Okay, we are now coming into an even higher level of spiritual life than our just finished Galatians Epistle brought us too. This Epistle has suffered at the hands of the establishment of the Jews from its beginning as did Paul himself a most misunderstood called out from among man of Jewish linage. This Epistle with that of Colossians unmasked the mystery of Christ in every man and child born of woman as being of the body of Christ from their inception. These Epistles when rightly divided revolutionize our thinking with a clearer perception of mindset. Because of the power of the cross and the energy of the Holy Spirit, in full operation within us as in the beginning, as seen in Genesis 2. So lets jump into it and discover this power for ourselves shall we? And then apply it to our every day life and new lifestyle.
Ephesians 1:1-2, 3-14 "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation(G2602 from G2598) of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before(G2714) him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation(G3622) of the fullness of times he might gather together in one(G346) all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 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: That we should be to the praise of his glory(G1391), who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word(G3056) of truth(G225), the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." (KJV)
Ephesians 1:1-2, 3-14 "Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation(G2602 from G2598) of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before(G2714) him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time(G3622), to unite all things(G346) in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory(G1391). In him you also, when you heard the word(G3056) of truth(G225), the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory." (ESV)
Ephesians 1:1-2, 3-14 "Paul, employed by the resolve of GOD and commissioned to represent Jesus Christ to the Saints in Ephesus and also to every believer in Christ Jesus. I greet you with the grace and peace that proceeds from GOD the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.
Let's celebrate GOD! He lavishes every blessing heaven has to give upon us in Christ! He associated us in Christ even before [1]the fall of the world! Jesus is GOD's mind made up about us! He always knew in his own Agape that he would present us again [2]face to face before himself in blameless innocence. (The implications of the fall are completely cancelled, neutralized, whipped out. Paul uses the word, [1, G2598] kataballo, meaning "to fall away, to put in a lower place," instead of (G2310) themelios, meaning "foundation" [used in Ephesians 2:20]; this, translated "the fall of the world," instead of "the foundation of the world." The entire "Fall" was a falling away in our minds from our true identity as the image and likeness bearers of Elohim. Just like Eve, were we all deceived to believe a lie about ourselves, which is the fruit of the "I-am-not-tree." We all, like sheep have gone astray. [Isaiah 53:6] GOD founded us in Christ before he lost us in Adam! We are presented in blameless innocence before him! The word, [2, G2714 from G2596 and G1799] katenopion, suggests the closest possible proximity, face-to-face, as it were!
Our in-Christ is not the result of a lucky draw! Calvinism lied to you! Neither is it the result of your "choice" to follow Jesus! Something doesn't become true by popular vote! Or by belief! if it wasn't true to begin with, we're wasting our time and energy trying to "believe" it is true! Faith happens to us when we encounter the good announcement! of GOD's doing are we all IN CHRIST....(1Corinthians 1:30) For "evangelical theology" to miss the meaning of humanity's inclusion IN CHRIST before they knew it or believed it, is to completely miss the mark and point of our co-death, co-descent into hell, and co-resurrection and co-ascension of Jesus! This would make Jesus irrelevant and reduce the salvation of our humanity, the human race to its own fate managed by institutionalized religion, attached to mere sentiment values of a historic Jesus who died and rose again. But by dieing our death as fully GOD and fully human, once and for all time (not for a "select few!"), death became the doorway, whereby Jesus would enter into our hell of judgment and its deepest darkness and sense of lostness and loneliness leads us as his trophies and relocated us to a face to face with our Father, the father of the universe! Ephesians 4:7-9 in the Mirror Bible! all this has happened while we were still dead in our trespasses and sin nature of believing the lie! Ephesians 2:5-6, Co-quickened, co-raised, co-seated in his Executive authority [his right hand]. Now ponder Colossians 3:1-3 and engage your thoughts with the Throne room realities!) He is the architect of our design; his heart dream realized our [1]coming of age in Christ. ( Adoption here is not what it means in our Western society. It is a coming of age, like the typical Jewish Barmitsva, Look at Galatians 4:1-6, "....and to seal our sonship the spirit of his Son echoes Abba Father in our hearts." This is [1] huiothesia.) His grace-plan is to be celebrated: he greatly endeared us and highly esteems us in Christ. His Agape for his Son is his Agape for us. (The Gospel is not about telling people how lost they are, but is rather about telling them how Agaped they are!) Since we are (fully represented) in him, his blood is the ransom that secures our redemption. His forgiving our sins measures the wealth of his grace. This grace shown towards us communicates his wisdom and discernment of our worth that completely surpasses any definition. The secret is out! His cherished Agape dream now unfolds in front of our very eyes. In the [1]economy of the fullness of time, everything culminated in Christ. All that is in heaven and all that is on earth is reconciled in him. Jesus is the [1]consummation of the ages! (The word, [1, G3622 from G3623] oikonomia, translates as administration. The word, ἀνακεφαλαίομαι is the Aorist Infinitive of (G346 from G303 and G2776) anakephalaiomai, which has two components, (G303) ana, meaning upwards and (G2776) kephale, meaning head, pointing to a condition where no separation exists - the return to our Source. The Aorist Infinitive presents the action expressed by the verb as a complete unit with a beginning and end.
"All human history consummated in Christ; everything that exists in heaven or earth shall find its perfection and fulfillment in Him!" "All that is in heaven, all that is on earth, summed up in Him!" from Phillips and Knox translations) This is how we fit into GOD's picture: Christ is the measure of our portion, we are in him, invented and defined in him. GOD's blueprint intention is on exhibition in us. everything he accomplishes is inspired by the energy and intent of his affection. ( ook at Romans 8:29, "He engineered us from the start to fit the mold of sonship and likeness according to the exact blueprint of his design. We see the original and intent shape of our lives presented in his Son; he is the firstborn from the same womb that reveals our genesis. He confirms that we are the invention of almighty GOD!" ) It was our initial privilege (as Jews) to cherish the Messiah hope; our lives in Christ were destined to prophetically promote the celebration of his [1]glorious plan with humanity ([1, G1391] doxa, means intent, opinion.) Now you (Gentiles) also have discovered yourselves to be equally included (yoked) in him having witnessed [1]the unveiled [2]logic of GOD. What exciting news! Your salvation is publicly announced. Consistent with the promise of GOD, the Holy Spirit gives us his guarantee to this fact of our faith, like the stamp of a signet ring or the seal of a notary certifies a document. You are in Him! (The word, [1, G3056] logic, is from logos, or the truth. The word, [2, G225 from G227] althea, comes from (G227 from G1 and G2990) a+lanthano, meaning not hidden.) the Holy Spirit is our [1]tangible link to the inheritance that was ransomed and presented for us.. GOD's glorious plan for humanity is the theme of our celebration. ([1, G728 from H6162] Guarantee, or earnest comes from arrhabon, a Hebrew word(H6162) meaning to braid, as two parties intertwined by giving something as surety and pledge. the pledge represents the full transaction. The legal document or title deed represents the complete value of the transaction. Like a wedding ring represents the marriage.) ( The Mirror)
I said that this Epistle would take us to higher ground and it has not failed to get us there from the first paragraph. Now may the LORD GOD our redeemed richly bless you and your in his revelation of promise.
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