This question reminded me of a conversation I overheard at an Oklahoma camp meeting way back in 1991.After recently getting baptized and becoming the first person in his family to become a Christian, an older gentleman brought his 13 year old son to camp meeting. Jesus, Christianity, church and camp meeting were all brand new to this teenage boy. While most everyone else was staying in tents or nearby hotel, I was driving back and forth an hour and half everyday between Wewoka Woods and my home in Tulsa. So one afternoon, when I was a little tired, my friend let me have her tent to myself so I could take a little rest. Right outside of the tent, her 13 year old daughter was talking with the young boy who had come to camp meeting with his grandfather. While I could hear them, I had pretty much tuned them out so I could rest, but then the boy asked the girl the question, “What is this Jesus stuff about anyways?” Immediately my ears perked up. I was very interested to know what this young teenage girl was going to say. Would she begin with Daniel 9 and the 70 weeks? Would she begin with John 1 and how the Word as in the beginning can became flesh?
As I was now intently listening to an overheard conversation I had previously tuned out, I can remember the girl’s answer like it was yesterday. She said, “Before my mother and I met Jesus, all we did was argue and yell at each other and I couldn’t stand being home. But now that my mother and I know Jesus, we don’t argue and yell at each other. We love each other and now I love being in my home.”
“Wow!” I thought. My friend’s daughter didn’t just know about Jesus. She knew Jesus. She didn’t have to go to Daniel or John to tell her friend about Jesus, because she had experienced Jesus for herself. Jesus had radically changed her life and as she out off the old life and received the new life like putting on hew clothes.
My friend’s daughter did not just know about the story of Jesus, she lived with and for Jesus. 32 years later she still does. To this day she lives with and for Jesus, and is always sharing Christ with all those she comes in contact with in her community. She does not just know about Christ, she has put on Christ like putting on new clothes. So, if someone asked you, “What is all this Jesus stuff about anyways?” What would you say?
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
God is calling all kinds of people around the world to be a part of His one church.
And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Revelation 18:4 NKJV Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” Revelation 14:6-7 NKJV And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. John 10:16 NKJV one Lord, one faith, one baptism; Ephesians 4:5 NKJV
While God is working to reconcile us all into one church family that encompasses heaven and earth, Satan is working hard to create disunity in the church. Satan is the master of illusions and he will oftentimes use illusions to create disunity. One member makes a comment that was in no way meant to be an insult, but Satan will immediately encourage us to misconstrue what was said into an insult. You might miss a message that was sent to the whole church and then feel intentionally excluded from the church, when you failed to receive the message, even though it was just an innocent mistake on someone’s part. Satan has used all of us at one time or another to unwittingly hurt someone in the church.
Satan used Judas to betray Jesus but look at Jesus’ response to Judas.
Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Matthew 26:50 NKJV
Though the word “friend” in this passage may have meant a mere acquaintance, David prophesied in Psalm 41:9 that Jesus would be betrayed by a familiar friend. Jesus does not call Judas a backbiter or a traitor. He calls Judas a friend. Jesus never minced words. He always called things the way He saw them. If He called Judas “friend,” then I am sure in His mind they were friends. Jesus realized,
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
Jesus realized Judas is not the enemy. Satan is. Jesus realized Satan was using Judas to get to Jesus and hurt Him. Jesus was wise and realized He was not fighting with flesh and blood such as Judas. He was fighting against Satan. Jesus was able to see past Judas and recognize who the real enemy is. Likewise when Satan uses people in the church to try and hurt us, we should look past the person who is just flesh and blood, and recognize the real enemy is Satan. Remember Satan know us better than our friends at church even know us. Satan knows which buttons to push to get me upset and offended, so he will get a friend from church to unwittingly push my buttons. A friend from church may make a joke about something I am very sensitive about, without having any idea I am so sensitive about the matter, but Satan knows and uses friends to unwittingly hurt me.
