cor 1:5)

This translates to more love for our spouses, children, and those around us.

George Whitefield (1714-1770), an American evangelist, recalls: Up to 20,000 people would come to hear him preach. “Having,” Whitfield reports, “no righteousness of their own to renounce, they were glad to hear of a Jesus who was a friend to publicans and came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. The first discovery of their being affected was the sight of the white gutters made by their tears, which plentifully fell down their black cheeks as they came out of their coal-pits. Hundreds of them were soon brought under deep conviction.

Another time, while preaching within the sight of thousands, some in coaches, some on horseback, and some in the trees, and at times all affected and in tears, was almost too much for me, and quite overcame me.”

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God—2:9 not by [our] works, so that no one can boast. NIV

 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 2:9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV

God’s Grace is a Gift

Notice how the Apostles described their gospel teaching, “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:33). Paul said that his “only aim is to finish…the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Act 20:24). The message of these First Century believers was very compelling. They gave eyewitness accounts as to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Even pagans would listen; this had never been heard before.

When the disciples presented evidence of His resurrection, their focus was on why it took place—namely, that it was due to God's mercy. Through the cross and resurrection, God’s mercy, love, and promise of an inheritance in the world Jesus ascended to were profoundly moving. It would move you and most of your town likewise, if they could hear from some of “five hundred” (1 Cor 15:6) eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus from the dead!

God is Actively Giving of His Grace

God the Father is very active in offering us His grace, the highest grace in all the universe, based on our faith, not anything we have done or can do. God does not give grace based on our good deeds or commandment-keeping—because God’s grace is all-sufficient and needs nothing to recommend it to us, except faith alone. Paul told the Galatians, “So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified” (Gal 2:16). The expression “works of the law” means anything that we can do to earn or deserve the favour of God, his justification which is full forgiveness of sin welcomed into the presence of the Father, all forgiven and forgotten. Thank God, He is giving us His grace, complete with saving power.

Paul publicly said with all the strength of personal conviction: “I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace (Acts 20:24). It is still good news for us today. “This is how God showed [displayed, made known] his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him” (1 John 4:9). To live through Christ is to have faith in Him, which justifies, declares us innocent, and forgives all our sins.

But best of all, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). God is on our side; He is with us, for us, and will never leave us. We can never underestimate the broad spectrum of the active aspects of the great, great grace of God our Father. We can always call on the mercy, grace, and love of God when we feel besieged by troubling and overwhelming events. David testifies to God's mercy: “You heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help” (Ps 31:22).

The Gift of God

Believers today are receivers of God’s gifts, of His grace and love for them. Paul says, “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift” (2 Cor 9:15), of Jesus Christ, “freely given us” (1 Cor 2:12), from God’s love. God’s grace is the foundation of the gospel, the center point of its global appeal to all humanity. When, everywhere or anywhere, faith in God is expressed, it is the gift of God. God’s gifts are designed to carry us out of this world of death into a life unimaginable. For “the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23). 

Why would God, the owner of the universe, give us a gift of eternal life? He has said: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord” (Isa 66:1,2). God is larger in extent, greater than the size of the entire cosmos, master of everything. Yet, ministers to us, often aged, broken down, besieged in the warfare of life on earth—giving us a gift that is unattainable by any means anyone born on earth could devise or create. Why? God enjoys giving, sharing, and making available to us gifts beyond our reach or even comprehension. When God gives gifts by His grace, He does so because He cares. Those who rely on the mercy of God the most are the humblest. This is the truth.

Saved

We don’t value this word enough. God does not do something haphazardly. He does not start a project, only to leave it unfinished or broken down!  Now, put your faith in God, that he has and will save you, so you can be re-born into “living hope” (1 Pet 1:3) and “made alive” so that love becomes the foundation of your actions toward others and toward God. Just as God’s love was the reason and foundation in reaching out to us, so He can become visible to our faith.  Claim it now by faith, even with just a bit of faith. That is all that is needed to reach out and find God yourself. Now bathe in it and let it wash over you!

Not by Works

If God waited for us to do something good or worthy of a place in heaven, nobody would be saved, since “there is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom 3:12). This is the greatest message that anyone could hear; there is nothing that could hinder us from coming to God, for his total acceptance, just as we are.

Grace is what we find when we approach God for the first time. For the second time. For every time. Grace is God’s calling card, His business card, his private cell phone number. The brother of Jesus reminds us, 

“You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2). Jesus has given us an assurance that God is not bothered or too distracted to hear our request for grace: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matt 7:7).

If God only saved us by our own good “works,” as described by the Law? Then it would not be grace, but an “obligation” owed to us from our performance of the Law.

• “Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as [God’s] righteousness” (Rom 4:4,5).

Faith is the Channel to Reach Out to God

Faith is the channel by which God’s grace, His “Glorious Grace” (Eph 1:6), comes to us whereby God has “predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure” (1:5), that is, God’s “good pleasure” (1:9). God does not adopt us so that He can provide us a home in heaven at a distance. No, but instead as close as “sons and daughters” (2 Cor 6:18).

Think about this. Our sons and daughters have our cell phone number and can call anytime. Even if it should interrupt what their parents are engaged in. God says, “Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isa 65:24). And God further says, “Call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him” (Ps 91:15). To be delivered is one thing, but better yet is to be delivered because it was the honor of God to do so.

So, No One can boast.

Not at any time, in the present moment, or in the future when we may wish to gain fame. Not even in the coming ages, after the resurrection when all are gathered home, no one can brag or be proud of arriving in heaven by doing works of obedience, of any kind.

After God awakens us through the Spirit and the written Word, we are motivated to respond. Our response does not win God’s favor but instead seeks to “live a life worthy of the calling you have received,” as you go through your life learning “what pleases the Lord” (Eph 5:10). To the believer, it becomes natural to depend on God’s Spirit, to seek to do the will of God in our lives.

• “To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Phil 4:20).

There is a deeper point to what Jesus taught; for example, when we are told to “love your enemies” (Matt 5:44), they are no longer our enemies in our hearts; we feel different about them. The reason is the active ingredient of grace, which is what Jesus called “yeast” that makes bread. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread rise. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough” (Matt 13:33 NLT).

• “Because God is gracious, therefore simple men are forgiven, converted, purified, and saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy, and grace of God” Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

How to Receive Faith?

It is a gift. “Faith comes from hearing the message… the word about Christ” (Rom 10:17). It comes out of hearing the message of the gospel. When a person comes to faith in Christ, it did not originate with them, but surfaced, unseen, unknown, in the heart of the reader. Faith sets us free to choose to follow Christ, when the “Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). When the darkened heart before had no desire to love God, instead NOW our hearts become “totally committed to doing good deeds” (Titus 2:14). John in his old age remembered the power of his words, saying, “we saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life” (John 1:1 NLT).

Through Faith

For “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus…For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law” (Rom 3:24,28). To be justified means that God has removed all barriers of access to Him. We are forgiven and accepted because of Christ's redemption. Accept this God-centered acceptance, embrace it, for this is God’s provision to bring us into his presence. This gift is yours anew every day! Right now, thank God.

• Faith is a small seed that stands alone, all by itself. It looks with singular faith at the cross of Christ, where we find “redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Eph 1:7). Faith does not come from within ourselves, for “God has dealt to each one a measure of faith” (Rom 12:3); it is a gift from God.

• Faith does not stand alone for very long; it takes on other companions, such as the Holy Spirit, without whom faith could not survive and would grow weaker and weaker amid increasing fear and doubt.

• Faith starts alone as it gazes on the cross of Christ for forgiveness and full justification, but it never finishes alone; it becomes rooted and grounded in love.

• Faith starts small, but it has life-giving properties, like a garden seed. As it grows, it seeks companions who will encircle the believer with patience and perseverance.

• Faith joins with many companions in its walk of faith; soon, faith will never walk alone again.

• Faith is more than just knowledge; it affects, it changes, it moves—the heart.

• Faith brings trust, so we rest on the promises of God, his mercy, his love, and “His grace given you in Christ Jesus” (1 Cor 1:4).

• Faith brings so many benefits that they are uncountable to the believer, to “equip you with everything good for doing His will” (Heb 13:21).

