Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 36

Paul declares some of the Spiritual Gifts given to Believers by our Lord Jesus Christ Part 2

Ephesians 4:9-11 (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; KJV

Here begins one of the most, if not the most difficult passage of Scripture penned by this great Apostle Paul to be interpreted. There are many men and women living today (and in the past) that use this verse to declare that our Lord Jesus Christ’s Spirit descended down into the center of the earth (where many suppose Hell or Hades is located) and He waged war with the fallen angels and there defeated them. I do not by any means consider myself to be anything, but I only desire to declare what I find in the totality of all of Paul’s writings and all the Scripture, therefore, it appears to me that this assessment or this exposition or expounding of the Scripture is not accurate based solely on what was written for us in the following passages of Scripture, beginning with what Paul declared to the Colossian believers that we have already documented in one of the last two studies when he said, “[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display {and} public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him {and} in it [the Cross].” (Colossians 2:15). We see then that it was Christ death on the Cross that defeated Satan and his principalities and powers, not His Spirit descending down into Hell to fight against them there.

Next we must remember, recall, and recollect what our Lord Jesus Christ said as He died on Calvary, “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into Your Hands I commit My Spirit.’ Having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46). This shows us clearly that our Lord Jesus Christ’s Spirit did not go down into Hell or Hades. Also we see this being Prophesied by King David long before our Lord Jesus was upon the earth when he said, “For You will not abandon Me to Sheol (the place of the dead), neither will You suffer Your holy one [Holy One] to see corruption.” (Psalm 16:10). It is clear and certain (according to the first part of this Scripture) that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ did not wage war against principalities and powers in Hell or Hades and also we see the Prophesy of His Bodily Resurrection from the last part of this Psalm because every human body that dies begins its decay, disintegration, and decomposition after the third day and we know that our Lord Jesus rose from the grave on the third day fulfilling this Prophesy of King David’s here.

Well then what is it that the Apostle Paul means by “He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?” (Ephesians 4:9). This I believe the Apostle refers to our Lord Jesus Christ humbling Himself while He was sitting on His Throne in Heaven and submitting Himself to the Father’s plan of redemption and descending into the earth to become a human being (a Man), His Incarnation as we can clearly see from the following passages of Scripture documented for us by the Apostle John, “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.” (John 3:13), and “He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.” (John 3:31) and “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” (John 6:33) and “And He was saying to them, ‘You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world.’” (John 8:23). Could it not be any clearer now to us that the Apostle Paul declares Christ descending to mean His becoming essentially what He Himself had created which is mind boggling and incredible, but it was necessary for our redemption as Paul declared with these words to the Hebrews, “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.” (Hebrews 2:14-15).

Christ while “in Heaven” was just as the Father and the Spirit invisible, but when He descended into the earth (at His Incarnation, putting on or clothing Himself in a human body) He forever became the visible representation of the God-Head or Triune God, then after allowing His physical body to be crucified and die, His Body then was placed into a tomb for three days and three nights as our Lord Jesus Himself would declare as documented for us by the Apostle Matthew, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40). Jonas body was three days and nights in the whale’s belly just as our Lord Jesus’ Body was three days and nights in the tomb, not in Hell or Hades. Then He returned into His Human Body that is now been transformed into an Eternal Glorified Body (as He is now in Heaven and will forever be), then after 40 days He then ascended back to Heaven where He had left except now in a Glorified Human Body. He is God, but now uniquely (only Him, not the Father or the Spirit) in a Glorified Human Body and thus He can be anywhere and everywhere in His created universes as He pleases and His Eternal Glorified Body does not prohibit this.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the One who ordains offices and the men who fill said offices in His True Church. No man that has not been supernaturally ordained of our Lord Jesus Christ belongs in any office in any Church bearing Christ Name. The list that the Apostle Paul gives us here “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” (Ephesians 4:11) is but a partial list of the vast gifts to redeemed men and women in His Body (the Church). The English word apostle Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word apostolos meaning a delegate; specifically an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ (apostle), (with miraculous powers): - apostle, messenger, he that is sent. There are no Apostle’s today that are equal to these first ones ordained by our Lord Jesus Christ because none today have seen the risen Christ, even these first Apostle’s did not see the Glorified Lord Jesus except the Apostle John who when he saw Him fell at His feet as dead (Revelation 1:17). However, everyone “born of the Holy Spirit” is an Apostle or sent one because we are also ambassadors for Christ in the world in every generation.

The English word prophet Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word prophetes meaning a foreteller (prophet); by analogy an inspired speaker; by extension a poet: - prophet. At the beginning of the Church of God, there was no New Testament Scripture put together yet, so our Lord Jesus ordained some men to this office in order that He would speak to them (John 16:12) and document for Him what we now have today in our hands the New Testament Scripture forever settled in Heaven. There is no prophet today as it was then at the beginning of the Church foretelling future revelations from God, but there are prophets or inspired speakers that today exegete and expound the entire Old and New Testament to other believers. The English word evangelist Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word euaggelistes meaning to announce good news (evangelize) especially the Gospel: - declare good tidings, preach (the Gospel); usually a person who travels from place to place to proclaim the Gospel of Christ. This office today is exactly as it was in the beginning of the Church.

