I would highly recommended this video to any Christian who is seeking to mature in their faith. It’s quite lengthy. But please take the time to listen, pause as needed, examine what’s being said to see whether or not it’s true, and reflect along with your bible. & if you do not have a Bible, you can follow along the Scriptures within the video. Discussion and comments are encouraged within the comment section of the video.
Tag: Jesus Christ
Biblical Thoughts: Ephesians 1
This is the first post of a series of posts where I hope to share a chapter of a book within the Bible and highlight any verses that stood out to me along with personal reflections and questions. The questions and personal reflections will be within parenthesis. I also hope to add an update later on at the end of each post as I gain more understanding on anything I may have had a question on. (EDIT: I won’t be able to post weekly as I had initially intended but I hope to continue these series as time permits)
My hope is to examine my own thoughts/beliefs, what I’ve been taught, or other doctrines etc by reading the Scriptures to see what is true:
“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”
Acts 17:11 NASB
Ephesians 1
“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless (chose us in Him before everything on earth was formed, to be holy and blameless) before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, (what does it mean to have redemption? Perhaps to be restored to what God wanted us to be from the beginning; restored through the blood of Christ) the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, (what is the mystery of His will? I think it might be that he would redeem us through Christ) according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, (listened to the message of truth and believed) you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit (when you have listened and believed the message of truth and gospel of salvation, you are sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit) of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory. For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. (I desire a spirit of wisdom and revelations to have more knowledge of Him) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, (eyes of your heart enlightened to know what is the hope of His calling) what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, (I understand that the riches of the glory of His inheritance is to walk in holiness but if there is more to understand, I would like to know more!) and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. (Knowing that His power surpasses greatness gives me great hope to know that He is able to keep me holy and without blame until Christ returns) These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, (the strength of His might was brought about in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand giving Him ALL authority) far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, (Where were all things in subjection to before? Or was it never subjected because of sin?) and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”
Ephesians 1:1-23 NASB
Please feel free to share your thoughts or questions that I can also examine regarding this chapter or regarding any thought or question I had.
I hope this may be edifying to anyone who reads!
I Need Christ
I have often heard the argument that we cannot be perfect (walking without sinning anymore, walking in righteousness, complete maturity) because then we wouldn’t need Christ anymore.
That argument doesn’t make much sense to me because it is ONLY because of Christ that I am able to walk in righteousness. He is the ONLY ONE who was without blemish and became the perfect sacrifice to make up for my sins (& the sins of the world). I didn’t do that.
& He is the ONLY ONE who is seated at the right hand of God. So that He could mediate for us, become our merciful high priest, & our advocate IF we do sin.
Now, that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, He was the ONLY ONE who made it possible for the Holy Spirit to come and live in all those who believe in Jesus Christ. Also, to what end to we believe in Jesus? When we believe in someone, don’t we take their word for whatever they say? Jesus actually questioned the sincerity of calling Him Lord but not doing what He says:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
Luke 6:46 KJV
And what was the purpose for sending us the Holy Spirit? To enable us to walk in righteousness.
Those are all things that Christ did. Not me. Therefore, I need Him. He is Lord, not I.
He did all of those things so that we could become like Him:
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Romans 8:29 KJV
That’s is why I really appreciate the quote in the image found in Luke 6:
“The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.”
Luke 6:40 KJV
Becoming perfect as Christ is perfect, doesn’t mean I am above my master. It is my master’s desire for me to be like Him. Christ is the only one who is Lord. Calling Him Lord means I do what He says.
There are areas where I have to mature, where I don’t do what He says. I have faith that by His Spirit I will do what my Lord says. I NEED Christ to walk in righteousness.
If you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to leave a comment. Thank you for reading!
*There are also some verses in Hebrews 10 regarding Jesus being the perfect sacrifice and living a new way which I’d like to read and understand more.
My Hope In Christ
The other day I had a discussion over at a blog with a couple of women about my hope in Christ.
That conversation was edifying to my faith, although, it caused some depressed spirits in me as I thought about how widely taught and accepted it is among people who profess faith in a Christ; that it is inevitable for us to sin until Christ returns.
For anyone who hates their sin, like me, this is quite discouraging and even crushing to my spirit and faith.
