To know why we were alienated and hostile in our minds we need to know what caused this for us in the first place. Many do not have any knowledge of what happened about six thousand years or so ago. To get some sort of a handle on it we must take a look back into Genesis chapters’ one through three. In so doing we’ll find that man as he was first created had a divine nature and walked with his creator, he was created a little lower than God but was highly favored by God. He was immortal a literal love child (son of God) while he was in that divine nature and lived in the glory of heaven in the perfection of having the character or a portion of each person that makes up the God head or trinity inside of him, he could see and hear in the heavenly realm that he lived in. When he turned his eyes inward and succumbed to the craftiness of the devil all that changed, he literally killed the Spirit of Christ that was a part of him; he took on corruption and death the nature of the animals and the personification of Satan and became an enemy of God full of wrath. He (man) was put under the curse as was the earth but God placed in man a seed that would lead to his ultimately being redeemed and be returned to his spiritual nature of the first creation and the Kingdom of God. Therefore man has within himself two nature’s one divine and the other evil. It is this evil that governs this world, though both kingdoms are present at all times. God’s kingdom reaches though out the universe but Satan’s, known as the prince of the power of the air, is restricted to this earth and its atmosphere.
This then leads to mans redemption that Christ Jesus the Yehovah of creation paid the price for with His blood, the death of a divine man in the flesh of mans humiliation for the removal of mans shame, for He willingly willed to do the Fathers good pleasure. When man follows this path way in the manor that Jesus Christ took by willing to do the Fathers good pleasure to go to the cross then what Christ said while on that cross takes effect, “it is Finished”, then we come into the Fathers rest because we have peace in Him and fill up His joy and His happiness, blessed. Jesus fulfilled all righteousness or brought to completion the Law and ordinances and the prophets to the letter because He took His seat at the right hand of God the Father. He defeated the power of the devil and the vanity of the spirit of the world that ruled or kept mankind in slavery to its deceptions and death by putting to death the flesh of man a thing that man could not accomplish and Jesus couldn't accomplish on His own. It required the hands of the leaders of Israel and kings of the earth (gentiles).
Romans 16:25-27 Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Colossians 1:21-29
You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, (a) He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel (God's Grace extended to all) that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints.** To them God chose (willed) to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within me.
*Church: this is not the same as mentioned in Acts, James, Peter, John, Jude or in Revelations, this by personal revelation is His Body (**). Many today are part of the anti-body, the false church, those who oppose Christ and His Lordship as revealed to Paul and proclaimed by Paul and the other disciples and prophets that walked with Paul.
** The mystical Body, His called out ones or set a part ones, partners with Him (co-heirs), they may even be within the anti-body church at this present time, though they may become called aside. There are not many that qualify for this position though many think that they do or are. They do not meet the standards set out in scripture, because they have chosen not to. To do so is to follow the course of the spirit of the prince of the air that is in control of mans fleshly nature and is known in scripture as Satan the great deceiver, who even tried to deceive and test the Lord.
As in the beginning all was perfect and complete mankind now has access to the Father through the Son and the Son can be reunited in man again changing him back to a spiritual being born from above a work of God and not man. All man has to now do is simply receive it in faith and nothing more. Once received we hungers and thrust’s for more of the bread (body of Christ the living word) and water of life (the blood of Christ the true drink the word) contained in the knowledge of Him who is all wisdom and we start working out our salvation which is the next or final step into the heaven lies to take our place with Him as part of His Body again. What you may ask is the path way to this redemption it is found in four words and they are in this order:
v Incarnation- The piercing or splitting of the seed in mans soul;
v Passion- the agony of separation from the spirit of the world, mans fallen nature;
v Death- to the spirit of the world and its lusts;
v Resurrection- the victorious new birth of Christ in you and your hope of glory;
v Ascension- into heaven being taken out as a member of the mystical Body of Christ, to meet Him in the air to forever be with Him.