The English word pastor Paul uses is translated by the Greek word poimen meaning a shepherd (literally or figuratively): - shepherd, pastor. Just as a literal shepherd of sheep would tend, take care of, or look after his sheep to keep them from being injured or killed by wolves or bears or any other wild animal, in the same manner, the pastor takes care of the sheep of our Lord Jesus Christ protecting them from spiritual wolves that would ruin or shipwreck their faith “in Christ” as the Apostle Peter exhorted the pastors to do with these words, “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” (1 Peter 5:1-4). The pastor is the under shepherd to Christ Jesus our Lord who is the Chief Shepherd. The English word teacher Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word didaskalos meaning an instructor (generally or specifically): (to learn); to teach (in the same broad application): - teach. The teacher then and now was ordained by our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ (who was and is the Master Teacher) to exposit, elaborate, and expound the Word of God. In other words, to clarify the meaning of and discourse in a learned way, usually in writing as we find the Apostle Paul continually and constantly doing in all of his letters to the believers correcting them, instructing them, and making clear to them what the “will of God” truly is in every matter as our Lord Jesus did on every occasion Mark 4:1; Mark 6:2, Mark 8:31, etc..

My own Personal Note: “The Lord Jesus Christ knew that many people (primarily religious people) had misinterpreted the Messiah’s coming, which was clearly prophesied by the prophets and in the Psalms. Their religious zeal had so blinded them that many households were divided because of the numerous sects that had arisen over the years from the false teachings of men. Two of the largest sects in Jesus’ day, for instance, were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the body whereas the Sadducees said there was no such thing as the resurrection of the body. As you might imagine, this issue split many a household and caused much venomous discord to flow throughout the land. Therefore, God appointed one man, John the Baptist, to stand in the gap and introduce this dramatic new way. John pointed members of every sect to the One who was coming to restore all things to Him.” Excerpt from my Book entitled, “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs”

“Apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, are the gifts of the risen Christ to His Church. There should be no rivalry among them. Each has his own work to do, as each wheel in a watch has its special function. None can do the work of another, and none should try to do it. The Apostles laid the foundations of the City of God, and the work of each is represented by a different stone. The pastor prepares the ground and sows the seed for the harvest which the evangelist reaps; but God will proportion the reward between them. The teacher is as much needed as the evangelist, but neither is so essential as God, who giveth the increase. Without that all labor would be in vain.” F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 35

Paul declares some of the Spiritual Gifts given to Believers by our Lord Jesus Christ Part 1

Ephesians 4:7-8 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. KJV

Paul in continuing his thought process of these Ephesian believers and all of us true believers today being unified and living in unity (as that unity is based upon the Word of God) among one another, Paul declares that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself has bestowed grace to each one of us in order that unity would be achieved. This English word grace Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word charis meaning divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude. In other words, our Lord Jesus Christ (who is perfect, loving, gracious, and all knowing) has dispensed His grace/charis to each soul brought into His Body of the exact portion, measure, or degree required to make His Body grow strong and vibrant into complete maturity as the Apostle John declared with these words, “For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another {and} spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing {and} even favor upon favor {and} gift [heaped] upon gift.” (John 1:16) and also as Paul himself wrote these words to the Roman believers, “For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function {or} use, So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another]. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith; [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity {and} liberality; he who gives aid {and} superintends, with zeal {and} singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness {and} joyful eagerness. [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good. Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence {and} showing honor to one another.” (Romans 12:4-10).

Paul details to these Ephesian believers and to us today that what our Lord Jesus Christ has done and is doing by dispensing gifts to His saints was before of old prophesied by King David in Psalm 68:18 (The Psalm is Messianic, a hymn of victory in which God is praised for victory and deliverance.). The ascending up refers to our Lord Jesus’ ascension back to Heaven (after His Resurrection) to sit at the Father’s Right Hand as Dr. Luke recorded the moment for us with these words, “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9). The English phrase “he led captivity captive” is translated by two Greek words aichmalōteuō which means to capture or lead captive a prisoner of war: and aichmalōsia meaning to be in captivity. In other words, what King David meant of this in Psalm 68:18 is that the LORD defeated all of His enemies and then marched them bound, chained, captive, and imprisoned before those whom they once oppressed, yet now they are in complete and bitter defeat. It is our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ who inflicted a heavy crushing blow and  has led all of His enemies captive by His death, burial, and then resurrection from the dead, those enemies are all unseen to the human eye, that is, all sin, Satan and his demons, darkness and death as our Lord Jesus Christ declared what He was doing to Satan and his kingdom when the Pharisees accused Him of casting out demons by the power of Satan, “And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, ‘He casts out demons by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’ Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from Heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, ‘Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebub. And if I by Beelzebub cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Finger of God, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are undisturbed. But when someone stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away from him all his armor on which he had relied and distributes his plunder. He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me, scatters.’” (Luke 11:14-23).

