Three Points Are Needed In Our Testimony As Believers

The Testimony of a Believer

Ephesians 2:11-22

Introduction

Last week we took a rather quick trip through Ephesians chapter 2. Today we will go back and pick up some details.

We often hear people encouraging us to “share our testimony” with others. Sometimes that seems difficult to do. The fact that so many “celebrities” have given “dramatic” testimony on television, the radio, or in public forums doesn’t make it any easier.

We are left to think, “Well I guess I have nothing to say! I didn’t sell drugs on the street, or lead a motorcycle gang, or star in ungodly movies, or run a multimillion-dollar business, or anything like that, and I certainly don’t have a very interesting life.”

But drama is not what the believer’s testimony is about. We are told to very simply share our testimony, to present the good news of salvation, as if we were each just one beggar telling another beggar where to find free food.

What Makes a Salvation Testimony?

Every Christian, in the simplest analysis, has the same testimony:

I was lost
Jesus saved me
I am saved, and (hopefully) am enjoying my new relationship with God. (Details vary.)

Where is the “drama” in that? The only real drama happened at the Cross. If people want drama, they can read the gospel story, and see the crucifixion, and hear Jesus’s promise to the thief on the cross, “Today, thou shalt be with Me in Paradise!” That’s real Drama! And that part is true for every believer. We will be with Jesus forever.

Let’s look at Ephesians 2:11-22, and see what Paul wrote to the believers at Ephesus, during the first century.

**Our Old Position**

The people to whom he wrote were all believers, but they were predominately Gentile believers. There had been at least a few Jewish believers in that church originally, and I assume that there still were, but evidently, it was mostly Gentile, and he addressed them as Gentiles, reminding them of their OLD position.

Remember, we have talked about positional truths so far, in most of the book of Ephesians. The subject is about to change to “conditional” truths: things that should be true of all believers, but often are not.

Remember!

Paul said, “Remember…” It is good for us to reflect on the facts of our life,

before salvation,
at the time of our salvation, and
in our life since then.

Paul told them (the Ephesians believers) to remember that they HAD been Gentiles in the flesh—born as heathens—with no connection with God. They were still “genetically Gentiles,” of course, but it no longer affected their relationship with God. The following twelve verses explain what changed, and what resulted from that change.

He said “…remember that you were “called the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision in the flesh, made by hands.” Those who called them that were only outwardly changed. In reality, they were just as separated from God as the Gentiles whom they scorned.

He said, “…at that time you were without Christ” (no Messiah was promised to the Gentiles, specifically—though the Messiah promised to the Jews was also the Messiah for the Gentiles—but most Gentiles knew nothing about the promised Savior.)

He said, “…you were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel…” (Israel rejected them, and the Gentiles were unable to join their ranks without major changes forced upon them.) He said, “…you were strangers from the covenants of Promise….” None of the promises to the Jews were specifically TO the Gentiles, though there were plenty that involved them.

We Were Without Hope

Paul pointed out that at that time, before their salvation, they were without hope, and without God—”lost as a ball in high weeds,” effectively. They were in the world, and lost; without hope and without God.

Now—did this only apply to the “bad” people— those who were criminals, or immoral, or something? No, it applied to ALL who were “without God.” That is always the deciding factor.

Think back to Genesis. When Noah went aboard the Ark, and his family went with him, and two of every kind of animal—what happened to those left outside? They all died. Just the wicked? I suppose that could depend on your point of view, since God says we all are possessed of a wicked nature—but good, bad or indifferent, everyone outside the ark was lost. And everyone who is without God (whether they know it or not) is also without hope.

A few verses back, in verses one through three of this same chapter, God described the lostness of the whole human race. And his solution, there (verse 4) and here (verse 13) is the same. In verse 4, it began, “…But God, who is rich in mercy…” here, in verse 12, it says, “But now in Christ Jesus…”

So, What Changed?

This is the transition, in everyone’s testimony. “Yes, I was on God’s ‘death row’, but Jesus died in my place!” or, “I was lost and didn’t even know it—I was just happily headed for Hell—but God sent someone to shine a light on my life, and let me see my lost condition, and Jesus became my Savior when I placed my trust in His shed Blood!” That is the transition, the change—the “What Happened” part of the story.

What does God say about that transition? He says that we have been brought near to God, by the blood of Christ, and that we are in Him. Though we were far away, we have been brought near, in Christ. See verse 13.

He goes on to say that Jesus is our peace, as he has made the two human groups (Jew and Gentile) who once existed side by side, but were always at odds, to be one group, healing the rift between them. In his own flesh, He abolished the enmity between Jew and Gentile.

And, How?

How did he do it? By completely fulfilling the Old Testament Law, that had stood as the divider, for all ages. He fulfilled it for himself, by living a perfect life.

But how did he fulfill it for me? I had already broken the Law, and the Law had only one thing to say to me…it said, “You must die!” Ezekiel 18:4 says “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” So Jesus fulfilled the Law for me…by dying in my place.

Turn to Galatians 2:19…There, Paul stated, “for I, through the Law, am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God.” Through Jesus keeping the Law for me, I am dead to the Law—when God’s Law looks at me, it sees a dead man, upon whom judgment has already been completed. There is no further condemnation because that judgment was poured out at the Cross. Now I can live for God. I am actually free to do what I was designed to do.

Back in Ephesians again…when Jesus had completed the fulfillment of the Law, he preached peace to us all—Jew and Gentile. Jesus himself had predicted this in John 10:16 by stating, “…other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” I’m not at all sure that the disciples understood that statement, but in light of the rest of scripture, it is pretty easy to see, and to know that this passage in Ephesians is making the same statement.

**What is Our New Position?**

The bottom line becomes the fact that we have all gained access to the throne of God by the Holy Spirit. The Jews assumed they had access because of being Jews, and because they professed to keep the law. But God says, in Romans 5:2 that we only have access to His Grace by faith—that is the access offered to the whole World.

Ephesians 2:18 states that, as believers, we have access to God, via the Holy Spirit. We cannot approach Him in the flesh. This is a key point to understand. We have been joined to Him permanently; we are saved eternally, but, in terms of relationship, we can only draw near to Him by the Holy Spirit. So, we have to learn to walk by faith, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, if we want to consistently have access to the throne of God. We do so via 1^st John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then we go back and obey again.

Still In Christ

Are we always “happy” in Christ? Nope. We get frustrated, and cranky, like a bunch of little children whining from the back seat, saying “Are we there, yet??” We still have an old nature…we are still sinners…just saved sinners. Sinners saved by grace. We either learn to walk with God, confessing our sins and learning to obey Him, or we live lives that are up and down…sometimes happy, sometimes not. As a little child, learning to walk, the secret to success is in getting up more often than you fall down.

What else does Paul say about our new position in Christ? He says that we are no more strangers and foreigners. God no longer sees me as a heathen. In fact, he says I am a fellow citizen of heaven, right along with all the saints that have gone before—and, more importantly, I am part of the family of God. I have been born again, and God is my real Father.

What does the Future Hold?

Together with all the believers of this age, we are being built together as a habitation of God. The Holy Spirit lives in each of us individually. But God lives in us collectively. And, collectively, we are called the Temple of God. I don’t feel like a “brick,” or a “doorpost”…but God says I am part of that living temple that He is building for his own glory and pleasure. And that is a good reason to learn to live for Him today. We are now the living temple of God!

We are already placed in His body, as members of the Body of Christ. He says we are currently being built together as a habitation of God. We want God to be glorified in us…so the book of Ephesians is written to that end. God wants us to know how to go about it. We have learned about our new position in Christ, and in the coming weeks, we will examine the rest of what God says about our walk with Him.

But, For Now:

In the meantime, remember that your testimony has three parts, just like the testimony of the Ephesian believers. You can accurately say, I was lost—I was without God. Then you can tell how you were saved…what Jesus did at the Cross for you, and when it was that you received Him as your Savior. Finally, you can tell what it has been like to live as a believer. It is not always easy, is it? Then say so! But then you can tell how Jesus has met your needs in the hard times.

The more frequently you share this story with others, the more natural and easy it will become. Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he that winneth souls is wise.” Let’s begin to show that kind of wisdom, and look for opportunities to win souls, as He has commanded us.

Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the lostness of the world around us. Open our hearts to feel their pain. Help us to reach them with the Good News of the Gospel: the free food that was once offered to us, and which we now offer to others. Allow the light of Your presence to shine through us, to Your Glory.

October 12, 2024October 12, 2024

“But God…” (What Changes Can God Produce In Your Life?)

“But God…”

Ephesians 2:4-22

Introduction: (v. 4-10) (read it)

This is one of the most precious two-word transitions in scripture: “But God!” He steps in and He changes things. God injects Hope where there was none, He calls the dead back to life, and He brings water in the desert—not just a trickle, but a torrent. He is the difference between Lost and Found, Darkness and Light, Grief and Joy, Death and Life. “But God…who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ (By Grace, mind you! We have done nothing by which to earn His favor.)

Notice that this also is past tense. He is not promising “pie in the sky,” but eternal life, now! He has already done it! God has not only “brought us to life” (spiritually re-connected us to Him, and made us capable of fellowshipping with him,) but it is an eternal relationship, and we are already seated with Him. God says we are seated with Christ —in Christ— in the heavenlies. I do not claim to understand this truth. I only know that this is exactly what he says. My position in Christ is literal. It is not merely mystic, (or, worse, imaginary.) This is the place to which God has moved us…past tense. It’s already done!

But Why? And How?

Regarding the “Why,” God says (verse 7) that we are eternally to be the trophies of His Grace—that He will be able to eternally show the exceeding riches of His Grace, in His kindness toward us through Christ. (Show to whom?) Apparently one of the eternal purposes of the Church is to demonstrate to the Holy Angels the justice of God’s judgment on the fallen angels, by showing the riches of his Grace toward human sinners who do not have the extreme intelligence of the angels, nor have they ever seen God face to face as the angels have (see Ephesians 3:10, 11.)

And the “How” is explained in one of the most-quoted verses in the Bible: “By Grace, you have been saved, through Faith, not of yourselves—it is the Gift of God—not of works, lest any man should boast.” He goes on the give a little more information that we usually forget to quote: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The good works that naturally follow true conversion are symptomatic of being “in Him:” They are not “how you get there.” Keep that in mind. By the way, not all fruit is visible. Love, patience, hope, etc. are not things we can necessarily recognize. So, we do not become “fruit inspectors”, trying to determine whether someone else is “good enough” to be saved. We are saved by Grace, through Faith; plus nothing. The works should follow, but they will vary all over the board, and they usually become more evident with increased maturity.

What is the Result?

Last week we considered the impact of the transitional phrase, “But God!” That is the reason we are here today. The World was lost in Sin and hopelessness, but God, who is rich in mercy, sent his Son to die for our sins. Each of us, individually, was in his mind, as he deliberately sacrificed himself, as full payment for our sins. And each of us has to choose regarding His sacrifice: Is that the sacrifice that will pay for MY sins? Or is it for “the world” but I have “other plans”?