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. NIV

2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. NKJV

God Prepares Everything Long Before It Happens

God is Always Pre-Prepared, Never Caught by Surprise

 What God has designed for his believers was in His mind as reality so long ago that it can be said “before the beginning of time” (Titus 1:2). What God had planned, how His grace would change us, was “predestined” (Eph 1:5). Nothing God does is happenstance or accidental. In God’s world, what He designs is a masterpiece displaying His handiwork or workmanship.  It is not AI-generated or machine-manufactured; it reflects a product from His own hands.

God planned to recreate us into His image, because we were damaged long before we were born. God brings into our lives a whole new life that did not exist before. Within this new life, a keen, vibrant desire to do good work stems from the “new life” (Acts 5:20) placed within. All by grace and faith alone are we able to live in the “new way of the Spirit” (Rom 7:6).

Before we even began to control our anger, our jealousy, our lust for power, authority.  God had already planned victories for us. These victories over our own nature and culture, which are foreign to God’s world, are the good works by which God is honored. All this comes from God's goodness. 

Regeneration and Renewal

“He [God] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth [regeneration] and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 2:5)

The washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit are strong indications that the process of renewal runs throughout all our time on earth. When mistakes of pride, lust, or anger occur, we take them to God in prayer. The Spirit is the agency that God uses to instill in us a love of humility, purity, and self-control. Over time, our lives reveal that a master craftsman has been at work, forging a design that will last forever. Strong enough that even the total decay or ashes of our bodies will not destroy in the slightest the person that God’s hands have created or regenerated. At the promised coming of our Lord and his Father with all his angels—“the dead in Christ will rise first.” All the world, oceans, and forests, and we will be “caught up…to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” (1 Thess 4:15-17).

God’s Handiwork, Workmanship

The Greek word is associated with artistic and literary works, highlighting skill and creativity. It means “something made, a work, a creation,” as what God has created that did not exist before.

The idea of this passage is that the loving hands of God start to build a masterpiece in us. God’s creative hands are on us. Through His active grace, He creates a “new heart” (Ez 36:26) of love, an urgency to pray, and that we “may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10).

It is all of grace that we are changed, day by day, year by year, to become God’s handiwork, His masterpiece, His creation. Imagine God’s creative hands are moving inside you, directing you, you right now, making you into a “new creation” (2 Cor 5:17). Making you what God has designed long ago, before you were born, in advance or “predestined” (Eph 1:5). Meaning that God had a plan for your life that started in His mind and heart, long “before the creation of the world” so that you can, “be holy and blameless in His sight, in love” (1:4). Being holy in His sight is accomplished because of God's love of us, and in response our love for Him.

First Creation: Eden—Second Creation, when Born Again, God's Handiwork Remakes Us

God starts a new creation on earth, a repeat of Genesis chapter one, not in Eden, but “In Christ” (2:2,7,10,13; 3:6,11,21; 4:32; Rom 1:1). This is a brand-new creation on earth, bringing you out of the world into the “kingdom of God” (Mk 10:15) or the “kingdom of heaven” (Matt 4:17), that Jesus came to announce.  It is not the creation of new plants and animals. But instead, it is within the lives of those who have lived in Christ Jesus.

So, as in the first creation when God created the world. Our world is in a similar state of “darkness” (Eph 5:8) as it was in the beginning, when the earth was “empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep” (Gen 1:2). And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Gen 1:2,3).

What is the source of this new light that makes a new creation displaying God’s handiwork? “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

This is what it means to us. We “were once [in] darkness” (Eph 5:8); now “the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8). A true light shines in our hearts, demonstrating that we have been “born of water and the Spirit (John 3:5), from above.

We have new reasons to live, new outlooks on the future. Now a new power the “power of the Spirit” (Lk 4:14), within is realized, and now we “make it our goal to please him” (Eph 5:10). Now we want “to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength” (Mk 12:33), and we really do pray every day for more love.

To love with all our heart and understanding is not like arriving at a destination. Instead, we are daily challenged to love more, for in our hearts we seek new showers of grace that enable us to enjoy the inner warmth of more and more love for God. For along with the love of God, there always is the “peace of God” (Phil 4:7). And “the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all” (Acts 10:36).

Rebuilt, Regenerated, Born Again from Above     

Our lives are rebuilt, regenerated, born anew, and “born from above” (John 3:3 NET). As a result, we “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 3:18). The hands of a loving God start building His masterpiece in us. This is due to the grace of God that calls us into a prayerful response, saying, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” as in my life. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor 5:17). It is God’s nature, by faith in us. We are not made new by ourselves. No. Instead, we are highly privileged to “become partakers of the divine nature,” for the purpose of escaping “the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Pet 1:4).

“But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Cor 6:11). We become a witness to our society of an inward experience that we are “alive with Christ” (Eph 2:5); every day we are made alive again. This is something we cannot explain, but we know it is true in our lives.

All God’s work

• Spiritually dead people made alive (2:5)

• Made into fellow citizens (2:19)

• By the blood of Christ (2:13)

• Reconciled, near to God, through the cross (2:16).

Gentiles & Israel

Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles [us] by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” which is done in the body by human hands—2:12 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 [knowledge of] in the world NIV

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— 2:12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. NKJV

Remember that formerly that You…

 Paul is asking the former pagan believers to remember what they once were before they were “made alive with Christ” (Eph 2:6). They were pagans, without God or hope of any eternal inheritance. They did not know the Covenant with Israel in the OT and its promise of a “New Covenant” [Lk 22:20; 2 Cor 3:6] to come.

Separated from Christ and Foreigners

 Their religion was pagan with a Roman or Greek nationalist flavor. Their lifestyle reflected the values of pagan societies that permitted child sacrifice and fornication. They were without hope, in the inheritance after resurrection from the dead. In the promise that God made to believers in the “New Covenant” in his blood (Lk 22:20) that “the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels” (Matt 16:27).

Yet Paul reminds us that the saving story of Jesus is closely connected to Israel and the covenants of promise of something better to come. “The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah” (Jer 31:31).

They Were Without Hope

 They had no idea what Peter knew to be a fact. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us [Peter & other believers] new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3). “Hope” comes from learning about “the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph 1:12, 13). As it is prophesied, “In his name the nations will put their hope” (Matt 12:21). Praise God for “hope will never disappoint us” (Rom 5:5 ERV).

Circumcision With Human Hands

Paul stresses the inadequacy of outward circumcision, an OT Hebrew practice. It was powerless to save, to bring anyone to Christ. Paul made this very plain, saying, “I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all” (Gal 5:2). Meaning that if anyone should think that this cutting of the flesh will bring them closer to God, they are mistaken. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith—and this is not from yourselves, not by circumcision, but it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).

Some Jewish believers still held to the Torah and the Old Testament Mosaic Laws, as Paul once was “extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers” (Gal 1:14).

Circumcision Without Human Hands

Now that Christ has come, the only thing that matters is the “circumcision of the heart” (Rom 2:29), which stands for an internal change, not the external cutting of the flesh.

It is through “being rich in mercy” and “great love with which He loved us” (Eph 2:4) that human hearts and emotions are changed into faith, love, peace, joy, and hope. Now all believers in Christ are taught “to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph 4:22-24).

Why was Circumcision taken away?

To ancient Israel, circumcision was the chief evidence that God was with them, that they were God’s special people. They turned it into an object of boasting, claiming that it gave them favor before God. It was the means of receiving his blessings of health and prosperity.  

Circumcision served as a dividing wall that preserved Israel from merging into other ancient civilizations. It kept Israel from dissolving into a pagan society, from disappearing into history as the Hittites, Babylonians, Medes, and Persians did. It served a very useful purpose, creating a very cohesive society till the Messiah should arrive by promise.

Why be circumcised in the first place, many today might ask? Why not just cut off a portion of the ear or create a type of brand somewhere on the body, like a tattoo? Why was it a private part of male anatomy?

Because this symbol related to activities that would bring children into the world, a circumcised Hebrew female was instructed only to marry a circumcised male. Thus, the people of Israel were never lost into the melting pot of the Ancient world. They survived together and multiplied.

For example, when Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, wanted to marry Shechem, an uncircumcised man, Jacob’s sons “said to them, “We can’t do such a thing; we can’t give our sister to a man who is not circumcised. That would be a disgrace to us” (Gen 23:13,15).