Paul declared this same idea expressed by King David of our Lord Jesus complete victory over His enemies to the Colossian believers with these words, “[God] disarmed the principalities and powers that were ranged against us and made a bold display {and} public example of them, in triumphing over them in Him {and} in it [the Cross].” (Colossians 2:15). The war between God and Satan was ended at the Cross with Satan and his principalities and powers crushing defeat and now our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ has triumphed and is distributing bountiful gifts of grace to those of us who were once under the dictatorship (Ephesians 2:2-3) of the enemy, but now we are forever free “in Him” (Colossians 1:13-14) and now this grace is forever teaching us (Titus 2:11-14) and this was all prophesied of what our Lord Jesus Christ would do for each one of us “His redeemed” by the Prophet Isaiah when he said, “THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed {and} qualified me to preach the Gospel {of} good tidings to the meek, the poor, {and} afflicted; He has sent me to bind up {and} heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison {and} of the eyes to those who are bound,” (Isaiah 61:1).

My own Personal Note: This “given grace” is the means by which the truly regenerated souls are converted to Christ and likewise is the means by which we are to live and walk worthy of our call “in Christ” because He is the dispenser of grace to each of His children. The gift or measure of grace is what teaches us how we are to live being the “new creatures” we are as sojourners, pilgrims, and aliens away from our true home which is our Heavenly home.

“Christ is the giver. He has ‘power over the Spirit of Holiness’ and as the Evangelist has said in his comment on our Lord’s great words, when ‘He stood and cried,’ ‘If any man thirst let him come unto Me and drink,’ ‘This spake He of the Spirit which they that believed on Him were to receive.’ We cannot pierce into the depth of the mutual relations of the three divine Persons mentioned in the context, but we can discern that Christ is for us the self-revealing activity of the divine nature, the right arm of the Father, or, to use another metaphor, the channel through which the else ‘closed sea’ of God flows into the world of creatures. Through that channel is poured into believing hearts the river of the water of life, which proceeds out of the one ‘Throne of God and of the Lamb.’ This gift of the Spirit of Holiness to all believers is the deepest and truest conception of Christ’s gifts to His Church. His past work of sacrifice for the sins of the world was finished, as with a parting cry He proclaimed on Calvary, and the power of that sacrifice will never be exhausted, but the taking away of the sins of the world is but the initial stage of the work of Christ, and its further stages are carried on through all the ages. He ‘worketh hitherto,’ and His present work, in so far as believers are concerned, is not only the forthputting of divine energy in regard to outward circumstances, but the imparting to them of the Divine Spirit to be the very life of their lives and the Lord of their spirits. Christian people are but too apt to give undue prominence to what Christ did for them when He died, and to lose sight, in the overwhelming lustre of His unspeakable sacrifice, of what He is doing for them whilst He lives. It would tend to restore the proportions of Christian truth and to touch our hearts into a deeper and more continuous love to Him, if we more habitually thought of Him, not only as the Christ who died, but also as the Christ who rather is risen again, who is even at the Right Hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Alexander McLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 34

Paul Commands the Ephesians to be one as God is One

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. KJV

Paul reaffirms to them the absolute Oneness of our Great God. Paul having already prayed for these Ephesians to be enlightened to know the tremendous hope of their calling “in Christ”, wants them to realize that because The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit live and operate as One with no dissension, disagreement, or discord, then they too must be amongst one another the same way. First, Paul again wants to repeat what he has already declared to them early on in this same letter when he said, “For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in One Body to God through the Cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:14-16). Paul wants them to understand that factions (dissenting cliques) or sects is not what they have been called out of their paganism into, but instead they are a part of One Body (the Church of Jesus Christ) and although just as a human body is made up of many different members (i.e. hands, mouth, nose, feet, legs, etc.) it is still one human body and so is Christ Body One, for it is an organism (not buildings made of brick or mortar), but of people from every tongue and tribe upon the earth just as Paul declared to the Corinthian believers with these words, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.” (1 Corinthians 12:12).

Also, Paul wants them to recall that it was by One Spirit (God the Holy Spirit) that they were baptized into the One Body (the Church) as he declared with these words to the Corinthian believers, “For by One Spirit we were all baptized into One Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of One Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Paul declares that it is God the Holy Spirit who animates or quickens or gives life to the One Body (the Church) as our Lord Jesus Himself declared He would do with these words spoken to the first Apostles, “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” (John 16:12-15). The unity Paul exhorted them to earlier (Ephesians 4:3) that English word unity is translated by the Greek word henotes meaning oneness, that is, (figuratively) unanimity: or full agreement between a number of people; consensus. In other words, the Triune God is never not One in all things, therefore, His children who are animated, energized, and quickened by His Spirit should be (in this world) as He is in Heaven bringing His Kingdom and His Will to the earth in the One Body of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Note: “The true Body of Christ is the invisible Body of all of us that have been truly born again of incorruptible seed by the Word of God (1 Peter 1:23) and there is ‘unity of the Spirit’ even though we are all scattered throughout the world.”