Whether his death will actually result in an individual person having eternal life depends entirely upon how he or she responds to the Good News of His death, burial and resurrection. Remember that, when Jesus died, he made out a “check” to the amount of “eternal life,” in the name of every individual who would ever live, or had already lived. He signed it in his own blood, at the Cross. But to “cash that check” one must “endorse it” by faith. If you choose to not place your faith in him as your Savior, then his death does you no good.

Remember Where You Came From

The book of Ephesians is addressed to those who have already trusted in Jesus as their Savior. He made some very clear statements regarding all that is and was true of us, in chapter one and the first half of two. But now God invites us to look back from the perspective of salvation, and see where we came from.

In Ephesians 2:1-7 he told us where we had been, and what God did to save us, and why. Then, in verses 8 and 9, he says how we were saved. In verse 10, he explains what the results are to be, as a general principle. But in verses 11 and 12, he confirms the change that has been made, and says for us to look back:

**You Were Without Christ (v. 11, 12) (read it)**

Looking back, as God directs our eyes that way, I can see that I was indeed a heathen (that’s what “Gentile” means.) I was a lost sinner, rejected by the Jews as unclean, but now made clean by God. I truly was without Christ; without any connection or any way to be connected to the God of Israel. No part of the promises of God was to me, except the coming judgment.

God says, “At that time, you were without God, and without Hope, in the World.” It is sad, but it is simply the truth. Remember this, as you consider the necessity of evangelism: Apart from the Gospel, which perhaps you alone will offer to them, the one with whom you share the Gospel is truly hopeless, and they are “as lost as a ball in high grass.”

The Gospel that God calls us to share with them is the only hope that God has ever offered! Remember that! It is a precious privilege, and a sacred trust. This is the true “State of the Union,” so to speak. It is “Where the whole World really is,” and it’s where we also were, regardless of what we may choose to think.

**“But Now…” (v. 13-17) (read it)**

Consider how important the transition is, here, in verse 13: Because of the earlier transition, “But God…”, there is another one—“But Now, in Christ Jesus.” Things have changed for you. All those ugly truths that applied to you have been nailed to the Cross. Now God sees you only in your new nature. He says we are no longer “afar off” from Him, and that even the barrier between Jew and Gentile has been broken down.

He says that the “One New Man”, whom He is calling out from all nations, includes Jews and Gentiles. The same Gospel was preached to both Jews and Gentiles, and the ground is truly “level at the foot of the Cross.” Both Jewish sinners and Gentile sinners were reconciled to God through the same blood sacrifice. We were all under the same condemnation. God is Holy, and He hates sin. He cannot accept sin at any level. God the Father piled all our sin on Jesus at the Cross, so that Jesus literally “became Sin” for us. He did not become “a sinner,” nor “sinful”…He “became Sin.”

2^nd Corinthians 5:21

Turn to 2^nd Corinthians 5:21, please; this is an important concept. Jesus “became Sin,” so that we could do what? Do good deeds? Work great works? Change our lives? No! It was so that we could become the Righteousness of God, in Him. There’s that “position clause” again! We are In Christ! And, in Him, we are the Righteousness of God. That does not excuse our sins as Christians: God still hates sin…this is simply a statement of how God sees us, in Him.

Ephesians 2:18…God says that we are not only “in Him,” in some theoretical sense, but we “have access to the Father” through Christ, by the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 10:19, 20 sheds more light on this truth: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest (the inner sanctum of the temple—where no one but the High Priest could ever go, and that only once a year), by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he has consecrated for us, through the veil that is to say, his flesh…”

The veil in the temple, torn when Jesus died, was a picture of the final barrier between us and God, being broken down, by God! (It was torn from top to bottom: not the other way around. We have full access to the throne of Grace, all the time, through his death, burial and resurrection. The only thing that can hinder us is Sin.

Now Therefore (v.19-22)

Paul is about to draw a conclusion, but it is still a positional truth: He says, “Now, therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the Saints…part of the household of God.” The “saints,” the “ones God has declared Holy:” That group includes us now. God says you are now as holy as they are. Give that some thought. “Holy” means “Set apart for God’s purpose.” Is that how you see yourself? Is that how you respond to life? Do you see His priorities as being first in importance? Or does God get the “leftovers,” so to speak?

The Living Temple of God

Notice what Paul says about us, in verses 20-22: he says we are part of a general structure, in which, collectively, we are becoming a “temple of God.” (Notice, please, that this is different than the fact that your physical body (See 1^st Corinthians 6:19) is now a “temple of the Holy Spirit”—this verse says the whole body of Christ, together, throughout eternity, is one “holy temple in the Lord”…it is also so called in 1^st Corinthians 3:16, 17.

This is where we hear the warning against “defiling the Temple of God,” It is not in reference to our mortal bodies which are destined to fail, and wear out, and are being destroyed by the using of them, but rather to the Body of Christ, collectively—the Church.

The passage in 1^st Corinthians 6 states that “your body (singular) is the temple of the Holy Spirit, which is in you….” The one in 1^st Corinthians 3 says “ye” (plural “you”) “are the temple of God:” That is an entirely different idea. Give some thought to that idea: how would one “defile” the Church, the body of Christ? And what does God say (in 1^st Corinthians 3)that He will do to those who “defile the Church?” Study that one out, and think about it. God takes the Church very seriously. We need to do the same.

Every Part is Called to Function

But Paul says we are being “fitly joined together” (not fragmented, but knit together in Christ), and collectively, we are growing together into a habitation of God, through the Spirit.

If we look forward to Ephesians 4:16, we see a bit more about that idea: it says we are “fitly joined together, and compacted, by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, making increase of the body unto the edifying (that means building up) of itself in Love.” (Doesn’t that sound like Evangelism? “Increasing” the Church? “Growing” the Church? Not just this little church: It is the Body of Christ at large!)

And notice that he says it is the collective work of “every part”—every member! “Only sheep make baby sheep.” Only Christians lead people to Christ. Did you know that the Angels do not have the privilege of sharing the Gospel with unbelievers? The only time an Angel does anything even close to that is in Revelation, during the Great Tribulation…and He is not preaching the Gospel of Christ: Rather, it is the “Everlasting Gospel:” that Men should worship the Creator.

**So: Now What?**

If you are in Christ, the facts are clear: you were “created in Christ unto Good works.” We will see more and more of what those “good works” entail, but one thing we have already seen is that because we are members of the Body of Christ, we are expected to function as such…to the “building up” of the Body of Christ…the “increasing” of the Body of Christ: We are to be helping to Build the Church; a habitation of God, through the Holy Spirit.

As we continue through the book of Ephesians, we will see what the “Normal Christian Life” is supposed to look like. For the moment, I would just like to say: If you belong to Him, it makes sense that you work for Him. If you are really His, you should be serving Him! (Not “self.”)

Give this some thought and prayer as you seek God’s direction for your own life, and ask Him how you can serve.

Lord Jesus, we hear Your call, and we know that it is us You are calling. Help us to break free from the shackles of this world, and stand before You, saying, “Here am I, Lord: send Me!”

October 5, 2024October 5, 2024

“Dead or Alive?” What Does That Mean, in the Bible?

Dead or Alive

Ephesians 2:1-7, 8-10

Introduction:

In the old days, they tell us, in the old west, a reward poster might be distributed, stating that a particular desperado was out and about, location unknown. He was judged to be so dangerous that a bounty was placed on him: a cash prize was offered for his capture..

They didn’t particularly care how he was captured, and the reward was payable for his capture or killing. They would pay the reward for his body as surely as if he were brought in alive. The trial had already occurred. He was already guilty of capital crimes. The law required his death, and they weren’t particular about how he died. So, the poster said, “Wanted: Dead or Alive….” Fortunately, times have changed. We don’t really do that anymore, today.

But the fact remains that those are the only possibilities for each of us, as well. We are either dead or we are alive. There is no gray area in between.

**We Were All Dead (Ephesians 2:1-3 (read it))**

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.

God says that we all were dead in sins. How did we get there? 1^st Corinthians 15:22 states that “in Adam, all died”. Notice that in the Corinthian passage, it is a past tense fact of something that happened…we died (past tense) in Adam.

**We All Have Been Made Alive (Ephesians 2:4-7)**

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.

In the Ephesian passage it is a past state of being: we “were dead” in trespasses and sins. This points to a change at some point. It does not say you “are dead”, but you “were” dead. Something has changed. The phrase “…you hath He quickened…” tells us what changed. The old English word “Quickened” means “made alive.” He has made us alive, who once were dead in trespasses and sins.

Positional Truth

We have talked in the past about the differences between positional and conditional truth. This passage is a key text regarding those concepts, because it clearly states that our position has changed, for those of us who have trusted in Christ as our blood sacrifice for sin. We were dead in sin, in Adam. But now we have been made alive in Christ, and are, now and forever, alive in Him.

God says we once were dead, and we now are alive. There are no qualifiers added. God simply states that to be the case. He does go on to elaborate on just how dead, and alienated from God we really were. He says (v. 2) we “walked in (trespasses and sins) according to the course of this world”…we went along with the whole world of sin, as a general life direction. And “according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” We went along with Satan, in his rebellion and pride.

All of Us?

Yes…we all had our way of life among the children of disobedience. Jesus wasn’t overstating his case in John 8:44 when he told the Pharisees that they were of their father the Devil, and that they would do as he did.

That was our old heritage, too! We acted like him, because we were effectively spawned by him. When Adam was persuaded to sin, Satan corrupted not only Adam but all his progeny. Jesus said that Satan was a “murderer from the beginning.” So, who did Satan kill, and when?

He killed all of us, when he caused Adam and Eve to die, spiritually. We all died in Adam. When we read 1^st Corinthians 15:22 “…in Adam all died; but, in Christ shall all be made alive.” (Where did we die? In Adam! )That is a location…a position. And that is where we all started out. We were born there. We were by nature (by birth) the children of wrath (v.3).

“But God…!”

This is what makes the difference in life… “But God…!” I was lost, but God saved me. They were blind, but God healed their blindness. We were dead in sins (yes, all of us!) but God, who is rich in mercy….

“Rich in Mercy:” That has to be one of the richest ways one can be rich. Is God rich in possessions? Sure! He owns the universe! He owns every atom of every element. God owns the material universe and the immaterial—all the spirits and souls are His as well…He made them. We aren’t even sure what a soul or a spirit is, nor the difference between them. But God knows!

When Did It Happen?

“But God, who is rich in Mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us: (remember that it was his love that took Jesus to the cross. Our sins may have driven the thorns, the nails, and the spear, but his Love, the agapé love, is what made him a willing target.) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ (by grace ye are saved). I have emphasized the words “were” and “are”…why? The tenses are vitally important here. We were dead in sins…past tense. We are saved by Grace.

This comes across as present tense in English, but in Greek, it is actually past participle, so “…have been saved” would be how we would say it. However, the old English is accurate as well, in that it correctly carries the flavor of “it’s a done deal”. We might say, “Well, I have been sick with the flu, too, but I am not today!” But, Salvation is not a temporary thing.

Jesus became the author of eternal salvation, according to Hebrews 5:9; and, more to the point, Hebrews 9:12 states that “…he obtained eternal redemption for us.” We have been eternally bought back out of the marketplace of sin, to be eternally set free. (But God…!)