There are no short cuts and there is no other way than this narrow path way from redemption to salvation all are required to take this course with fear and trembling. Once started you may be required to repeat a step for some this has been like Israel and their wondering around the mountain for forty years because we have not learned the lesson or the discipline of the cross in our lives daily, through daily discipline we are changed from glory to glory into the character and image of Christ again as at the first, by the operation of God's grace in the person of Christ and His Essence within us, the Holy Spirit. And now to our study of Christ in you.
Christ in You
Colossians 1:21-29
To present you holy and blameless:
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ: even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love: having foreordained us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 2:1, 12 You did He make alive, when you were dead through your trespasses and sins,.……..that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Ephesians 4:17-19 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who being past feeling gave themselves up to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Colossians 1:19-20 It was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell; and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
1 Peter 2:21-24 For this purpose were you called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judges righteously: who His own self bare our sins in His body upon the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live in righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed. (“were healed:” To free from errors, and sins, to bring about ones salvation.)
Hebrews 2:14-15 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death He might bring to naught him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (“to bondage:” Voluntary or involuntary slavery, the condition of a slave.)
Ephesians 2:14-18 He is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in the flesh the enmity, the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that He might create in Himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: He came and preached peace to you that were far off, and peace to them that were nigh: for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (“of the two one new man:” uncommon, unheard of, of a new kind, unprecedented, unworn.)
Ephesians 5:25-27 Christ also loved the church [this is His Body a mystery, family of God], and gave Himself up for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, that He might present the church (the mystical Body of Christ, family of God) to Himself a glorious church (Body, family) not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing to this that it should be holy and without blemish. (‘blemish:” of Hebrew origin the first letter in the alphabet “alpha” meaning union, together with [a preposition] faultless.)
1 Peter 1:18-19 Knowing that you were redeemed, not with corruptible things, with silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers; but with precious blood, as of a lamb without spot, the blood of Christ.
Hebrews 10:10 By which will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:20 By the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. (The flesh of mans humiliation and shame and original sin.)
In Faith, stable and steadfast
Ephesians 3:17-21 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.
Luke 6:47-49 Every one that comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like: he is like a man building a house, who digged and went deep, and laid a foundation upon the rock: and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it: because it had been well built. But he that hears, and does not, is like a man that built a house upon the earth without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and straightway it fell in; and the ruin of that house was great. (“the Rock:” Christ throughout scripture is depicted as a rock by Moses [Ex.17:6, 33:22; Deu 33:4 ] by Daniel a stone [Dan. 2: 34, 35])
1 Peter 5:10 The God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after that you have suffered a little while, shall Himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Wherefore, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not vain in the Lord.
Ephesians 1:17-20 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to that working of the strength of His might which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and made Him to sit at His right hand in the heaven lies.
Colossians 1:5-6 Because of the hope which is laid up for you in the heavens, whereof you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which is come to you; even as it is also in all the world bearing fruit and increasing, as He does in you also, since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.
Colossians 1:19-20 It was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell; and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
Ephesians 3:6-7 The Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of His power (authority).
The gospel proclaimed in all creation:
Isaiah 63:9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.
Psalm 56:8 You numbered my wanderings: and put my tears into your bottle; are they not in your book?
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when men shall reproach you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you.
Matthew 10:38 He that does not take his cross and follow after me, is not worthy of me.
1 Corinthians 12:26-27 Whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and severally members thereof.
Colossians 1:18 He is the head of the body (Hebrews 10:5), the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
The Stewardship of the church:
Luke 12:42-44 The Lord said,”who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall set over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he comes shall find so doing. Of a truth I say to you, that he will set him over all that he has.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Here, moreover, it is required in stewards that a man is found faithful.
