Tag: christianity

EPHESIANS 4:1-16

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4:CH 4-6 THE PRACTICAL SECTION

Having given 3 fairly deep doctrinal chapters, Paul goes on in the last 3 chapters to give day to day practical commands for living the life of one who has been saved and added to this church body of believers of all different backgrounds.

A key word is “walk”, used figuratively of how you move about as a Christian day to day, how you conduct yourself. There are 6 walks found in Eph 4-6. Let’s examine the first.

  1. 4:1-16 Walk in a manner worthy of your calling in the “unity of the faith” (which includes both dotrinal unity and love unity)

    Q: Does God call us to become Christians? How? Do you consider your conversion to be a calling of God? Does God call people by some voice or thought that He puts in your head? We probably have different opinions on that, but one thing for certain is that he calls us “through the gospel”. The good news of salvatiion by grace through Christ’s death for us is the drawing power.

    2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


     In ch 2 and 3 Paul gave the doctrine of the mystery of uniting Jew and Gentile believers into the one church body. But that brings together believers from two totally different backgrounds. Just as in the church today, we have many different backgrounds and personalities. It is one thing to say that we are united in one body, but it is another thing to say that we love and tolerate one another in love when we have conflicts and differences. 

    Q: 4:1-3 gives the qualities necessary for us to really have “unity” in the church. Which of these is the most important in your opinion? Which one do you struggle with practicing?

    Paul then goes on to give the 7 doctrinal truths that are necessary to have “unity”. Hindus could have all the qualities in 4:1-3 and be united as Hindus, but that would not be unity in Christ. There are 7 basic doctrines and beliefs that we must have to really have Christian unity.

    This list excludes those who believe in other gods than Yahweh and other Lords than Yeshua (Jesus). The one baptism is water baptism for the remission of sins (as opposed to the baptism of the Holy Spirit or of fire as some teach). There is one body, which is the church, which is believers all over the world.

    Q: How exclusive is this list among those who have the one faith but are in many different denominations? It is exclusive, but some of the 7 doctrines could be interpreted differently.

    Q: Does the one baptism have to be for exactly the right reason (i.e. the remission of sins) in the right manner (immersion)? Can it be sprinkling or pouring? Does that really matter? Can it be baby baptism? Why can’t we unite of what the “on baptism” of unity is?

    Q: Does the “one body” include all the denominations who have many different names and beliefs but basically hold to these 7 doctrines? The church I was raised in taught that the different man made denominations could not be part of the “one body”, but I disagree with that. The one body is simply those saved by grace throug faith even though they are in different denominations. Unity of those denominations would be great, but not essential for salvation. The founders of the Churches of Christ, Stone and Campbell, sought to get believers from all denominations to put away their denominational names and creeds and just be united as Christians, but they did not say that those believers in those denominations were not Christians.

    But what about the denominations that are going LGBQT? Are they still part of the one body?

    The “one hope” is that of eternal life. But there are many views on eschatology (amillinealism, ? Do we all have to believe the same on eschatology? Add preterism to the chart below.

    4:8 Jesus gave miraculous “gifts” to certain men in the early church to give the doctrinal truths necessary for unity. He “ascended” to heaven to pour out those gifts on men.

    Act 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

    This would include the 5 miraculously gifted leadership positions (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers) as well as the miraculous gifts given to members of the church (1 Cor 12). Thus in 4:16 “every joint” helped maintain unity in the body. 

    These 5 gifted positions were to equip the saints for ministry, to build up the body, to a mature unity of faith and knowledge, to not be tossed about by deceitful doctrines, to speak the truth in love. 

    Jesus prayed for this “unity of the faith” in John 17:20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 

    This is Jesus’ prayer on the night before he is crucified the next day. It would be like me knowing that I will die tomorrow and the night before I pray that my 3 children will always be united and love and help each other after I die.

    Q: As a result of these gifted 1st century positions, do we have all that we need for Christian unity and “maturity” in the church? If we have all that we need doctrinally for unity, then why. do we have so many different denominations teaching so many different doctrines? I might teach my 3 children all that they need to become mature adults, but that doesn’t mean they will become mature adults.

    What would be examples of “deceitful doctrines” that stray from that unity? This sounds more devious than just differences of interpretation on issues and doctrines that are not heaven or hell issues, such as those given by Paul in Romans 14 (eating of meats, observing of days, etc.). Deceitful doctrines sounds like doctrines taught by devious people trying to lure and pull believers away from the one body, maybe their motivation is power or sex or money.

    Peter spoke of such false prophets in 2 Peter 2:But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

    Q: What are some doctrines that are not heaven or hell doctrines? Maybe instrumental music in worship, frequency of taking the Lord’s Supper, names and organization of churches, etc. We should not make any doctrine a heaven or hell doctrine unless the scriptures specifically do so. If we make almost every doctrine a heaven or hell one, then we will end up in untold division, as some groups have found out.