**All Alive…Together with Christ**

But God …for His great Love, wherewith He loved us, (“Herein is Love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us.”) Even when we were dead… hath quickened us together with Christ. He has “made us alive”, together with Christ. He has raised us up together (with Christ,) and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. (Where? In heavenly places, In Christ!) All of this is true simply because you are born again. None of it has anything to do with your behavior or subsequent service. In fact, it all happened the moment you placed your trust in Him as your Savior. It has nothing to do with works.

And what is God’s purpose in doing so? He says it was so “That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

We are to be “eternal trophies” of His Grace. We are already seated in Heaven with Jesus, according to this passage, and we will be with Him forever! God says so!

Now, What?

What do I do about the position in which I find myself?

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.

In verses 8-10, we see what is supposed to happen: we have been saved (and are saved) by Grace, through Faith. That salvation was the gift of God…we did not earn it! But the new creation, our new self that was created the moment we were born again, was created unto Good Works. We are His workmanship; (His new creation, it says elsewhere) and our purpose is to bring glory to God through good works. In fact, it says that He has already prepared those good works for us to do. All we have to do is walk in them.

Our New Job

He gave a special assignment to the whole church: He made us ambassadors of His Grace to the lost world around us. But He prepares a specific path of good works for the individual believer, as well. And all we have to do is walk in them, by faith. Colossians 2:6 says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him.” How did you receive Him? By Faith! And that is how we walk in Christ as well: by faith, daily seeking His will and submitting ourselves to His hand.

You were dead in sin, but you have been born again, and you are now alive in Christ. Please learn to seek His face in prayer, and then allow Him to lead you.

Lord Jesus, teach us to rest in You, and not to be tormented by our frustrations and fears. We are confident of your Love for us. Teach us to rest in your Grace.

September 28, 2024September 29, 2024

What Should be the Result of Being “In Christ?”

In Christ—A Continued Study in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:15-23

Foundation for progress: Framework for prayer.

Introduction—Review

In our study of God’s Word, we find that some promises and commands are given to a single individual…and not to anyone else. Some are to a particular family or a particular nation. But, as a rule, the New Testament epistles are to every believer during the Church age. (The word “epistle” just means a “letter”—a written message. They are mostly instructions to the Church.)

A few weeks ago, we discussed positional truth; things that are true of us because we are in Christ. We learned some precious truths from Ephesians 1:1-14. As a brief review of our position in Christ: If you have placed your dependence upon Jesus Christ as your Savior, then:

Positional Truths

The book of Ephesians is written to you! (v.1)
You are one of the faithful in Christ Jesus. (v.1)
God has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, in Christ. (v.3)
God chose you in Christ, before the foundation of the world. (v.4)
You are holy and blameless before him, in His Love. (v.4)
You are predestined to be recognized as a full heir of God. (v.5)
Also, you are predestined to fulfill the good pleasure of His will. (v.5)
You are predestined to be to the praise of the Glory of His Grace. (v.6)
He has already accepted you “in the beloved” (that is, “in Christ”.) (v.6)
You already have been redeemed through His blood. (v.7)
You already have full forgiveness of your sins, according to the riches of His Grace. (v.7)
God has already abundantly blessed you in His wisdom and prudence. (v.8)
He has made known unto you the mystery of His will…one piece at a time. (v.9, 10)
Your inheritance in Him is secure. (v.11)
You will eternally be to his glory and praise. (v.12)
Your position in Him is sealed by the Holy Spirit. (v.13)
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the “down payment” of the rest of the glorious inheritance promised to you. You are secure in Christ because He says so, and because the Holy Spirit is your guide, your guard, and your seal until the redemption of the purchased possession. (v.14)

A Foundation for Progress:

These precious promises are the foundation for everything that follows. All the instructions to believers are based on the security of our position in Christ. Without that foundation, none of what follows would be possible, and most of it would be incomprehensible.

In verse 15, Paul has drawn some conclusions: He says that, based on their faith, and their secure position in Christ, he is praying for them. Praying for what? That they should win the lottery? To “live long, and prosper?” No: He says he gives thanks for them, every time he thinks of them. But he goes on to pray for certain specific things.

¹⁵Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, ¹⁶Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

A Framework for Prayer:

We can pray for any person, saved or unsaved. We can pray for physical health and prosperity for any person, saved or unsaved. But the things Paul chose to pray for, about the believers, can only be done for believers.

Without our foundation in Christ, none of what Paul is praying for is even possible. There is no point in asking God to fill an unbeliever with His wisdom, for instance. I will certainly pray for the health and welfare of non-Christians—but the very best thing I can pray for them is that they will be saved…that the Gospel will break through their resistance, and bring them to Christ. Believers are a different story: There are very definite things for which we ought to pray on their behalf. So, let’s see what Paul does ask for:

¹⁷That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

“The Spirit of Wisdom”

Paul prays that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ will give unto the believers the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. This is not about the Holy Spirit, who is resident in the body of every believer, but rather the result of His work in the believer’s life.

When 2^nd Timothy 1:7 says God “did not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind,” He is not suggesting that there are several possible “spirits” he could have given, to be contrasted with the Holy Spirit, but rather that the result of the Holy Spirit in our lives should be that we are characterized by power, love, and sound thinking.

Similarly, because of the Holy Spirit’s work in my life, the Word of God should be increasingly open to me. I freely admit there are portions of God’s Word I have never understood. I am thankful that today I understand a good deal more of His Word, and of His character than I did 50 years ago, but I attribute this to God’s Grace, and His Holy Spirit, not to any particular strengths or gifts I possess, nor to hard work on my part.

“And of Revelation”

Paul prayed that the believers would be filled with God’s wisdom; and that He would reveal himself to them (remember they did not yet have the New Testament.)

We look for God’s revelation within the Written Word. Often, in my own study, I will suddenly “see” something that has always been there…a connection between two passages, or a pattern I had not previously grasped.

God continually reveals Himself to His people…just as Paul prayed He would. And He does so as His people seek to Know Him—that is, to gain an experiential, working, personal knowledge of the Living God (Gr. “ginosko”– in Spanish it would be “conocer.”)

This is not just being “aware of a fact.” There is a separate word in Greek for that—the word “eido.” (Spanish has this same structure: “saber” means “to know as a fact.” English lacks this distinction.) People may “know” that there is a God, for instance, but they can’t know Him personally until they approach him through Jesus Christ. And, even then, it will be a growing, deepening relationship, not a “once-met, fully-understood” idea.

“In The Knowledge of God”

So, how can we “Know God?” According to Proverbs 1:7, the beginning of such knowledge is the “fear of the Lord.” When we first recognize our sin and our hopeless guilt before the God who we now recognize as our Judge, we have experienced that initial fear of the Lord.

Then we approach Him as lost sinners, and we cast our hope upon His blood at the Cross. We still fear his displeasure, but now He is our Redeemer and our Savior. And now we can draw still nearer to him, as our provider, our teacher, and our friend. We read His Word, and we try to discern His will. And we pray, seeking to know His direction for our lives. We learn to love Him and trust Him more and more. And in the process, we learn a pattern of obedience, and we begin to reflect His likeness in our behavior.

Paul says this “relational knowledge” should produce the spirit of wisdom and revelation in our lives. His wisdom changes our behavior, and His constant revelation of Himself to us through His Word satisfies our souls.

Paul Prays that the “Eyes of Our Understanding” May be Enlightened.

¹⁸The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Physical eyes are useless without physical light. People frequently talk about having good “night vision”, but even cats, owls, and other such nocturnal animals cannot see in total darkness. All eyes require at least some light…it is just that some require less than others. But the source of light for “the eyes of our understanding” is the Word of God, alone!

John 1:1, 14 states that Jesus is the living Word. Revelation 19:13 calls Jesus “The Word of God.” John 1:9, 10 says that He is the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world. In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the World!” Jesus is our only source of enlightenment. When Paul prayed for the eyes of our understanding to be “enlightened,” he expected it to be done through the agency of the Word of God—(Jesus, specifically, but the written Word, as well.)

So, what happens when eyes receive more light? Usually, they see more, right? So, what does Paul expect us to see, and understand, as our understanding is enlightened through God’s Word?

What Does Paul Expect Us to See and Understand?

We can understand and know what is the hope of His calling. God wants us to “dig in” and find out what it is He offers us…and truly understand the joy of what is yet to come. We are attempting to do exactly that in this study and others.
That we may know the riches of the Glory of His inheritance in the saints—not our inheritance in Him. I don’t fully understand this. I do know Jesus says his saints are a “treasure” to Him. But, quite frankly, I don’t see us that way. We are a bunch of rebellious, stubborn sinners, that He has somehow transformed into a body of believers. He has declared us to be righteous in Him. And it is literally so! But I can’t grasp that on an intuitive, emotional basis.

¹⁹And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Three Words For “Power”

Paul also prays we will understand the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe…the same power that He used when He raised Christ from the dead. There are several words translated as “power,” in the Bible, and three of them are used in this passage. The most common one is “dunamis”—this is the word from which we get the word “dynamo” (a power-generating device) and the word “dynamic.” It is the “Can Do” power of God: The “Is there anything too hard for me?” power of God. This is the first word translated as “power” in verse 19. It is His ability toward us who believe.

The second word for power, in verse 19, is the word “kratos”—meaning “dominion:” Rulership… ruling over things or persons. Because God has dominion over all things, He could raise Jesus from the Dead.

²⁰Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

The Importance of Authority

But another word translated as “power” is “exousia”—it means “authority.” Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth…” and He meant authority. But the “dunamis” power (the “can-do” power) is also His. So, because He is the Ruler, God possesses both the authority and the ability to do anything He desires, in this world and the world to come. And, He wants to exert that power through us to reach the world around us.

Notice that in verses 20 and 21, Jesus was not only “raised from the dead:” He was set at the right hand of God the Father (the proper place for God the Son), and He is “far above” every other authority (power,) including not only all human authority but all super-human (angelic) authority. This is where the word “exousia” is used in this passage…to point out that the authority of Jesus Christ exceeds all other authority. The Father and the Son are in perfect agreement—there is never a conflict there. But when we fear that some local “conflict of authority” may “limit” God’s protection for us, God says His authority exceeds all others.

Jesus is The Head of the Body, the Church

²²And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, ²³Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

God has made Jesus the head of a new creation—the Church: His body. The Church, proper, includes “all believers from the day of Pentecost to the moment of the Rapture.” I don’t understand everything about that Body. Verse 23, says that we are His fullness: I don’t understand how that is so, but it refers to Church-age believers, only. Not the Old Testament saints. I don’t know why God does things the way he does—and that is OK. He is God: what He does is right, and good, and Holy.

Now, notice: in the short outline for prayer that Paul laid out, he talks about things that are far beyond our scope of natural understanding:

He wants us to fully know the Hope of His calling
He prays that we will fully know the Riches of His inheritance in the Saints…the Church!
God wants us to fully know the utter enormity of His limitless ability, His dominion, and His authority, which He applies on our behalf.