When I was in my early twenties, I was young and broke. and I was very sensitive about being poor. I had bought a new car, but since I did not have much money it came without a stereo radio. I just used a little portable radio instead. One evening at church, a couple with whom I was good friends thought they would play a prank on me like we were always doing to each other, and they hid my portable radio. I was greatly offended because I thought by hiding the radio, they were making fun of me for not being able to afford a car with a stereo. I actually stopped speaking to them for a long time. Later I finally realized that we both had totally different interpretations of what happened that night. They thought they were just having fun with me, as usual, and it never crossed their minds that I would interpret their prank as them making fun of my not having much money. Satan used them to unwittingly to push my buttons.
Granted Judas was not just playing a prank on Jesus when he betrayed him, but still Jesus was able to look past the flesh and blood and call Judas a friend, and recognize that the real enemy was Satan.
So how do we defend ourselves against Satan’s tricks and illusions? By putting on the full armor of God.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:10-20 NKJV
Being girded with the truth about God’s love gives us confidence and security when Satan creates illusions to make it look like everyone is against us. The breastplate of righteousness protects our hearts against Satan’s insults, accusations and temptations. The Gospel of peace helps us maintain unity while Satan is casting his illusions. The shield of faith in God’s love keeps Satan’s insults and mind games from ever reaching our hearts. The helmet of salvation is worn over the mind. Our minds are fully confident that we are loved and saved by God. John 5:13 tells us we may know we have eternal life as we trust in the love of Jesus. The sword is the Bible that assures us of God’s love and exposes Satan’s tricks and mind games, ” lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV.
And even if we suppose my friends did indeed know they were pushing my buttons that evening, I could still look past the flesh and blood, and defeat the rulers of darkness. All I need to do is,
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
Main Theme: While are all different members, together we all contribute different talents and gifts in forming one church.
Read Together: Ephesians 4:1-16. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: How does Paul encourage believers to nurture the unity of the church?
Apply:Humility, gentleness, patience. Think about how these attributes would help unify us as a people. How do we learn to cultivate these virtues?
Share: Your friend asks you, if there is only one church does that mean the Adventist church is the only church there is, or does it mean that all the different denominations all make up one Christian church? What do you tell your friend?
Study: Drawing on Psalm 68:18, Paul has just described the risen, exalted, conquering Jesus as giving gifts to His people from on high. What “gifts” does the exalted Jesus give, and for what purpose?
Apply: What gifts do you recognize that God has given you for building up His church? What gifts do you recognize in others, and how do you appreciate their contributions to the church?
Share: Your friend says he does not believe in the gift of prophecy because all we need is in the Bible. We don’t need modern day prophets or even Ellen White. How might Ephesians 4:11-13 help you answer your friend? See also The Gift of Prophecy in Light of the Cross.
Read in Class: Ephesians 4:14. Define the main theme of this passage.
Study: What danger threatens the Christlike maturity of the church?
Apply: In what ways might you feel like you are still a child? In what ways do you feel like you have matured as a Christian?
Share: Your friend says that Jesus tells us we must enter the kingdom of heaven as a child. So why is Paul telling us not to be children anymore? What do you tell your friend? See also Grace Helps us Grow up.
Read in Class: Ephesians 4:15-16. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: In what ways does a healthy church function like a healthy body?
Apply: How can we get every member to use their gifts and talents to increase the body and make it healthier?
Share: Can you think of someone who has been working hard helping out at the church lately? Can you speak a word of appreciation and encouragement to them or even send them a nice card this week?
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. Ephesians 4:31-5:2 NKJV
God’s grace allows us to be filled with all the fulness of God (Ephesians 3:19) and helps us to imitate God. What better way to imitate God than to be merciful and forgiving towards others! While Paul wrote to the Ephesians about both Jews and Gentiles now making up one church, Paul also shares some words of wisdom with the Colossians about coming together to form one church. I think this advice would also be good for the Ephesians as well as for us.
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Colossians 3:12-15 NLT
Imagine that! While Paul told the Romans in Romans 13:14 not to give in to the temptations of the flesh, he tells the Colossians to make allowances for each other’s faults. It reminds me of the words of a pastor friend with whom I worked years ago. His motto was, conservative towards ourselves and liberal towards others. I believe this is also the attitude of Paul. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard, while being forgiving of others. Of course that in no way is saying we are higher than others just because we hold ourselves to a higher standard. Paul always considered himself the chief of sinners, and we must always realize how sinful we are and feel our need of Christ. That is what should help us be so forgiving of others. Also, while we hold ourselves to a higher standard, we also need to forgive ourselves instead of beating ourselves up. No one ever became more holy by tormenting themselves and beating themselves up. In Matthew 10:8 Jesus tells us to freely give as we freely receive. I believe that goes for forgiveness as well. In fact, not accepting God’s forgiveness actually is demonstrating a lack of faith.