Just to put it into perspective, let’s talk about myself. I am a wife and a mother to two little girls. There are still areas that I am growing in (although I have felt much more empowered in faith over these areas since having that conversation). What I mean by growing in, is that there are moments where I am relating to my family and I have sinned against them or the temptation to sin against them is very strong. (& possibly there are areas that I am ignorant to where I am sinning but I trust the God will bring these things to light as I seek Him).
What does sinning against them look like? Here is a list of the fruits of the Spirit and a list of the fruits of the flesh. When I manifest a fruit of my flesh, I am sinning against God or my neighbor:
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:19-23 NASB
(Some of the words might be difficult to understand but if you look up the definitions, they might become more familiar to you. I suggest using a Strong’s concordance which translates and defines the words from its original language.)
Once these words become clear, you might notice we ALL have something in common. That we have ALL at some point in our lives have acted on these fleshly responses. & that people who practice these things do NOT inherit the kingdom of God.
Now, back to what me sinning against them looks like. Let’s take a fruit of the flesh from the list; outbursts of anger. This has often been a huge one for me among others. Although, as I have mentioned earlier, since having that conversation, my faith has been increased because I understand that by the Spirit of God, I CAN get to a point where I am ALWAYS loving God and my neighbor.
There have been moments when relating to my husband or children that I have had an outburst of anger whether it was because my child was not listening, or my husband offered some advice or correction about something I could be doing better, or generally growing weary of meeting their needs which has led to ungratefulness.
To be clear, it is not the anger in itself that was a sin for me but how that I allowed that anger to manifest itself. In other words, a type of anger in which I allowed it to control my actions. (some real and shameful examples: hurtful words, yelling, slights, despising, shoving).
“BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,”
Ephesians 4:26 NASB
It is in these moments, I HAVE to have faith that God will work in me so that I may no longer treat them (or anyone) in such a way. For someone, who hates their sin, it can seem hopeless and discouraging to have once again act out on this fleshly response. But there are two things that are important for me to remember in that moment:
- I can come to Christ for forgiveness
- & I can trust that He will work His Spirit in me
This, gives me hope. Especially, the second part. In the moment that I have sinned against my husband or children (or anyone), it is very tempting to be without hope because it is hard to imagine that I will ever get to a point where I won’t be sinning against them anymore. But even if I don’t see it, I choose to have faith in my Lord that He will do this good work in me.
“Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.””
John 20:29 NASB
I thought this verse was fitting because of the principle of not seeing something but still believing. Like I said, in the moments that I have sinned, it is hard to see that I will ever overcome that sin that i have committed but I still believe in Him who IS faithful to do it.
As I grow, He is faithful to bring me to a place where I am ALWAYS loving God and ALWAYS loving my neighbor.
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 NASB
In other words, He will sanctify me entirely and preserve me until Christ returns. I believe that this is a message that the entire Bible (the letters, the gospels of the teachings of Christ etc) would support. These are just bits of verses. (I wish I could include ALL of it or better yet, sit down with someone and go through the Bible with them in its entirety.)
Please, I hope this post is not dismissed as someone who is claiming that once we profess faith in Christ it is imposible to sin. That is not the doctrine I am claiming. It is very possible for me to still choose to sin. & I will be tempted in many ways until He returns. I will battle with my fleshly desires, which I hope to put to the death by walking in the Spirit, the Spirit that is available to all those who believe. I will also battle with the enemy who only seeks to destroy me. Now if I do sin and when I have sinned, I am acting outside of God’s intention for me (and all of us).
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:10 NASB
In other words, when I sin I am NOT behaving as God’s child. Therefore, I need to repent and trust that HE WILL cleanse me. What I am claiming is that just as it possible for us to choose to sin, it is also possible for us to choose not to sin. As we have faith in Christ, we can get to a place of maturity where we no longer sin against or our neighbor.
“No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”
1 John 3:9-10 NASB
This can be seen as a rather harsh one. But it is true. When I sin against my God or my neighbor I am behaving as a child of the devil. As it says, it is obvious who’s child I am in that moment. But I can trust that He will cleanse me so that I am always behaving as His child. This is my hope in Christ.
