The Book of Ephesians – passages specific to God’s Plan for Man’s – SALVATION
Ephesians 1
v.3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. v.4 – For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, v.5 – he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – v.6 – to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. v.7 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace v.8 – that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. v.9 – And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, v.10 – to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fullfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
v.11 – In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, v.12 – in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. v.13 – And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, v.14 – who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
v.15 – For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, v.16 – I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. v.17 – I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. v.18 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, v.19 – and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, v.20 – which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, v.21 – far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. v.22 – And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, v.23 – which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 2
v.1 – As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, v.2 – in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. v.3 – All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. v.4 – But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, v.5 – made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. v.6 – And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, v.7 – in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. v.8 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – adn this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – v.9 – not by works, so that no one can boast. v.10 – For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
One in Christ
v.11 – Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth are called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) – v.12 – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and for foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. v.13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
v.14 – For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, v.15 – by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, v.16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. v.17 – He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. v.18 – For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
v.19 – Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, v.20 – built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. v.21 – In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. v.22 – And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Ephesians 5
v.3 – But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. v.4 – Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. v.5 – For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. v.6 – Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. v.7 – Therefore do not be partners with them.
September 04 2009 | New Testament - Salvation | No Comments »
Abram’s walk – much like our own walk – found him – too ….. stumbling ….. questioning …. fearful – with an anxious spirit …. and in battle …..
Pick up a copy of The Word and let’s go for a Walk -with Abram! Go on – get your Bible
Walking …… Read. Gen. 12:10-16
“Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to reside there as an alien, for the famine was severe in the land.” v.10
While Abram took his first steps in his walk with God - full of faith - it wasn’t long before an anxious spirit began to work against Abram – “Crisis Moments” perhaps, shook Abram’s faith – such that – can you believe that he was willing to risk his wife! - to save his own life?!?
God’s purpose – God’s plans - not only surrounded Abram when his faith was strong - but in his anxious moments - as well. While Abram stumbled in his walk of faith – much like we, too – abandon our faith and forumulate plans of our own making — God – continued - faithful!
Father - as I walk each day – keep me close to you – keep me faithful. I wobble and I stumble. In crisis moments - an anxious spirit and fear – like a fog – rolls in and hides from me – your promises – and challenges - my faith. But Father - when I stumble - you do not leave me. Thank you for your ever-constant grace and mercy. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen.12:17-20
“Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her, and be gone.” v.19
Consider – that our Father – remains our Father – even when we loose sight of His promises and stumble in our walk. Even more – consider – that we do not need to ever be afraid or overcome by an anxious spirit – because our faith is in a Father who will never leave us. When we walk with God – we stumble – boy do we! – never-the-less – in those moments when we loose faith – It is the very image and purpose of our Father – within us – that those who threaten us -must ultimately deal with – whether they are aware of it or not. I suppose the question is – are we aware of it? How do we view God? In Relationship?
Thank you Father - for being so true to me – In Relationship – even when I stumble! Help me stand firm in your faithfulness and to be more aware of how you work in all people – and in all events – not just in those that I decide - are worthy of Your purpose and Your will. Help me to consider how your faithfulness -provided for Abram – a way out of his mistakes – and a path forward – toward your plans for Him – in his walk with you. Help me to view you, Father – In Relationship – and in deeper trust – such that I will stumble less – yet – when I do stumble – help me to remain aware – of how you continue to work your Will for my life – as I return daily to our walk – together. You are an Awesome God! Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 13:1-7
So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negev. v.1
Change – Things have changed - Abram has become very wealthy and now he finds himself in a very different position. He has just been down in Egypt – burdened by an anxious spirit - barely surviving – with his life and now he is abundantly rich - faced with the problem of too much! It has been said that poverty brings with it one set of problems – while wealth – another. The extremes – are often difficult to avoid. Finding the “humility and contentment of the middle ground” – now, there’s a challenge to faith. I find it interesting that Abram traveled from place to place – until he came to Bethel – to the very place where he had first built an altar – where he must have been reminded – of his covenant with God – and where he surely considered – to one degree or another – that in his Walk – he had let “extreme changes”, “foolish pride” and “selfish plans” – rob precious Fathering Moments from his walk with God. He built another altar and Abram called on the name of the Lord.
Help me, Father – to avoid the extremes – the dangerous “edges”. Whether I have a lot or little - Father, lead me into a faith relationship with You - that seeks your plans and your kingdom first! Remind me, Father – often – of your promises – and more clearly – as we walk together - keep me humble and content. Teach me that poverty is not a curse – nor is wealth a blessing. In my daily walk - in whatever condition I find myself - I will be content - in pursuing your will. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 13:8-13
Then Abram said to Lot, “Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herders and my herders; for we are kindred.” v.8
I suppose – it would be more common, than not – to find a stingy/greedy spirit – associated with “abundance” – rather than – a generous one. Abundance does tend to make us want more. But Abram was generous. It was far more important to him to – nurture “kindred” relationships – than position himself and his possessions – above others.
Dear Lord - nurture within me a generous spirit. I don’t want to be a person who ”clings to things”. Make me aware of how posessions – or the lack of them – in abundance – can affect my relationship with you. Help me to be a person who freely gives and shares – Thank your Father for such a gift of blessing – in Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen
Walking ….. Read. Gen. 13:14-18
“…for all the land that you see – I will give to you and to your offspring forever.” v.15
Abram’s giving spirit released the best of the land to Lot and in return – God blessed Abram – with more. So Abram moved his tents and went to live near the great trees of Mamre, at Hebron where he built an altar to the Lord – sound familiar? - and with eyes of faith Abram focused his vision on the plans and promises of his Father. Perhaps – human ambition – could be said to be one of the most destructive forces – against faith. Consider how this walk began. Read Gen. 12:1-3, again. Consider the walk so far. How much farther and deeper – can the eyes of faith see - than the eyes of ambition?
Dear God, sometimes my sight is focused to near to my feet and I fail to see the land of promise and blessing you have stretched out before me - beyond even – the horizon. Help me to look for your plans and promises – as I lift up eyes of faith. Amen
September 01 2009 | Fathering Moments - The Daily Walk and Living in the Word | No Comments »