Paul declares to these Ephesians and to us today that there is “one hope of your calling” (Ephesians 4:4). The English word hope Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word elpis meaning (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstract or concrete) or confidence: - faith, hope. The ultimate or final hope of our calling is to be made just like our Lord Jesus Christ receiving our glorified bodies that will never be sick or die or be tempted to sin or fail, fall, and falter in sin, or grieve, or be disobedient to our Blessed Lord Jesus, etc. even as Paul wrote to the Colossian believers with these words, “For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] Glory.” (Colossians 3:3-4) and even as our Lord Jesus declared to the Church at Smyrna with these words, “Fear nothing that you are about to suffer. [Dismiss your dread and your fears!] Behold, the devil is indeed about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested {and} proved {and} critically appraised, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be loyally faithful unto death [even if you must die for it], and I will give you the crown of life. He who is able to hear, let him listen to {and} heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (Churches). He who overcomes (is victorious) shall in no way be injured by the second death.” (Revelation 2:10-11).

Paul now declares Christ to be the “One Lord” (Ephesians 4:5). The English word Lord Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word kurios meaning (supremacy); supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; - God, Lord, Master. In other words, Paul wants to emphasize with extreme prejudice that Jesus Christ is the One and Only Lord being the Greatest in status, authority, and power and that our Lord, Master, and Savior desires, deserves, and demands to be in complete control of those that He poured out His Blood for on Calvary becoming sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21) and must have preeminence in His Church and in every member of His Body as Paul declared to the Colossian believers with these words, “And He is the Head of the Body, the Church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18). The one faith Paul refers to here is the hearing of the Gospel and being convicted of sin and trusting Jesus Christ only as the propitiation for our sins as the Apostle John wrote in this manner, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10). The English word propitiation is translated by the Greek word hilasmos meaning atonement (or satisfaction or payment or compensation), that is, (concretely) an expiator. In other words, Christ payment for our sins with and by His Blood shed on the Cross and that was the “mercy seat” and faith or trust in Him and what He did for us that we would not suffer the second death or eternal death as pictured with these words written by Moses to the Israelites, “And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not: And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. Then shall he kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:” (Leviticus 16:13-15).

The one baptism simply means the outward manner or method of being sprinkled or immersed in water identifying ourselves with Christ death, burial, and resurrection from the dead for our sins and to justify us before the Father. Note: “The mode of baptism is not the key or critical thing, but that the one being baptized has been born of the Spirit of God and the internal baptism (that cannot be seen by humanity) is signified, symbolized, and stood for in the baptism by water in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.” Paul declares again that there is but “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6). This here is Paul’s climax of God’s Oneness declaring that everyone born of His Spirit has The Father living and dwelling in each one of His children that He sired through regeneration and the new birth as Paul wrote in this manner with these words to the Roman believers, “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing son-ship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!” (Romans 8:14-15) and as Habakkuk declared with these words speaking of the Jewish Temple, “But the LORD is in His holy temple. Let all the earth be silent before Him.” (Habakkuk 2:20). Today His holy temple is the Body of Jesus Christ (the Church) and each and every individual member of Christ Body here on the earth.

“The argument here is, that there ought to be unity among Christians, because they have one Lord and Savior. They have not different Saviors adapted to different classes; not one for the Jew and another for the Greek; not one for the rich and another for the poor; not one for the bond and another for the free. There is but One. He belongs in common to all as their Savior; and He has a right to rule over one as much as over another. There is no better way of promoting unity among Christians than by reminding them that they have the same Savior. And when jealousies and heart-burnings arise; or when they are disposed to contend about trifles; when they magnify unimportant matters until they are in danger of rending the Church asunder, let them feel that they have One Lord and Savior, and they will lay aside their contentions and be one again. Let two men who have never seen each other before, meet in a distant land, and feel that they have the same Redeemer, and their hearts will mingle into one. They are not aliens, but friends. A cord of sympathy is struck more tender than that which binds them to country or home and though of different nations, complexions, or habits, they will feel that they are one. Why should contentions ever arise between those who have the same Redeemer?” Albert Barnes

“In missionary fields, confronting the overwhelming forces and horrible evils of Paganism, the servants of Christ intensely realize their unity; they see how trifling in comparison are the things that separate the Churches, and how precious and deep are the things that Christians hold in common. It may need the pressure of some threatening outward force, the sense of a great peril hanging over Christendom to silence our contentions and compel the soldiers of Christ to fall into line and present to the enemy a united front. If the unity of believers in Christ-their oneness of worship and creed, of moral ideal and discipline-is hard to discern through the variety of human forms and systems and the confusion of ‘tongues that prevails, yet the unity is there to be discerned; and it grows clearer to us as we look for it. It is visible in the universal acceptance of Scripture and the primitive creeds, in the large measure of correspondence between the different Church standards of the Protestant communions, in our common Christian literature, in the numerous alliances and combinations, local and general, that exist for philanthropic and missionary objects, in the increasing and auspicious comity of the Churches. The nearer we get to the essentials of truth and to the experience of living Christian men, the more we realize the existence of One Body in the scattered limbs and innumerable sects of Christendom.” Expositor’s Bible commentary