As already illustrated, the Messiah of the world, who had eternal life to offer to millions, was required to come from the line of Abraham, the first member of Israel. This custom, alone with other sanctuary festival celebrations and the Sabbath, kept Israel together as a people, with an unbroken history.

Just consider if a Messiah would appear out of nowhere. Without several thousand years of prophecy that he was coming. Such a Messiah would be a false messiah.  As Jesus has told us, “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many” (Matt 24:5).

In summary, there is only one Messiah, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29,36), who has come from the line of Abraham and has given witness through hundreds of miracles, culminating in the resurrection from the dead. For this reason, circumcision is no longer needed; it served its purpose.

The evidence that we are believers in Christ is our Christian Faith, not our circumcision.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near [to God] by the blood of Christ. NIV

2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. NKJV

But now, since the Resurrection has Taken Place

Yes, Right Now! God has intervened in human history. Yes, God is now intervening into your life. The sacrifice of His life on the cross, from which he was raised from the dead, and is now living in heaven with our Father God. Now, there is supernatural power, not related to any physical force on the earth, to take us to be with Him forever.

But now, right now, “because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by [God’s] grace you have been saved” (Eph 2:4,5). The hardest work is already done; now we can draw near to God by faith in the one who forgives the sins that once separated us from Him.

But now, right now, nothing can hinder you from coming near to the heart of God, with the resultant realization of joy and peace. Yes, live it, love it, and sing about it. Tell the world about it.

The Blood of Christ

This refers to the price paid for believers to pardon their “sins and trespasses” (Eph 2:1). It is by this means we are brought near to “God” (2:12), His heart and His loving care—because of “Your [His] tender mercies and Your [His] lovingkindnesses” (Ps 25:6).

Because we have “Redemption through his blood and forgiveness of sin (Eph 1:7). “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith” (Rom 3:25).

 Shedding his blood in the Old Testament was in reference to the Day of Atonement, where the Lamb’s blood was sprinkled over the covering of the ark called the “mercy seat” (Ex 25:18-20 NKJV). Also known as Yom Kippur, it is a time to purify the individual and the community.

Justified by Faith

This is what Scripture describes as justification by faith (Gal 2:16). We are made right with God and acceptable in His presence by faith alone, because of His righteousness credited to us on account of the blood of Christ. There is no room for error on God’s part; He has us covered from top to bottom, from birth to death. Because of “the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness” (Lam 3:22,23).

All for the purpose that we can be brought near to God’s heart and be justified, in God’s sight, “by faith alone.” This was the foundation of Martin Luther’s (1483-1586) Reformation that changed the world.

1.      By God’s action, we receive the Righteousness of God Himself through faith (Rom 3:22)

2.      By God’s action, we are justified and forgiven freely by His grace (Rom 3:24)

3.      By God’s action, we are justified by faith apart from the works of the Law (Rom 3:28)

4.      By God’s action, He justifies the ungodly; their faith is credited as righteousness. (Rom 4:5,22)

5.      By God’s action, we are credited with righteousness apart from human works (Rom 4:6)

6.      By God’s action, He forgives and covers our sins, so as not to be seen (Rom 4:6)

7.      By God’s action, He never counts our sins against us (Rom 4:8)

8.      By God's action, we receive justification, forgiveness full and complete (Rom 5:1),

9.      By God’s action, we receive peace with God (Rom 5:1),

10. By God’s action, we share in the glory of God, His honor (Rom 5:1),

11. By God’s action, we receive grace from God (Rom 5:2),

12. By God’s action, we receive the Holy Spirit filling (Rom 5:5).

13. By God’s action, we receive the "love in the Spirit" (Col 1:8)

14. By God’s action, we are justified by His blood and saved from wrath at the judgment (Rom 5:9)

15. By God’s action, we receive reconciliation with God (Rom 5:10,11).

16. We are “reconciled” (Rom 5:11) by God’s preemptive act toward humans. Before we make any move toward God, he died to end the hostility between the Law that justly condemns us to “wrath” (5:9), because the “wages of sin” for our sins “is death,” but “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (6:23).

The Cross Is the World’s Most Widely Recognized Symbol

It was God the Father that set Jesus up high on the cross, deliberately. On the stage of world history, the cross is the most symbolic public act, better known than any other symbol in human history. Of the millions of visual symbols that remind us of an object, the cross symbol is the most widely recognized; even secular world history acknowledges the most significant event in the history of the world as the birth of Christ. This is God’s doing. Only God can take the Roman symbol used to humiliate their opponents and turn it into a symbol of true greatness. 

Amazingly, world history is divided between BC & AD because NOW all believers are brought near to God through the blood of the cross.  The influence of Jesus of Nazareth on our culture to this day is stupendous. When Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Mount Everest with Tenzing Norgay in 1953, he reportedly took with him a symbol of his achievement, a small crucifix which is still buried somewhere up there, at the top of the world.

Reconciliation—Nothing Between Us and God

“Reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:17-21) was not cheap for God. It was more than red and white blood cells dropping on the ground at the cross. It affected something deep in the soul and nature between that of God and His Son, yet to be understood.  “Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). As we accept His death in our place, we are, by nature of His death, brought closer into a privilege whereby we gain an inheritance to all that belongs to God, completely undeserved.

The picture is not that blood was required at the feet of God. It was that the laws that govern all heaven required the death of the sinner. Although the nature of God and his Son Jesus Christ is immortal—something altered that, as Christ volunteered to pay the penalty of death, on our behalf. Now, as a result, we forgiven humans become “heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ” (Rom 8:17).

Before the death of Christ, we humans had no claim, no right, or no possibility of being in direct descent from God the Father. Now, when Christ died, on behalf of fallen humanity, Deity has set a place for us who accept Christ, a place not yet known or understood. God’s actions in saving lost and doomed humanity have everlasting consequences.

The dynamics of heaven, that from eternity there was just the Father and Son, are to be reshaped. The redeemed are to be given an unimaginable gift freely. They have been given an honored place between and with God and His Son. All because we have been forgiven by “the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Pet 1:19). Not a presidential pardon, but forgiveness that adopts us into the family of God “as dearly loved children” (Eph 5:1).

What have we done to deserve this NOTHING, except to believe? Believe it now and be part of new life in the family of God, the Creator of things, a life we are yet to understand.

The Broken Wall

Ephesians 2:14 For he [Christ] himself is our peace, who has made the two groups [into] one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, NIV

2:14 For He is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of the partition of hostility. Literal Standard Version

2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation. NKJV

Wall of Hostility and the Barrier that Separated Jews from Pagans

The Greek word hostility means enmity, hostility, and hatred. The NKJV poorly translates this Greek word as “wall of separation,” which refers to a large wall that separated Jews from Gentiles, Roman or Greek pagans. A wall that kept Roman pagans from Jewish worship was not the whole problem. The wall was built because there was hostility and hatred for pagans of all nationalities, which was never God’s intent.

The Jewish Temple in Jerusalem, at the Time of Jesus, was Surrounded by Courts.

1.  There was the outermost courtyard that was the court of the Gentiles.

2.  There was the innermost court, which was for the priests, only male members of the tribe of Levite, all others excluded.

3.  There was a court for the rest of the circumcised male Israelites from the other tribes.

4.  There was a court for women by themselves. They were not allowed in any other portion of the Temple, because of the clean and unclean laws of the Old Testament (Lev 15:19-21).

5.  There was hostility against an “Ammonite or Moabite” that was not allowed to “enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation” (Deut 23:3).

This barrier wall of separation between men, women, Jewish tribes, and Gentiles is now destroyed.

There is nothing more that can separate Jews and Gentiles, men and women, because there is no sanctuary in the land. No Aaronic priesthood separated the Levites from all other Jewish tribes. Only the High Priest, once a year, was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. A heavy curtain separated it. After the cross of Christ, this curtain was “torn in two from top to bottom” (Matt 27:51) by an Angel of God.

Now all peoples of the earth have access to the “Most Holy Place,” removing the purpose of the Sanctuary. All the legal codes in the book of Leviticus for the worship of God have been removed forever. Now, men, women, and children of all races and from all locations can approach God by faith and be welcomed into His presence.