1 Corinthians 9:16-17 If I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; for necessity is laid upon me; for woe is to me, if I preach not the gospel. For if I do this of mine own will, I have a reward: but if not of mine own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
Ephesians 3:1-7 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus in behalf of you Gentiles, if so be that you have heard of the dispensation of that grace of God which was given me to you-ward; how that by revelation was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in few words, whereby, when you read, you can perceive my understanding the mystery of Christ; which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men (Israel), as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the Gospel, whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of His power.
Romans 15:15-17 I write the more boldly to you in some measure, as putting you again in remembrance, because of the grace that was given me of God, that I should be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering the Gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I have therefore my glorifying in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
Romans 15:19-21 In the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Holy Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and round about even to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ; yes, making it my aim so to preach the Gospel, not where Christ was named, that I might not build upon another man's foundation; but, as it is written, they shall see, to whom no tidings of Him came, and they who have not heard shall understand.
Ephesians 1:9-14 Making known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Him (Christ Jesus) to a dispensation of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth; in Him, in whom also we were made a heritage, having been foreordained according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the counsel of His will; to the end that we should be to the praise of His glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Gospel of your salvation, - in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is an earnest of our inheritance, to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine (teaching); but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables. (This is today’s church in reality and truth no matter where you turn.)
The mystery hidden now revealed to His saints:
Psalm 25:14 The friendship of Yehovah-Yeshua is with them that fear him; he will show them his covenant.
Matthew 13:11 He (Jesus) answered and said “to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.”
Luke 8:10 He said, “to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.”
Romans 5:18-19 So then as through one trespass (Satan reigns over man) the judgment came to all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness (through death the reign of the Satan was destroyed over man) the free gift came to all men to justification of life (the nature of God restored to man). For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous (mans original nature in God).
1Corinthians 15:20-23 Now has Christ been raised from the dead, the first fruits (regenerated life, the restoring of God’s nature) of them that are asleep. For since by man came death (the works of the Satan in Adam), by man came also the resurrection of the dead (regenerated life that destroyed the works of Satan and gave to dead man away to new life, the spiritual life of God). For as in Adam all die (the work of the Satan) so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Each in his own order: Christ the first fruits; then they that are Christ's, at his coming. (This is into mans spirit the regeneration of mans spirit to the new life, as the seed the had died comes to new life.)
John 5:26-27 As the Father has life in Himself, even so gave He to the Son also to have life in Himself: and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is a son of man.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, are life.
John 12:23-26 His answer was, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. In most solemn truth I tell you that unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains what it was--a single grain; but that if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. He, who holds his life dear, is destroying it; and he who makes his life of no account in this world shall keep it to the Life of the Ages. If a man wishes to be my servant, let him follow me; and where I am, there too shall my servant be. If a man wishes to be my servant, the Father will honor him.”
John 12:30-33 Jesus answered and said, “This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to me.” This he said, signifying what death he should die.
John 6:43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, “Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draws him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes to me. Not that any man has seen the Father, save he which is of God, he has seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say to you, He that believes on me has everlasting life. I am that bread of life.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3-10 We are bound to give thanks to God always to you, even as it is meet, for that your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another abounds; so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure; which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God; to the end that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer: if so be that it is righteous thing with God to recompense affliction to them that afflict you, and to you that are afflicted rest with us, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of His power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at in all them that believe (because our testimony to you was believed) in that day.
To make known the mystery this (which) is Christ in You:
Colossians 2:2-3 That your hearts may be comforted, you being knit together in love, and to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that you may know the mystery of God, Christ, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden.
Ephesians 1:7 In whom (IN Christ) we have our redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.
Colossians 3:1-4 If then you were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. For you died; and your life is hid with (in) (the completeness of Christ) Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall you also with Him (as His completeness) be manifested in glory.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whosoever lives and believes me shall never die. Believe you this?
John 14:6-7 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father, but by Me. (in me) If you had known me, you would have known my Father also: from henceforth you know Him, and have seen Him.”
