Ephesians breakdown

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