Nowhere should anyone place a barrier that would prevent anyone from coming directly to God in prayer and worship.

In a spiritual sense, all are equally heard in prayer and petition to God because there is now peace between all believers—all races, colors, nationalities, languages, customs, physical stature, mental abilities, education, culture, and whether poor or rich.

Christ Is Our Peace with God

We do not receive peace with God through the Hebrew Temple services, or through careful obedience to the Laws of Moses. We don’t need animal sacrifices, circumcision, or priesthood. Now we can be “justified through faith,” fully accepted by God, just where you are at, just as you are. Faith has no single location to find God. Thus, we all can “have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:1). Amen. You can have this peace right now, if you wish.

From Now On: There is a New Kind of Worship

This new worship is now revealed. Before, it was a mystery how God would reach the pagan tribes of the world, who were required to come to Jerusalem to worship under the laws of Moses. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus” (Eph 3:6). 

No religious leader has any calling from God to separate other believers from one another. Any religious leader or church organization that teaches that they alone have the truth. That they are special and all others are in error. In doing so, they erect barriers of hostility that God has removed.

Any religious group that encourages their followers to be loyal to them and suspicious of other believers. Such religious organizations have no Biblical grounds for exclusive membership. Their instruction to their church is not the Gospel message. No group has the right to offer its followers assurance of salvation, as long as they remain loyal to a specific religious house of worship and practice hostility toward other groups that do not follow them. Many are led astray by the exclusive claims of one faith and practice over others. These groups seek to collect all your donations, claiming exclusive rights to them. Beware of such claims.

Church leaders should “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love” (Eph 4:2). They are invited to have the same mindset as Christ, “who humbled himself” (Phil 2:8). This leaves little room for self-promotion of one Christian faith over another. Such actions have a numbing effect on members' spiritual lives.

PS: We are talking in general terms. If we should find a religious group that is “teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matt 15:9), we should warn family and friends. If possible, you may wish to worship elsewhere, staying close to God in prayer and serious Scripture study.

However, we must not judge them; it is forbidden by our Savior, who said, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged” (Matt 7:1,2). There will likely be many sincere believers in Jesus who love him and serve him with all their hearts in church congregations that have added requirements to be obeyed to be considered good members.

• Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time, I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” Matt 13:24-30

Ephesians 2:15 [God has made the two groups, Jews and Gentiles, one; thus He has destroyed the hostility between them 2:14] by setting aside in his flesh [His death & life] the law with its commands and regulations [decrees]. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, NIV

2:15 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, NKJV

Setting Aside Having Abolished

The expression setting aside is a very weak NIV translation. The Greek word is very strong, meaning “to abolish, to nullify, to render ineffective or to bring to an end.”

What then was Abolished for the Jews

For the Jews, the laws of Moses that directed temple worship are no longer in effect as Jesus told the unnamed woman at the well, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… now comes the time when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24)

As Jesus told the temple leadership during the last week of his life on earth: “Look, your house is left to you desolate” (Mt 23:38). Christ removed, by his death, all the OT commandments relative to temple services and common Jewish culture and customs. The church is no longer Jewish or Roman pagan; it is Christian.

What was Abolished for the Gentiles

The laws of idolatry, which were the foundation of their culture. It was the Roman way of life. The expectation of the Empire, which sponsored hundreds of idols, the ownership of slaves, and open prostitution. This sponsored the violent overthrow of every nation, every people group that was within their reach. Now, as Christians, they learn a way of life rather than “the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors” (1 Pet 1:18).

One New Humanity, out of Two: 1st Jews and 2nd Pagan Gentile Romans and Greeks

New Humanity: Christ Jesus

For “there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in [us] all” (Col 3:11). The word Scythian referred to the northern coast of the Black Sea, considered uncivilized and violent, the wildest of barbarians.

The new humanity, found in Christ, all together practice “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Col 3:12-14). What a wonderful portrait of this New Humanity.

Worship By Faith—Not in Temples

Today we worship God, “by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7). because “Christ” can “dwell in your hearts through faith” (Eph 3:17). Peter reported that when he preached Christ to a group of people consisting of Jews and Gentiles he affirmed, that God “did not discriminate between us [Jews] and them [Gentiles], for he purified their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:9), not by laws or ceremonies as prescribed by Moses. For “Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes” (Rom 4:10).

Jesus prophesied to the Woman at the Well ‘that a time is coming and has now come (soon), when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the [Holy] Spirit and in truth” (John 4:21-24). This happens as the Holy Spirit makes his temple within us, eliminating all need for external ceremonies and providing a level ground where all people of the earth, in every location, by faith alone can connect with God and be taken in as his sons and daughters.

This is a new way; each believer becomes a “temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you” (1 Cor 6:19). Thus, there is no need for temple worship anywhere anymore. The Christian church is not the only place to worship God. Believers can pray and praise God in their living rooms, in their cars, outdoors, anywhere, on airplanes, or in jail.

For God is now to be worshiped “in the Spirit.” All believers can “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body” (Heb 10:19,20).

One New Man / Humanity / Out of Two

After time, Gentiles now stand for almost all Christians today. But they are divided by many national, ethnic, and language barriers—believers in Christ will not allow a moment of division. They will allow for cultural differences and attitudes. They will allow for political differences and various family practices. But their common faith in Christ unites them above all these natural geographical, cultural, and ethnic barriers to be thrown down—due to the love for the same Lord Jesus Christ and His Father.

 Believers must never allow these human differences arising from various languages, training, and cultures to lead them to mistreat or neglect another believer. To refuse to love each other, in Christ, while the same Spirit dwells in each—is a denial of Christ.  Together they will “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:3-6).

Americans, Europeans, North or South Americans—Christians, in Christ, are at peace with each other. We know that modern Christianity is practiced by several hundred different denominations, each claiming to be the only or best way to God. Sadly, this is the fault of the leadership of those denominations that seek the attention, the finances, the devotion, to what they wrongly claim as the only way to worship. They demand full allegiance of the worshipers to their theology, an allegiance that belongs only to Christ Jesus.

10 New Commandments for Humanity in Christ

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with (1) compassion, (2) kindness, (3) humility, (4) gentleness and (5) patience. (6) Bear with each other and (7) forgive one another if any of you have a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues (8) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (9) Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. (10) And be thankful” (Col 3:12-15).

The leading new law for both Jews and all other peoples of the world is to be compassionate, which is a deep feeling for someone's difficulties or misfortunes because our Father in heaven is “the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor 1:3).

Ephesians 2:16 [Having destroyed all human barriers 2:15] and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility [in himself]. 2:17 He came and preached [announce] peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. NIV

2:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were nearby. NKJV

Two Bodies Distant From Each Other—Reconciled

The cross reaches out far and wide, to those who are near and to those who are far away. Jesus preaches peace to those near and to those thousands of miles away, in vastly different cultures, diets, dress, languages, customs, wealth, and homes.

If there is any hostility between these vastly different Christian families—the cross of Christ has defeated any hostility. If feelings of alienation still exist, believers should run, run fast to the cross of Christ in prayer for a change of heart. In prayer for love, more love and more loving toleration for each other.

No Barriers Between Lovers of God

No barriers between Jews and non-Jews, between Christians in Africa, in Asia, Europe or the Americas. If we are in Christ Jesus, by faith, “born of God” (1 John 4:7) and “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8), we cannot, we must not, we will not allow feelings of superiority in the practice of doctrines over another believer's practice.  

Minor points of faith practice must not separate believers who claim to be in Christ. If they do, they should “examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Cor 13:5). “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and, in your name, perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evil doers!’” (Matt 7:22,23).

All Believers are Reconciled to God Through the Cross

We must never underestimate the power, the authority, the all-encompassing influence that the Cross of Christ brings to bear upon every individual believer. “For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who believe in Him. That is has been made, past tense, perfect forever. This single act has long-lasting consequences on believers, on “those who are being made holy” (Heb 10:14). The influence of the cross not only provides forgiveness and acceptance of God but has the power needed to carry believers into a “new life” (Acts 5:20), a “new creation” (Gal 6:15) in Christ Jesus.