    Q: So what are the doctrines are heaven or hell essential doctrines to the “unity of the faith”?

    The list of 7 doctrines in this chapter is where we start, but even then the “one baptism” can be interpreted differently. Certainly the one faith would include the belief that Jesus is the Son of God whose death is the only way to be saved. That would rule out all the cults who deny the deity of Jesus.

    There are certain sins that Paul says in Galatians 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. The Bible teaches that homosexuality is a sin, but the LGBQT issue has divided churches and believers, but there can be no compromise on that. Sometimes unity is not possible if some refuse to acknowledge the inspiration of Scripture and won’t allow the Bible to define what is right and wrong.

    Q: Do we still need and have those gifted leaders today? 

    Apostles (the Mormon church has 12 apostles)? Paul spoke of false apostles: Paul spoke of “false apostes”: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

    Prophets (many churches claim to have prophets)? What about all the prophets of all the cults? The Mormons have Joseph Smith as their prophet, the Seventh Day Adventists have Ellen G. White, the Jehhovah’s Witnesses have Rutherford and Russell, Christian Science have Mary Baker Eddy, and countless more examples. These false prophets have no miraculous confirmation that they are a prophet and no predicting of the future to confirm that they are prophets. They also add to the “all truth” that was given to the original apostles without any proof that Jesus is allowing them to do that.

    Evangelists (are our preachers really evangelists?) In the early church, evangelists were gifted men who moved around preaching the gospel, establishing churches, grounding churches in the truth as Paul left Timothy in Ephesus to do (1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine) or as Paul left Titus in Crete to do (Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—). It was not a permanent paid position such as the paid clergy position that we have invented in churches today. The church did provide food and a place to stay for the evangelists who came to them. The Didache (a first century document) warns “You should treat apostles and prophets as the Gospel commands. Receive every apostle that comes to you as you would the Lord. But he must not stay more than one day, or two if necessary: but if he stays three days, he is a false prophet.” In other words, he must be preaching for the money! There were gifted elders and teachers to lead the church, so a permanent paid evangelists were not needed or authorized. We don’t have miraculously gifted elders or teachers today, but we still have many good elders and teachers in our churches. Why do we spend so much money of permanent paid pastors and preachers?

    I can see how evangelists who do mission work to establish churches might need to be supported (as my family was doing mission work in Trinidad and Colombia), but even then that was not a permanent position. It is interesting that the Moravians sent out many missionaries all over the world (I encourage you to read about their history). They taught them a trade so they could support themselve in the foreign country they worked in, gave them money to get there, but did not support them as they lived there!

    Pastors (i.e. elders; are our elders today gifted?): The word for shepherd is poimainó: to act as a shepherd. [4165 /poimaínō (“to shepherd, tend”) occurs 11 times in the NT, usually with a figurative sense of “shepherding (tending) God’s flock.” This provides Spirit-directed guidance (care) conjunction with feeding His people (teaching them Scripture).] This is the word Paul used in Acts 20 when telling the elders (4245 presbýteros – properly, a mature man having seasoned judgment (experience); an elder.) whom God had made to be overseers (episkopos: a superintendent, an overseer: this is the word used of elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 14166 poimḗn – properly, a shepherd (“pastor” in Latin); (figuratively) someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock (the people of the Lord).) to “shepherd (Pastors (i.e. elders; are our elders today gifted?): The word for shepherd is poimainó: to act as a shepherd. [4165 /poimaínō (“to shepherd, tend”) occurs 11 times in the NT, usually with a figurative sense of “shepherding (tending) God’s flock.” This provides Spirit-directed guidance (care) conjunction with feeding His people (teaching them Scripture).] This is the word Paul used in Acts 20 when telling the elders (4245 presbýteros – properly, a mature man having seasoned judgment (experience); an elder.) whom God had made to be overseers (episkopos: a superintendent, an overseer: this is the word used of elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1) to shepherd (4166 poimḗn – properly, a shepherd (“pastor” in Latin); (figuratively) someone who the Lord raises up to care for the total well-being of His flock (the people of the Lord) the flock. In other words, the 3 Greek words in Acts 20 refer to the same position: elders( presbyteros from which we get presbyters), overseers (episkopos from which we get bishops), shepherds (poimen from which we get pastors and shepherds). The early church organization at the local level was “elders and deacons”. Philippians 1:1: Paul wrote to the “overseers and deacons” in Philippi.1 Timothy 3: Paul lists qualifications for elders and deacons, including that elders should be experienced Christians with good reputations and well-ordered families. Titus 1: Paul refers to elders and overseers as the same. Acts 20:28: Paul spoke to the elders in Ephesus and told them to be overseers of the church. 1 Peter 5: Paul uses language of elders both shepherding and overseeing. In Christianity, the roles of presbyters and bishops have varied across time and denomination, often as 2 different positions, but the words refer to one position, that of elders.

