Ephesians  2

Ephesians 2

Description of the Spiritually Dead 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 incomplete sentence, intentionally written, to leave the readers in suspense while they wait for the solution to their spiritual dilemma, as Paul presents it in Ephesians 2:4-10.

You Ephesians

  Paul is reminding the Ephesians that before they were Christians, they were dedicated pagans. They resisted anything that would cause them to lose allegiance to the Roman and Greek pagan temples and their rituals.

You were Spiritually Dead

  In the 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 to a neighbour’s spouse or anger to 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 favours. 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), ever please Him all on their own. But the awaken in Christ and Spirit filled believers can and do live to please God.

“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).

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 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 believed 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 not worshiped any more. What has taken its place is the status of wealth, becoming media or sports stars, success in business or having an elite educational status, creating for oneself wealth beyond estimate. 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 ended life, taking selfish advantage of opportunities, with little regard to 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 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” (Eph 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 Greek-Roman way of life, focused on wars of aggression, oppression with slavery of thousands and paganism in every form was promoted and encouraged. Rome was a proud empire; they were proud of the Roman Way and were prejudicial to non-Romans.

The Internet, the kingdom of the air

  Little did Paul know what we know today about the air—internet and the public media. It is worldwide with its movies that entertain the world’s minds, young and old. Through the secular media, there are over thousands of channels of every language in the world. It offers a large percent, to all humanity, endless meaningless talk, and endless non-stop entertainment. Often violent or sexually based, which 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 Devil, “the prince of this world’” (John 14:30; 16:11), in their legislation and policies. Through the media, government policies, 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 newspaper and radio, that evil could use to create dark influences. From Hitlers 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 which make up about 90% of the world’s population. Evil can be just nonsense, daily hours on games, sport channels, leaving no room for spiritual endeavours. 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 belivers 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, in science, in all world cultures, in education and in 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, during his last comments, 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, from the command of Jesus our Savior, on behalf of belivers 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).

Revelation predicts the defeat of the Devil

  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 not worn clothes or lived in a house but had lived in the 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 the results evil, demons and all their forces and back 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 that we deserved God’s wrath

  All humanity are 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 intents, 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 “justifies (justify) those who have faith in Jesus” (Rom 3:26). 

  Meaning that God’s standard approach is to pass over our guilty sins that should in justice be punished, looking ahead to a time when God himself can justify, that is declare not guilty, 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 trends setters 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 behaviour. God does not ask them to make a choice, 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 though 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.

Extra Dialog

The Loss of our Free Will, from Eden

 and its Restoration in Christ

The Premise

  Christ did not die to preserve our free will. Instead, he died so that we might have free will. He died to set the prisoners to sin and its ways—free. To “proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free” (Lk 4:18)

Adam and Eve had Free Will

  God created Adam and Eve with a 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 the requirements or commands of God, as well as to the consequences that will result from that choice. This is the basis of Free Will, to understand the will of God.

Free Will is Conditional

       Why did Adam and Eve use their own free will to disobey God, 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.

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

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

Cain dependent on his own judgment

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

Society before the Flood

  The entire world in the time of Noah, believed that in their judgment it was not possible for rain to 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 as 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 darken will with its flawed wisdom and understanding seeing no need of seeking the will of God to enlighten them. 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 the will of God, not to trust our own judgment

  Jesus taught us to pray in what is known as 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 is a prayer for our will’s to be led, to be in submission, to the will of God, instead of our own ideas.

  Belivers must daily look to the will of God for their lives, because by their own free will, which is based on their judgment and wisdom, will always lead us 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 depending on their own will’s, based on their own wisdom, with no desire to understand the will of God. 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 be always, daily be enlightened by God. Otherwise, we will think that our wills are free to choose what is best for us. But our choices our influenced by our misunderstanding. We will end up choosing a path, that appears as truth but will be 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.

  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).

  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.

“We all like sheep have gone astray,

each one has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa 53:6)

God’s “great love” and “rich mercy” (2:4) is 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, our children and enjoy romantic love that softens our hearts.

Love is a portal that God uses to reach harden hearts, darkened in understanding the will of God. This portal through human love, enables us to be drawn and appreciate the love of God for us individually. God speaks to our conscience-heart, in channels He at creation He created inside us, 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 our 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.

