Jason
Bryant
9/28/2013
The Salvation
experience as given in Ephesians 2:1-10
I am
the one who God hath made alive, made alive because I once was lost,
dead, and wandering in my first Adam condition. Adam and Eve passed
down through their descendants (me) the inherent enmity against my
Creator, the One Whom created our first parents perfectly, with the
ability of free choice, wills, and desires. Before God quickened me
in Christ, (made alive because of His death, resurrection, atonement
on my behalf) I walked in this dead state according to my own flesh,
and the enemy’s desire, schemes, and prideful intent against the
perfect and Living Holy God. By inherent nature, in times past, of
my former fallen state and condition, I lived it up perfectly to
Satan’s design. BUT God, Who is rich in His mercy and His great
love toward me, even in my sin, quickened me with Christ, and raised
me to life. The same life forfeited in the Garden of Eden. Nothing
of my own, but it is the gift of God, marvelous grace that has done
this for me, and position wise seated with Christ in heavenly places
to come, giving me hope for that which is to come. I cannot boast
for this is God’s gift, of his piece of clay that He hath already
designed to mold me into, for good works that He has ordained for me
to walk in.
The
Ministry Gifts Christ gave His church Ephesians 4:11-13:
The
beginning of verse 11 sets the tone. Some He gave, which means gift,
just like grace is a gift, because of grace, and His glorious purpose
of His Saint, and the church which the Saints compose and He is head
of, He gives gifts which are designed to fulfill the two fold
purpose: To worship the Christ, and to carry out the Great
Commission. The gifts serve His purpose plan and will in this
manner. Some, and some is the absolute word chosen, He gave
Apostles, those who were chosen, sent out, with Christ’s message.
The Gospel message spread throughout the known world in the first
century church, by way of the Apostles! Some He gave prophets, to
foretell that which is, and that which is to come. Paul, Peter,
John, and parts of James illustrate this being fulfilled. Some He
gave evangelist to preach the need for the Christ, the cross, and the
resurrection, thereby the lost can hear and receive, or reject the
Truth, Jesus the Good News the Gospel. Those who hear, have the seed
planted by the evangelist. Then we have the gifts that are for the
edification, perfection and maturing of the Saints. Pastors and
teachers which are more common and easier to relate to in today’s
Christendom. Pastors and teachers help us see deeper, walk
accordingly, and serve like Christ. They lead us in the ways of the
“ecclesia” and the Walk of the Way. Until we come closer and
closer to reaching the mark that Christ desires, be Christ like in
our innermost thoughts, desires, attitudes, thoughts, desires, and
ACTIONS.
The
comparison of wives and husbands to the church and her Christ.
Wives
submit yourselves unto your husbands, Christian submit yourself unto
Christ. That is the key theme of the comparison apart from copying
and pasting the actual passage. Christ being the head of the
church, His bride so is the husband in parallel in relation to his
bride, who in turn herself, is the parallel to the church. Note:
This relationship is intimate in
ways other human relationships could never understand or mimic. This
is one of the verses that illustrate “why” marriage is a
man-woman relationship since the Garden of Eden as God designed it!
A husband is ordered to love himself, just as Christ loves him. This
gives heart and meaning to the relationship he is to have with and in
his wife, just as Christ loved Himself since He and God are One, and
the husband lay down his desires, motives, and wants in submission to
the betterment of his wife, just as Christ loved, submitted Himself
to the cross, because of His perfect love for His church. By doing
so, he mimics what Christ does in His relationship with the church,
offering her up without spot and blemish! No man (Christian hates
his own body, rather he provides and protects it...) as does Christ
for His church. Since the husband and wife are no longer two but
one. This is the fulfillment of the mystery of Christ towards His
church.
The
Christian's Armour:
We
fight not against flesh and blood, rather than being carnal, our
battle is spiritual, against power, principalities, rulers of
darkness in this fallen world. With this being Truth and
established, we need weapons to engage in this battle. Our Lord has
NOT left us unprepared, the same Lord who calls us, equips us, has
not forsaken or abandoned us. He has given us the equipment for
victory. First, we are to “gird” ourselves in the Truth of the
Lord Jesus Himself! Having put on (Put on) being necessity, we are
lead in the next verse to don the “Breast plate” of Christ
righteousness to protect our hearts and wills from the schemes of
Satan. Having the Great Commission, our next item to put on are the
sandals shod with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To protect us as we
carry out His mission. Above all the shield of faith that covers the
entire body, faith which apart from a victorious life, and without it
is impossible for salvation or please God with. This shield protects
us from the fiery attacks of Satan. Lastly we place th helmet of
salvation which gaurds or minds from the
onslaught of self and Satan. Always praying all prayer. In the
spirit to all Saints, for this is unto the lord