Bible Study Salvation Through Grace, United And Equal In Christ

[WalterandDebbie]

Friday 12-4-20 Kislev 18, 5781 6th. day of the weekly cycle,
74th. Fall Day

Old Condition: Dead To God Ephesians Two:1-3,
New Condition: Alive To God 4-8,
Reconciliation Of Jews And Gentiles 11-22

◄ Ephesians Two ►
King James Bible Par ▾

Alive with Christ

1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved

6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye 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: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

A Temple in the Lord

19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Love always, Walter and Debbie

 

[K2CHRIST]

HUMMM???

If I just want a bunch of verses I don't need to come to a Christian Forum. What I find more interesting are the conclusions and understands that people have. Of course better than that is the conclusion and understand that the Lord has, but He talks to people and we all know in part - so I like Bible studies with some thinking about the meaning of the verses - and that is lacking in the OP!

So it is that I brought down a few verses from the OP to comment on - in case someone has thoughts instead of just a Bible.

4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved

The above verse reminds me of a teaching the Lord took some time to give me - meaning He taught me over a period of time about mercy and grace. Mercy means we don't get the punishment or result we deserve from our bad behavior. In the case of us and God, we sin and so He as God should punish us or even remove us, after all God made us for a purpose and if we rebel against Him (and the is what sin ultimately is) then it would actually be perfectly correct for Him to destroy that part of His creation because it (us) did not do as it (we) was supposed to. There is plenty of logic to that conclusion, but not mercy. Since He made people not widgets, it is appropriate to apply some mercy. So while He could instantly just remove us He doesn't. He instead shows us mercy and we get more chances to start doing what He asks of us. And just a reminder, if we are to do what He asked us to do then we need to listen to Him. Therefore He gives us mercy so that we might start listening to Him, in order to do what He asks of us. So we get His mercy, and don't instantly get removed.

8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Now grace is unmerited favor! That is to say we get something we don't deserve. We don't deserve eternal life!! Yes, God created us and for a purpose but just because you make something it doesn't mean you can't just throw it away after the purpose. Still, like above, God made people not widgets so by His grace is gives us eternal life, or at least the ability to accept it like someone might accept a gift. All you have to do to accept the gift of eternal life is to believe that He exists - specifically that Jesus Christ, God the Son, exists. His name is called the Word of God because He speaks the words of God via the Holy Spirit of God. So through Jesus Christ, God's Word, God created all things. He created us, He can do away with us if He wants. Lucky for us He love us and like us around, because He see us as sons and daughters, and not widgets.

7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Now the above verse here show me something which I forget. We read "in the ages to come". I'm not saying that He doesn't give me more in this life also, but in this age I have battles with the dark evil forces of this world. They not only try to mess with me personally, but they also have even a greater control over this world because the world in general does not seek the Lord at all!!

So it is that I have struggles everyday. They are supposed to make me a better person. The Lord once pointed to my son's elite soccer team and how they played against the other best teams their age because that is what makes them better. So it is that He, according to His wisdom, put us in a situation where we have battles and struggle that are meant to make us better people. Those battles are not with people, but with the powers, principalities, and dark evil forces of this world. They can come directly at me or through other people, and other people in some positions of power.

It is not that easy handling everything thrown at me, so I need help. The realization of that mean I look to the Lord, because my help comes from above. I don't look to Him as much as I should, but understanding that means I should understand when other people don't look to Him like they should. I'm working on that. In the mean time I can look at the verse and realize that the "exceeding riches or His grace" is found in the next age, not this one. So I get hope and that encourages me to go on.

Anyway, that is my understanding of the verses above