       With the love of God shining into our darken 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 by 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 to this world in a story of love, starting in the attraction of God’s son being born in a barn-manger. This account touches human love which creates a response inside us with appreciation of 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.” 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 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)

“I am the vine and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

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 NAS

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 mercy

  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” (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 welcome place with God, at the table near the side of 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 favours—grace, mercy and peace—Because “God so love the world” (John 3:16). That is all of us who are grounded on 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 wrath of his judgment against sinners who deserve it. So that he can show rebellious, sinful, humanity around the globe, mercy 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 because of 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’s confession was 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). Meaning that God’s mercy toward us who are faulty to the highest degree, is so abundant that it is compared to the distance of 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 extra-terrestrial. 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, from 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 and subline poetry in classic unforgettable music that last and last 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 2:5-7

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 us alive in Christ is a reference to the moment that you responded to the Gospel call. Afterwards you were able to see with understanding, that God called you, out of His “great love” (3:4), personally. As the days and years pass, Christ, His love, His death and resurrection becomes 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, foremost and entirely on the part of God, that makes us spiritually alive. God awakes 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 good-will 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 the results 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

  This is in the broadest sense, to be saved is to be healed and restored. 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 Greek word as “have been saved” in Ephesians 2:5. The setting was 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, 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 of being anointed by the Spirit of God

  John calls this same event of being made alive in Christ, as 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 by another person or book about this new experience. It is internal awareness of the presence of God’s grace and favour 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 safe from being led astray and 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 of 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 that God takes the initiative, we are not seeking God, he sought us. God acts on us, it is due to God’s mercy, love and grace that awakens and regenerates us into a new spiritually sensitive person.  It is what God as 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 experience of being “born of Spirit,” gives us new alignment with God and Christ. Afterwards 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, harbouring 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 Scriptures. 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, what is obstructing it, by prayer and letting Scriptures 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 were “dead in transgressions” (2:5)

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

2nd Due to God’s grace, He raises us up from our spiritual death like condition (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 (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 raise up out of bed. In this context, it means God revives us for the sleep of spiritual death to be “alive with Christ” (2:5).

  The corresponding Hebrew Words expresses the idea of opening the eyes, to wake, literally 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 Scriptures 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, “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 with, 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 belivers seated closer to Christ and the Father. Yet, anything is possible, the ones further away will be able to also be close to Christ, by space dimensions we are unacquainted with.

  This experience of being “alive with Christ” (2:5) and by God’s acts of mercy we are raised up to sit beside Christ. This has a dual reference, first as belivers 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 is in reference 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 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 privileged 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 honour—so undeserved, unmerited a favour to be blessed with the light of the love of God for us and with us, in mirids of 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 as a means to channel His grace into our darkened hearts. This is the reason why all can approach God, but they must be “in Christ” or “in Christ Jesus” or “in Him” [ Eph 1:3,4,5,6,7,9,11,12,13,14=10 times].

  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 is an illustration of 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).

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

Belivers 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 honour next to Christ. By space dimensions unknown to us, all the redeemed will stand next to Christ. It could be similar when anyone in the world stands in the sun’s rays, each have all the sun to themselves, all at the same time.  

Show 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 in the universe, known so far, has an equivalent light of over 300 trillion earth suns.

       Heaven lost Satan and his angels, but heaven has gained in their place—you and me. After a short time, God is going to make a victory parade of the redeemed, visiting the entire universe. Here the unnumbered inhabitants of vast star systems will have a close-up view of all us rebels, hell raisers, murders, adulterers, criminals of every kind, that 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 are who are redeemed, instead how great is God’s “forbearance and patience” (Rom 2:4), which has lavishly provided us so much grace and undeserved favour. 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 boundlessness of divine wealth in the currency of grace. If we could open the faults 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 union, spiritual union with Christ, taking place after being born of the Spirit” (John 3:6). This is the heart of Paul’s teachings, often the most neglected. As the results 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 Whitfield (1714-1770) 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, 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 belivers was very compelling. They gave eyewitness accounts as to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Even pagans would listen, this was not ever heard of before.