    Bottom line, the gifted “pastors” in Eph 4:11 were shepherds or elders, not preachers like the term is used for preachers in denominations today. They were appointed in churches even soon after they were established. Paul on his 1st missionary journey: Acts 14:21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. So Paul appointed elders in those local congregations very soon after he established those churches. Those elders would have met the qualifications for elders in 1 Tim 3, but they would have needed the miraculous gifts to enable them to guide and protect the flock from false teachers. I believe all the first century elders had miraculous gifts, just as Eph 4:11 claims.

    We do not have miraculously gifted elders today, so do we still need elders? I think so. They just need to realize their limitations since they are not miraculously gifted. Of course, they can still protect the flock from heresy without being gifted by using the “all truth” in the Word, and they can still lovingly shepherd and care for the flock. They need to be careful about forcing their “opinions” on the flock.  

    Teachers : According to Ephesians 4:11, “pastors and teachers” are listed together, but whether they represent one single position or two distinct gifts is a matter of debate among scholars; some interpret it as meaning that all pastors should be teachers, but not all teachers are necessarily pastors, suggesting a distinction between the roles even if they are closely related. One of the qualifications for an overseer or elder was “apt to teach” (1 Timothy 3:1The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseermust be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach… Of the elders that Paul told Titus to appoint in Crete: Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. So, elders did teach in the churches, but in Eph 4:11 the “teachers” probably referred to a different position from elders. There were miraculously gifted teachers in the early church. 1 Cor 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the higher gifts.It is interesting that Paul list the top 3 gifted positions in the church at Corinth as apostles, prophets, and teachers. It is also interesting that he does not include the miraculously gifted positions of elders or evangelists. Evangelists traveled church to church, so I can see why they were not included, but were there not miraculously gifted elders in the church at Corinth. I found this on the internet:”No, elders do not appear in any Biblical accounts of the church at Corinth. The church at Corinth lacked the spiritual maturity that would have been necessary for elders to be present. The church was made up of people with a history of immoral lifestyles, including sexual immorality, idolatry, and adultery. There was also evidence that many Corinthian disciples were former members of pagan mystery cults.” But then I found this. “For example, there is nothing said in the New Testament of the Eldership in Corinth, yet the epistle of the church in Rome to the church in Corinth commonly called the epistle of Clement, written about the close of the first century, proves that there was a plurality of Elders in Corinth.” Maybe the church added elders after Paul’s death as the miraculous gifts ceased to exist?

    Do we need teachers today in churches, even if they are not miraculously inspired? I think so. They just need to be grounded in the Word.

    EPHESIANS 3

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    3:1-13 THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL REVEALED

    Taken from the internet images:

    Ch 1 introduced the mystery: Eph 1:9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

    Ch 3 will define and discuss that mystery. 

    Q: What do you think of when you think of a “mystery”? What is the mystery revealed to Paul?

    Some classic examples include the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie’s novels about Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Alex Cross stories by James Patterson, Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum mysteries, and many more. I found this on mysteries of the universe:

    Some mysteries of the universe include:

    • Dark matter: An invisible form of matter that is thought to make up more than 80% of the universe’s mass, but scientists know very little about it. 
    • Black holes: Because nothing can escape a black hole, physicists struggle to understand these objects and what happens when something falls into one. 
    • Dark energy: A hypothetical form of energy that is thought to make up around 70% of all content in the universe. 
    • The Big Bang: The Big Bang theory describes the origin of the universe as an explosion from an infinitely dense point, but it doesn’t explain what came before this event. 
    • Quantum entanglement: A strange phenomenon that connects the entire cosmos into an integrated whole, and is the key to quantum computing and cryptography. 
    • The Fermi paradox: The lack of evidence for alien life in our universe despite the seemingly endless opportunities for it to emerge. 
    • Gravity: A basic force of nature that shapes the formation, structure, and motion of stars, galaxies, and the cosmos itself. 
    • Origin of life: The origin of life on Earth is one of the great mysteries in the universe. 

    Greek for mystery: mustérion: a mystery or secret doctrine. In classical Greek a hidden thing, secret, mystery. 

    In the NT it is used of the mystery of the kingdom (Mk 4:11), and the mystery of the gospel. It is used 6 times in the book of Ephesians (1:9; 3:3,4,9; 5:32; 6:19). 

    The mystery of how God was going to save sinners, both Jew and Gentile believers in Jesus, was hidden all through the OT. The mystery was revealed to Paul and the apostles (Greek for revelation: apokalupsis: an uncovering). Paul would write down what had been revealed to him about the mystery; the readers could understand Paul’s insight (understanding) into the mystery when they read his letter. We can do the same today. 