The Cross is God’s peremptory act toward humans when Christ “died for all” (2 Cor 5:14). He endured what was an ample equivalent for all the punishment which could be inflicted upon a deserving criminal and all workers of iniquity encompassing all of humanity.  “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

Peace To Those Far Away and Near Each Other

To the Jewish nation where it all started, now, to the entire world, far away.  Everyone can worship God by faith, wherever they are located in the world. In any place, they can find peace with God. To those in Western worship houses, and those in Middle Eastern or African worship houses, all are to be brought together in heart, since all are reconciled by becoming “one body, one Spirit…one Lord, one faith and one baptism” (Eph 4:4,5), by faith, in Christ. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink” (1 Cor 12:13). For “the mind of the Spirit,” dwelling in us believers, “is life and peace” (Rom 8:6).

•  “And all these things are from God who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and who has given us the ministry of reconciliation. In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us [entrusted us] the message of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18-19 NET)

This idea has not been understood among all believers. God would have us accept other believers who have been reconciled to God. Even if they do have different religious houses of worship, practice their faith within their culture, and have peace with God. “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Col 3:15).

All different groups of believers, who love God and seek to honor, praise, and do what “pleases Him” (1 John 3:22), are by God brought into one body in Christ by faith, “for we are all members of one body” (Eph 4:25). This is the way it will be in the resurrection and in New Jerusalem.

Jesus announces peace between all believers, to avoid judgment, to avoid feeling superior, to prevent any distinction that creates a separation from others who have faith in Christ. Even if another believer from a different culture has some religious practices unfamiliar to the other, this will not create an impossible separation when both have peace with God. Jesus has taught us, “Do not judge…Do not condemn…Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Lk 6:37).

With believers of different customs of dress and worship, whom we might see as holding error in some things, leave them in God’s hands. “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Will you also step into a wider embrace of other believers who love our Lord Jesus Christ with the same passion you do? Yes, we will!

Ephesians 2:18 For through him [Christ] we both [all humanity] have [direct] access to the Father by one [common, same] Spirit. NIV

2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. NKJV

2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near, 2:18 so that through him [Christ] we both [Jews & Gentiles] have access in one Spirit to the Father. NET

Summary so far in the 2nd Chapter of Ephesians

• 2:1-3—Before the knowledge of Christ, we were dead in our sins

• 2:5-6—Due to God’s rich mercy and great love—He made us alive in Christ.

• 2:7—God has long-range plans for us—into all eternity

• 2:8-9—Grace has been given us by faith so that we can do good

• 2:11-13—Formerly we were separated from Christ; now by His blood we are brought near.

• 2:14-17—God has made it possible for all humanity to become united in one new body and a new life.

• 2:18—Within this new humanity, we have access to God by one Holy Spirit in each of us.

Access to the Father by One Spirit

The NET Bible translates this as “so that through him,” that is, Christ, “we both,” that is, Jews and Pagans, now in all locations and language groups can “have access in one Spirit to the Father.” When believers have the Spirit that “lives with you” and is “in you” (John 14:17), they will be given direct “access by faith into this [God’s] grace in which we now [securely] stand” (Rom 5:2).

Notice the all-encompassing aspects of God’s call for peace between believers all over the world. Why should we not have peace—they have the Same Savior, the Same Father; but most importantly, we have inside us the same "one Spirit" (Eph 4:4).

This is a new humanity, where racism and sexism are non-existent, where national geographic boundaries don’t exist. Where “love in the Spirit” (Col 1:8) is expressed between all peoples who, by Christ, have been “anointed,” and where God has “set his seal of ownership on us and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Cor 1:21,22).

Wheat and Tares

So why are there so many divisions, walls of separation, between believers? The easy answer is one we don’t like to look at. An “enemy” has sowed this separation, even hatred, between believers of different races, colors, nationalities, cultures, and heritage. Believers will offer “peace to you who are far away,” from themselves in many ways, “peace to those who are near,” our neighbors.

• “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.” (Matt 13:24-30)

A Little Flock is Spirit-Filled

So why are there so many walls of separation between believers? The answer is that among the believers there is a smaller, Spirit-filled group that will not allow separation from others who are very different from them.  Jesus speaks of his believers as a little flock of birds, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32).

Paul says, “So too, at present there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5). This Spirit-filled remnant displays the hand of God, “God’s handiwork” (2:10), in their attitudes of peace and love toward other believers in Christ. The “blood of Christ” brings us “near” (Eph 2:13) to each other. The Spirit of God lives in every born-again believer, bringing love and peace among believers. If they don’t, they are, at present, growing into “tares” set to lose eternal life.

Those who “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16) will know the difference between “tares” and “wheat.” Between those who love God with all their hearts and their neighbors with the same heart they love God. They relate to others in “purity, understanding, patience and kindness, in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love” (2 Cop 6:6). They “carry each other’s burdens,” and thus, “fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

The “tares” seek honor and glory for themselves and abuse others who don’t follow their lead. They preach isolation from others; they demand loyalty and unending financial support. They claim to have certain truths just for themselves which make them special, while others are less favored by God and thus deceived and lost.

Access to God, through Christ, through the Spirit, All the Time

The Greek word access means we can approach God, the “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:6), with confidence.  We have assurance that we can be admitted directly to the audience with our Father God. The point is that, through Christ, this is made possible for the Spirit to do on our behalf. Who alone is qualified to do this for us, for who knows “the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God” (1 Cor 2:11)?

The connection between the Spirit and our Father God is very close, so much so that they know each other’s thoughts and plans into the far eternity. Can there possibly be a better way to access God, who dwells in another dimension of space, unapproachable by any human? But the Spirit of God is more than able to give us access to talk, to prayer, to praise, to seek counsel and direction for our lives, from our Creator. Think about the profound implication of this privilege.

This access is available day or night, 24 hours a day, 60 minutes an hour, 3,600 seconds an hour. Since the Spirit comes “from the Father” (John 15:26), it is the Spirit that gives us access to the Father as we “pray in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18). Pray, sensing the Spirit’s presence in your life. Praying “in the Spirit,” as we “live by the Spirit” (Gal 5:25), as we are to be “led by the Spirit” (Gal 5:18) and to “walk by the Spirit” (Gal 5:16). When we are walking and living by the Spirit, we will be focused on the gospel story, not speculations on prophecy or an uncertain doctrine, because the Spirit’s voice is tuned to “testify(ing) about me,” (John 15:26), as Jesus taught us.

So enthused was Jesus when talking about the coming of the “advocate to help you” (John 14:16) that he saw infinite possibilities open to Spirit-filled believers. Jesus said, “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13,14). That is, God will be “glorified,” be praised and honored as a result of answered prayers. 

When we ask in prayer, ask carefully, examining our motives and the results, to see if God should answer that prayer. It is good to remember what the brother of Jesus said, “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3).

The Greek word prosagógé used for access means to draw near and to approach, to have an audience and direct access. Now imagine, we are admitted directly into the presence of our Father God, in prayer. It is from the resurrection of Christ that all humanity has been given access to their God the Father.  For it is through the means of the Spirit we are welcomed into God the Father’s presence. We all- men, women, children, every race of humanity, all levels of education and wealth—have the same direct access to God from the common Holy Spirit. In the Spirit, by the Spirit, and through the means of the Spirit, we are welcomed into God the Father’s presence. We are “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:22). What a privilege!

Citizenship in God’s Household

Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers [noncitizens], but fellow citizens with God’s people and also [all together] members [fellow-citizens] of his household. NIV.

2:19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. NKJV

2:19 Then, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens of the holy ones, and of the household of God. Literal Standard Version

Consequently

Because the “wall of hostility” between all peoples of the world has been “destroyed” (Eph 2:14), there now remains only “one new humanity” (Eph 2:15). They are bound together by “peace” (Eph 2:17) to be peaceful with each other. Now they can emerge as a new group, God’s people, members of His household.

What does it mean to be a citizen of God’s household? What is God’s household? It is those who are family members to God. We live in his house, by means of “His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom 8:11). When in Christ by faith, we are “built together to become a dwelling [place] where God lives by His Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

In effect, God’s house is where His Spirit is present, through “the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father” (John 15:26), the Spirit that comes from Him. As John writes, “This is how we know [know it for sure] that we live in Him [abide, reside] and He in us: He has given us His Spirit” (1 John 4:12).