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

God is Actively Giving His Grace

       God the Father is very active in offering to us His grace, the highest grace in all the universe, on the basis of our faith, not anything we have done or can do. God does not give grace on the basis of 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 that is full, 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, declaries us innocent, forgiving 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, the grace, the love of God when we feel besieged by events that are troubling and overwhelming. David testifies to the mercy of God, “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 centre 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, and yet minister to us, often aged, broken down, besieged in warfare of life on earth—give us a gift that is unattainable by any means, anyone born on earth, could devise or create. Why? God enjoys giving, sharing, making available gifts to us that are beyond our reach or even comprehension. When God gives gifts based on his grace, they are given to us 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 just 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 in approaching 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 personal cell phone number to 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 honour him” (Ps 91:15). To be delivered is one thing, but better yet, is to be delivered because it was the honour 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 we are awakened by God, through the Spirit and the written Word, we are motivated in response. Our response does not win God’s favour 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 too 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 become 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 remove all barriers of access to Him. We are forgiven, accepted because of the redemption of Christ. Accept this God cantered acceptance, embrace it, for this is God’s provision to bring us into his presence. This gift is yours new 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 very long, it takes on other companions, such as the Holy Spirit, without which faith could not survive and would grow weaker and weaker, with increasing levels of 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 ground in love.

  Faith starts small, but it has life giving properties, like a garden seed. As it grows it seeks companions which 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 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 as designed, for his believers, was in His mind as reality, so long ago, 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, machine manufactures, 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 existence, into our lives, a whole new life, which did not exist before. Inside this new life there is a keen vibrant desire to do good work, stimming 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 that are foreign to God’s world, are the good works that God is honoured by. All this comes from the goodness of God.  

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 install 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 word, oceans and forest 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 Handiwork Remades 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 inside the lives of those who have experienced living 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 as arriving at a destination. Instead, we are daily challenged to love more, for in our hearts we seek new showers of grace that enables us to enjoy the inner warmth of more and more love to 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 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 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 2:11-22

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-remember that formerly

  Paul is asking the former pagan belivers to remember what they once were before they were “made alive with Christ” (Eph 2:6). They were pagans, without God or hope of and any kind of eternal inheritance. They had no knowledge of the Covenant with Israel in the OT and its promise of a “New Covenant” [Matt 22:20; 2 Cor 3:6] to come.

Separated from Christ and Foreigners

  Their religion was pagan with a Roman or Greek nationalist’s flavour. Their lifestyle reflected the values of pagan societies that permitted child infantize 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 of 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 belivers] 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, and OT Hebrew practice. It was powerless to save, to bring anyone to Christ. Paul made this very plain to the Galatian Gentile believers 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 “it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8).

       Some Jewish belivers still held to the Torah OT 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.

  Whereas the “great love” and “grace” of God is the only way the human heart, emotions are changed into faith, love, peace, joy and hope. Now all belivers 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, over time, it became the chief evidence that God was with them, they were God’s special people. They turned it to an object of boasting that gave them favour before God and his blessings of health and prosperity.

  Circumcision served as 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. It served a very useful purpose, creating a very cohesive society till the Messiah should arrive by promise. Who would impart the Spirit to come to dwell with us and in us.

  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 so private a part of male anatomy? Because this symbol was related to activities that would bring children into the world. A circumcised female was instructed to stay married to a circumcised male.

  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, that had eternal life to offer to millions was needed, was required, to come from a line of Abraham, the first member of Israel. This custom, alone with other sanctuary celebration sabbaths, 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 predicted “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 that has come from the line of Abraham and gave witness by hundreds of miracles, with the resurrection from the dead. For this reason, circumcision is no longer needed, it has served its purpose.

 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 into human history. Yes, God is now intervening into your life. The sacrifice of His life on the cross, that was raised from the dead and is now living in heaven with our Father God. Now, there is power, supernatural, 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 has already been done, now we can be near to God by faith in the one that forgives our sins that in the past has separated us from God.

  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 is 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 is a time to purify the individual and the community.