    Q: Why was this mystery hidden all through the OT? 

    A great verse: The world was not ready to know the mystery until the fulness of times (Galatians 4:4) in the days of the Roman Empire when things were just right for spreading the gospel (one language, roads, Pax Romana peace, etc.). Many prophetic predictions about the Messiah had to be made and recorded even if the prophets didn’t understand what they were predicting. .

    1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

    Not even the angels or prophets could understand the mystery. It was like putting a puzzle together, piece by piece. You can’t see the full picture until all the pieces come together. Isaiah 53 is the closest prophecy to uncovering the mystery, but still incomplete. 

    The apostles did not understand the mystery while Jesus was with them. They were given the miraculous inspiration of the Holy Spirit to understand the mystery. Even after the resurrection, Acts 1: 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. They were still expecting a physical kingdom to be established by Jesus, just like the kingdom of David in the OT.

    Another great verse:

    1 Corinthians 2:6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written,

    “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
        nor the heart of man imagined,
    what God has prepared for those who love him”—

    10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

    14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

    Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations,

    I loved this image off the internet showing the process of revelation.

    Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

    Colossians 1:25 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, 26 the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. 27 To them God chose 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.

    Q: According to Eph 3:10,11, what was God’s eternal purpose that he was working out through the ages? What is the church’s responsibility to tell the world about this mystery and bring souls into this church of all ethnic group believers in Jesus? 

    A united believing church made up of all ethnic groups shows the result of this great mystery being fulfilled on earth. The death of Jesus for our sins was God’s plan from the beginning.

    1 Peter 1:18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

    But the church was also in God’s plan as part of saving people from sin through Jesus. The church’s main mission is to glorify God by our deeds and words. It should also be vitally concerned with spreading the gospel of this mystery to all nations. Instead, we find churches in the U.S. building multi milliion dollar buildings and spending about 80% of the money they collect (God’s money) on salaries, etc. instead of printing Bibles, supporting organizations that drill wells for clean water and that do humanitarian relief (all of which is followed up by preaching the gospel and establishing churches), helping persecuted believers in foreign countries (Voice of the. Martyrs does this constantly), etc. Eastern European Missions focuses on printing Bibles and children’s story Bibles in many languages to be distributed all over the world, including Arabic translations to try to allow Muslims to read the mystery.

    Here is a great image of a puzzle that ends up showing Jesus. The prophets all contributed little pieces of the puzzle over many centuries. When you put a puzzle together you can’t see the full picture until you get it finished (unless you cheat and look at the puzzle picture on the box!) No one could see the Jesus puzzle put together until the 1st century when all the pieces came together.

    Q: Have you ever thought about how great it is to be living after the mystery had been revealed? We get to see the finished picture? 

    3:14-21 PRAYER FOR SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

    Q: What does it mean to be “rooted and grounded in love”? (A garden analogy?) 

    I came from a church that rooted and grounded me in correct doctrine, but love was not the main potting soil as I matured in Christ. Doctrine is essential but love is the potting soil that allows us to mature in Christ.

    Q: What is the idea behind knowing the “breadth, length, height, and depth” of the love of Christ? But that love “surpasses knowledge”? 

    How can you know something that can’t be known? That must mean that love of Christ is something that must be experienced and not just a doctrine to be learned. In math, we have problems like how to divide by 0, but you can’t divide by 0, so it it undefined (the answer is basically unknown).

    Q: What does it mean to be filled with the fulness of God?

    What an image:

    Q: What are your thoughts on 3:20-21? Not just what you ask but what you imagine (noeó: to perceive, think)? What power is at work within us? The church is to glorify God. Is that the organized church?

    Do these verses help increase your faith and prayer life? You might ask God for things that you think you or others want or need. We might even imagine some great things to ask God for that are pretty much impossible. But God knows our hearts and minds and is able to do more than we can even ask or imagine. Wow!

    Q: Give your overall impressions of these first 3 doctrinal chapters. Do they make you feel any more special in God’s eyes? 

    What was the favorite topic for you in these chapters? 

    EPHESIANS 1:16-23 THANKSGIVING & PRAYER

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    Notice that this is giving thanks for the Ephesian believers b/c Paul had heard of their faith and love. He is thankful that they have believed and remained faithful even in a pagan city like Ephesus where Diana was worshipped (Acts 18).

    He give these thanks in unceasing prayer and also prays that God will give them the “Spirit of revelation and wisdom and knowledge of him” having “their eyes enlightened to know 3 things:

    1 The hope to which he has called you, i.e. the hope of eternal life.

    2 The riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

    3 The immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.

    This power is in accordance with God’s power when he raised Jesus from the dead, seated him at His right hand “in the heavenly places” far above all spiritual powers of darkness and made him head over the church, which is his body. This last few verses will set the tone for God’s power raising us from the spiritual dead and seating us with Jesus at the right hand of God in the heavenly places. 