Jesus gave us an example of being conservative towards himself when he fasted 40 days in the wilderness, and then He also gave us an example of being liberal towards others when He fed the multitude. He refused to work a miracle to feed himself in Matthew 4, but in Matthew 14, He works a miracle to feed others. That is being conservative towards yourself and liberal towards others.
As we continue to walk in this grace and forgiveness we depart form sin.
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints ;neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:3-5 NKJV
While Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:1-11 that God’s grace gives us an inheritance to God’s kingdom, Paul also tells us that those who inherit the kingdom by grace are given victory over their past life of sin.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord…..See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:8-10, 15-18 NKJV
While the book of Ephesians tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by grace and not by works, the same book of Ephesians tells us what being saved by grace looks like, as we become forgiving of others (and ourselves) and walk in the light of God’s love as we leave the deeds of darkness.
Martin Luther, who was the champion of salvation by grace and not by works also knew that grace and faith helps us depart from sin. He was grieved when he visited Rome and saw religious leaders living in open sin.
Everywhere he looked upon scenes that filled him with astonishment and horror. He saw that iniquity existed among all classes of the clergy. He heard indecent jokes from prelates, and was filled with horror at their awful profanity, even during mass. As he mingled with the monks and citizens he met dissipation, debauchery. Turn where he would, in the place of sanctity he found profanation. “No one can imagine,” he wrote, “what sins and infamous actions are committed in Rome; they must be seen and heard to be believed. Thus they are in the habit of saying, ‘If there is a hell, Rome is built over it: it is an abyss whence issues every kind of sin.’”-Ellen White, Great Controversy, Page 125.
Martin Luther was grieved the leaders were not experiencing God’s grace that gives us obedience (Romans 1:5), and good works (Ephesians 2:8-10) and allows us to live godly, righteous lives right here in this sinful world (Titus 2:11-12). Martin Luther realized Jesus did not die so we can continue in open sin. He realized Jesus died so we can leave our life of sin and darkness and walk in the light of God’s love and righteousness.
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:24 NKJV
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14 NKJV
Ephesians teaches us that while being forgiving of ourselves and others we can be more and more like Jesus every day,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:13 NKJV
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
Main Theme: As we study the Bible more deeply, we receive even greater revelations of God’s love.
Read in Class: Ephesians 3:1-6. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is the mystery that has been entrusted to Paul?
Apply: How can we learn to trust God and His ways amid what can be trying circumstances?
Share: Your friend tells you ever since her divorce, everyone at church tells her they still love her and are friendly to her at church, but her church friends no longer include her in activities and socials. Her church claims to be inclusive but is obviously leaving her out now. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Ephesians 3:7-13. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What does Paul say about God and the actions of God in Ephesians 3:7-13?
Apply: If your own congregation took seriously Paul’s “job description” of the church in Ephesians 3:10, how might it change the way you and your fellow church members relate to each other?
Share: Your friend asks why Paul says he is the worst sinner? Are we all supposed to feel that way? What do you tell your friend?
Study: Compare Paul’s earlier prayer request, Ephesians 1:16-19, with his plea for believers in Ephesians 3:14-19. In what ways are the two requests similar?
Apply: What person or event has helped you the most to understand the depths of God’s love?
Share: Your friend says he has trouble trying to trust church members like they are family. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class:Ephesians 3:20-21. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What does Paul praise God for in this passage?
Apply: What blessings from God are especially valuable to you?
Share: Your friend says its beautiful reading about how God reconciles us to Himself, but she has fallen too far away from God to have her relationship with God reconciled and restored. What do you tell your friend? See also, Ephesians 3: A Shattered Relationship Perfectly Restored.