Justified by faith

  This is what Scriptures described as justification by faith (Gal 2:16). We are made right with God, 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 actions we receive the Righteousness of God through faith (Rom 3:22)

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

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

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

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

6. By God’s action He forgives and cover 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 action we receive Justification, forgiveness full and complete (Rom 5:1),

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

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

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

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

13. By God’s actions we receive the love for God (Rom 5:5)

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

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

16. We are “reconciled” (Rom 5:11) by God’s as preemptory 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 the world’s most widely recognised 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 action, widely known, then 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 past 1000’s of years in history, 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 around to stand as a symbol of true greatness. 

  It is amazing that world history is divided between BC & AD, because NOW all believers are brought near to God. The influence of Jesus of Nazareth on our culture, up to this day is stupendous. When Sir Edmund Hillary conquered Mount Everest with Tenzin 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 the belongs to God, completely undeserved.

  The picture is not that blood was required at the feet of God. It was that the Laws of that govern all heaven required 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, in our behalf. Now, as results 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 to 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, has 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 freely an unimaginable gift. They have been given an honored place between and with God and His Son. All because we have been forgiven, by not just a presidential pardon, but forgiveness that adopts us, by the family of God as his dear and loved children.

  What have we done to deserve this NOTHING, except 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 (2:14-18)

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

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 the 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 was was built because there was hostility and hatred for pagans of all nationalities.

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 Priest’s, 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. The hostility against a “Ammonite or Moabite” that was not allowed to “enter the assembly of the Lord, not even in the tenth generation” (Deut 23:3), is torn down. 

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

There is no more anything that can separate Jews and Gentiles, men and women, because there is no sanctuary in the land. There is no Aaronic priesthood, that separated, the Levite’s from all other Jewish tribes. Only the High Priest, once a year, was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place of the Sanctuary. Which was separated by a heavy curtain. 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 into the “Most Holy Place,” removing the purpose of the Sanctuary. All the legal codes in the book of Leviticus for the worship of God, from that point on was removed forever. Now, men, women, children of all the races of the world and 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 in prayer and worship to God.

  In a spiritual sense, all are equally heard in prayer and petition to God because there is now peace between all belivers—all races, colour, 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 was going to reach the pagan tribes of the world, coming 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 messages of the Gospel. No one group has the right to offer their followers assurance of salvation, as long as they stay loyal to one specific religious house of worship while they practice hostility to other groups that are not following 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 it. Beare 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 the Spiritual life of the members.

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, stay 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 that love him and serve him with all their hearts in church congregations that have added additional requirements to be obeyed to be a good member.

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 [commandments] 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 a very strong word meaning “to abolish, to nullify, to render ineffective or to bring to an end.”

What is abolished

1)    The Law: The theme since Eph 2:11, has been about how God is going to bring the Jews and Gentiles together, so they become both the “handiwork” (Eph 2:11) of God.  The Law for the Jews is compared to the Laws of Moses. For the Gentiles it was the laws of idolatry. For both Jews and Gentiles these laws are the foundation of both their cultures.

2)    Commands—Means commandments, orders and requirements. For the Jews it is the Laws of Moses. For the Gentiles it is the commands of Rome, for what pagan Empire wish a citizen to be like.

3)    Regulations: The Greek word dogma as civil, ceremonial or ecclesiastical rules and requirements. For the Jews it was the laws of Moses in Genesis to Deuteronomy.  For the Gentiles it was the Roman way of life. Which hundreds of idols, ownership of slaves, open prostitution, retaliation to any who harm Rome and state sponsored cruelty to all whom Rome considers worthy to be enslaved or killed.

  For the Jews they had a long history of dozens of temple laws in regard to sacrificing and giving a tithe of your herds of animals, clean and unclean foods with about 600 other laws that they were required to keep.  Three of the feast days they were required to attend, such as Passover, Feast of Weeks and Feat of Tabernacles, commanded many regulations as to how they were to be kept. 

  For the Romans they had an empire hundreds of years old. They had their politics that if you observed them, you were Roman. Later in the next century offering incense to idols became a flash point with Christians that refused to respect the idol.

What then was Abolished for the Jews

       To the Jews, it was the laws of Moses and required worship at the temple. They have lost their authority but not their purpose. Which was to provide a historical record, covering thousands of years that prepared the way for the true Messiah. In this way we can distinguished from the false Messiah’s that appear with no lineage or historical placement in prophecy.  