John 14:18-20 I will not leave you comfortless (fatherless, without the Holy Spirit): I come to you. Yet a little while, and the world beholds me no more; but you behold me: because I live, you shall live also. In that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
John 17:22-23, 26 Jesus said “The glory which you gave me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me. …… I have declared to them your name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith you have loved me may be in them, and I in them."
Colossians 2:9-12 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and in Him you are made full, (made complete) who is the head of all principality and power: in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, wherein you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
Ephesians 3:17 ……. Christ dwell in your hearts through faith; …
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loves me, and gave himself for me.
The Hope of Glory Maturity in Christ:
Romans 10:12-13 There is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all that call upon Him: whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Colossians 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to God.
1 Corinthians 2:6-8 We speak wisdom, however, among them that are full grown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to naught: but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that had been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds to our glory: which none of the rulers of this world had known: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1 Corinthians 12:8 To one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit.
Ephesians 1:17-18 The God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him; having the eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
Ephesians 4:11-13 He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of ministering, to the building up of the Body of Christ: till we all attain the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.
He powerfully works within:
Romans 8:25-28 If we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. In like manner the Spirit also helps our infirmity: for we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered; he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. We know that to them that love God all things work together for good, to them that are called according to His purpose.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter you in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leads to life, and few are they that find it.
John 10:2-4 He that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter opens and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he hath put forth all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.
Matthew 25:10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.
Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence you are.
John 10:9 I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and shall find pasture.
Genesis 32:24-30 Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. When he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled with him. He said; Let me go, for the day breaks. He said, I will not let you go, except you bless me. He said to him, what is your name? He said, Jacob. He said, your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed. Jacob asked him, and said, tell me, I pray, thy name. He said, wherefore is it that you ask after my name? And he blessed him there. Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, said he, I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
1Thessalonians 2:2 Having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we waxed bold in our God to speak to you the Gospel of God in much conflict.
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things in Him that strengthens me.
Word meanings taken from the Webster's 1812 Dictionary:
(a) alienated — from God and salvation: objectively banished from God, through the barrier which God’s justice interposed against your sin nature: subjectively estranged through the alienation of your own wills from God. The former is the prominent thought (compare Rom 5:10), as the second follows, “enemies in your mind.” “Actual alienation makes habitual ‘enemies’ in your mind — Greek, “in your understanding” or “thought” (Eph 2:3; Eph 4:18).
(b)by wicked works — rather as Greek, “in your wicked works” (wicked works were the (c)element in which your enmity subsists).
(d)yet now — Notwithstanding the former alienation, now that Christ has come, God has completely reconciled, or restored to His friendship again all things. We have reach out and take hold of it and then grow into His strength.
Reconcile: The literal sense is to call back into union. To conciliate anew; to call back into union and friendship the affections which have been alienated; to restore to friendship or favor after estrangement; as, to reconcile men or parties that have been at variance.
We choose not to dwell on the negative side of things but rather on the positive confirming the word as it is the word that gives life by the light that it contains. As Jesus said in the gospels that hindrances, offenses, and temptations would come while we are in the world in our daily lives but we are not to be overcome by them or by those through whom they come. We have many warnings about those who will come against the new life style that the true Believers will walk because they choose to listen to the Spirit within them and not return to the easy course of the spirit of the world and have it seven times harder on them than at the first. The Lord Jesus Christ paid with His blood and our flesh for our freedom and the hope of our salvation that is to be had if we stay the course for all is a matter of our free will choice. God wants those that truly love Him freely for such He requires to worship Him in the spirit and in the truth. Not as those that are in the world worship they know not what. The mysteries are here for our understanding, learning, and training in spiritual righteousness to gain the full knowledge of Him, His will, and His ways. Through which we grow to maturity to son-ship, one who is
able to carry on the business of the Father, with out question of His will in all His affairs. From here now we’ll move on into the mystery of the body of Christ.
All scripture is from the KJV, Weymouth New Testament, American Standard and English Standard Versions of the Bible and the 1587 Geneva Bible.
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