We are citizens of heaven with all the other believers, “all His holy ones” (1 Thess 3:13); together we dwell in the “kingdom of light” (Col 1:12). We are part of all that belongs to the household of God.

Let’s be practical. It is time to stop feeling all alone in the world. A “virgin” has already conceived and given birth “to a son” whose name is “Immanuel which means ‘God with us ’ (Matt 1:23). God is with you; you are part of His family that He has promised to care for, to provide for—through the means of His Spirit being born in us. Thus, giving us a clear channel to His presence, His aid, his help, His directions, His training, His promises, His support, His compassion, and His lovingkindness. We are not alone. We belong to a family, the family of God. Embrace this idea.

God is a Father to Many, Individually and All Together

What a wonder, we all have the “same Spirit” (1 Cor 12:8), which provides “access” Eph 2:18) into God’s presence. All together we sit with “our Father” (1:2) in “heavenly places” (Eph 1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10).

 Consequently, all who are influenced by God’s Spirit, believers in Jesus, are no longer strangers to each other, as Jesus said to his disciples, “I have called you friends” (John 15:15). If we consider ourselves “friends” of God (that is amazing), other believers are just as much friends as you are. Believers are to be friends who share and teach one another; when they are friends with God, they will be friends with one another.

Being admitted to this special class of friends with God, our degrees of education, the amount of wealth we may have, the size of our home, our large office staff, or credentials that we hold for high church office—none of these matters at all. For now, all around the world, all can be admitted into this vast company and know they are friends with God the Father. They copy the prayer of Jesus, who said, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven '” (Matt 6:9). Notice the plural word “Our Father.”

The Apostle John tells us, “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him” (1 John 5:1 NET Bible). Solemnly, see for yourselves that God has fathered you. He has placed Himself inside you (1 John 3:24) by His Spirit. He has given you love from Himself into your heart. When we meet another with the same “undying love” (Eph 6:24) for the Father as we have, we see that the love of God is in them also. They simultaneously see that we love their Father as they do. We see a family resemblance. They automatically trust and love that person with a divine love. This is the kind of “Love does no harm to a neighbor” (Rom 13:10). It can’t.

Since God’s love and God’s presence are abiding in us, we will have faith in His Son. We can’t change this. Often, without even saying a word to each other. We can feel it, see it, and know it for what it is: God is their Father just as much as He is our Father.

Made Alive and Raised Up with Christ

Now that we have been “made alive with Christ” (Eph 2:4) and “raised up with Christ” (Eph 2:6) by God’s actions called his “handiwork” (Eph 2:10). So the next step in God’s plan is to give us free “citizenship… in heaven” (Phil 3:20), which allows us to come and go in prayer, by “access to the Father by one Spirit” (Eph 2:18), who knows that “your Father in heaven (will) give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matt 7:11).

No Longer Foreigners

With “one spirit” (Eph 2:18) and “one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:6), we all stand all together, as children of God, called to “one hope” and “one faith” (Eph 4:4). With no distinctions of race, color, creed, or sex. They mean nothing to believers that are “born of God” (1 John 4:7) and are “children of God” (1 John 3:2), standing “firm in all the will of God” (Col 4:12). Men cannot dominate women, claiming privileges women are excluded, since this is not the case of those who “love all of God’s family” (1 Thess 4:10). Now every believer has “boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him (Christ)” (Eph 3:12 NKJV).

Think of how God’s family is broken if one of his sons or daughters should abuse another believer. Peter has warned us to “respect as the weaker partner, as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers” (1 Pet 3:7). To be joined into the family, not to be a foreigner, one who belongs to the family of God, and from that privileged position one should abuse another, is unthinkable. Paul warns us, “Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks, or the church of God— even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved” (1 Cor 10:32,33).

Citizens of New Earth and the New City of New Jerusalem

We have a passport that lists us as citizens of the “kingdom of Christ and of God” (Eph 5:5). We live with this knowledge and privilege. All of God’s children share the same passport. No longer unrelated—now all are family of God, welcomed at the table of God. There God will “anoint my head with oil” and cause “my cup to overflow” with His “goodness and love” that will “follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps 23).

Revelation pictures the redeemed as they arrived in heaven; they appear to John as a “Great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (Rev 7:9). They are not in groups, standing apart from others; they are all standing together.

God’s People Whom He Regards as His Saints

This is why we have direct access to the Father through prayer. We are the people that God has “set his seal of ownership on us” (2 Cor 1:21).

The Greek does not use the word "ownership"; however, the NIV translation renders the word "sealed" as "ownership." While the NLT adds the meaning of being sealed with the word “certified.” This is a very sobering thought, to think of ourselves as being owned by God, because we believe in His Son; He gives us the Holy Spirit. Our privileged sealing does not come to us on account of what we have worked for or our belief system. It comes by believing in “the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation” (Eph 1:13).

Paul’s Prayer for the Ephesians Members

Paul was so pleased to say to the Ephesians, “I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people”; thus, Paul continues, “I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Eph 1:15-16).

Paul does not mention being thankful because the Ephesians were faithful to the vegetarian or vegan diet, prescribed doctrine by a church. No, instead, Paul said the opposite: “the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Rom 14:17). Throughout world history, there have been many famines in which food is scarce. The Spirit moves with God's love, despite the food one must eat to survive. Thank God it is this way. What matters is their love “for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thess 3:12). As John said, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).

         Paul has given us advice not to let “disputable matters” come between believers. These are matters that God has specified in the Gospel as behavior that pleases the Lord.

• “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them” (Rom 14:1-3)

Is this the experience of most churches today? Believers, for the most part, are separated into lines of race, wealth, education, music style, worship style, and the foods they eat. But is this God’s plan or purpose for offering us citizenship in heaven, where there is love and loyalty to each other as brothers and sisters, members of the same household, His household? “Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever” (Ps 136:26). In heaven, dwelling close to God the Father and His Son, “who loves us” (Rev 1:5), the redeemed of the Lord will radiate love from God to all the others present.

Heaven Will Become a Place of Love for Each Other Unknown on Earth

This heavenly place in which we are to soon to really live starts in our lives in here and now.

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love…And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:8,16). On earth, we honour the rule of love, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt 7:12). And we learn to “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Col 3:13). And “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Eph 4:32).

• Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in everyone's eyes. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:17-21)

An Imaginative View of the Saved in Heaven

John was given a vision of all the redeemed gathered into the Holy City. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations” (Rev 22:1-2).

         The redeemed, those purchased by God, come from all the nations of the world. Heathen, pagan society, poor, abandoned, with limited diet and education levels. Coming from dark societies across the span of time. The saved in heaven will sing in unison: “They sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev 5:9).

Since this large tree of life will bear a different fruit every month, we can learn several things. First, there is a passage of time in heaven. Second, although there is no sin or disease in heaven, there remain some needs to be healed.

There is something special about the leaves of this tree of life. We could suggest an idea. Perhaps, as we touch or hold a leaf from this tree, it unites us all together in spirit and heart. Giving us the ability to know, to love, and to relate to each other as children of God should. These leaves heal all the possible separations in such a large number of people from huge, diverse societies into a harmonious unity, a necessary part of eternal life.

The leaves of the same tree that each of us hold together will give us a closer connection than we have ever experienced on earth, except maybe in twins. Separation, alienation, and division can never take place again! The Family of God will never be distant from each other; they have an awareness of each other, closer, more like brothers and sisters or children and parents. A new family is born—the family of God. Since this is God’s tree and He created the leaves we all hold together, perhaps God and His Son are holding the same leaves with us.

Considering the millions saved, of all ages—we don’t really know each other as friends and family. Now as God’s children, we can know each other as He knows us. The redeemed strangers we meet in that Holy City will know us, and we will know them, in love and openness. For none of us has anything to hide from the other or be ashamed of. 

Ephesians 2:20 [We are] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 2:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises [grows] to become a holy temple [sanctuary] in the Lord. 2:22 And in him [Christ] you too are being built together to become a dwelling [place] in which God lives by His Spirit. NIV

2:20 Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 2:21 in whom [in him] the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 2:22 in whom [in him] you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. NKJV

Summary: Believers stand on a finished, “already laid” foundation.