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 33

Paul Exhorts the Ephesians to Walk in Love with one another

Ephesians 4:1-3 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. KJV

The Apostle Paul has detailed for these Ephesian believers all the blessings they and we today have in the redemption that our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ purchased for us with His Blood on the Cross. Paul even declares to them and to us our eternal security “in Christ” as he said it to them in the first Chapter of this epistle with these words, “In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in {and} adhered to {and} relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the first-fruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption {and} our acquiring [complete] possession of it--to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13-14). Paul has prayed for them to have their inner man and inner woman opened up completely by God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit that their spiritual eyes would be enlightened to all the great power and might of theirs and our inheritance in Christ Jesus our Lord (Ephesians 1:18-23).

Paul has detailed for them how they and we were dead spiritually in our trespasses and sins and how our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ resurrected them and us from spiritual death and made us alive to God the Father declaring them and us to be as Paul put it with these words, “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” (Ephesians 2:10). Lastly, Paul has described to them and to us how this mystery kept in the Bosom of God the Father of Him sending Christ to bring both Jew and Gentile together forever in His Body (the Church) and that the Holy Spirit would strengthen them and us with might in our inner man and inner woman to know the eternal, everlasting, and enormous love that Christ has for His Own bought back from sin and death by His Blood.

So with all of that said by the Apostle, he now wants them and us today to live like they and we have truly received all the blessings of redemption through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Paul reminds them that he is presently imprisoned by the Roman authorities, but he really is the prisoner of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. Paul wants them to know that his body is in prison, but his spirit/soul is bound only to Christ. Paul then wants these free Ephesians to let everyone see that they live for Christ so he says I “beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (Ephesians 4:1). The English word beseech Paul uses is translated by the Greek word parakaleo which means to invite, invoke, or implore someone; to entreat, exhort, or urge someone to something; to desire or to pray for someone; to bid, to order, or to command someone to something. The English phrase “that ye walk” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word peripateo which means to live or to behave in a certain manner. The English word worthy Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word axios an adverb which means appropriately or deservingly or suitably- as becomes, after a godly sort.

In other words, Paul seeing himself confined from the free world urges, exhorts, and even commands these Ephesians and us today to live a godly life with and amongst one another and before all of the people in the world that do not know our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wants their profession of Christ to be manifested in the presence of one another and before the lost world to be in such a manner as our Lord Jesus Christ deserves His sons and daughters to live because they love Him and want to glorify Him in the world. This is the only true response we have to such a high calling of grace out of the darkness of sin and death into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ our Messiah. Paul now begins to spell out this walk he refers to in detail by saying, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;” (Ephesians 4:2). The first exhortation is for them and us to walk or live with all “lowliness” and this English word is translated by the Greek word tapeinophrosune meaning humiliation of mind, that is, modesty: - humbleness of mind, humility (of mind).

In other words, Paul declares that we should never think of ourselves as some great instrument of God or that we are better than our other brothers or sisters “in Christ”, but instead we should have a humble opinion of ourselves at all times taking into account these words written by the Apostle Paul when he said this to the Corinthian believers, “Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” (1 Corinthians 4:6-7). When everyone esteems themselves as small and their brothers and sisters “in Christ” as large, then this will work to promote unity or oneness in the fellowship as we give thanks to God the Father for the gifts that He has bestowed to others for our edifying and in no way ever developing clicks by gossip and backbiting, but rejoicing in one another and loving the Word of God together.

The English word meekness Paul uses here to describe our walk is translated by the Greek word praotes which means to be mild or gentle, that is, to exercise strength under the control of the Holy Spirit. In other words, Paul declares that despite any of our dispositions prior to conversion to Christ, each of us are to yield to the Spirit of God’s control as He leads us to respond gently with one another, never desiring to hurt one another for any reason, but yielding ourselves to the authority of the Word of God and being taught by our Lord Jesus as He declared with these words, “Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.” (Matthew 11:29).

Next Paul uses the English word long-suffering which I must admit and declare of myself that I struggle mightily with the Holy Spirit in developing this character in my inner man, but Paul declares that this must be manifest in our lives with one another and the Greek word is makrothumia which means  longanimity, that is, Good-natured tolerance of delay or incompetence; (subjectively) fortitude, that is, Strength of mind that enables one to endure adversity with courage ; patience, that is, with long (enduring) temper, that is, lenient with others. In others words, Paul declares to these Ephesian believers and to us who believe today that we must patiently endure the faults, failures, and flaws of our fellow brethren and sisteren “in Christ” as He has and does deal with each one of us as Paul declared with these words to the Colossian believers, “Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified {and} holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity {and} mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle {and} forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive].” (Colossians 3:12-13). Note: Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about long-suffering, “The best Christians have need to bear one with another, and to make the best one of another, to provoke one another’s graces and not their passions.”

