The Christian's Position

"According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4)

The search for identity and meaning can drive one to great successes or tragic failures.  For the Christian, however, the question is answered throughout Ephesians.

We are chosen!  We are selected as a favourite out of "many |who| are called" (Matthew 22:14) "out of the world" (John 15:19). What a privilege!  We are God's choice to bear His name, represent His cause, and share His glory throughout eternity.

In fact, we are "predestinated |previous boundaries set| . . . unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself" (Ephesians 1:5).  And "if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ" (Romans 8:17).

Furthermore, we have been "accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6).  That word, "accepted," is a specialised form of the word most often translated "grace." We have been "graced" by almighty God, who has set absolute boundaries around our lives and made us His children.  We were purchased "through his blood" (v. 7) "that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar |that is, 'precious'| people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).

Moreover, we are forgiven (Ephesians 1:7)!  Our sins are "covered" (Psalm 32:1); "cast" behind God's back (Isaiah 38:17); removed "as far as the east is from the west" (Psalm 103:12); "remember|ed| . . . no more" (Jeremiah 31:34); and cleansed "from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Hallelujah! Since we are God's children, we should have no identity crisis. We are a chosen, predestined, accepted, redeemed, forgiven, and holy people. Finally, we are predestined "to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Romans 8:29). HMM III

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Defender's Bible Notes on Ephesians 1:5

1:5 predestinated.  The goals of God’s predestinating work are given in this chapter as: (1) producing holiness in those so chosen (Ephesians 1:4); (2) adopting them as His own sons and daughters (Ephesians 1:5); (3) assuring them of an inheritance in eternity (Ephesians 1:11). Its over-all purpose is to be “to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:6,12,14; note also 3:21). The word “predestinate” is also used in Acts 4:28 (there rendered “determined before”), Romans 8:29, 30 (see notes on these verses), and I Corinthians 2:7 (rendered as “ordained before”). The same Greek word, without the prefix, is found in Luke 22:22, Acts 17:26 (“determined”), and Acts 10:42; 17:31 (“ordained”), with essentially the same meaning. Since our minds are finite, we are unable to comprehend the infinite character of the plan and purpose of God, which is exactly the situation with regard to the clearly Biblical truth of predestination. In no way does this preclude the ability of God to plan also the paradoxical truth of human freedom and responsibility, which also are clearly Biblical (remember God’s ability is infinite!). We cannot fully comprehend with our minds, but can believe and rejoice with our hearts that God has known and chosen us believers for Himself even before the world began.

Dakes anotated reference Bible.

Ephesians 1:5 on predestinated

. . . God has predestinated all children of God to be adopted into His family, but who becomes a child of God is left up to each individual (Jn.3:15-20; Rev.22:17; Cp. 1 Tim.2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9).

The Christian's Purpose

"According as he hath chosen us in him . . . that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Ephesians 1:4)

In the grand purpose of our "selection" into God's family, two key words are used:

"Holy" (Greek hagios) stresses dedication.  A holy man or woman is distinctively God's, set apart for God's use, separated from the secular, and consecrated to God's service. All who are "chosen" are chosen to be holy.

The Colossian Christians were told to "mortify" the physical appetites, to "put off" their sinful mental attitudes and habits, and to "put on the new man . . . as the elect of God, holy and beloved" (Colossians 3:5-12).  The focus is character.

"Without blame" refers to our reputations.  This character will only be fully realised in heaven (1 Corinthians 1:, but there is a present responsibility to "present your bodies a living sacrifice. . . . And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2).

The character of holiness will become the cause of a lifestyle of blamelessness.  We are to be the "sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world" (Philippians 2:15).

This holy and blameless condition will result in "the praise of the glory of his grace" (Ephesians 1:6), where God will someday "gather together in one all things in Christ" (v. 10).

What a magnificent thought!  The purpose for which we have been chosen, predestined, redeemed, and forgiven is to be holy in character and blameless in reputation, so that when God gathers us all together in Christ, we will be the praise of the glorious grace of God! HMM III

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The Christian's Prosperity

"God and Father . . . who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3)

Given our high position in Christ, it follows that God would provide whatever is necessary to accomplish His purposes in and for us.

The "Beatitudes" of Matthew 5:3-12 provide a good illustration.  Each "blessing" is designed to meet a need or fulfill a desire of God's "chosen" (Ephesians 1:4).  The poor, meek, and persecuted are given ownership in the kingdom.  The mournful are given God's special comfort.  Those who hunger for righteousness are filled.  The merciful will obtain mercy, the pure in heart will see God, and the peacemakers are identified as God's children.  The longings of our souls and characters are all met by God.