So, I hope it can be understood that by accepting and proclaiming that, “We will never be perfect (in terms of not sinning any longer) on this side of eternity” it is a statement that destroys all hope for all who hate sinning against God or their neighbor.
If this is something that is believed, then inevitably, I believe, you will. You will always sin until Christ returns because that is where you have willingly put your faith in. If you are struggling with this, remember there is hope in Christ.
“Then He touched their eyes, saying, “It shall be done to you according to your faith.””
Matthew 9:29 NASB
As I observe, as it was recorded in the gospels, just how Jesus worked miracles, he worked according to the persons faith. Therefore, it will be done unto each of us according to our faith.
Again, I am choosing to have faith that, as I grow, He will get me to a point where I am keeping His commandments me and He will keep me blameless until Christ returns. & this is not a burden for me. It gives me great confidence and peace that He will do this.
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”
Jude 1:24-25 NASB
The only thing He has yet to redeem to all who believe, is our corruptible bodies that are decaying day by day. Other than that, He has given us the freedom to walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desires of the flesh. What a gift.
As it says in Hebrews, let us move onward to maturity (strongs concordance from KJV definition would say; perfection: or completeness) not laying again the same fundamental teachings that we as Christians know.
“Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.”
Hebrew 6:1
Let us move onward to complete maturity behaving in a manner where we are loving God and our neighbor. If we are doing such things there would be no reason for us to stumble.
“The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.” 1 John 2:10
Now, imagine if everyone walked in such a way? For now, I will trust in God so that I can practice this myself.
Good Soil
(Reflections from reading Luke 8)
The word of God is the seed, according to the parable.
I hope to be like that good ground, receiving the word of God with an honest and pure heart, keeping it, and bringing forth fruit with patience.
I want to be careful of not being caught up with the pleasure of this life (or choked with the cares and riches) and then bring no fruit to perfection.
I think I can easily find myself there, if I’m not careful.
It’s good to keep in mind what it says in James:
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
James 1:2-4 KJV
Again, that idea of bringing forth fruit with patience. I hope to continually keep these thoughts in my heart and mind especially during trials, temptation, & hardship.
Hands
I’ve been challenged greatly by a rare pregnancy symptom called PUPPs. I developed it at the beginning of my pregnancy. The way I have experienced this condition is that my skin has become increasingly dry and itchy along with rashes all over my body. If you look it up, you can see that it is quite torturous for any women who is experiencing this. As a follower of Christ, I believe the Lord can and has the power to heal me. But, He hasn’t. Therefore, I’m only left believing that it’s His will for me to go on with this condition. He is a good Father, everything He gives is good and anything I ask in His name, He will grant it to me. But it’s been the Lord’s will to not heal me from this.
At 29 weeks of pregnancy, I can say that I see how the Lord has used this to answer my prayers. Before I became pregnant, (and even now) I’ve asked Him to cleanse me from all unrighteousness, to purify my heart. That is my deepest desire and I know that as a good Father, He will not withhold this blessing from me. One of the things that I could not find in me to overcome was laziness. This sin affects me and my household in many ways. It tears my spirit apart when I give into this sin and it tears my home down. It does nothing to bless my family or others.
Now, how does my sin relate back to PUPPs? Well, ironically, when I am keeping busy at home, my skin does not nearly itch as bad as when I am giving into idle behavior. When I give in to idle behavior, not only do I tear my skin apart by scratching, my mind gets torn apart by all the thoughts that flood my mind and debilitate me to continue in the strength that God has given me to endure this condition.
As I keep busy in my home by cooking, cleaning, laundry etc, I keep from scratching (or don’t even feel itchy most of the time) and my spirit is nourished because I find my deepest joy when I am diligently serving my family. Whenever, there is a spare moment, where normally in the past I would have used it for self indulgence, I look for how else I can use my time wisely to build my home because I don’t want to give in to the vicious cycle of scratching and destructive thoughts (which most of the time I end up taking it out on my husband).
It is still hard, if not one of the hardest things I’ve had to endure. I have to constantly cry out to the Lord and ask Him for the strength to endure. But I believe He has given me all that I need to get through this season in my life.
Hands. I’m amazed at how we can use our hands to tear down or build beautiful enduring things.
Proverbs 14:1 “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”
Kept by Christ 