Paul then uses the English word “forbearing” which is translated by the Greek word anechomai which means to put up with, endure with, or suffer with one another. In other words, Paul is exhorting, encouraging, and expecting these Ephesian believers and we believers today to bear with one another in the love of Christ for His sake that He (Christ) would be honored, hallowed, and happy with His Body/His Bride (the Church) as His visible representation down here on the earth, Paul said the same thing to the Colossian believers in this manner, “And above all these [put on] love {and} enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] One Body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] {and} dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish {and} train one another in all insight {and} intelligence {and} wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus {and} in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:14-17). Note: Listen to what Dr. John Gill says concerning forbearing one another in love, “Overlooking the infirmities of one another, forgiving injuries done, sympathizing with, and assisting each other in distressed circumstances, the spring of all which should be love; by that saints should be moved, influenced, and engaged to such a conduct, and which should be so far attended to, as is consistent with love; for so to forbear one another, as to suffer sin to be on each other, without proper, gentle, and faithful rebukes for it, is not to act in love.”

Paul declares that when these Ephesian believers and we believers today do these things “lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love”, then and only then will we be “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:3). The English word endeavoring Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word spoudazo which means to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: - do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward),  or to labor. The English phrase “to keep” Paul uses here is translated by one Greek word tereo which means to guard (from loss or injury, properly by keeping the eye upon). In other words, Paul declares to these Ephesian believers and we believers today that we must make every effort speedily to guard this faith once and for all handed down to the saints with diligence and determination as if we were guarding the life of one of our precious and defenseless new born babies or infants from physical hurt or harm in order that we would preserve the “oneness” or “the fact and reality of us being united into One Body in Christ” by allowing the Holy Spirit to rule in each of us binding us together in the Word of Truth (2 Corinthians 6:1-10) as ligaments in the physical body bind together bone and muscle to make it fit and strong and this only will produce the true peace of God that passes our human understanding in each of us individually and in the Body of Christ collectively.

My own Personal Note: Paul wanted these Ephesian believers and we believers today to know, understand, and realize that the Holy Spirit is not making Baptist, Catholics, Methodist, Anglicans, Episcopalians, Pentecostals, or any other such names, but He is making “new creations” and everyone He makes a “new creation” will be unified in Christ Body governed by His Holy Word.  

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 32

Paul Prays a second Time for these Ephesian Believers Part 4 (The Doxology)

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. KJV

Finally, after climbing to the highest spiritual heights one can go in praying for other brothers and sisters in Christ, Paul concludes and closes his prayer for these Ephesian believers by praising the awesomeness and amazing limitless Power of God the Father who shares His Power with us His children. First, Paul gives thanks and praise with these words “unto Him that is able” (Ephesians 3:20) and this English phrase is translated by one Greek word dunamai which means who can do or to be of power to do (this word is used over 200 times in the Bible). In other words, Paul knows that our Father in Heaven is mighty in power to do everything that he has prayed for these Ephesian believers and us today to experience by virtue of His Mighty Power (Ephesians 3:16-19). Paul cannot find the one appropriate word to express his assurance to these Ephesians that our Father in Heaven will strengthen them with might and make them know the love of Christ in their inner man and inner woman, but he comes as close as humanly possible with the finite human language we have by declaring that He will do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).

The English phrase “exceedingly abundantly” is a rare double compound adverb and it is translated by the one Greek word perissos which means (in the sense of beyond); superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); by implication excessive; beyond measure, more than is needed, desired, or required. In other words, He (God the Father) who is “rich in mercy” (Ephesians 2:4) also has “Great Power” as the Prophet Nehemiah prayed with these words speaking of our Great God, “They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your Great Power and by Your Strong Hand. O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man. Now I was the cupbearer to the king.” (Nehemiah 1:10-11) and likewise as the Palmist writes with these words, “Great is our Lord, and of Great Power: His understanding is infinite.” (Psalm 147:5).

Paul declares to these Ephesians and to us today that our Father in Heaven (Abba) is able or of power to do above all we ask of Him. The little tiny English phrase “we ask” is translated by the one little tiny Greek word aiteo which means to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require. It is the exact same word used by our Mighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when He said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask (aiteo) what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7). Paul’s praise to our Father in Heaven declares to these Ephesians and to us today that this “Great Power” “worketh in us” (Ephesians 3:20). The English word worketh is translated by the Greek word energeo which means to be active, operative: - effectual, powerful; to be (fervent), to be mighty in working. In other words, God’s Mighty Power (through the Holy Spirit) works “in us” in our inner man or inner woman giving us spiritual strength to pray, to resist the devil, to resist temptation, to fight against the devil’s principalities and powers, to draw near to God, to love our enemies, to hate that which is evil, etc.