The First part of the foundation is the cornerstone, the largest and most solid stone that bears the entire weight of the walls and the building above it. It also ensures alignment between the wall and the building, improving the structure's durability and accuracy. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11).

The Second part of the foundation was the Apostles, who continued Jesus' ministry for all believers.

The third part of the foundation was the Prophets, such as Isaiah and the Psalms, that point us to the coming of Christ and his atoning death for sin. The Old Testament accounts provide a historical foundation for Jesus and the Apostles. Nobody, no organization, no other religion can come anywhere close to the historical accounts that build faith in the Messiah, who was foretold centuries before the event by hundreds of examples.

Purpose of This Foundation

To provide a dwelling place, a temple, a sanctuary where God dwells in by His Spirit. This is patterned after the Old Testament tabernacle where God said, “make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them” (Ex 25:8). Now, in New Testament times, the difference is that believers themselves are the building built on the foundation already provided. Believers are brought into Christ to be part of the building of this new worldwide temple. Each believer is joined together with other believers, forming the walls and structure of this building, a palace where God dwells among them, through His Spirit. 

We become a home for the Spirit to dwell. Believers, individually and all together, are like a moving temple, where God the Father dwells in us by God’s Spirit. The Spirit represents Him, veiled in our human body. God plans that, through His Spirit, we are united with other believers; together, we grow into a holy temple where God dwells. We should remember this so that no one thinks they have the right to lord it over God's property.

The Foundation: Apostles and Prophets

The Apostles are the foundation of our Christian faith and practice.  Jesus said that He would continue His teachings through His disciples and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit [Advocate] of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.  And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning” (John 16:27).

The cornerstone on which the Apostles rest makes one foundation, so the foundation of our faith is what the Apostles built on Christ. Together, they form a solid building, supported by the life of Jesus and His Apostles, and predicted by the Old Testament prophets, a place where God lives by His Spirit. A new temple, not of one location with a visible structure, but held together by those who have been “born of the Spirit” (John 3:6).

As Jesus told the Woman at the Well: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23,24).

We Should Carry in our Minds that we are the Honored Dwelling Place for God.

We should carry a vivid sense that, wherever we are, whatever we may be doing, we are highly honored to be a dwelling place for God, not on paper. Still, by means of “God’s Spirit” or “Spirit of God” (1 Cor 3:16). As “God’s children” (Rom 9:8), adopted by Him, He shares himself through means of “His Spirit” (2 Cor 1:22). Thus, we are highly privilege to have direct access to God, through the Spirit, where we can live always “instant in prayer” (Rom 12:12 KJV).

Cannot Ever Add Anything New to the Foundation

Anytime a minister, a priest, a modern prophet, or a church adds to this foundation something that was not part of the teachings of Jesus or his Apostles—it should be rejected. This one true foundation excludes the laws of the Torah as well as requirements imposed by church authority based on traditions. Nothing ever must be taught as essential, a requirement, placed alongside Paul, Peter, or Jesus as equal authority.

Through the years of Christian practice, hundreds of various requirements and creeds have been demanded of believers, calling them essential or testing truths.  They all must be rejected if they fall outside the parameters of the New Testament's clear teachings. Because the foundation cannot be added to, it is finished and has already been laid down for us to be established on.

For truth for us to embrace has already “in these last days” been “spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Heb 1:2). Can anyone add something to this “tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation” (Isa 28:16)? NO! Nobody can!

The True Foundation is Given an Eternal Foundation—Forever and Ever

The foundation laid by Jesus and the Apostles is given eternal recognition. “The wall of the city [New Jerusalem] had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles” (Rev 21:14). On this foundation, the Holy City of New Jerusalem, there are no other names of authority mentioned. All so-called church leaders, priests, pastors, Bishops, theology professors, or modern prophets should all take heed. If they teach something not clearly established from this foundation, their teaching and authority are to be given no place in Christian belief.

In the news, we read an account of a minister of the gospel who declared himself to be an Apostle of Christ. He claimed to have spoken with God and to be able to raise the dead. Sadly, he raised millions of dollars in his MAGA church and lived in a very expensive home. Through Paul, God has warned us all, but they were not listening.

Jesus also warned us, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves” (Matt 7:15). The word prophet applies to anyone who claims to have a message that God has inspired them to share.

Christians are to be Friends with Other Believers who Love the Lord

Since it is by the Spirit that we are united to Christ, and since that same Spirit is united to many others to God individually but also collectively with other believers. Of all peoples, believers in Christ are to be social, caring for other believers who share the same Spirit. An anti-social Christian is an oxymoron. So also are congregations that feel superior and worship separately from other believers, believing they are the special last day people of God.

The Spirit dwelling in believers from all around the world cannot be exclusive. Why? Because the Spirit is personal to a believer, given to them “wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives” (Col 1:9), while at the same time providing wisdom for Asian, European, Americans, or those in the West Indies. The Spirit individualizes himself for man, woman, or child—all over the world at one time.

What Paul has told us is a wonderful privilege. However, we are to be on guard, for Jesus said, “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” (Matt 24:11). How can we tell the difference? They present themselves as messengers of God, teaching that cannot be supported in Jesus or the Apostles. They point to themselves as the truth, creating an exclusive group of the saved that arises from their own self-understanding and their interpretation of Scripture.

Chief Cornerstone, Chief Centerpiece

Faith in Christ Jesus is the centerpiece of the new temple God is building. Jesus’s teachings and life are to be united with the Apostles; both altogether become the whole building. We worship through that building.

We cannot separate just Jesus from the Apostles; they stand together in a united message of the Gospel. This is what holds the building upright amid storms, floods, high winds, and earthquakes. Nothing can take it down, nothing at all. Throughout history, many detractors have tried to discredit the Gospel account, but they all failed. 

The Gospel has additional support from all the OT witnesses, but these are just additional claims to the integrity of the Gospel account. The internal witness of the Holy Spirit is the greatest of all witnesses to the truth of faith and love that are found in the gospel story.

In Christ we are Being Built Together.

Take note of the words "built and joined together"; they refer to Jesus and the Apostles. This is the new sanctuary, dwelling place, where God lives by the same His Spirit, giving this sanctuary his full power of approval. This is an entirely new kind of worship. This is not Judaism, not Protestantism or Catholicism. The new worship, the New Testament church, has the Spirit that connects all believers.

Wherever we live, whether in Kansas, Mozambique, the Northwest Territories, or Catalina Island. We all stand on the same foundation, spiritually, not on earth, but on Christ and the disciples. The Spirit of God is the means by which we all, around the world, are joined together. Thus, all of us must be kind and good to one another because we are all members of the same worship temple built by the Spirit that cements us all together. Anyone who moves apart to create a distinctly different doctrine breaks us from this foundation and causes a huge loss from separation.

“In whom the whole building,” all believers around the world, are “being fitted together” to grow “into a holy temple in the Lord”

The New Testament teaching is very plain. Believers are the temple, the church, or sanctuary of God. There is no longer a central temple or sanctuary. God used to dwell in the Sanctuary, just above the Ark of the Covenant. Not anymore. Now instead, God dwells through “His Spirit who lives in you” (Rom 8:11). Yes, God makes his dwelling place inside feeble, fallen believers with inherited tendencies to sin. This takes place after we are Born Again or “born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).

At the very start of the ministry of Jesus, when he cleansed the temple- an event that happens inside believers today, every day, every minute we are sustained by His influence to demand that the evil that has overtaken us be cast out. The Jewish leaders asked, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” In other words, what right do you have to cleanse our temple? Who do you think you are? Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:18,19). Here Jesus teaches that there is now a new temple. Jesus is the foundation of this new temple, raised up from the grave. Believers also are “raised with Christ” (Col 3:1), to become a temple for the Spirit of God to live in, in all believers, all at the same time.

• Our bodies are “the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you” (1 Cor 6:19).

• “For we are the temple of the living God” (2 Cor 6:16).

• “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? …For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are” (1 Cor 3:16,18 NKJV)

• “The Lord of heaven and earth does not dwell in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24)

Extra Dialog

The Loss of Our Free Will

 and Its Restoration in Christ

The Premise

Some believers claim that Christ died to preserve our free will. The claim is that everyone of age has free will to choose to follow or not follow Christ Jesus. It is our choice to repent of our sin or not.

