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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 2 * PART 3 * BOOK 36
EPHESIANS 2:1-10
As we begin this lesson let me say that we try to reach across all denominational lines and get people to study the Word of God. Now let's go back to Ephesians chapter 2, and begin this lesson with verse 6. Ephesians 2:4-6a
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. (by grace ye are saved;) 6a. Now reading verse 6.
Ephesians 2:6
"And hath raise us up together, (he has given us resurrection power, and eternal life) and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"
We are in Christ as a result of our salvation experience, it's a work of God. It's a work of God, and we take it by faith. Turn to the Book of Titus chapter 2 for a moment, and let's look at verses 12 and 13. This goes right along with what we've been saying in these last 3 lessons, that now because of the Grace and mercy and love of God we've been brought out of that life of desire to live in the nature of Old Adam. Titus 2:12-13
Now here's the verse that came to mind. Looking for that blessed hope; and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;"
Now here Jesus Christ is claiming to be the great God, and I know this flies in the face of people who claim that Christ never claimed to be God. "The glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ." Now coming back to Ephesians chapter 2, and we'll read verse 6 again.
Ephesians 2:6
"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."
We're in the Body of Christ, although we're living here on the planet. But now look at verse 7. Ephesians 2:7
Now verse 8 is one of the super, super Pauline verses.
Ephesians 2;8
"For by grace (unmerited favor) are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: (not something that you've worked for, not something you've decided to do, but) it is the gift of God:"
Ephesians 2:9
"Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:9
"Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Faith + Nothing = Salvation. Let's go to Romans chapter 4. Romans 4:2-3
"For if Abraham were justified (or made right with God) by works, he hath whereof to glory; (or boast) but not before God. Abraham believed God,(+ nothing) and it (his believing) was counted unto him for righteousness." And then jump down to verse 5. Romans 4:5
God doesn't justify Godly people. Let's look at Romans 3:23.
Romans 3:23
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
Romans 4:5
It's not by works, it's by faith in that finished work of the cross.
Romans 3:24
"Being justified (made just as if I've never sinned. That's what God does when we become a believer.) freely (without any works) by his grace (and how does He justify us?) through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Then come on down to verse 26.
Romans 3:26
"To declare, I say, at this time his (Christ) righteousness: that he (God) might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Now verse 10.
Ephesians 2:10a
Symphony.
"For we are labourers together with God:..."
We're all working for the same cause. I Corinthians 3:9
"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." Remember not for salvation, but as a result of salvation. Ephesians 2:10a
"For we are his workmanship, (God has intrinsically in His Sovereign Grace brought every believer into his place in the Body of Christ. We're all working together to bring about the fruition of the completion of the Body of Christ. Now what's the next word?) created in Christ Jesus unto good works,..."
Now another verse just comes to mind in II Corinthians chapter 5. Let's start with verse 14.
II Corinthians 5:14-15
Now verse 16.
"Wherefore (since Christ died for our sins, and rose from the dead) henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have know Christ after the flesh,..."
I'm sure that Paul is making reference here to Christ's earthly ministry. Remember Paul and Christ were about the same age, so if Jesus was 30 years old when He began His ministry, then the apostle Paul was about the same age, and beginning his activity in the Sanhedrin. So Paul could say, "Sure I knew Christ in the flesh." Now continuing on with verse 16.
What's Paul saying? I'm not lifting up Christ's earthly ministry, and remember this is Holy Spirit inspired, but what does Paul lift up? See that what Paul knows, that's what been revealed to Paul from heaven.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, (if we're in the Body of Christ) he is a new creature: (or creation) old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new."
Only God! The old Adam has been crucified, and who but God could do it? It's impossible to do that, but God can. Who but God can give us a new nature? Nobody. And that's why it has to be all of God.

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