    Q: What does “having the eyes of your heart enlightened” mean in Ephesians 1:18? (Does the human heart have spiritual senses that are dormant but can be awakened by God?)

    We may be overlooking certain obvious truths here. Physiologically, the human heart consists of nothing more than “a hollow organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.”[1] Therefore, perhaps we might recognize references to “the heart” as the predispositions, inclinations and traits of personality that are characterized by our minds, at the core of our consciousness.

    Naturally, the mind and the heart are two separate aspects of human nature; we shouldn’t allow metaphorical or poetic language to overwhelm our common sense. With that in mind, we can proceed a bit further metaphorically as we identify the “biblical heart.” Dr. James Burton Coffman has observed:

    “According to the Scriptures, it is ‘the heart’ that imagines (Genesis 6:5), understands (Matthew 15:13), reasons (Mark 2:8), thinks (Luke 9:47), believes (Romans 10:9), and loves (1 Peter 1:22). These passages are more than enough to identify the Scriptural ‘heart’ as the mind or seat of the intelligence” (emphasis added).

    Interestingly, the “blindness of the heart” is found in Ephesians 4 (KJV).

    Ephesians 4:18, KJV: “[Gentiles having] the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…”

    Suppose we illuminate this verse a bit by relying on key phrases in the NASB, beginning at verse 17 for context:

    Ephesians 4:17-18: “So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart…” (emphasis added).

    Here, the “eyes of [the] heart” constitute our intellect and mental, spiritual recognition of other-worldly truths. Paul’s reference to the Gentiles’ “ignorance” is helpful toward the remaining clause “hardness of their heart.” (“blindness” in KJV). As we put all the pieces together, we should understand that the phrase “eyes of the heart” is merely our conscious recognition of that which Satan labors so arduously to suppress:

    2 Corinthians 4:3-4: “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

    Paul further relates his concern over the veil of duplicity that clouds the minds of the faithless:

    2 Corinthians 11:3: “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (emphasis added).

    The biblical heart is clearly a vital aspect of our intellect, recognition of spirit truths, and the faithful humility we exercise in Christ.

    According to the Bible, Elisha’s servant’s eyes were opened by the Lord in 2 Kings 6:17: 

    1. The king of Syria sent an army to capture the prophet Elisha in the city of Dothan. 
    2. Elisha and his servants were surrounded by the army at night. 
    3. The servant asked Elisha, “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?”. 
    4. Elisha replied, “Don’t be afraid. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them”. 
    5. Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see”. 
    6. The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

    Elisha then prayed to the Lord to make the Aramean army blind, which he did. Elisha led the Arameans to Samaria, telling them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me and I will lead you to the man whom you are seeking”. 

    Q: The spiritual blessings are found in “the heavenly places” (1:3). What are the “heavenly places”? 1:20 Jesus was raised to sit in the heavenly places. 

    This phrase is used 5 times in Ephesians: 1:3,20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12. In 2:6, the saved are seated with Christ in the heavenly places, so it must be a spiritual realm that we are in while on earth and not just a future place in heaven somewhere in the future after we die. The blessings are “spiritual” in nature, not physical. We are living in a spiritual world that can’t be seen. It is a spiritual world in which both good and bad powers and authorities exist and work (6:12). It is a spiritual realm where Christ has defeated all the evil powers that can rule over us. 

    I believe it is a spiritual realm all around us, right now. I believe it is where my mother and father are, perhaps even totally aware of what is happening on earth. 

    Doesn’t this make you just feel different about everything you do? Can you see yourself living in a spiritual realm as in an out-of-body experience at all the things happening in this world? 

    Q: Do you believe that faithful Christians immediately go into another phase of these heavenly places when they die? If so, are they aware of what’s happening on earth? If so, can they be sad over bad things on earth? Does the phrase “no tears in heaven” apply here? 

    A couple of key verses. 

    John 11:24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

    The OT dead were kept in hades until they were judged (Daniel 12:1,2) and given their final reward or punishment. That is not where the dead in Christ go. We are able to go be with Jesus immediately after death. 

    Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

    This describes the new Jerusalem, i.e. the church, on earth after the old Jerusalem has been destroyed. It describes God dwelling in his people and his people dwelling in God, right here on earth, now. The “no more tears, no death, no crying, no pain” etc. is right now on earth for Christians. This is spiritual joy and life even though we still cry and die physically. These verses do not refer to life after death although they would also describe life after death. But they would not preclude sadness in heaven after death. 

    Ephesians 1:1-15 Spiritual blessings in Christ

    On By nrfaughtLeave a comment

    It’s been a while since I bogged on Nicky’s Notes but I plan on doing more now.

