The
American
Wisdom Series
Presents
Pamphlet #5162 KCEphesians2
Man's
"recorded" history, since the planting of the garden of Eden, only spans
about 6000 years or SIX DAYS and the LORD'S DAY, the Millennium, fast approaches.
So the Book of Ephesians was written to the saints, God's
elect, the set aside ones.
Paul has just explained to us in verse 4 that we (of the
election) were "chosen", pre-selected by grace (merit & fairness being
present), to serve God according to His will, anyway He so chooses, before
the "katabole"... before the foundation of this earth age.
That sounds like so long ago, doesn't
it?
However, we experience "time" in
this, the flesh dimension, at a "snail's pace" compared to the spiritual
dimension.
Peter explained that to us in 2 Peter 3:8 right after
he explained that there are "3 Earth Ages", which are:
1.) the world that then was (creation in eternity past,
to which all Fossils and "Remains" belong),
2.) the present earth age in which we find ourselves
now, and
3.) the eternal earth age to come following the Great
White Throne Judgment.
Concerning time then, Peter writes:
2 Peter
3:8
But, beloved,
be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand
years, and a thousand years as one day.
So start elevating your thinking to a higher spiritual
plane.
Man's "recorded" history, since
the planting of the garden of Eden, only spans about 6000 years or SIX
DAYS and the LORD'S DAY, the Millennium, fast approaches.
Therefore in spiritual reality, we (God's elect) were
chosen, at most, a couple of weeks ago.
But how, you ask, do I know if I'm
one of God's elect?
The answer is simple and is explained by this same apostle
Paul in his letter to the Romans, written just a few years before his letter
to the Ephesians.
Romans
11:5-8
Even so then
at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election
of grace. [6]
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more
grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work
is no more work.
Paul is explaining about the remnant, God's elect.
They were elected by the grace of God and not by any works
they have done here in the flesh!
Paul certainly didn't do any good
works to warrant being chosen.
He was a Christ and a Christian
"basher"!
God only knows what you've done!
(PS. You are never, ever, allowed
to talk to my wife about me!)
[7]
What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the
election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
Are you blinded?
Or can you "see" what Paul is talking about?
[8]
(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber,
eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto
this day.
At this moment, in these end
times, the world (including the majority of Christianity) is asleep to
the truth of God's Word.
They can NOT "see" the mysteries
Paul teaches nor can they "hear" the words of the Shepherd.
We are right now in the very midst
of that "famine" spoken of by Christ in Matthew 24 and Mark 13, which would
precede His return.
Amos records God's definition of what that famine is:
Amos
8:11
Behold, the
days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not
a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of
the LORD:
Our people are not going to starve for lack of groceries!
They are already starving for the
true "bread of life", the Word of God.
They are a walking pile of dry bones!
[12]
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east,
they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find
it.
And so they do wander, even from "sea to shining
sea" and across the fruited plain, stopping at this church and that one,
seeking the word of the LORD, but they cannot find it!
Sad isn't it?
Let's now continue in Ephesians.
We have, therefore,
#1. those who are "chosen" and
"justified" overall, and
#2. we have those who have free
will.
Repeating verse 5:
Ephes.
1:5
Having predestinated
us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according
to the good pleasure of his will,
We covered this in our last study.
Ephes.
1:6
To the praise
of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.
The Beloved is Jesus Christ.
God made us accepted in Him.
[7]
In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
according to the riches of his grace;
We all sin in the flesh, but upon repentance we are
forgiven because Christ shed His blood for us.
[8]
Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
He has given us "eyes to see" and "ears to hear".
The Moffat translation has it "granting us complete
insight and understanding..."
[9]
Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good
pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
If we have been granted complete insight and wisdom
by Christ, then God's will, His plan, is no mystery to us.
But it is a mystery to others.
Peter talks about Paul's teachings, how he uses the wisdom
granted to him by God.
2 Peter
3:15
And account
that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother
Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
And we are reading that writing (his letter to the
saints) in this study!
[16]
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which
are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and
unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Speaking in them (Paul's epistles) of what things?
The "mysteries" of His plan and His will... the things
that Peter had just written of in the prior 14 verses, i.e. the 3 Earth
Ages and the World That Then Was, etc!
Go read 2 Peter chapter 3.
It's so simple!
It's absolutely amazing!
And it's certainly not because we're so smart that we
understand!
It was given to us by Him.
We just read it in Eph 1:8 & 9!
And we thank Him for it!
Oh! But read the last half of 2 Pet 3:16.
They which are unlearned (which
means they probably have a PhD in theology) do wrest, i.e. struggle, with
Paul's mysteries, as they do with the rest of the scriptures (beginning
of course in Genesis chapter 1 verse 2).
We must move on in Ephesians, but I just can't help going
to Isaiah 29 where the "expanded version" of 2 Pet 3:16 is found.
Isaiah
29:9
Stay yourselves,
and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they
stagger, but not with strong drink.
They are Spiritually Drunk with the "wine of fornication"
poured directly from the golden cup of Babylon, which is to say "confusion",
i.e. false religion.
Jeremiah 51:7 reads "Babylon hath been a golden cup in
the LORD'S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken
of her wine; therefore the nations are mad."
[10]
For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath
closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Exactly the same as we read in Romans 11:7-8.
There is nothing new under the sun!
[11]
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is
sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I
pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:
The book of course is God's Word, the Bible.
So Mr. PhD says it's sealed, a "mystery" that we cannot
understand.
Baloney!
What a waste of tuition money.
[12]
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this,
I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
So this seeker of excuses, because he didn't go to
college or attend a seminary, says "I can't understand and explain the
Bible, that's for those scholars with PhD's".
No wonder were in a "famine" for the hearing of the Word!
[13]
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their
mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far
from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
So because they don't, can't, won't
understand God's Word and His simple plan, they substitute, in it's place,
the made up precepts (traditions) of men:
rapture theories,
apples in the garden,
Easter bunnies,
predestination theories (like it
was preordained that you would back your car into the garage door), etc.
What is the ultimate goal then of God's will?
Ephes.
1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness
of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which
are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:
I can't wait!
(But we have work to do first.)
[11]
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according
to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own
will:
Did you catch that?
We have obtained an inheritance!!
Hmmm... You know God owns the entire Universe.
I wonder what that inheritance will be?
... Maybe a couple of planets or solar systems or how
about a galaxy?
Tomorrow we will find out what the inheritance is for
God's elect.
It's beyond your wildest imagination!
To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits;
to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy
Spirit, you accomplish both.
1 Corinthians
10:11 Now all these things happened unto them {the
ancient Israelites} for
ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends
of the world are come.
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