The practical needs of "wisdom and prudence" are met, too (v. .  Wisdom is knowledge focused toward useful application, and prudence is the ability to develop successful activities based on wisdom.  The Word of God is the source of wisdom (Deuteronomy 4:1-6; Proverbs 1:1-6) and is inspired of God to be "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Furthermore, He has "made known unto us the mystery of his will" (Ephesians 1:9).  "Kept secret" in the days of the Old Testament prophets (Romans 16:25-26), it is now made clear to us so that we can show "unto the principalities and powers . . . by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Ephesians 3:10).  These spiritual resources are available for every believer "to profit withal" (1 Corinthians 12:7).  We must pray that we do not waste these resources like the "wicked and slothful" servant in the parables of the talents and the pounds (Matthew 25:26; Luke 19:22). HMM III

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Let's cut through the chase here without reading all that regurgitated hocus-pocus!
The only way a Christain can be prosperous is to suck the financial blood vessels or lives out of his or her helpless/hapless neighbours like phocking LEECHES!

I think it is called "Blessings Of God"!

I have never seen a successful Christian on WallStreet!
Jews, maybe.

419 is the only way Christians survive! The reason majority of Christians die wretchedly, waiting for their own blessings as they give theirs away to superior con artists aka PASTORS!

The Christian's Permission

"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved" (Ephesians 1:6)

The High Priest of Israel wore the inscription "holiness to the Lord" to illustrate to all who obeyed God that they were "accepted before the LORD" (Exodus 28:36-38). Joshua, as a type of all believers, was granted "places to walk" in the courts of God (Zechariah 3:7). Christ's disciples were commanded to "ask" the Father for "whatsoever," since they were chosen and ordained to "bring forth fruit" (John 15:16). We have permission to "ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7).

But there is more! Not only are we accepted, we are "sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13), an "earnest |down payment, deposit| of our inheritance" (v. 14). We are "stablishe|d| . . . anointed . . . sealed" (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

We are "confirmed" in everything (1 Corinthians 1:4-, consecrated and sanctified to serve (Exodus 28:41; 1 John 2:27), and given the "earnest of the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 5:5) to empower our ministry.

The Holy Spirit does His work through a threefold ministry in our lives. He will work on Christ's behalf, through our witness, to bring conviction to those not yet in Christ (John 16:7-11). He will also minister to us as the teacher of our spirits to guide us into all truth (John 16:13; 14:17, 26; 15:26).

Furthermore, the wisdom, prudence, and knowledge of God are revealed to us through His work in us (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). All that is necessary for our "effectual working" (Ephesians 3:7) is "graced" to us so that we can "work out |our| salvation" (Philippians 2:12). We are "complete in Him" (Colossians 2:10). HMM III

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The Christian's Possibilities

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . May give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened" (Ephesians 1:17-18)

The "spirit of wisdom" is applied to a wide variety of circumstances. It certainly includes leadership (Deuteronomy 34:9).

But wisdom is also identified with the ability to make beautiful clothing (Exodus 28:3) and to engineer and invent complex equipment (31:2-6). Daniel was said to have "an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts" (Daniel 5:12). We are even promised that our "adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke 21:15).

A "spirit of revelation" is also made available to us. This revelation (literally, "to take off the cover" is not new doctrine or truth. Revelation is implemented by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:10), having the source of His revelatory work from Jesus Christ on behalf of Christ (John 16:13-15).

The Greek language of the phrase "the eyes of |our| understanding being enlightened" (Ephesians 1:18) could be translated "the vision of your deep thought will be made to shine," or paraphrased in a more colloquial expression, "the light comes on!"

There are three specific enlightenments cited here: The hope of our calling (see Romans 15:13-14), the riches of the glory of our inheritance (11:33-36), and the exceeding greatness of His power exercised on our behalf (Ephesians 3:20; 6:10).

Each of these three are specifically designed by God to undergird our faith and embolden our confidence, even though we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13). HMM III

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The Christian's Power

"And . . . the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe" (Ephesians 1:19)

The power of the triune Creator, as displayed in the resurrection of Christ, is directed toward us! We can be certain that we will never fully comprehend that, but the Scriptures provide several clear statements that will help us get some usable grasp on this resource:

1) We receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us (Acts 1:. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 6:19) and is therefore readily accessible to all believers (Ephesians 3:20).

2) We use the power of God every time we preach the gospel (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18), whether to one person or to thousands.

3) We learn of the power of God through "great and precious promises" (2 Peter 1:3-4). Indeed, those promises involve "all things that pertain to life and godliness."

4) We see the results of the power of God in our lives when our characters reflect "all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Colossians 1:11).

The Lord desires "that |we| might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19) and "strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man" (v. 16). The purpose of this empowering is to be "rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith" (Colossians 2:7), "able to comprehend . . . the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:18-19).

"Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (vv. 20-21). HMM III

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Meheeeeeen.
Is HELL faya not better than reading these? 
See torture!!! 
What a drrrrrrrag!!!

I am soooooo sorrry for 'whatsover' would share that bed.

Hmmmm!!!! So this is what you will be doing on top of corpses you plan to victimize with all these?

What a GOSH!!!

If are Jesus Christ, I'd sure like to nail that your azzze to a railroad track for sure!!!!

Gosh! Where is Hitler when I need him so?