And with that enlightenment of “the eyes of our understanding,” we have a reasonable hope of understanding at least a fair amount of it. All of the wisdom, understanding, and joy he offers is dependent upon us seeking a growing, deepening relationship with Jesus, the author of wisdom. This is a conditional promise, unlike the “positional” promises in the first 14 verses. Backing up further, it all depends upon our being “IN Christ” in the first place. The prime “condition” to all these promises, is our position in Him: having received Christ as our Savior.

Conclusion:

The first question, then, has to be: “Where are you today, in your own life?” Are you in Christ? Have you placed your trust in Jesus’ shed blood as full payment for sin? If so, then you are “in Christ,” a member of His body, and you are heir to all the things in Ephesians 1:1-14. The promises and blessings in the first 14 verses are all unconditional. If you belong to Jesus, then all those things belong to you, permanently. Salvation is a gift: it is completely dependent upon what Jesus did at the Cross. All God asks is that you place your faith in His completed work.

However:

The things in the last nine verses are conditional…they depend first upon your being a believer, and second, upon your choosing to grow!

We must choose to deepen our relationship with God. And, even while consistently choosing to draw near to God, there is an endless continuum, in which we can continue to grow; from today until the day when He takes us home forever.

Rewards are not a gift; they are dependent upon our obedient response in this area. If, as a believer, we choose to go our own way, we will not lose our position in Christ, but our condition will surely suffer, and our rewards will certainly diminish.

Whatever your position or condition today, I pray that you will respond to the call of God, and draw near to Him. May the Lord give you the strength to do so.

Lord Jesus, fill us with the desire to know You personally, and to learn to learn to walk with You.

September 21, 2024September 21, 2024

What is the Result of the “Federal Headship” Doctrine?

Romans 6:1-10; compare Romans 5:12 and 1^st Corinthians 15:22

Introduction:

Two (and three) weeks ago we talked in detail about our new position in Christ, reading from Ephesians 1:1-14. Last week we talked extensively about the concept of Baptism, specifically how we were baptized by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. Today we will look at both our position in Christ and that Baptism by the Holy Spirit, reading from Romans 6:1-10.

In the past, we talked briefly about the doctrine of “Federal Headship.” Since Romans 6 is so heavily involved with that particular doctrine, it seems good to spend more time with it today.

Romans 5:12

If you remember anything of the previous teaching, you will remember that when Adam sinned, we sinned with him…in him. God counted Adam’s fall into sin as our fall into sin> He acted as our representative. As a race, we have consistently demonstrated the truth of that bit of history, in that all of us continue in sin, to varying degrees.

Adam exercised his authority (probably unknowingly; truly ignorant of the outcome) to make a decision on behalf of the whole human race. He became the head of the entire fallen race of Man. We had no real choice in the matter, though it is evident that we would have made the same choice as Adam did. Collectively, we were “dead in sin,” as Paul teaches in Ephesians chapter two.

1^st Corinthians 15:22

But the other side of the Federal Headship concept is the fact that Jesus is the head of a new Man. Jesus exercised His authority as well; in full knowledge of what he was doing, to make a decision for all of humanity. But in this particular case, God gave us a choice. We can stay “in Adam,” where we were born, or we can be transferred into Christ via the new birth. Today, the text in Romans 6 speaks to those who already consciously have chosen to trust in Jesus’ blood sacrifice: those who already have been born again as members of that “New Man.” This letter is to the members of the Body of Christ.

Romans 6:1-10

Dead to Sin

Just as we fell into sin with Adam, and were dead in sin, we were crucified with Christ and are dead to Sin. We have no consciousness of either one. Both actions were done on our behalf. The one was done without our knowledge, and we had no personal choice—it is simply a fact. The other was also done without our knowledge, but, having heard the Gospel, we did have a choice: we could either receive that gift of Eternal Life, through Jesus’s death, burial, and resurrection… or reject it.

We know, too, that Grace came, in the Person of Jesus Christ, as God’s only solution for Man’s sin. So, Paul first poses the question,

¹ What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ²God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

Should we sin more to get more Grace? Absolutely not! It is unfitting for us to remain in sin, because that is no longer where we live! We are dead to sin. This is Paul’s opening statement of fact, and upon its truth and exactitude hangs all the rest of the argument.

How Are We Dead To Sin?

How can Paul say that we are dead to sin? I certainly don’t feel dead! On the other hand, I doubt that I would have said I felt “dead to God,” before I was a believer. I felt pretty alive, and wouldn’t have even understood the concept of being “dead to God.”

Think back, though: when Adam fell into sin, he died spiritually the moment he physically ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He was separated from fellowship with God. Yes, 930 years later, his spirit was separated from his body, as well. We call that “physical death.” But at the moment he ate that fruit, his spirit was separated from God. He died spiritually.

God’s Intervention

Had God not intervened with Grace, and restored fellowship, Adam would have been lost… permanently separated from God. In my own case, as an unregenerate man, I was separated from God… I was dead to God. I was born that way. Had I physically died in that state I would have been eternally lost. That is the simple truth.

But now, being joined to God through Jesus’ sacrifice and by God’s Grace, I am “separated” from sin as a principle. In God’s sight, I have been separated from my old sin nature, because He gave me a new nature in the new birth. Now it is possible for God to fellowship with me, and it is possible for me to love Him…because I have a new nature.

From God’s perspective, the old sin nature is dead. He does not propose to patch it up, correct all its ills, or restore fellowship to it. If we read Romans 8:7, we can see that the old sin nature is (still…present tense) antagonistic toward God, and it cannot be made subject to Him. God says it can’t be done.

So, the only way He can redeem a fallen human is to offer them a new birth. The old sin nature had to be set aside. I have not lost my old sin nature, but I am “separated” from it. God wants fellowship with the new Me; He does not seek to change the old Me; but rather to let it starve as He feeds the new Me. So, how did I die to sin, then?

Baptized into Death

³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

The baptism to which Paul refers, here, is not water baptism. There is no water in this passage. Water baptism is only an object lesson—a picture, or a demonstration— of something real that has already happened. Water baptism (in the New Testament) is reserved for believers because it announces that the baptism by the Holy Spirit has already occurred…that the believer has been placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. (1^st Corinthians 12:13)

So, Water Baptism announces what has already happened: I have been separated from my old sin nature, because Jesus’ death is reckoned as my death. I died with him: just as I died in Adam, and was lost, I have been crucified with Christ, and my sins have been dealt with at the Cross. I am separated from my old sin nature through that death. When did it happen? The moment I trusted His completed work at the Cross as being full payment for my sins. At that moment, the Holy Spirit placed me into the Body of Christ, though I was completely unaware of it.

But Paul says that “death with Christ” is not all I gained there: I also gained eternal life!

Baptized into Life

⁴ Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
⁵For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Just as I was fully identified with Adam in his sin and his spiritual death, and I was born that way, I am now fully identified with Jesus in His death, burial, and resurrection, to the extent that God expects me to start living in that reality. Why?

Because I have been re-born that way. In short, He says that because I already have been re-born a literal child of God, I am to begin acting that way. And his reasoning is very clear: he says that I am dead to sin—separated from it. I have a moment-by-moment choice to make as to which nature (old or new) will be manifest and prominent in my daily life. I am to “walk in the newness of life.” As I mature in my Christian life, that walk will become more consistent.

Two Natures

When I started Bible school, one of the staff members had two children living there in the school: I assumed they were much older than they truly were. The older girl seemed to be in her early twenties, but occasionally she acted like a 16-year-old. Her brother seemed to be ten or twelve, but occasionally he acted like a five-year-old. This was very irritating until I learned that she actually was 16 and he actually was five (but large for his age.) Both usually seemed fairly mature, but both kids occasionally just “acted their age!”

Sometimes Christians are under the control of the Holy Spirit, and we are impressed with the grace in their lives. Occasionally they “act their age,” so to speak, and behave like “natural” men. (And, YES, it is sin!) But that does not make them a hypocrite—it proves that they have two natures, just like you! We need the constant control and guidance of the Holy Spirit in our lives to have any sort of consistent walk with Him.

The next phrase (verse 5) assures me that since I have been buried with him (in him—this is what Federal Headship implies), then I shall be (future tense) also in the likeness of His resurrection. From the moment I was born again, when I believed the Gospel and received Christ as my Savior, I’ve been guaranteed a resurrection, to be with Him and like Him forever!

A Done Deal

In fact, in Ephesians 2:6, he states that God has already “raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ.” There’s that “location clause” again. This is positional truth. The only conditions are the ones laid down by Jesus himself: (John 5:24) “He that heareth my words and believeth on Him who sent me…” Those who have heard the Gospel and believed it—placed their full trust in the completed work of Jesus at the Cross, are placed into Christ, and they are safe in Him forever.

The identification is so complete that God views it as already done. He will never again see me as a lost sinner; my old self is separated from the new me—“dead”—and the new person (created at my new birth, whether I knew it or not) is free forever from the curse of the Law. What an amazing change! My old position, in Adam, left me completely doomed. My new position, in Christ, leaves me completely blessed, and fully accepted by God.

What Should the Result Be?

⁶Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ⁷For he that is dead is freed from sin.

If I know that I am dead to sin, and dead to the Law, what should the result be? I should begin to place my trust in that fact, and not give in to the desires of sin anymore. This is not just self-control; it’s recognition that those desires are no longer “mine”—they are the desires of my old sin nature, and, though it still exists within me, it is an “enemy within the gates”, so to speak.

I have to be conscious that it is there, recognize its movements and inclinations, and defend my heart against them. Fortunately, I am not alone in this battle. I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and He is faithful to warn me and to guide me, so that I can see what to avoid.

Only By the Spirit

Is it easy? No! In fact, without the constant empowering and enabling of the Holy Spirit, it is utterly impossible. Unbelievers, through self-control, can appear to be good persons, and do good things, and avoid bad things, etc., but their actions are still controlled by their old sin nature (the only one they have as an unbeliever.) So, the scripture says (Isaiah 64:6) that even their “righteousnesses are as filthy rags”; and so are mine, if I try to “do good things” in my own fleshly power and motives. This is true of the whole human race.

I have nothing to offer God except my new nature, and the work the Holy Spirit can do through me. As an unbeliever, even my thoughts and prayers were corrupted by who I was as a sinner. The only prayer of an unbeliever that God commits Himself to answer is the one that confesses Him as Savior and places faith in His Grace.

God’s Guarantee

⁸Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: ⁹Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. ¹⁰For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

God has given us a guarantee that we will live with Him eternally; He asks us to start living in that reality today—now. He says that since Jesus can never die again, and can never be tested again, and has paid the price for sin, once-for-all, we should take heart from that fact and step forward into the liberty He offers us as well. As a result, He says we can be free from the ravages of sin in our lives!

We do not have to be torn apart by fear, jealousy, pride, anger, and lust. We can be free from the destructive, conflicting desires of our old nature, only because we are part of a new creation. It is because we have been separated from our old nature to the extent that we no longer have to obey it. I will freely tell you, however, that while this is completely true, I certainly have not mastered this concept. I find it a very difficult idea to grasp.

Next time we will discuss how that is supposed to work.