Jesus tells us we need to be born again. He tells us we must enter His kingdom as a little child. We must die to self and be born again, as we have things we need to unlearn and relearn. We must come as little children trusting God and wanting to learn and grow. Yes grow. While Jesus tells us to come as children, He does not expect us to remain as children. He expects us to grow up.
Years ago I helped a family in my church with their neighborhood youth Bible study group. Several of the kids were already into their teens, but one young girl was in kindergarten. Unable to read, she has a picture Bible. The other kids would help her find the right picture to go along with the passages we were studying in our regular Bibles. The parents and youth were very eager to participate in this study and it was successful for several years. Before we knew it the girl in kindergarten had grown into a very smart and talented young lady. One day I asked her to read, and when she started fluently reading from the regular Bible she now possessed, my mind went back to her younger days with the picture Bible. I asked the class if they remembered her picture Bible. Several of the other kids were amazed how they had totally forgotten her picture Bible. She had grown slowly day by day, year by year until she was reading just as good as any of the rest of the kids. Still it was so gradual, the other kids confessed they had not noticed, and over time had just forgotten about the picture Bible she once brought to the study.
While Paul encourages us in Philippians 3:13-14 to keep moving forward, in Ephesians He also takes time to remind the Ephesians that at one time you lived in darkness, but not now, You once were dead in sin but not now. Look how you have grown!
When my young friend was in kindergarten looking up pictures in her picture Bible was perfect for her in her sphere of kindergarten. However she kept growing and as a young lady the picture Bible was no longer perfect for her. She grew into a new sphere where an adult Bible became perfect for her. Still the class, as well as the young lady herself were very intrigued when I pointed out how much her reading skills had improved over time. While we keep moving forward, and growing so that we are no longer children, it is also important to look back occasionally just to see how far we have come and encourage ourselves that actual progress is being made. By God’s grace we can be perfect it our own sphere as we grow from sphere to sphere.
While we once walked in darkness and were dead in sins, we are no longer in darkness and dead in sins. We are growing day by day, year by year, and we will keep growing by grace,
till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:13 NKJV
While we all still see plenty of room for growth, it may still be a good idea to pause for a moment and give God some credit and thanks for helping us to grow to become the men and women we are today. What are some areas of your life where you would like to thank God for helping you mature?
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
Main Theme: The cross tears down the walls the separate humanity.
Read in Class: Ephesians 2:11-12. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What does Paul accent in his fresh description of the past?
Apply: From what condition has Jesus redeemed you? Why might it be important for you to recall, with some regularity, where you were when He found you and where you might now be had He not found you?
Share: Your friend complains that she is constantly seeing ads on TV and hearing even seemingly innocent songs on the radio that are always reminding her of her past life of sin. God has turned her life around but she just wishes she could get rid of the constant reminders of her past life. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Ephesians 2:14-16. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: How does the cross transform our relationships?
Apply: Is there someone you need to be reconciled with? How might you go about that? See also The 7 A’s of Reconciliation.
Share: Your friend complains that there is racism and sexism in the church just as much as in the world. How do you respond to your friend?
Read in Class: Ephesians 2:17-18. Discuss the main idea of this passage.
Study: How does Paul summarize the ministry of Christ in Ephesians 2:17, 18?
Apply: How can we learn to be preachers of peace as opposed to conduits of conflict? To what situations, right now, can you help bring healing?
Share: Your friend asks how the church can help blend in with the culture around it without compromising Bible teachings? What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Ephesians 2:11-22. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What culminating set of images does Paul use in Ephesians 2:11-22 to signal unity between Jews and Gentiles in the church?
Apply: What “walls” or divisions in the church do you see now, that you would like to see broken down?
Share: Can you think so someone who may feel alienated from the church? How can reach out to them this week and make them feel included?
Read in Class: Ephesians 2:1-10. Define the main idea of this passage.
Study: What is the main idea that Paul is giving us here about what Jesus has done for us?
Apply: What do these verses teach about the reality of the great controversy? At the same time, how can we draw comfort and hope in the knowledge that Jesus has been victorious and that we can share in His victory now?
Share: Your friend says, its okay to continue in sin because we are saved by grace. What do you share with your friend? Does grace save us from death or from sin? Or both? See Ephesians 2: Sitting With Jesus in Heavenly Places.