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

What then was Abolished for the Gentiles

       Roman customs that centred on a culture of idolatry, immorality or murder.

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 by the Holy Spirit making his temple inside us, eliminating all need for external ceremonies. 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. Belivers can pray and praise God in their living rooms, the car, outdoors anywhere, while in an airplane or in jail. 

  For God is now to be worshiped “in the Spirit.” All belivers 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 into many national, ethnic and language barriers—belivers 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 practices of family life. 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.

   Belivers must never allow these human differences arising from various languages and training and cultures to mistreat, to 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 between 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 deep feeling about someone's difficulty or misfortune. 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

One Body, both of them—Reconciled

       The cross reaches out far and wide, to who are near and to those that are far away, 1000’s of miles. Jesus preaches peace to those near and to those thousands of miles away; in a vastly different culture, diet, dress, language, customs, wealth and homes they live in.

       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, belivers 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, after that.

No barriers between lovers of God

  No barriers between Jews and non-Jews, between Christians in Africa, in Asia, Europe or 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 practice of doctrines over another believer of a different persuasion.

  Minor points of faith practice must not separate belivers 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 Belivers are Reconcile 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 belivers, on “those who are being made holy” (Heb 10:14). The influence of the cross not only provides forgiveness, 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 far away and near

  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, with those of Middle East 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 so as 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 belivers who have been reconciled to God. Even if they do have different religious houses of worship, practicing their faith within their culture, having 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 honour, 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 belivers, 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, have some religious practices unfamiliar to another. 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 belivers 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 belivers who love our Lord Jesus Christ with the same passion you do? Yes you 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

Summery, 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—God due to his 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 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

       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 belivers 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 important they have inside their own spirit, the same Holy Spirit. This is a new humanity, where racism, 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 one we don’t like to look at. An “enemy” has sowed this separation even hatred between believers of different races, colours, nationally, culture and heritage. Belivers will offer “peace to you who are far away,” from themselves in many ways, “peace to those who are near” our neighbours.

“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 are Spirit Filled

       So why is there so many walls of separation between believers. The next answer it that among the believers there is a smaller Spirit filled group, that will not allow separation between themselves and others very different from themselves.  Jesus speaks of his belivers 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 the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5). This Spirit filled remnant display the hands of God, “God’s handiwork” (2:10) in their attitudes of peace and love toward other believers in Christ. The “the blood of Christ” brings us “near” (Eph 2:13) to each other. The Spirit of God lives in every born-again believer, that will give love and peace between different believers. If they don’t, they are at the present time, growing into “tares” set to lose eternal life.

  Those who “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16) will know the different between “tares” and “wheat.” Between those that Love God with all their hearts and their neighbours with the same heart they love God with. 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, “fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

  The “tares” seek honour and glory for themselves and abuse others that 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 favoured by God and thus deceived and lost.

Access to God, through Christ, though 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 for audience directly with our Father God. The point is that through Christ, this is made possible, for the Spirit to do this in 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, live in another dimension of space approachable 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 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), he sees infinite possibilities open to the Spirit filled belivers. 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 that God will be “glorified,” be praised and honoured as the results of answered prayers. When we ask in prayer, ask carefully examining our motives and the results, 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 access means to draw near and to approach, to have audience and direct access. Now imagine, we are admitted directly into the presence of our Father God. It is from the resurrection of Christ, that all humanity, have 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. where we are “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:22).

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

Summery, 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. Which means we love and desire, as much as we love life, to live in honour pleasing our Lord

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

       2:8-9—Grace has been given us by faith, so 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

       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 important they have inside their own spirit, the same Holy Spirit. This is a new humanity, where racism, 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 one we don’t like to look at. An “enemy” has sowed this separation even hatred between believers of different races, colours, nationality, culture and heritage. Belivers will offer “peace to you who are far away,” from themselves in many ways, “peace to those who are near” our neighbours.