Lord Jesus, lead us into the truth of your Word. Enable us to walk in the newness of life!

September 14, 2024September 14, 2024

See The Twin Ordinances of The Church: Baptism and Communion

The Twin Ordinances of The Church: Baptism and Communion

Baptism

1^st Corinthians 12:13; Romans 6:3, 4; Acts 8:26-40; Acts 16:31-33;

Communion…the Lord’s Table

John 6:35; 1^st Corinthians 11:23-31

Introduction:

The World has influenced us, through 2,000 years of “religious pageantry.” In addition, the humanistic “hunger for drama” has affected our perspective. Therefore, world religions have made both baptism and communion into “sacred rituals.” Since then, they claim that only priests having human-sourced ordination can carry out these “sacraments.” As a result, they demand a humanly sanctified priesthood. Religions call these ordinances “sacraments.” (That word means “a way by which to become holy.”)

No Special Human “Credentials”

But, John the Baptist came out of the desert, as an “unknown.” He looked pretty rough, and he acted rather strange. Obviously, He did not have “human training.” Humans did not ordain, or send him.” Furthermore, most of the apostles were also what we would call “blue-collar workers,” today. Finally, Jesus Himself was a carpenter, as was Joseph, His adoptive father.

**Ordinances, not Sacraments**

And the physical ordinances of baptism and communion have zero effect in making us holy to God. They only state that He has declared us Holy: we are His private property, reserved for His use.

Nobody knew for sure who John the Baptist was: The priests had heard all the rumors. The people were excited about John’s message. The priests wanted to “join the crowd.” Historically, they had the only “religious game in town.” They could not afford to allow an outsider to outshine them, so they hoped to be baptized with all the others. I expect that they intended to co-opt him into their fold, and take all the energy of his ministry and redirect it to their own. Obviously, that is just a guess.

Who was John the Baptist?

But two things happened: The first was that they came, and John recognized their unrepentant hearts. He said, “You brood of serpents! Who has warned you of the wrath to come?” He warned them that they had better bring forth fruits appropriate to repentance. He evidently did not say such things to the others who came for baptism.

The other thing: John 1:19-23 says that the priests and Pharisees sent messengers. They asked John who he was. They wanted his credentials.

John’s Credentials:

So, they asked him, “Are you the Christ?” And he said, “No!”

They asked, “Are you Elijah?” And he said, “No!”

They asked, “Are you ‘that prophet?’” (Meaning the prophet predicted by Moses, in Deuteronomy 18:15) And John replied, “No.”

So, they asked, “Who are you, then?” He replied, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, saying ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as said the prophet Isaiah.”

Why did the priests and Pharisees desire Baptism?

None of John’s answers made them feel any more comfortable with him. So why did they seek baptism?

Everyone else confessed their sins, in seeking baptism. They requested baptism to publicly identify with the message that John preached. He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom, saying, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

John did not preach the Gospel of Christ (also called the “Gospel of Salvation,” or the “preaching of the Cross.”) He was announcing the presence of the King. Jesus was right there, if only they would receive Him. (And Jesus initially preached that same message, until they formally rejected Him.)

But they wanted to identify with the message of the Kingdom. Some of them saw that they were sinners. They needed cleansing, before entering that Kingdom. I expect that those few were later the ones who received Him as their Savior.

But, Why Baptism?

The English translators rendered the Greek word “baptizo” into “Baptize.” Different forms of the word are used, but they all mean “to dip.” When Jesus “dipped” the sop in the cup, before giving it to Judas Iscariot, the Greek word is “bapto.” When people dyed cloth, they dipped the fabric into a pot of dye, and the word was “baptizo.” It permanently identified the fabric with the specific dye into which it was dipped. (A cookie dipped in milk will never be “just a cookie” again.)

The people wanted to be identified with John’s message. Jesus needed to be identified with that message, too, which is why he insisted, there in the Jordan, that John baptize him. Why should He be identified with the Gospel of the Kingdom?He had no sins to confess, so, confession of sins was not the issue. It was because He was the King!

In 1^st Corinthians 12:13, it says that the Holy Spirit has baptized every believer into the Body of Christ, the moment they believe. We understand that, when the Holy Spirit “placed us into” the body of Christ, He permanently identified uswith Him in every aspect of His Life, His Death, His Burial, and His Resurrection. Romans 6:3, 4 says so! (And that is where God sees you from that moment on! There is no “water” in Romans 6. If we dip someone in water, it changes nothing. When the Holy Spirit places someone into the Body of Christ, it changes everything.)

Examples

In Acts 8:26-40, we see the Ethiopian Eunuch requesting water baptism, after hearing and believing the Gospel of Christ. The Ethiopian Eunuch confessed his faith in Jesus Christ. Philip baptized (dipped) him in some water that was beside the road. God did not tell us what water it was…a pond, a lake, a stream, or whatever.

Acts 16:31-33 tells us that Paul and Silas preached the simple Gospel of Christ, and the Philippian jailer and his family believed and were baptized immediately. Again, God did not tell us what water Paul used, although we do know there was a river close by.

Water baptism simply testifies that our Baptism by the Holy Spirit, into the Body of Christ, (as explained in 1^st Corinthians 12:13) has already occurred. Water baptism is an outward testimony that we have chosen to be identified with Jesus.

Each person desiring water baptism testifies that their faith for salvation is in Jesus Christ. Whether they understand it or not, they also testify that they have already been placed into the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. They have become identified with Him in His Death, His burial, and His Resurrection. And they desire to publicly identify with Him in their life.

What About Communion? The Lord’s table…The Lord’s Supper?”

Obviously, we teach this ordinance quite regularly…once a month. To begin with, in John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life!” The Jews knew that He was comparing Himself to the Manna given to their forefathers. He said that He was the fulfillment of that “picture.”

But, in the original Passover, the people did not “just” strike the blood of the Lamb onto the lintel and the two doorposts: They also (everyone in the household) ate of that Lamb! Therefore they partook of that sacrifice personally, confessing that it was their sins that necessitated the sacrifice, and that the Blood of that little Lamb was shed for them… personally!

It was not just a “nice theory,” nor was it “just a ritual.” They knew, that very night, that a destroyer was coming through Egypt, and in every home, the firstborn was going to die, if they were not all sheltered under the Blood of the Lamb. And, ever since that day, the Jews have celebrated the “Seder:” as a commemoration of that Passover.

According to 1^st Corinthians 11:23-26, we see that our communion, too, is a commemoration: When we partake in Communion, we each testify that “Jesus died for me! His Blood was the blood sacrifice for my sins! He willingly gave His body to be beaten and torn and pierced, for me!” And, whether we know it or not, we also testify of our faith in His second coming!

Let’s celebrate that Communion, by sharing in the Lord’s Table now. Afterward, we will have a baptismal service, as several young folks have asked to be baptized.

September 7, 2024September 7, 2024

In Christ—Comparing “Position” and “Condition:” Part Two

“In Christ”—Comparing “Position” and “Condition”

© C. O. Bishop

Introduction

Last week we began examining the difference between our “Position” in Christ, and our “Condition” as His people. In the process, we spoke briefly about the difference between being born into the family of God through the new birth, and being “adopted.”

I tried to point out that human adoption, as we know it, always means taking someone who is not your offspring (the Greek word is “teknon”, meaning “born-ones”) and declaring them to be your child. It means legally taking responsibility for their well-being. This is true whether the overall experience is wonderful, good, bad, or terrible; and, regardless of the motives involved.

Good and Bad

There are wonderful examples (and we have personally known many of them) of people who adopted and reared numerous children, with wonderful results. The children grew up considering the couple who cared enough to shelter and provide for them and loved them unconditionally to be their “real” parents, because, as one woman told her son, “anyone can plant seeds: it takes a farmer to raise a crop.”

On the other hand, I have personally known families who deliberately adopted large numbers of children, to use as labor on their farm, or for other nefarious motives. The same is true for those who have biologically produced lots of children for similarly bad motives. The real issue becomes the question of “parenting” at that point, not whether one human is the biological source of another human’s genetic makeup.

I have known people whose only memories of their father (sometimes multiple “fathers,”) were bad…terrible. Their experiences were so negative, and the abuse had been so horrific, that when they hear the words, “Heavenly Father” they are repulsed. All their experiences were terrible, at the hands of those who claimed that position, so they cannot think of God in those terms. They are emotionally damaged, and only the Lord can heal their hearts.

He is the perfect parent and caregiver, and our very best example.

Identification

Sometimes agencies government attempting to solve a crime, or, perhaps trying to verify a claim upon an estate, use genetic mapping to determine family relations. When people insist that they are the offspring of some rich celebrity who recently died, DNA sampling may be the only way to defend against a false claim or to prove a legitimate claim to an inheritance.

In the case of solving a crime, however, police agencies often have a DNA sample from a crime scene, and they hope to find the person to whom it belonged. In recent years, they have used computer databases to find family connections, and then find those families and investigate whether some relative of theirs could have been in the area where the crime was committed at the time it happened. Occasionally, that method results in positive identification of the perpetrator, and justice may be served.

Spiritual Identification

In John 3:7 Jesus told Nicodemus “You must be Born Again!” 1^st Peter 1:23 says that we have been “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” And, in Revelation 19:13, we see Jesus identified as The Word of God.

In 1^st John 3:9, God says that the implanted Word has another effect: we cannot remain in the same old patterns of sin. He says we cannot continue to practice sin, because His seed remains in us. The Prodigal Son, while feeding the pigs in a far country, had been a Son, all the time, but he reached his limit, realized that he did not belong there, and he chose to return to his father’s house. The fact that he was a Son is what eventually turned him away from his foolish behavior.

How are the Children of God Identified?

In 2^nd Corinthians 5:17, God specifically points out that we are a New Creation in Him!

The only sure identification we have as God’s Children is the one that God can see: He sees us as his offspring from the moment we are born again. Lot was of God’s offspring, by faith, just as his uncle, Abraham was. But, Abraham lived his faith, as a rule: Lot did not.

If we only had Genesis chapters 13-19 to work from, I would have guessed that Lot was probably not a believer. But 2^nd Peter 2:7, 8 says that he was! God said Lot was a “Just man”…a Righteous man! God only declares sinners righteous through faith. Abraham believed God’s promise and God credited it to him as Righteousness. That is the only way anyone has ever been declared righteous by God. So, we conclude that Lot must also have placed his faith in God, though it had very little outworking in ways that we can observe.

It Depends on Who is Looking

Other humans identify us by our appearance…the things we do and say, and how we treat other people. God sees the heart. Other humans may refuse to admit that a person who commits some specific sin could be a believer. Scripture teaches us that, while the implanted Word does make some changes, it does not make the same change in every individual, and the outward appearance is not a reliable proof of a person’s spiritual identity, either way.

There are “good people” who are “as lost as a ball in tall weeds,” and people like Lot, and like Samson, whose lives do NOT reflect the Grace of God, nor His righteousness, but whom God has claimed as his own.

How Does God See Us?