The Christian's Parentage

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1)

There are three descriptions of what we were prior to God's work in us, as described in the second chapter of Ephesians, and as listed below: We were "dead in trespasses |activities| and sins |character, attitude, condition|."  The result was that we were unable to understand or seek God on our own (Romans 3:10-11).  Nor are we able to know the "things of God" by our own intellectual prowess (1 Corinthians 2:14).  "We walked according to the course of this world" (Ephesians 2:2), in "bondage" to the world (Galatians 4:3), and with the eyes of our minds "blinded" by Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4).  We are "by nature the children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3).  Both our natural desires (5:5-6) and our willful unbelief (John 3:36) have placed us under the ever-increasing wrathful judgment of God (Romans 2:5-9).

The transformation performed by God on us can only be "his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10).  It involves God's rich "mercy" and "great love" (v. 4) to make us alive when we were dead (see John 5:21-24; Romans 6:4-6, 9-11).

That power "raises" us and "seats" us with God "positionally" in the heavens (Ephesians 2:6).  That "grace" is effected through faith, and even "that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (vv. 8-9).

Whatever all of these promises may ultimately involve, they assure us of permanent status as the chosen, holy ones of God (Romans 8:29-39), "that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7). HMM III

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The Christian's Partnership

"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19)

Prior to salvation, we are called "aliens . . . and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now" we are part of the "new man" and the grand partnership that has been made possible between Jew and Gentile, Old and New Covenant saints, and the operative impact and purpose of the "household of God" (v. 12-13, 15, 19).

We are "made nigh" and made "one." The enemy has been abolished, with the "middle wall of partition" that was between us broken down (vv. 13-15), making us "one body," with common "access by one Spirit unto the Father" (vv. 16-18).

Therefore, we are "fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God . . . built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets"; "fitly framed," growing unto a "holy temple . . . for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (vv. 19-22). Now displayed in a fellowship of past and present, bond and free, male and female--all new "partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel" (3:1-6; Galatians 3:22-29).

And God has "created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (vv. 9-11).

God has designed His salvation for us in such a way that we cannot fail to achieve His plans for us! We should humbly thank Him for what He has accomplished in us through Christ Jesus. HMM III

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In The Spirit
March 12, 2012

"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Ephesians 2:18 )

We cannot see or hear the Holy Spirit, but He is very real and is, in fact, the very life of each true Christian. It is only through Him that we have access in prayer to the Father, as our text points out. Christ in His resurrection body is seated at the right hand of the Father in the distant heavens, but the Holy Spirit has His temple in our very bodies.

He not only hears each spoken prayer, but also each thought of our hearts. From the moment we receive Christ, we live in the Spirit; He is always with us, to guide our steps, to bear witness with our spirits that we belong to God, to illumine our understanding, and, when needed, to convict and chasten when we get out of His will.

Therefore, "if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit" (Galatians 5:25). When we yield to some worldly temptation, it is because we have ignored this admonition, for the promise is "walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). The very presence of the Holy Spirit assures our eternal salvation, so how can we ignore His holy constraints on our behaviour? "Grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30). We speak of worshiping God in church, or home, or elsewhere, but if we really worship Him, we must "worship God in the spirit" (Philippians 3:3), for we have access to the Father, and the Son, only in the Spirit.

When we pray, we must be "praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit" (Ephesians 6:18 ). "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. . . . For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Romans 8:9, 14). HMM

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Lasinoh: Meheeeeeen.
Is HELL faya not better than reading these? 
See torture!!! 
What a drrrrrrrag!!!

I am soooooo sorrry for 'whatsover' would share that bed.

Hmmmm!!!! So this is what you will be doing on top of corpses you plan to victimize with all these?

What a GOSH!!!

If are Jesus Christ, I'd sure like to nail that your azzze to a railroad track for sure!!!!

Gosh! Where is Hitler when I need him so?

I would like to make a proposal, with two possibilities.
1. Charge a cent for each post ALAADEGBU as a way to make it unsafe to read such nonsense.
2. Collect a small donation to all forum members, in order to provide a ALAADERGBU a psychiatrist.
I suppose one of these two solutions would be safe from this kind of thing
Is not it?

Ptolomeus:
I would like to make a proposal, with two possibilities.
1. Charge a cent for each post ALAADEGBU as a way to make it unsafe to read such nonsense.
2. Collect a small donation to all forum members, in order to provide a ALAADERGBU a psychiatrist.
I suppose one of these two solutions would be safe from this kind of thing
Is not it?

We thank God that you have now exposed yourself as an enemy of God who can't stand the Word of God. The more effort you make in suppressing the truth the more the word of God will spread to the glory of God and the people of God will be edified. Satan shame on you for all glory belongs to Jesus.

OLAADEGBU:

We thank God that you have now exposed yourself as an enemy of God who can't stand the Word of God. The more effort you make in suppressing the truth the more the word of God will spread to the glory of God and the people of God will be edified. Satan shame on you for all glory belongs to Jesus.

Estimate.
You have a psychological problem ... you should see a doctor.
You will not deceive anyone wrongfully accusing me of being against God, because God who is attacking you with their silly threads and endless monologues.
Make you an analysis of consciousness will be good for you.
And please, stop disqualify me, attack me and accuse me.
You have an unstable and violent character it is not a Christian ...
Calm down, respect the others ... that's what the Bible says and not the nonsense that you presented here.
Be happy.