“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 are Spirit Filled

       So why is there so many walls of separation between belivers. The answer is that among the belivers there is a smaller Spirit filled group, that will not allow separation between themselves and others very different from themselves.  Jesus speaks of his belivers 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 the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace” (Rom 11:5). This Spirit filled remnant display the hands of God, “God’s handiwork” (2:10) in their attitudes of peace and love toward other believers in Christ. The “the blood of Christ” brings us “near” (Eph 2:13) to each other. The Spirit of God lives in every born-again believer, that will give love and peace between different believers. If they don’t, they are at the present time, growing into “tares” set to lose eternal life.

  Those who “walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:16) will know the different between “tares” and “wheat.” Between those that Love God with all their hearts and their neighbours with the same heart they love God with. 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, “fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2).

  The “tares” seek honour and glory for themselves and abuse others that 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 favoured 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 for audience directly with our Father God. The point is that through Christ, this is made possible, for the Spirit to do this in 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, live in another dimension of space approachable 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), he sees infinite possibilities open to the Spirit filled belivers. 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 that God will be “glorified,” be praised and honoured as the results of answered prayers. When we ask in prayer, ask carefully examining our motives and the results, 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 access means to draw near and to approach, to have 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, have 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. where we are “built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit” (Eph 2:22). What a privilege!

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.

  1st of importance is the cornerstone, which is the largest and most solid stone that can bear the entire weight of the walls and building on top of it. Furthermore, it provides alignment for the wall and building to give the entire structure durability and accuracy. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11).

  2nd of importance is the Apostles, that continue the ministry of Jesus for all believers.

  3rd of importance is the Prophets, such as Isaiah and Psalms that point us to the coming of Christ and his atoning death of sin. The accounts in the Old Testament give a historical foundation for Jesus and the Apostles. No body, no organization, no other religion can come anywhere close to the historical stories that build up faith in the Messiah.

Purpose of this foundation

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

       We become a home for the Spirit to dwell. Belivers individually and all together are like a moving temple, where God the Father dwells in us by the Spirit. The Spirit represents Him, veiled in our human body. God’s plan is by means of His Spirit we are united with other believers, all together we grow into a holy temple where God dwells. We should remember this so that no one thinks they have right to lord over the property of God. They don’t.

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, through 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 that the Apostles rest on, makes together one foundation, so, the foundation of our faith is what the Apostles built on Christ. Both together form a solid building, supported by the life of Jesus and His Apostles, predicted by the OT prophets, to be 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 honoured dwelling place for God

  We should carry a vivid sense, that wherever we are at, whatever we may be doing, we are highly honoured to be a dwelling place for God, not on paper, but 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, modern prophet, a church—adds to this foundation something that was not part of the teachings of Jesus or his Apostles—they should be rejected. This one true foundation excludes laws of the Torah, requirements given by church authority. 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, creeds, have been demanded of belivers, calling then essential or testing truths.  They all must be rejected, if they fall outside the parameters of the New Testament 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 28:26)? NO.

The true foundation is given an eternal foundation—Forever and ever

  The foundation laid by Jesus and the Apostles are 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 no other names of authority mentioned. All so called church leaders, priest, pastors, Bishops, theology professors or modern prophets, they 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.

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 belivers. Of all peoples, believers in Christ are to be social, caring for other belivers who share the same Spirit. An anti-social Christian is an oxymoron. So also, are congregations the feel superior and worship separately from other believers for fear of their influence. The Spirit dwelling in believers from around the world are not exclusive.

  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 embrace as commands of God, teachings that cannot be supported in Jesus or the Apostles. They point to themselves as the truth, creating an exclusive group of the saved that arise from themselves.

Chief Cornerstone, Chief Centrepiece

  Faith in Christ Jesus is the centrepiece 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, amidst storms, floods, high winds and earthquakes. Nothing can take it down, nothing at all. Throughout history there have been many distractors that have attempted 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 witness 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 word’s built and jointed together, refers 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, 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 that we all, around the world, are jointed 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 cement us all altogether. Anyone that moves apart to create a distinctly different doctrine binds us all on this foundation, sustains a huge loss from separation.

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

  The NT 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 Covenant. Not anymore. Now instead, God 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 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. Belivers also are “raised with Christ” (Col 3:1), to become a temple for the Spirit of God to live, 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

 The End of the 2nd  Chapter of Ephesians

honorscriptures@gmail.com 

Contact our team

Brothers of Scripture