God identifies us through His implanted Word. He speaks. We either believe His Word, or we don’t. When you first took God at His Word and believed that Jesus’s Blood was the full payment for your sins, He implanted His Word in you, and you were born again. At that same moment, the Holy Spirit placed you into the Body of Christ. You are now in Christ. And He is now in you! You have been permanently identified with Him. You have his spiritual “Genetic code” planted in you, if you want to use that illustration. (Be careful with that idea: I only mean it as an illustration.)

The credentials God requires, however, for us to enter His eternal presence include having been born again into His family.

But, What about Adoption?

As we taught, last week, the New Testament concept of Adoption is that “God takes all those who through the new birth are already His offspring, and declares them to be His heirs.

Romans 8:23 tells us when that will happen. Romans 8:15 says we already have the Spirit of Adoption. But the Adoption itself…the “placement of Sons, ” as we read verse 23, will come when we get our new bodies.

Moving On With Ephesians Chapter 1

Ephesians 1:8-14

⁸ Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

God says he has abounded his Grace toward us in all wisdom and prudence. We may try to “do our best,” perhaps, but the fact is, we cannot say this of ourselves regarding how we raise our children—we may try to abound toward them in Grace, love, wisdom, and prudence, but each of us who is honest looks back and says, “There are some things I wish I had done differently.”

God will never have to say that—His character is so completely perfect that he never has to struggle over a decision—he does what his character demands that he does, and it is always exactly right—full of His Grace, Love, and Wisdom. God never blesses indiscriminately—He blesses to produce more blessings and more righteousness.

⁹ Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

This may refer to the mystery God is going to reveal through Paul, in chapter 3—or it may simply be the fact that in all the Word of God, he has revealed the mystery of His will at one level or another. No one ever got the whole picture—they all got pieces of the picture. Even though we have the completed Bible, we still don’t know the meanings of many of the prophecies yet to be fulfilled. So, although it could be in reference to the general revelation, I suspect it refers to the specific revelation coming about two pages later… a foreshadowing, if you will. This is borne out in verse 10:

¹⁰ That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Verse ten says, as a continuation of verse 9, that the mystery is the fact that God intends to join together in one, things previously kept separate, namely, as we will see in Chapter 3, the Jewish and Gentile believers.

A Secure Inheritance

¹¹ In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

¹² That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

According to verses 11 and 12, the things that follow are guaranteed to be eventually true in us, because of our position in Christ. The inheritance is ours, period. We will be to the praise of His Glory. Who will? Those who have trusted in Christ. Not just the believers of the first century—all of us!

How Does it Work?

¹³ In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

How did we get saved? We heard the word of truth, the Gospel, and we believed—then, he says, the immediate result was that we were sealed, by the Holy Spirit—where? It says we were sealed in Christ! If the Holy Spirit has sealed you in Christ, you are saved! You are secure!

¹⁴ Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Paul concludes by saying that the “Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance…” the “down payment.” if you will. He is with us for the duration, to give us the confidence to know that our inheritance is secure in Him, and the guidance to know how to live for God.

For how long? Until we sin too much? Nope! It is “…until the redemption of the purchased possession.” In other words, we are sealed in him, and The Holy Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance until Jesus comes to take us to Himself.

Conclusion

So, what have we found to be true of us, based on our position in Christ? Let’s review: If you have placed your dependence upon Jesus Christ as your Savior, then:

The book of Ephesians is written to you! (verse 1)
You are one of the faithful in Christ Jesus. (verse 1)
God has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, in Christ. (v, 3)
You were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. (v. 4)
You are holy and blameless before him, in His Love. (v. 4)
You are predestined to be recognized as a full heir of God. (v. 5)
You are predestined to fulfill the good pleasure of His will. (v. 5)
You are predestined to be to the praise of the Glory of His Grace. (v. 6)
You are already accepted in the beloved (Christ.) (v. 6)
You already have been redeemed through His blood. (v. 7)
You already have full forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace. (v. 7)
God has already abundantly blessed you in His wisdom and prudence. (v. 8)
He has made known unto you the mystery of His will…one piece at a time. (v. 9)
Your inheritance in Him is secure. (v. 11)
You will eternally be to his glory and praise. (v. 12)
Your position in Him is sealed by the Holy Spirit. (v. 13)
The indwelling Holy Spirit is the “down payment” of the rest of the glorious inheritance promised to you. You are absolutely secure in Christ because He says so, and because the Holy Spirit is your guide, and your guard; and He seals you in Christ until the redemption of the purchased possession. (v. 14)

The Foundation is Laid

These precious promises are the basis…the foundation…of all that follows in the book of Ephesians. All the instructions to believers are based upon the security of our position in Christ. In the coming weeks, we will continue to learn from Ephesians what God would have us to know about our relationship with Him.

Please take the time this week to read back over these truths, in Ephesians chapter one, and reflect on what it means to be in Christ. We will talk about it more in the coming weeks. Next week there will be several baptisms, here: We will see how both Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are testimonies of the Gospel.

Lord Jesus, please awaken in us the heartfelt desire to know You for who You truly are, and to rest in You as our final refuge. Give us a heart to obey You and to honor You with our lives.

August 31, 2024August 31, 2024

Compare your “Position” In Christ vs. Your “Condition”

In Christ—Comparing “Position” and “Condition”

(Part One)

Ephesians 1:1-7

Introduction:

Recently, questions have come up in our Bible Studies which convinced me that we should take a break from 1^st Corinthians. We need to address some foundational truths in Ephesians. Please turn with me to the book of Ephesians, chapter one.

Ephesians 1

¹Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

To The Believers

The Apostle Paul initially addressed his Epistle to the church at Ephesus, but he used words showing that it truly is addressed to all believers, everywhere, throughout the Church age. The first major theme is that the believers are “in Christ.”

Paul said the letter is to the Saints at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. That includes all the believers of the Church age. He offers to all believers the Grace of God which results in the Peace of God. Another thing: he referred to the believers as “Saints”…we tend to think of saints as “super-Christians.” But the word means “holy; sanctified; set apart for God’s purpose”—it does NOT mean problem-free, or sinless.

The saints here are the “faithful in Christ Jesus”—and if you are a believer, that includes you. (Notice it does not say, “…those who are faithful to Christ.” but rather “…those who are the faithful in Christ”) That means the believers—this letter is addressed to you—these truths apply to you. (Listen carefully, because the book of Ephesians is a letter from God to you.)

**Grace, then Peace**

Now: notice that Grace always precedes Peace in the Christian experience. This is especially true at Salvation, where God’s Grace had to be extended to me before I could have peace with Him. But, it is also true in daily life, where I continue to need God’s Grace to experience His peace. The one peace is the peace with God; the other is the peace of God.

One is named in Romans 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Compare Ephesians 2:8, 9 “By Grace are ye saved through Faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” ) Romans 5:10 says that we were enemies of God. But now we are at peace with God.

The other (the Peace of God) is identified in Philippians 4:6, 7. “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. And the Peace of God, which passeth all understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

I need to seek God’s Grace all the time—He is my sustenance, and by His Grace, I live. He’s the true source of peace. Peace with God means God no longer holds my sins against me. His Justice and Holiness were truly satisfied at the Cross. The Peace of God is what sustains me in everyday life—especially in rough times. But both are the result of His Grace.

All Spiritual Blessings

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

It is strange, how we extend our blessing back to God…but we do—and it is something that is very consistent throughout the scripture. It would seem logical that only He can bless us…but the reality is that we also bless God. It is a form of worship.

And the next thing it says is that He has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. This is the introduction to the next section…He says four things:

God has blessed us—(that’s past tense…He already blessed us)
With all spiritual blessings—(there is nothing lacking)
In heavenly places—(not all the blessings are visible: we accept His blessing by faith.)
In Christ—(the blessings are in Him, and they are ours because we are in Him.)

All Spiritual blessings are already yours, because of your relationship with Jesus Christ. This is called a positional truth. If you have received the Lord Jesus as your Savior, all the things in this passage are already yours. Some may argue that this statement only means that the blessings are in Christ, but we will see that not only are we “In Christ.” but we are also “seated in the Heavenlies” with him, though we certainly don’t feel that way. Ephesians 2:6 says you are already seated in the heavenlies. But, most importantly, you are in Christ.

There Are Two Possible Positions (Locations):

1^st Corinthians 15:22, lists two positions: “in Adam,” and “in Christ,” with the results of each. These two possible positions (or locations) can be compared with the same relative positions regarding Noah’s Ark. When the flood came, everyone on earth was in one of two places—they were either in the Ark, or they were not in the Ark. Similarly, everyone today is either in Christ or not in Christ…in which case they are still in their natural state, “in Adam.” Let’s see what the Bible says is true about you, because you are in Christ.

⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

This is where it says we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Now I could take that at least two different ways. I could say that “we” who believe were chosen in Christ (that is, as a group—“those who would believe”) or I could say that each of us were hand-picked for his glory. And I believe both are probably true.

Why Two Positions?

1st John 2:2 says Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but not all people choose to receive Him. The majority do not! In John 6:44, Jesus said, “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” But, in John 12:32, He also said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” His Grace is extended to all, but not all believe.

This agrees with John 1:12 “…but as many as received Him, to them gave He power (exousia: “authority”) to become (genesthe: “be generated as…born as”) the sons (the word here is tekna: “children”—literally, “born-ones”) of God, even to those who believe on His name.”

There is an element of personal choice, as confusing as it may sound. To be honest with God’s Word I have to teach both ideas—God’s Sovereignty, and Man’s free moral agency. It is a powerful, precious, and dangerous gift, this gift of choice. Use it wisely. Choose Christ.

We are Chosen to be Holy and Blameless before Him.

This is in the context of positional truth, so I’ll address it that way first. You are holy to God—you are blameless in His sight. This is simply a fact, (Ephesians 4:24 says that our new nature…the one we received at the new birth, is “created in righteousness and true holiness.”)

This is a positional truth…it is true because you are in Christ. Now: based on that reality, you are also called to live a holy life and to live a blameless life. But God says He will give you both the will and the ability to do it. Philippians 2:13 says “It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Our position does not dependon our condition. We will talk more about position and condition. For the moment, remember that:

“Position” is WHO you are, and WHAT you are, because of WHERE you are (In Christ!)
“Condition” is HOW you are doing, and WHAT you are doing.

Practical Application

Your position in Christ is perfect: your condition may be terrible. Samson was in terrible “condition” as a believer—but his position was perfect.

Lot was in such bad shape as a believer that no one would have guessed he was one. But in 2^nd Peter 2:7, 8, God says Lot was a righteous man. As believers, because we are in Christ, our lives are lived under the mantle of God’s unconditional Love. He no longer sees us as lost sinners. He sees us as His dear children, born to Him by the new birth. Therefore, He brings us along, step by step, as He molds us into His own image. He is pleased with our toddling efforts to learn to walk with Him. He no longer condemns us for our failures.

What is Biblical Adoption?

⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

As believers, we are predestined to what God calls “adoption.” (The Greek word is huiothesis:) It means the “placing of sons.” It is a legal term, an official term: not a familial term. Adoption is not how you became a child of God: Adoption is how you, as a born child of God will be recognized as a full heir of God. This idea comes from Greek and Roman society, where a man had to officially recognize an heir, before that child was recognized as a “Son”—a “huios.”