It is an endless supply or source of strength being wrought “in us” as Paul wrought in this manner with these words to the Philippian believers, “Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence {and} awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure {and} satisfaction {and} delight.” (Philippians 2:12-13) and also when we don’t know how or what we ought to pray for at times God the Holy Spirit prays in and through us as Paul declared with these words to the Roman believers, “So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid {and} bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer {nor} how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication {and} pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings {and} groanings too deep for utterance. And He Who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the [Holy] Spirit [what His intent is], because the Spirit intercedes {and} pleads [before God] in behalf of the saints according to {and} in harmony with God’s will. (Romans 8:26-27).

Paul declares that it is nothing that we could think or even imagine (so long as it does not contradict God’s will found in His Word of Truth) that He is not able to grant to His Beloved children, for it is His “good pleasure” (Luke 12:32) to give to us above, beyond, or over any and everything we could ask of Him as the Apostle James declares with these words, “Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]. And it was of His own [free] will that He gave us birth [as sons] by [His] Word of Truth, so that we should be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures [a sample of what He created to be consecrated to Himself].” (James 1:17-18).

It is only in the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Church) where our Father in Heaven receives glory here upon His earth, therefore, it is sad and even spiritually criminal that there be contention, contempt, and even controversy in His only place of manifesting His Glory upon the earth, so instead we should be doing as the Apostle James declares with these words, “Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant]. [My] brethren, do not speak evil about or accuse one another. He that maligns a brother or judges his brother is maligning {and} criticizing the Law {and} judging the Law. But if you judge the Law, you are not a practicer of the Law but a censor {and} judge [of it]. One only is the Lawgiver {and} Judge Who is able to save and to destroy [the One Who has the absolute power of life and death]. [But you] who are you that [you presume to] pass judgment on your neighbor?” (James 4:10-12).

My own Personal Note: World without end speaks of eternity and those of us who will be in the Bosom of our Precious and Mighty Savior Jesus Christ forever in Heaven. Paul’s second prayer here is a praise session to the greatest miracle there is and that being the “new birth” which Paul so eloquently and with precision detailed to these Ephesians and to us in the entirety of Chapter 2.

“In our applications to God we should encourage our faith by a consideration of His all-sufficiency and almighty power. According to the power which worketh in us. As if he had said, We have already had a proof of this power of God, in what He hath wrought in us and done for us, having quickened us by His grace, and converted us to Himself. The power that still worketh for the saints is according to that power that hath wrought in them. Wherever God gives of His fullness He gives to experience His power. Having thus described God, he ascribes glory to Him. When we come to ask for grace from God, we ought to give glory to God. Unto Him be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus.” Matthew Henry

“Confidently and boldly as we may offer our prayers, and largely as we may expect, the answer is ever more than the petition. For indeed, in every act of His quickening grace, in every God-given increase of our knowledge of God, in every bestowment of His fullness, there is always more bestowed than we receive, more than we know even while we possess it. Like some gift given in the dark, its true preciousness is not discerned when it is first received. The gleam of the gold does not strike our eye all at once. There is ever an unknown margin felt by us to be over after our capacity of receiving is exhausted. ‘And they took up of the fragments that remained, twelve baskets full.’ So, then, let us remember that while our thoughts and prayers can never reach to the full perception, or reception either, of the gift, the exuberant amplitude with which it reaches far beyond both is meant to draw both after it. And let us not forget either that, while the grace which we receive has no limit or measure but the fulness of God, the working limit, which determines what we receive of the grace, is these very thoughts and wishes which it surpasses. We may have as much of God as we can hold, as much as we wish. All Niagara may roar past a man’s door, but only as much as he diverts through his own sluice will drive his mill, or quench his thirst. God’s grace is like the figures in the Eastern tales, that will creep into a narrow room no bigger than a nutshell, or will tower heaven high.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 31

Paul Prays a second Time for these Ephesian Believers Part 3

Ephesians 3:18-19 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.  KJV

Paul having prayed for Christ to dwell in the hearts of each one of these Ephesian believers by faith now prays that this reality of knowing that Christ is in our inner man or inner woman is the way that they and us today will truly be able to get a grasp or grip on how much we are truly loved (agape) by our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul starts the very next sentence of his prayer with the English phrase “May be able” and these words are translated by one Greek word exischuo meaning to have or exercise force; to have full strength, that is, be entirely competent: - be able. In other words, Paul is here expounding or enlarging what he began this prayer with when he said, “That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;” (Ephesians 3:16). It is Paul increasing the intensity of his prayer for these Ephesians and all of us by climbing higher and higher stretching and reaching further and further with the limited human language he can use to let them and us know that the work of God the Holy Spirit in the inner man or inner woman is the only way we can experience on a regular basis how much our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ loves His Own Blood bought children.

This part of Paul’s prayer ties into or plugs into or connects directly with what was said by our Lord Jesus Christ with these words in His Prayer to God the Father, “I have made Your Name known to them {and} revealed Your character {and} Your very Self, and I will continue to make [You] known, that the love which You have bestowed upon Me may be in them [felt in their hearts] and that I [Myself] may be in them.” (John 17:26). Note: To know the Love of Jesus Christ cannot be explained or taught to another soul, but that soul must experience His Love for themselves in their own inner man or inner woman. The love our Lord Jesus Christ has for each one of us individually can be known in one sense by our recounting what we were (before we met or encountered Christ) seeing what we have become and are continually becoming since we have this intimate union with Him being made a partaker of His Divine Nature (2 Peter 1:4). He could have left us in our filth to rotten further and then perish eternally, but LOVE that cannot be fully grasped reached down into the deepest darkest sewer pit with merciful compassion to pull out His enemy from corruption and receive His enemy into His bosom as His child.