    I am enjoying teaching Ephesians to our home group on Wednesday nights. Here are some thoughts on Ephesians. Paul finished his voyage to Rome (his 4th journey) in Rome as a prisoner under house arrest for 2 years (Acts 28). Here is a neat map off the google images.

    During those 2 years, he wrote the “prison epistles” of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon. While some claim this letter might not have been written specifically to the Ephesian church, it clearly says it was written to the Ephesians (1:1). Of course, Paul meant for all of his letters to be passed around and read by all the churches he was associated with.

    There are two distinct sections in this book. 1) Doctrinal Ch 1-3; 2) Practical Ch 4-6

    This article will discuss the doctinal section by dividing the 3 chapters into several topcs.

    1. 1:3-15 SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN CHRIST

    I found this image.

    Notice the phrase “to the praise of His glory” in 1:6,12,14. This section is about what God has graciously done for those who have “heard and believed in Him (Jesus)”.

    These spiritual blessings were by the “purpose of HIs will” (1:5,9,11) and “plan” (1:10). All this was due to the “grace” of God (1:6,7). We did not and cannot earn it by good works. Notice that we were “predestined” (1:5,11) and chosen before the foundation of the world.

    Before we get into the controversial issues in this section, just look at that list of spiritual blessings and rejoice in what God has done for you (if you are a sincere, faithful believer). Using the numbers in the image above:

    #1 You were chosen by God. You didn’t choose your parents, your parents chose you. Not so with adopted chldren. The parents out of love and compasion chose to adopt you. That is how it is with us, the Father’s adopted children. Once adopted, we are fully accepted as if we were birth children. My wife and I try to make no distinction bewteen our natural and adopted children.

    #2 We are blessed with being holy, not by our own goodness, but b/c God has made us holy by His grace. He has reckoned or imputed righteousness to us even though we are not righteous. The word for holy means “set apart”. The word for saint is “one who has been set apart”. We are all saints (not like the Catholic saints who have to acheive or earn sainthood by some great works). On your worst sinful day, you are still holy in the eyes of God by God’s doing, not your own. Repent, ask for forgiveness, and rejoice that you are still holy in the eyes of god. 1 Corinthians 1:30: “Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin”. Hebrews 10:10, 14: “And in accordance with this will [of God], we have been made holy (consecrated and sanctified) through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (the Anointed One)”. 

    #3) You have been predestined to be adopted as sons of God, children of the Father. 1 John 3:1 “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are”. I have 10 grandchildren, 5 of whom were adopted. I have seen the joy of those adopted grandchildren as they have found joy in finding the love and security of their new moms and dads (my children) whereas they were basically orphans before their adoption. That adoption as children of the Father and thus brothers of Jesus should mean just as much to us!

    #4) You are blessed with grace “in the Beloved”, i.e. Jesus. The phrase “In Christ” is used 35 times in the book of Ephesians, 11 times just in this section alone. These spiritual blessings are only available “in Christ” to those who believe. Galatians 3:26 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus”.The emphasis is clearly on what God has done and not what we have done. He takes a sinner and by His grace, not by our works or goodness, He makes us a cleansed sinner even though we still sin. God gets all the glory when the world looks at a cleansed sinner. Our new cleansed self is not b/c of what we have done or the good works we do as Christians. It is 100% the work of God in cleansing us by His grace and power.

    #5) You are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The Greek word: apolutrósis: a release effected by payment of ransom. As in paying a ransom price to free a slave. This redemption price was his blood according to the riches of his grace which he “lavished” on us (1:8). “Lavished” in the Greek is perisseuó: to be over and above, to abound. In English, “lavish” means bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities. 

    #6) You are forgiven of sins by God’s grace “in the Beloved”, ie. “in Christ. You don’t even have to live a sinless life. 1 John 1:7 “if we walk in the light…the blood of Jesus cleanses (present tense, continues to cleanse) us from all sin”. 1 John 2:1,2 “if we do sin, we have an adocate with the Father, Jesus Christ… the propitiation for our sins”.

    #7 We know the solution to the mystery that was hidden all through the Old Testament that even the prophets did not understand (1 Peter 1:”10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time[a] the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look”). The mystery or hidden plan was how could God saved sinners and yet be just and punish sin which the just Judge of the universe must do? We know the answer to that mystery, i.e. that Jesus died for us, satisfying the wrath of God against our sins, allowing God to be “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26).