Romans 8:23 says the completion of that process will not happen until you receive your new body. We already have been born again, begotten of God. We are called “teknia:” His “born-ones”—His offspring… His little children. But we will not be fully established as Sons, until we are with him. However, we have received the Spirit of adoption, according to Romans 8:15.

No Confusion Needed

To avoid confusion, it is good to understand the difference between the kind of “adoption” that is common in our society and the one that is spoken of in the New Testament. In our society, adoption always means “taking responsibility for someone who is not your offspring and treating them as someone who is your offspring.” But, the Bible word “adoption” always means taking your own offspring, and declaring them to be your legal heir.

Remember that in our form of adoption, our adopted child will never take on our genetic characteristics, because they were not born to us. In the New Testament, while Jesus declared that not all are God’s children, He also said that all could become God’s literal children by faith, through the new birth. The invitation is to “whosoever believeth in Him.”

Incidentally, it is probably good to notice that it is “according to the good pleasure of HIS will” that He does this—not because we want Him to, or any other reason. He is the Sovereign God and the Eternal Father. (Do you want something to think about, and puzzle over? Read Isaiah 9:6, 7—Then ask yourself, “Who is the Everlasting Father?”)

What Will Be The Result?

⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

I will be “to the praise of the glory of His grace!” By His Grace, He has (past tense) made me accepted in the Beloved…I’m accepted by God, in the Beloved(Jesus Christ.) There’s that “position” thing again…because I am now found in Christ, I am accepted by God in Him.

I can’t overstate the importance of your position in Christ: If you are not in Christ, then none of these things are true about you. They don’t apply. You are not accepted, not predestined to the adoption of sons, etc. So. Where is the “dividing line?” How do I know whether I am “in Him?” Well, that is the next verse!

⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

The redemption is through His Blood. If I have placed my dependence in His Blood, as the only possible payment for my sins, then I now have redemption in him. I have now been “bought back” out of the marketplace of Sin. Redemption is a precious concept. This Greek word, “lutroō,” means to be set free—it is used together with another word (exagorazo) meaning “bought out of the marketplace, not to be sold again.” They mean I have been bought out of the slave-market of sin, with the express purpose of being set free, forever. (Wow!)

How Can We Know for Sure?

So, “How can I know if I am in him?” The answer is fairly simple—it is on the strength of Jesus’ promise in John 5:24. “Verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.”

Because of that promise, I can confidently say: “If you have heard the good news of Jesus’ death for your sins, and His resurrection, and have placed your faith in His finished work at the cross, then you have eternal life (read the promise again—that’s exactly what it says), you will never be condemned, but rather, you have crossed over (there’s your “dividing line”) from death unto life. It can’t be any simpler.

What Have We Learned?

The Book of Ephesians is to you!
You are one of the faithful in Christ Jesus. You are a Saint: God’s private property!
God has already blessed you with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, in Christ.
Along with all believers, You were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world.
You are holy and blameless before God, in His Love.
You are now predestined to be recognized as a full heir of God.
Also, you are now predestined to fulfill the good pleasure of His will.
You are now predestined to be to the praise of the Glory of His Grace.
God has already made you accepted in the beloved (in Christ.)
You already have been redeemed through His blood.
You already have full forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace.

Next week we will continue into Ephesians 1:8-14. By the time we complete the first 14 verses of this chapter, we will see seventeen things that are all true of you, because you are “In Christ.”

Lord Jesus, take us in hand and teach us the elements of Faith, so that we may stand firm in the perfect position You have purchased for us, and learn to behave in a manner appropriate to that position.

August 25, 2024August 25, 2024

How to Enjoy Your Liberty Without Causing Offense

Enjoy Your Liberty Without Causing Offense

1st Corinthians 10:30-33; 11:1, 2

³⁰For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

³¹Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

³²Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

³³Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

1st Corinthians 11:1, 2

¹ Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

²Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.

Introduction:

Last week we addressed a specific problem that (as a rule) we do not face in our culture: “Foods sacrificed to Idols.” But it opened the general subject of living with our liberty, but avoiding causing others to “stumble” or sin.

The issue of the idols is a rather blatant example of a case where our liberty could be a real problem for someone else. But it served as a springboard to other such examples, and the general subject of “If I have all this liberty, but can’t use it, then what good is it?”

³⁰For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

Paul asks why he should be accused, regarding something in which he enjoyed full freedom. That is a good question, and it is one we may ask in our hearts as well.

Example in Nature

I read a rather sad story, years ago, in which a brooding hen was given a clutch of duck eggs to incubate and hatch. She succeeded in hatching them all, and she was a wonderful mother to the strange-looking “chicks” which (of course) were actually ducklings.

All went well until she happened to walk near the pond. The ducklings all plunged into the pond and began paddling around in the water. The mother hen was frantic, of course, because her “chicks” had no business swimming!

The ducklings had perfect freedom to swim: they were created to do so. But the hen could not understand that. People who have not yet grasped the reality of their liberty in Christ are alarmed to see Christians doing a thing that they feel must be wrong (because someone told them it was.)

The believer has seen in the scriptures that he or she is free: Believers can eat anything, and they know their food cannot defile them. In Mark 7:15, Jesus said, “There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.”

Paul pointed out that all things were “lawful” to him (he had no dietary restrictions under God’s rule,) but not all things were expedient. (Yes, you can eat the meat of a puffer fish, but it truly is not a good idea: Many people have died, in an attempt to sample that delicacy, as most of the flesh of the puffer fish contains a deadly poison.)

Does it Glorify God?

The bottom line for us as believers is “Does it glorify God?”

Years ago, an older man was telling me how a particular televangelist was persuading people to give heavily to his ministry: He was financing a huge new church building, and he told his radio and television audiences, “If you send me $500, I will send you a brick with your name on it: And, I’ll put another one, just like it, in my new building!”

Stop and think what the motivation had to be: Their motive for giving was to get their name embossed in a brick in that building! They wanted to exalt their own name. (Or, possibly worse, they may have thought that identifying themselves with that evangelist would somehow draw them “closer to God!”)

I was uncomfortable with the story, and I told the man, “That seems repugnant to me!” He replied, “But the bottom line, Chet, is that it works!” I did not want to argue with him as he was old enough to be my dad, so I walked away…but after a minute or so it came to me: The bottom line is not “it works!” the bottom line is, “Does it Glorify God?”

That particular televangelist was caught in multiple acts of flagrant immorality just a few years later. I could not help wondering how his followers felt after the truth of his sin was in the open.

**When Might My Liberty Not Glorify God?**

This entire passage addresses this specific question: Last week we mentioned that we no longer use wine in Communion, because we found that we were causing some members to stumble because they were recovering alcoholics, and were afraid that embracing the “liberty” to drink the communion wine would cause them to fail in their commitment to sobriety.

Did we have the “liberty” to continue using wine in celebrating the Lord’s Table? Of course, we did! But would it have glorified God for us to ignore the fear and the need in another brother or sister’s life so that we could “enjoy our liberty?” My conviction is that it would not!

Three Groups

³²Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Notice that Paul lists three groups of humans that we should consider in our desire to Glorify God and to avoid causing others to stumble:

The Jews
The Gentiles
The Church of God.

There Once Were Only Two

Before Jesus died and was resurrected, there existed two main groups on earth: Jews and non-Jews, whom the Jews called “Gentiles.” (The word means “heathen.”)

Paul still referred to those two groups in Romans 1:16, when he said “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

In John 10:16, Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

When Jesus died for the sins of the world, He began something new: In Ephesians 2:14, 15, Paul reminds us, saying, “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;”

But Now There Are Three!

Jesus mentioned this third group only vaguely, as a mysterious truth. The John 10:16 comment is one such mention. The Jews must have wondered, “Who are the Other Sheep?”

But, in Matthew 16:18, He made the famous promise, “Upon this Rock I will build My Church, and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” (Jesus referred to the Bedrock [Greek, “petra”] of the truth of His Deity, not the movable stone [Greek, “petros”], who was Peter)

Notice that both comments Jesus made were future tense. He intended (future) to go and bring those “other sheep.” He promised (future) to build His Church. Paul addresses these three groups in this passage in 1^st Corinthians. In the past, remember, there were believers and unbelievers within both of the people groups, but it was not so easy to define:

Who Is The Real Believer?

The Pharisees thought they were the “real believers,” because of their extreme religiosity. The Sadducees thought they were the “real believers,” because they philosophized about God’s Word and did not take it literally. They thought their “wisdom” exceeded that of the people who just believed what God said. They thought they could see “what He truly meant!” (We have folks like that, today, too! They think that we, who believe that “the Bible is to be taken literally” are poor, deluded, unsophisticated fools. That’s OK! Paul accepted that label, and so did the other apostles.)

But, while Jesus was on earth, we saw that the Pharisees and the Sadducees, along with the Religious authorities, were the primary enemies who aligned themselves against Him. Jesus taught that the Word of God meant exactly what it said, He pointed out both the extreme folly of the Sadducees and the extreme hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the priests. (They hated that, too!)

So, they continued to persecute Him, until He went to the Cross. It is important to remember that Jesus said, in John 10:17, 18, that no one was “taking” His life, but that He would lay down His life of His own will, and He would also take it up again. His death, in every detail, fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.

The Result Of The Cross

And, in Ephesians, we saw that, in laying down His life in that way, he abolished the division between the Jews and Gentiles by fulfilling all the demands of the Law and by creating one NEW man, the Church, within which all the believers from both of the earlier two divisions (Jew and Gentile) would be joined in peace.

When we share in the Lord’s Table, we underscore that unity: we confess that “His Blood was shed for ME!” We acknowledge that (one and all) our salvation is dependent upon the finished work of Jesus Christ at the Cross. We state our dependence upon His Death, His Burial, and His Resurrection. And, we declare our confidence that He is coming again (soon, we hope!)

The Effect of Unity

Knowing the humility of our position in Christ, that we have done nothing to earn it, we also reach out in humility to those around us. We are truly beggars who have been fed, and who now are eager to tell other beggars where to find that food.

In our new role as ambassadors for Christ, it becomes increasingly important to us that we not cause people to turn away from Jesus through our bumbling errors in behavior. We do not want anyone to be offended by our behavior. So we use our liberty wisely. As children of the Most High God, we are more inclined to “sit upon our rights,” in gentleness and humility than we are to “stand upon them” in arrogance and self-will.

**His Sacrifice Is FOR Us All, Offered By Himself**

When we share in the Lord’s Table it is vital that we remember our position in Christ and that every single truth of that new position in Him was bought by the sacrifice HE offered, of His body and blood. We do not offer this sacrifice: He offered it, Himself, on our behalf.

I once heard a priest declare, regarding communion, “We are offering this sacrifice, and Jesus is our victim!” But, Jesus said “No man takes my life from Me. I lay it down of my own will.” That priest was teaching blasphemy! Jesus is not a victim. He is the Sovereign God who created all things, and who determined, in His own foreknowledge, that He would be the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the World.

That is who we proclaim in the preaching of the Cross, and in the sharing of Communion. And that is why we desire to live in such a way as to offer His grace to others without offense.