Paul then prays that these Ephesians and us today would “comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height” (Ephesians 3:18) of this love that has been so lavishly poured out on us by our Lord Jesus Christ. The English word Paul uses to comprehend is translated by the Greek word katalambano which means to take eagerly, that is, seize, possess, etc. (literally or figuratively): - apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take. In other words, it is Paul’s prayer for these Ephesians and for every born again believer in Jesus Christ to possess in our inner man or inner woman by strength given to us by the Holy Spirit a literal experience of this love from Christ to us as if we were wrapped up in His love for us as one would wrap themselves in a large blanket to keep warm from the cold temperatures. When Paul uses the words breadth, depth, length, and height, he is trying with the inadequate and incompetent human language to express the greatness, the immense, the vast, the endless, or boundless or uncontainable capacity of Christ love to His own children as this very Apostle Paul discovered on many occasions during the years of his sojourn down here on the earth through many hard trials as he expressed on one occasion in closing his letter to Brother Timothy with these words, “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His Heavenly Kingdom; to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:16-18).

Paul knew this love that our Lord Jesus Christ had for him experimentally and so he desperately prayed for these Ephesian believers “to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:19). Now this may sound like Paul is contradicting himself when he says that Christ love to us passes knowledge or understanding, but this is not the case, Paul is simply revealing a paradox or contradiction in terms that is, however, absolutely factual. God cannot be fully understood by man His creation as the Book of Job declares with this question, “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? (Job 11:7), the answer is of course no, for He is infinite and we are finite, therefore, Christ who is God in Bodily form as Paul wrote in this manner to the Colossian believers, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Ephesians 1:15), His love can be known by us experimentally, but we will never understand the depths of such in-human love as the Apostle John was overwhelmed when he wrote these words, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” (1 John 3:1).

The English phrase the Apostle John uses in this verse “what manner” is translated by one Greek word potapos meaning interrogative whatever, that is, of what possible sort: - what (manner of). In other words, the Apostle John declares God’s love, Christ’ love to be in-human, that is, Divine Holy Supernatural Love that cannot be explained by those of us who are the recipients of said love. Paul’s prayer for them to be filled with all the fullness of God is realized when they and we abide in the Lord Jesus Christ staying completely connected to Him and being devoted fully to Him overflowing with Him our first love and only true love as Paul writes of Christ Jesus our Lord to the Colossians describing Him in this manner, “For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him” (Colossians 1:19), therefore, if all the fullness of God is in Christ and we are in Him (without disconnection by disobedience and sin) then we too will then be filled with all the fullness of God (Matthew 5:48).

“We love Him, because He first loved us. In order to this he prays, for their experimental acquaintance with the love of Jesus Christ. The more intimate acquaintance we have with Christ’s love to us, the more our love will be drawn out to Him, and to those who are His, for His sake: That you may be able to comprehend with all saints, that is, more clearly to understand, and firmly to believe, the wonderful love of Christ to His, which the saints do understand and believe in some measure, and shall understand more hereafter. Christians should not aim to comprehend above all saints; but be content that God deals with them as He uses to do with those who love and fear His name: we should desire to comprehend with all saints, to have so much knowledge as the saints are allowed to have in this world.” Matthew Henry

“The love of Christ to His own, to His church and people, is special and peculiar; free and Sovereign; as early as His Father’s love, and is durable and unchangeable; the greatest love that ever was heard of; it is matchless and unparalleled; it is exceeding strong and affectionate, and is wonderful and surprising: the instances of it are, His engaging as a surety for them; His espousing both their persons and their cause; His assumption of their nature; His dying in their room and stead; His payment of their debts, atoning for their sins, and bringing in for them an everlasting righteousness; His going to prepare a place for them in Heaven; His intercession for them there; His constant supply of all their wants, and the freedom and familiarity He uses them with. The saints have some knowledge of this love, some tastes of it; their knowledge is a feeling and experimental one, fiducial and appropriating, and what influences their faith, and love, and cheerful obedience, but it is but imperfect; though the knowledge they have of it is super eminent, it exceeds all other knowledge, yet this love passes knowledge; not only the knowledge of natural men, who know nothing of it, but the perfect knowledge of saints themselves, in the present life, and of angels also, who desire to look into it, and the mysteries of it; and especially it is so as to some instances of it, such as the incarnation of Christ, His becoming poor who was Lord of all, being made sin, and a curse, and suffering, the just for the unjust. Now the Apostle prays that these saints might know more of this love; that their knowledge, which was imperfect, might be progressive.” Dr. John Gill

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…