    #8 We are blessed to be united into the worldwide body of believers, the church, the spiritual body of Jesus, made up of different ethnic groups. We look different and live in different cultures, but we all have one thing in common, i.e. saved by God’s grace and children of God in one big spiritual family. I know it warms my heart to hear of fellow believers coming to Christ in foreign nations. It greives me to hear of brothers and sisters suffering for their faith in foreign countries as organizations like Voice of the Martyrs continual remind us of (get there monthly publication free). We have so much racial tension in America and yet there is nothing but love between us in Christ. We see the constant conflict between Muslims and Israel but then we hear of Arab Muslims being converted to Christ now worshipping with Jewish Christians in some places.
    #9)You have been predestined to receive an “inheritance”, eternal life, both now (1 John 5:13 ” I am writing these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life”) and after you die physically (John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life.[d] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live”). Most would love to get the news that they just inherited a billion dolars. That does’t even compare with our inheritance!

    #10 You are sealed with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee that you will receive that eternal inheritance. “Sealed” in the Greek: 4972 sphragízō (from 4973 /sphragís, “a seal”) – properly, to seal (affix) with a signet ring or other instrument to stamp (a roller or seal), i.e. to attest ownership, authorizing (validating) what is sealed. “Guarantee” in the Greek: 728 arrhabṓn – properly, an installment; a deposit (“down-payment”) which guarantees the balance (the full purchase-price).

    But now for the controversial topic: predestination (#3 above, Ephesians 1:5,11). The Greek word means “to predetermine, foreordain”. So, predestination is a Biblical doctrine. The question is whether God’s predestination takes away the freewill of men. Is the Calvinism doctrine of predestination Biblical? 

    What verses do Calvinists use to support Calvinism?

    T 

    Romans 5: 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—

    U

    Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[b] for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 

    L

    John 10:11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

    I

    John 6:37 “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never cast out.”  44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them

    P

    John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

    What are the verses that refute Calvinism?

    T

    Rom 5:12 death passed upon all men b/c all have sinned, not b/c all have been born inheriting Adam’s sin

    Ezek 18 the soul that sinners shall die. The chapter goes on to discuss a righteous man who has an ungodly son, and vice versa. Each one shall give account for his own sins. 

    U

    Eph 1:13 those predestined had heard and believed the gospel. 

    John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

    Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

    Salvation can’t be earned, but it is “conditional” based on the response of the hearer of the gospel.

    L

    2 Corinthians 5:15 says, “He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake”.

    1 John 2:2: “Christ is the propitiation for not only the sins of those who are believers, but of the whole world”. 

    Revelation 3:20 KJV Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

    I

    Ac 7:51 “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.”

    P 

    Galatians 5:4 You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified[a] by the law; you have fallen away from grace. 

    2 Peter 2:20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 

    Hebrews 6:4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 

    Often verses in the Bible “seem” to contradict each other but we know the Bible is the inspired word of God and it cannot contradict itself. So seemingly contradictory passages must be harmonized. For example, how can John 10:27-29 (above under “P”) which supports Calvinism teaching that one of he elect can’t fall from grace be harmonized with Galatians 5:4 (above under “P” verses that refute Calvinism) which clearly says that some of the Galatian believers had “fallen from grace”? The answer s in taking a closer look at John 10:27-29. Verse 27 says “my sheep hear my voice, they listen and they follow me”. The security of the believer in Jesus here is clearly for those sheep who continue to follow Jesus, is it not? This doesn’t promise “once saved always saved” for those who cease following Jesus. How can Calvinists just ignore Galatians 5:4 and 2 Peter 2:20-21?

    So how do some try to explain the apparent contradiction? Some would simply say, “that believer who goes back into sin and rejects faith in Jesus ” never was really saved, never was really one of the “elect”. But Galatians 5:4 says they had “fallen from grace”. You can’t fall from a horse that you were never on. You can’ fall from grace if you were never in grace. If “irresistable grace” (the “I” of Calviinism) was working on a perso to enable them to believe and be saved in the beginning, why would that “I” not keep them from ceasing to believe later in their spirtual journey? This type of trying to explain away the obvious teaching of the Scriptures leads to other issues. Can a believer ever be assured of his salvation if it might be that “he was never really saved” if he falls later? Yet, the preacher will tell him that he has the assurance of his salvation once he believes. Arminians who reject Calvinism and yet say they believe in eternal security of the believer often say “they were never really saved” if one “backslides” back into sin, and yet they assure the one who gets saved that he can have the full assurance of his salvation. True Calvinism would just say this discussion is meaningless. God’s power can save the elect even if they fall back into sain b/c salvation is just not by human goodness or works. God’s grace is so powerful that it can saved the elect even if they fall back into sin (whether they ever repent and change or not). I think that is the teaching of Calvinism, but there are probably Calvinists who have their own opinions on this.