Lord Jesus, convict our hearts of the need for unity and the need for an outpouring of Grace from our lives to the World around us. Draw us closer to your side through Your Spirit and Your Word.

August 16, 2024November 29, 2025

How to See Food Sacrificed to an Idol vs. The Lord’s Table

Foods Sacrificed to Idols Versus the Lord’s Table

1^st Corinthians 10:14-29

¹⁴Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. ¹⁸Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?

¹⁹What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? ²⁰But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. ²¹Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

²²Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

(What then?)

²³All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. ²⁴Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

²⁵Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ²⁶For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. ²⁸But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: ²⁹Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

Introduction:

Flee Idolatry

¹⁴Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. ¹⁵I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

Paul circled back to his discussion about idols, and what hazard they may present to believers. “Flee Idolatry” cannot be equated with “Be afraid of other people’s images.” Idolatry is a heart-issue, and we can find enough idols in our own hearts. Other people’s idols are a separate subject. Paul expected the believers to exercise wisdom and understand what he said.

We already addressed the issue of covetousness, and we saw that covetousness is idolatry, according to Colossians 3:5. But Paul specifically speaks about food offered to pagan idols.

What Is the Table of the Lord?

We eat bread, and we drink grape-juice, in Communion, and we share that food. We “fellowship” or “partake together” of a commemorative meal. By doing so, we honor Jesus, and we confess that His Grace alone (in the form of His Blood, poured out at the Cross, and His body, torn and pierced for us) is our only hope of salvation.

When we partake together of the Lord’s Table, it is an act of Worship, and of Obedience, and of Testimony. We testify that “He died for me!” And, we confess that “My sins put him on that Cross!” We confess our faith His Death and His burial, and His Resurrection, on the third day. Finally, we declare that He is coming again.

In verse 16, Paul says, “¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?”

Communion Means Fellowship

This is where we get the word “Communion:” The Greek word, “koinonia” means fellowship, or sharing. Please don’t be confused by those who teach that “communion” means “common union:” That is simply not true. But do remember that “fellowship” implies “partnership.”

So, we ask ourselves, “Is this a person with whom (or a practice with which) I can have fellowship?” We need to remember that whatever and whoever it is, we are asking “Do I want to be a partner in what is going on, here?”

If the Person in question is Jesus Christ, or like-minded believers who desire to follow Jesus on a day-by-day basis, and who believe His Word, then Yes, I do want to be a partner in that fellowship.

If a practice dishonors Him or there are people who are advocating a different Gospel, then I must remember that Galatians 1:6-9 says they are accursed. I cannot try to be “partners” with them, nor pretend fellowship with them: They are going a different way, and it will present a wrong message, at the very least. I have to be kind, and loving, but I cannot “go along to get along.” There are some limitations to how much we can “Go Along” with the world.

Paul Also Compares Our Feast (Communion) With That Of Israel

¹⁷For we being many are one bread (or, “loaf”), and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. ¹⁸Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? (This is an important point!)

We base our unity upon the One Sacrifice that Jesus made. We declare our unity and our partnership with Him and with one another when we share in the Lord’s table.

Israel shared the bronze altar and the tabernacle. Those who ate the sacrifices of that altar declared their allegiance to, their dependence upon, and their worship of the God of that Altar.

Every single person n the original Passover, in each house where the lamb was slain, ate of that lamb! Every single person who claimed to be “under that blood”—ate of that lamb!

As a general rule, by eating food dedicated to a deity, one declares one’s identification with that deity. And eating such food usually constitutes an act of worship to that deity. But Paul points out the facts, here, in verse 19:

^“19What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?”

The Idol Itself Is Nothing…But There Is A Spiritual Connection

The implication here, as well as in chapter eight, is that the idols are just lumps of clay, wood, metal, or stone. They are material, physical, inanimate objects. The idols themselves are nothing to fear at all. They have no more power than a brick or a chunk of firewood has.

However, there is a spiritual connection that affects the adherents to that religion. Paul explains, “²⁰But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. ²¹Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.”

Don’t Mingle Darkness With Light

Paul says we are not to join people in their worship of demonic creatures or forces. We are not to give the impression that we agree with their teaching. There would at least be a conflict of interest! On the one hand, we take communion, together, stating our allegiance to, and our dependence upon, and our worship of Jesus Christ.

If we then turn and celebrate something that denies that truth, we are shaming Jesus, as our actions publicly state that we do not trust in His finished work at the Cross: We are not dependent upon Him, and our allegiance is not entirely to Him, so at best, we deliver a sadly mixed message. Light and darkness don’t mix: The only way darkness can exist is in the absence of light. And the smallest light dispels darkness in the area it can reach.

Children of the Light

1^st Thessalonians 5:5 says we are Children of the Light and Children of the Day. Paul says we “glow in the dark” with the Light of Christ. Philippians 2:15, 16 says that we are to shine as lights in this dark World and offer people the Word of Life.

Ephesians 5:8-12 confirms this, saying “we”you are children oif the light…so walk as children of light. Don’t attempt to mix your light with the darkness of the world. Light dispels darkness. Light makes visible the things that are in darkness. Don’t try to mingle darkness with the Light of Life. Jesus is the Light of the World. You are a child of the Light. Shine like Jesus Shines!

²²Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

The obvious answer to both rhetorical questions is, “No!” So, if we are casual in our tolerance of worldly influences and demonic worship, then we need to remember that God is a jealous God: He does not share his honor with demons or any sort of idol. Further, it is a reminder that He is omnipotent: If you do provoke Him to wrath, nothing can stop His judgment!

1^st John 1:5. 6 says, “This is the message that we have heard of Him and declare unto You, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.”

Don’t try to mix light and darkness.

Why is this Even an Issue, if the Idol Has Not “Contaminated” the Food?

²³All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. ²⁴Let no man seek his own, but every man another’s wealth.

It is not “all about us” anymore. We need to consider how our actions and words may affect others. Yes, we have great liberty, but some things could truly be counterproductive in terms of our potential for ministry. We are to seek to promote the spiritual well-being of others, not just our own comfort, convenience, or pleasure. Paul gave his commands regarding “eating meats sacrificed to idols” for a purpose. He tells us to not cause a weaker brother to sin, and to not turn unbelievers away from Christ through what they perceive as blatant hypocrisy.

What About Food Sold in the Open Market? Or Served at a Feast?

^“25Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: ²⁶For the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof. ²⁷If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.”

The meat is not a “spiritual booby-trap” that can “ensnare your soul” because you ate it. So, the point of “not asking” would be that the seller may become convinced that the Spirit living in you is greater than the spirits of their idols. Yes, God owns it all, and He has not surrendered control to Satan, as some teach. He has always maintained control and supervision. He allows a great number of “bad things” to happen, in life, but it is because “The wages of sin is death.” The whole world is suffering the consequences of humanity’s collective sin.

The women and girls who used to paint the dials of “radium-dial” watches all died of terrible cancers of the jaw, tongue, and face. It was not their fault: The sin was not theirs! Their supervisors told them that the radium was harmless, and ordered them to twirl their brushes in their mouths to achieve a fine point for applying the luminous spots on the clocks and watches. So, they did: And the result was a gruesome death!

There are countless other historical tragedies we can recite. But God’s sovereignty stands, though He grieves with us for the consequences of humanity’s sin.

But eating that meat (as a rule) is not a sin. He explains what the problem is, in the next verses:

What About Testimony?

²⁸But if any man say unto you, this is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof: ²⁹Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience?

So as not to contaminate the other fellow’s conscience, in that situation, we avoid the food. (“Oh! Thanks for telling me!”) If the opportunity comes to explain that it would have no effect on you, that is fine, but to prevent an imagined “smudge” on your testimony, and to satisfy the conscience of the other person, that is a good time to abstain. Yes, we have liberty, but we do not use that liberty in such a way that it damages others.

Keep in mind that when we share in Communion, we are joining as partners with the Body of Christ at Large, stating that He is our Savior, too, and that we Believe in Him, Depend upon Him, and Worship Him. We do not do that with other things or people, nor do we have faith in any other God. Jesus is our All in All. We do not mix His service with service to any other deity,

Lord Jesus, we often struggle to understand Your Word. It is above our human ability to comprehend. We ask that You continue to teach us by Your Holy Spirit and mold us into the Image of Christ.

The Testimony of a Believer

Introduction

What Makes a Salvation Testimony?

Our Old Position

Remember!

We Were Without Hope

So, What Changed?

And, How?

What is Our New Position?

Still In Christ

What does the Future Hold?

But, For Now:

“But God…”

Introduction: (v. 4-10) (read it)

But Why? And How?

What is the Result?

Remember Where You Came From

You Were Without Christ (v. 11, 12) (read it)

“But Now…” (v. 13-17) (read it)

2nd Corinthians 5:21

Now Therefore (v.19-22)

The Living Temple of God

Every Part is Called to Function

So: Now What?

Dead or Alive

Ephesians 2:1-7, 8-10

Introduction:

We Were All Dead (Ephesians 2:1-3 (read it))

We All Have Been Made Alive (Ephesians 2:4-7)

Positional Truth

All of Us?

“But God…!”

When Did It Happen?

All Alive…Together with Christ

Now, What?

Our New Job

In Christ—A Continued Study in Ephesians

Ephesians 1:15-23

Foundation for progress: Framework for prayer.

Introduction—Review

Positional Truths

A Foundation for Progress:

A Framework for Prayer:

“The Spirit of Wisdom”

“And of Revelation”

“In The Knowledge of God”

Paul Prays that the “Eyes of Our Understanding” May be Enlightened.

What Does Paul Expect Us to See and Understand?

Three Words For “Power”

The Importance of Authority

Jesus is The Head of the Body, the Church

Conclusion:

However:

What is the Result of the “Federal Headship” Doctrine?

Introduction:

1st Corinthians 15:22

Romans 6:1-10

Dead to Sin

How Are We Dead To Sin?

God’s Intervention

Baptized into Death

Baptized into Life

Two Natures

A Done Deal

What Should the Result Be?

Only By the Spirit

God’s Guarantee

The Twin Ordinances of The Church: Baptism and Communion

Baptism

Communion…the Lord’s Table

Introduction:

No Special Human “Credentials”

Ordinances, not Sacraments

Who was John the Baptist?

John’s Credentials:

Why did the priests and Pharisees desire Baptism?

But, Why Baptism?

Examples

What About Communion? The Lord’s table…The Lord’s Supper?”

“In Christ”—Comparing “Position” and “Condition”

**Our Old Position**

**What is Our New Position?**

**You Were Without Christ (v. 11, 12) (read it)**

**“But Now…” (v. 13-17) (read it)**

2^nd Corinthians 5:21

**So: Now What?**

**We Were All Dead (Ephesians 2:1-3 (read it))**

**We All Have Been Made Alive (Ephesians 2:4-7)**

**All Alive…Together with Christ**

1^st Corinthians 15:22

**Ordinances, not Sacraments**

**Grace, then Peace**

**When Might My Liberty Not Glorify God?**

**His Sacrifice Is FOR Us All, Offered By Himself**

1^st Corinthians 10:14-29