Study: What distinct qualities does each passage tell us grace produces in our lives?
Apply: In Ephesians 2:8-9 is God’s grace responding to our faith or is our faith responding to God’s grace? What is the difference and why does it matter? Notice also that in Romans 2:4 God’s goodness leads us to repentance instead of our repentance leading to God’s goodness.
Share: Your friend notices in Titus 2:11-12 it says we are to live righteous and godly lives in this present age. Your friend says he thought our characters would be changed at the second coming, and then we could live righteous and godly lives. What do you tell your friend?
Read in Class: Ephesians 2:6-7. Define the main theme of this passage.
Study: what sense do believers participate in Christ’s resurrection, ascension, and exaltation? When does this participation occur?
Apply: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7, NKJV). How do the verses we looked at today help us understand what Paul writes here?
Share: Your friend asks, how does knowing your are currently sitting in heavenly places with Christ right now, change they way you look at your every day struggles? What do you tell your friend?
Read Again in Class: Ephesians 2:1-10. After the discussions you have had, what new insights do you see in this passage?
Study: What points does Paul highlight as he concludes this passage?
Apply: While the good works of believers play no role in their redemption, in that they can never give people saving merit before God, what important part do they play in God’s plans for believers? Eph. 2:10.
Share: Can you think of someone who has been struggling in their own power, who may need to hear about God’s grace? How can you share the plan of salvation by grace with them this week?
In Ephesians 1-2 we saw ourselves in Christ. We saw ourselves accepted in Christ in Ephesians 1:6, and then saw ourselves sitting in heavenly places in Christ in Ephesians 2:6. This idea of being in Christ is our justification. Justification is our deliverance from the penalty of sin and is our title to heaven. But justification is way more than a legal procedure allowing us to have eternal life. Justification is restoring our relationship with God in the here and now. Being accepted in the Beloved means our relationship with God is restored and we are all friends again. The Father is at peace with us now as much as He is at peace with His own son.
Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him we also have access by faith into this [remarkable state of] grace in which we [firmly and safely and securely] stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of [experiencing and enjoying] the glory of [our great] God [the manifestation of His excellence and power]. Romans 5:1-2 AMP
Now we turn to Ephesians 3 where we begin to see Christ in us. While us in Christ is our justification, Christ in us is our sanctification. Our sanctification is our deliverance from the power of sin and is our fitness for heaven. But just like justification, sanctification is way more than a legal procedure allowing us to have eternal life. Sanctification means we belong to God. In Genesis 2:1-3 God sanctified the Sabbath and it became the Lord’s day. See Mark2:28. In Numbers 3:13 God sanctified the firstborn by calling them His own. Sanctification makes us God’s very own intimate friends.
Look at how Jesus uses the terms of us in Him and Him in us to describe a very intimate relationship.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples. As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. John 15:4-10 NKJV Emphases supplied.
Justification and sanctification are way more than legal terms. They are relational terms describing our relationship of how we are in Christ and Christ is in us. In previous weeks we have seen how Ephesians 1-2 portrays us being in Christ. Now we will look at how Ephesians, beginning in chapter 3 portrays Christ in us.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly 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 to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 NKJV Emphases supplied.
I find this amazingly awesome! We can be filled with all the fulness of God. Let that sink in. Here on earth, in our sin torn fallen natures we can be filled with all the fulness of God. Our own works could never make such a grand theme possible, but yet the impossible is possible by the Power that works in us.
My mother used to collect plates. One day while dusting she accidently knocked a plate off the mantle and it shattered into pieces on the floor. She was upset as it was one of her favorite plates. She watched as dad swept all the pieces into a dustpan and took them to the garage. My mother was sure he was just going to throw the pieces away in the garbage can in the garage. My mother never thought it was possible to ask or think that the plate could ever be restored, but instead of throwing the pieces in the trash he placed them on his work bench. A few weeks later my dad presented the plate back to my mother, with every single piece glued back together with invisible glue. As far as my mother was concerned, the plate she thought was hopelessly shattered to smithereens had been perfectly restored.
