STUDIES FROM BRETHREN IN CHRIST

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5/29/2005 ~ Salvation Through Grace by Faith


Ephesus was a city of Asia Minor.
                                  └─>Paul stopped here a second time on his way back to Jerusalem.

Ephesians is a practical letter more as a story or pattern of Christianity.
It is a story of how did we get here and what is it?
Second Ephesians chapters begin as such:

1 - Preeminence of Christ.
2 - Where we have come from and where we are going.
3 - Unspeakable wisdom of God.
4 - Conduct ... what to do ...

Submission to God

And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ...
~ Ephesians 2:1-10

If we take God for granted we could leave or depart or forget Him.

by grace you have been saved through faith, ... ~ Ephesians 2:8

┌─> untwisted truth.                                           
├─> identified with this as a way of life.              
... fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, ... ~ Ephesians 2:1-3

... seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, ... ~ Matthew 6:31-33
└─> What do you seek? ●○                                                                    

The Ephesians worshipped the Goddess Diana.
"BOOBS" ├─> What made the city tick.
└─> The way they walked.

Ephesians had worked out a way of life for survival though corrupt.
~ Like today, many divorce as a means of government subsidies.

... the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ...
~ Colossians 3:1-7
                 └─> A twin letter to Ephesians

... "The just shall live by faith." ~ Romans 1:17

Are you living according to the prince of darkness?
●
... my heart's desire and prayer to God ... ~ Romans 10:1

What is your prayer or purpose in life?

... let him ask in faith, with no doubting, ... ~ James 1:6-8
○
What is our desire?

... we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, ...
~ Ephesians 2:3

For the Ephesians it was to feel good and be entertained by the flesh.
┌─> Can not be overstated <─┐
... made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ...
~ Ephesians 2:4-5

Are we unfruitful or fruitful?
How rich is God who can give to us all?
Autobiographies can leave out all encompassing truth;
~ The saying, "The older I get, the better I was."
Many are fooled with quiescent minds.

... in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ... ~ Ephesians 2:6
             └─> To be esteemed by God where the earth can’t touch us.

... His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ~ Ephesians 2:7
├─> We have the riches of God. <─────┘                          
 └─> Richer than anyone without it.                                     

... it is the gift of God, not of works, ... ~ Ephesians 2:8-9

By grace we have salvation and we don't have it without it.

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, ...
~ Ephesians 2:10

He tells us what to do.
Work we must participate in.
It is a letter of what God requires.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, ... ~ Hebrews 11:6

God has given us the ability to do it.
His word enables us to get it done.
He did it so that we might become empowered.
To be fruitful and joyful.

So we are empowered.
            └─> To do good works through Him.

... a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. ... ~ James 2:24-26

Opportunity = Grace = Participant in faith

... to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up ... ~ Acts 20:28-38

The Ephesians made it work by believing in the grace of God,
and though future generations fell away by making individual choices,
they did choose at the time to practice the word delivered by Paul.

What do we Choose?



 

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