Instead, Christ died so that we might have free will. He died to set the prisoners of sin free. To “proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Lk 4:18). It is by God’s action that we are rescued, giving us free will, for we would never choose to be His disciples.

To the contrary, God is the only one who can rescue us from the kingdom of darkness. Jesus told his disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you [made it possible] so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John15:16).

• “For he [God] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col 1:13,14).

We Are Born With a Sinful Nature, which is labeled “the flesh” about 80 times in the New Testament.

 “There is none righteous, no, not one;

There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.”

(Romans 3:10-12)

There are eight negatives, representing the universality of sin, neglect, and forgetfulness of God. Not even one has done good, without evil in between—there is no exception.

“Their throat is an open tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit;

The poison of asps is under their lips.

Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Destruction and misery are in their ways;

And the way of peace they have not known.

There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

(Rom 3:13-18)

The whole body is familiar with the ways of sin. Our throats, tongues, lips, mouth, feet, and eyes are all turned away from purity, truth, honesty, faithfulness, and true love. The whole human body, head to toe, is poisoned by sin. Thus we have no natural freedom to love the Lord with all our hearts.

• “It is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  For I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me” (Rom 7:17-20).

Adam and Eve had Free Will.

God created Adam and Eve with free will, saying to them: “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat [choose to eat] from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you [choose to] eat from it you will certainly die” (Gen 2:16,17). They had the power to choose whether to eat from that tree or not. They had a clear picture of the consequences if they should choose to eat from that tree, “for when you eat from it you will certainly die” (Gen 3:17).

For the will to be free, it needs a clear picture of God's requirements or commands, as well as the consequences of that choice. This is the basis of Free Will: to understand the will of God, as taught in the Gospels.

Free Will is Conditional

 Why did Adam and Eve use their own free will to disobey God? It is because they did not take time to pray. Adam did not even suggest to Eve that they should ask God what, in His judgment, would be best for them to do. No, he acted on his own judgment, using his own free will.

Eve used her own judgment without giving thought to discussing it with her Creator before she decided to eat from that fruit. 

Here is the point to remember. Adam and Eve’s Edenic perfection did not make their judgment good independently of God's will and judgment. They needed God’s wisdom even while living in Eden. Their best judgments could not be trusted. They had Free Will, but without inquiring into the will of God, their Free Will was flawed when they relied solely on their own judgment or reason.

Cain depended on his own judgment.

Cain believed that, in his judgment, his garden fruits should be accepted as much as his brother’s lamb.

Society before the Flood

The entire world in the time of Noah believed that, in their judgment, rain couldn't flood the world. They felt no need to inquire after the will of God in prayer, realizing that their own wisdom could not be trusted.

 Following their expulsion from Eden, there was a further loss of what we call an enlightened free will. The immediate family of Adam and Eve sank into total depravity. Even as Noah preached 120 years, even as Adam and Eve lived among them for about 900 years, even as animals moved into the ark Noah had built—the entire human population revealed that they were “darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (Eph 4:18). Their society laughed at Noah’s crazy idea of building a huge ship in the middle of dry land.  

 They trusted their darkened will, with its flawed wisdom and understanding, seeing no need to seek God's will for enlightenment. Their wills were in bondage to darkness.

•  “Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous before You.” (Ps 143:2)

Jesus teaches us to seek God's will, not to trust our own Judgment.

Jesus taught us to pray the Lord’s Prayer. “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:9,10). This prayer asks that our wills be led and submitted to God's will rather than our own ideas.

Believers must daily look to the will of God for their lives, because their own free will, which is based on their judgment and wisdom, will always lead them astray. History has repeated this millions of times. The society that lived just before the flood had the eyes of their understanding closed; they lived in the “dominion of darkness” (Col 1:13), created by relying on their own will and wisdom, with no desire to understand God's will. They thought they had free will to choose what to believe, but their wills were not free to choose the truth unless enlightened by God.

True free will must always be enlightened daily by God. Otherwise, we will think that our wills are free to choose what is best for us. But our choices are influenced by our misunderstanding. We will end up choosing a path that appears true but is filled with mistakes, sorrows, and regrets. “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Prov 14:12 NKJV). “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” (Jer 17:9).

• “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Jer 55:8,9)

Human History: Self-righteous Judgments

Speaking about the long history of humanity, God has declared, “no one is righteous, not even one; there is no one that understands; there is no one who seeks God…there is no one that does good, not even one” (Rom 3:10-12). This is total depravity, which includes our wills. For they are inclined to go astray: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray; each of us has turned to our own way” (Isa 53:6).

Apart from God revealing Himself to us, our human wills are “dead to sin,” causing us to “obey its evil desire” (Rom 6:11,12).

• “But we are all like an unclean thing,

And all our righteiousness are like [b]filthy rags;

We all fade as a leaf,

And our iniquities, like the wind,

Have taken us away.

And there is no one who calls on Your name,

Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;

For You have hidden Your face from us,

And have consumed us because of our iniquities. (Isa 66:6,7)

Unless God rescues “us from the dominion of darkness and brought (brings) us into the kingdom of the Son he loves” (Col 1:13), we will forever remain following after the “fruitless deeds of darkness” (Eph 5:11). We will be just like the citizens of post Eden society who lost their lives in the ensuing flood waters because they trusted their judgments in what they thought were their freedom of choice, but it was bondage and death. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23).

• “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die. Yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:6-8)

God’s “great love” and “rich mercy” (2:4) are the Means He Awakens us

From creation, God has equipped humanity with means to reach us while dead in sin. He has given us the ability to love. We find a natural love for our spouses and children, and we enjoy romantic love that softens our hearts.

Love is a portal that God uses to reach hardened hearts, darkened in understanding the will of God. This portal of human love enables us to be drawn to and appreciate God's love for us individually. God speaks to our conscience-heart, in channels He created inside us at creation, in our “inner being” (3:16). Now God says to us, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5:14). It is the love of God shining on the dead conscience that wakes us up. That “began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil 1:6).

God’s love for us, His love for “the world” (John 3:16) awakens love implanted at the creation of man. God shows us “kindness, forbearance and patience.” And “in love” (Eph 1:4), which will “lead you to repentance” (Rom 2:4). As Jesus said, “though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children” (Matt 7:11), this ability to give and receive love in form of gifts to each other, opens the door for the gospel story of the love of God which was “demonstrated” (Rom 3:25,26) on the cross, offering us justification, forgiveness, peace and adoption into the family of God accompanied with eternal life—calls for the human will, to choose the love of God in return. Jesus speaks to us: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love” (John 15:9).

With the love of God shining into our darkened understanding and hardened hearts, our will is set Free. As Jesus said, “He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Lk 4:18). “You are all children of the light and children of the day.” Children of God with enlightened understanding.  “We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thess 5:5).

We must always remember that our natural wills, untouched by God’s love, are not free to serve God from our hearts. Instead, Peter says we are chosen and called; “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet 2:9).

Jesus came into this world in a story of love, beginning with the account of God’s Son being born in a manger in a barn. This account touches on human love, which evokes in us a response of appreciation for God’s love. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Now our wills are free to say, “Yes, Lord, I am all yours.” Mary, who had been in doubt when her brother died, replied to Jesus, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:27). Her will to believe was set free by her encounter with the gospel and life of Jesus. 

John, who knew Jesus loved him, said, “This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). No bondage of our wills, but freedom to respond to the love of God. Yes, Lord, we love you, yes, we do. Once our wills have been enlightened by the Spirit that has implanted the love of God into our hearts, we have an obligation to use our free will to follow the ways of the Lord, as made plain to our conscience. What God enlightens, he empowers with the ability “to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age” (Titus 2:12).

• For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ” (2 Cor 4:6). The expression, “let light shine out of darkness,” is an allusion to Gen 1:3 and Isa 9:6.

• “We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true [the true God].” (1 John 5:20).

• “The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace” (Rom 8:6).

Written by: Brothers & Sisters in Scripture Fellowship

End of Ephesians Chapter 2

Read & Study More

Ephesians 3

1 John 1

Colossians 1

You Must Be Born Again

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