Friday, November 4, 2016

Ephesians 1 -- This Is Going To Take A While

I first read the entire chapter, but had to stop at verse 4 due to everything my commentary was explaining.  What a wealth of stuff Paul showed us here!

Too often, we live like spiritual paupers, it said.  "We have limitless [spiritual] wealth at our disposal, and yet we live like paupers."

We are called saints here, but that shouldn't be a title we shy away from.  It means "one who has been set apart ... the believer is in the world physically, but not of the world spiritually.  Like a scuba diver, he exists in an alien environment because he possesses special equipment -- in this case, the indwelling Spirit of God... it is through the Spirit's power that the Christian is able to function in the world... The phrase in Christ Jesus describes the spiritual position of the believer.  He is identified with Christ, he is in Christ, and therefore is able to draw on the wealth of Christ for his own daily living."

"The Father has given us every blessing of the Spirit, everything we need for a successful, satisfying Christian life ... the spiritual is far more important than the material ...The Holy Spirit is the One who channels our riches to us from the Father through the Son.  Not to know and depend on the Holy Spirit's provision is to live a life of spiritual poverty."

"The heavenlies describes that place where Jesus Christ is right now and where the believer is seated with Him...  The battles we fight are not with flesh and blood on earth, but with Satanic powers in the heavenlies.  The Christian really operates in two spheres:  the human and the divine, the visible and the invisible.  Physically, he is on the earth in a human body, but spiritually he is seated with Christ in the heavenly sphere -- and it is this heavenly sphere that provides the power and direction for the earthly walk ... With the Christian, no matter where he is on this earth, he is seated in the heavenlies with Jesus Christ, and this is the basis for his life and power."

Father, this reminds me somewhat of the movie Avatar.  Our real existence is with You in the heavenlies, yet it plays out on earth.  We are already saved and with You, but we are perfected as we incorporate our heavenly existence into this earthly one.  Thank You for this sure knowledge that I am with You now.  Use that knowledge to help me overcome sin in this fleshly realm  I want to continue to become more like Your Son.

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford

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