This was something she never asked or thought possible. Have you ever thought that you had ruined your relationship with God and blown it to smithereens? Have you ever felt hopelessly lost in sin, and thought you and God could never be friends again? Well God the Father has taken those shattered pieces of your relationship, and instead of throwing them in the garbage can, through Christ He has perfectly restored your friendship with Him. At one time you may have felt “you were without Christ, …..having no hope and without God in the world.” Ephesians 2:12 ” But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13. While sin blew your relationship with God to smithereens and you thought the only solution was to throw all the pieces in the trash, God did what you never asked or thought possible. Christ’s blood was the glue that perfectly restored your relationship with the Father. Now, instead of being alienated from God and without hope, you have been brought very near. So near He is now filling you with all the fulness of God! The relationship with God that you thought impossible to restore has been perfectly restored. While you once thought you were without God and without hope, Christ did the unthinkable and unimaginable. He is filling you with all the fulness of God. A Shattered relationship has been restored to a higher level of intimacy than we ever thought possible, not by our works, but by the Power working in us.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
Practically all Christians understand we are saved by grace, but what exactly does grace save us from?
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10 NKJV
Grace saves us from death. This is our justification. Last week we saw that justification is “me in Jesus.” I was in Jesus when He lived a perfect life and I am saved by His life (Romans5:10) as well as by his death. This is my title to heaven. In Ephesians 2:1-10 we see that grace also saves us from the power of sin and gives us good works. This is our sanctification, which is “Jesus in me.” This my deliverance from the power of sin and my fitness for heaven.
Last week we talked about being in Christ when He was crucified. See Galatians 2:20. We were in Christ when He lived a perfect life. See Romans 5:10. Now in Ephesians 2:6 we see we are already sitting in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, Ephesians 2:6 NKJV
The story goes of a pastor who was changing trains at a station near Washington D.C. While between trains he met a man who tried to hand him some religious literature. The pastor smelled alcohol on the man’s breath and asked him about it. The man conceded that he was an active alcoholic, but that it was okay because Jesus had already gotten the victory over sin so he did not have to. The pastor asked the man, “So Jesus died so you don’t have to?” “Right!” The man replied. “And Jesus overcame so you don’t have to overcome?” the pastor asked. “Right!” The man replied. To which the pastor also said, “Then do you know what else Jesus did for you? He went up to heaven so you don’t have to.” The pastor was sharing with the man that if Jesus died and overcame so we don’t have to die to self and overcome, then Jesus also went to heaven so we don’t have to go to heaven. The pastor was sharing that the reality of grace is, Jesus died so that we can also die to self. See Romans 6:3-7 and Galatians 2:20. Jesus also overcame sin so we also may overcome. See Revelation 3:21. Jesus also went to heaven so we can also go to heaven. See John 14:1-3. Everything Jesus did He did it so by His grace we can do it too.
Grace does way more than just save us from death.
Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, Romans 1:5 NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12 NKJV
In Titus 2:11-12 grace helps us live righteous and godly lives right here and now.
Jude warned us,
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 1:4 NLT
In the very same book where Paul tells us we are saved by grace Paul also tells us,
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Ephesians 5:5 NKJV
Sometimes when people have a hard time believing that victory over sinful addictions is possible, they get accused of wanting cheap grace, and wanting to continue in sin. I don’t believe this is the case. I believe these fallen ones (and that would be all of us!) feel awful about breaking their Father’s heart by giving in to sinful addictions. To such a one I would say,
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17 NKJV
God does not and never will despise a broken and contrite heart, no matter how many times sin has broken that heart before. But while Jesus continues to forgive us every time our hearts are broken because we have broken our Father’s heart, His grace also gives us the power to stop breaking hearts. In Genesis 44:18-34, Judah explains to Joseph that he had already broken his father’s heart before, and he was now prepared to die a slave in a foreign land before he would break his father’s heart again. Grace gave Judah the victory over breaking his father’s heart, and grace can give us the victory over breaking our Father’s heart.
Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:5-6 NKJV
Grace gives us all the forgiveness we will ever need. Grace gives us all the power we will ever need to overcome sin. Don’t give up. by grace you are already sitting in heavenly places with Jesus.
You may study this week’s Sabbath School lesson here.
In Light of The Cross 