    Bottom line, why is it so hard to just harmonize John 10:27-29 and Galatians 5:4 and accept that initial salvation is conditional based on a person believing in Jesus (salvation is by grace through faith, not of works Ephesians 2:8-9) but continued salvation after that is also conditional on a sincere, working faith (James 2:24 you see that a man if justified by works and not faith alone). Thus one can truly be saved and have the full assurance of salvation by grace only to lose that salvation if he “falls from grace” through disobedience and loss of faith in Jesus. Of course, we would never know when one “crosses that line” into falling from grace (only God determiines that) but the line does exist according to Scripture.

    Of course, that gets back to the “U” (unconditional election) of Calvinism. We know that one is not saved “on the basis of his works or what he does”, but that does not mean that there are no conditions one must submit to in order to be saved. As John 3:16 and Acts 2:38 show in the verses that refute Calvinism, two things are obvious: 1) Johne 3:16 Salvation is available to “whosover” chooses to be saved (not just an elect group arbitrarily chosen by God to the exclusion of all others to show God’s sovereign power); 2) Acts 2:38 they asked “what must we do?”. Why didn’t Peter tell them, “you are totally depraved due to the original sin of Adam (the “T” in Calvinism), you are unable to even believe or do anything in order to be saved, you need to just sin at the mourners’ bench and cry out to God for some sign that you are in the elect and if you don’t get that sign, sorry, no salvation for you? That is basically what Calvinism would tell someone to do although I’m sure many Calvinists modify that. It is obvious that God has placed “conditions” that one must meet in order to be saved even though salvation is 100% by grace. Those initial conditions to be saved are belief, repentance, confession, and baptism. The condition to remain saved by grace is a sincere, working faith (not a perfect faith or a sinless faith). It is obvious that the invitaion to salvation is available to anyone and not just the ones that God has predetermined to be saved (the “L” limited atonement, i.e since only the predestined elect are going to be saved, then Jesus only died for the elect and not ror all men which 1 John 2:2 (above) refutes). Of course this is the Arminian position that says that salvation is by grace and yet is consitonal based on the freewill choices of men on whether to believe and obey Jesus or not.

    Is Calvinism really a dangerous doctine? Yes and no. Many true Calvinists or even Arminians who have a modified view of “once saved always saved” continue to believe, obey, and bear the fruit of the Spirit and are truly saved (even if they believe that they could backslide and yet still be saved (Calvinism)or even if they believe that there is the possiblity that they never were really saved if they do backslide (Aminianism)). So in the end, for those believers who are “faithful unto death”, the whole Calvinism vs Arminianism discussion is bunch of theological words. They just want to live for Jesus by God’s grace, assured of their salvation. So for them Calvinism is not a dangerous doctrine even if it is wrong.

    But for many, Calvinism could be dangerous and that is the point of writing this long article trying to refute Calvinism. How could it be dangerous? 1) It could make someone believe that, even if he belleves he is one of the saved elect, that he can continue in a blatant sinful life that he will be saved anyway. Paul said, “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1). I think Paul anticipated someone saying that b/c he had just said in Romans 5:20 “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”. If “P” of Calvinism is false and a person can fall from grace, then Calvinism could be fatally dangerous to the eternal salvation of such a person. 2) If could make someone quit tryiing to get saved if he sincerely goes to the mourners’ bench and yet gets no sign that the Holy Spirit is enabling him to believe and be saved. He feels nothing, there is no miraculous direct operation of the Spirit confirmation. He goes home discouraged, thinking there is no hope for his salvation. I have personally seen this happen to someone. That person was a sincere, hard working family man of impeccable character. He was taught the Calvinistic view of being saved, went to mourners’ bench, felt nothing and went home discouraged, thinking he was not one of he elect and that there was nothing he else he could do to be saved. I showed him Acts 2:38 and he said, “you mean I can simply choose to believe, repent, and be baptized” and be saved and have the assurance that I am saved?” I said “that’s what Peter an apostle said, that’s what the 3,000 did and they were added to the church, which is the saved (Acts 2:47), and that’s what you can do to be saved and know that you are saved”. He was so joyful. He was baptized that night and enjoyed his savlation by grace for many years until he died a few years ago. I thank God that He led that man and me to that conversation.

    Do you see why I say that Calvinism can be a dangerous doctrine? Die hard Calvinists will read this article and immediately start refuting my points. Many Calvinistic preachers of Calvinistic churches would probably lose their position if they refuted Calvinism. Or maybe they just truly believe that TULIP is Biblical. My hope is that this article will help someone who is confused by Calvinism. Maybe someone like my friend who is searching for salvation but can’t find it b/c of Calvinism. Or just someone who thinks the Bible is full of contradictions that even the theological scholars cannot agree on.

    I truly hope that the first part of this article will warm your hearts with the spiritual blessings that we have in Jesus. I hope the 2nd part about Calvinism will not take away from your Christian joy if your are indeed living for Jesus regardless of you doctrinal position on the matter. God bless your reading of this article. I pray that I have “spoke the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).