This Week's Sunday School Lesson, Family Counceling. Ephesians 5:21-6:4

 

THE OPERATION OF THE FAMILY

Ephesians 5:21-6:5

SUBMISSION, KEY TO FAMILY AND UNITY

V:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Let the values, thoughts, opinions, and ideas of others in Christ be

as valuable as your own. We should never get to the point where we think we have the best idea or the only right interpretation.

Our job is to see others in love as a working significant

part of the body of Christ. It is better to give way to others to keep the peace

and unity of the Church. We are all serving the same God with the objective to

glorify Him.

HUSBAND THE HEAD, GOD’ DESIGN

V:22 Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Here we must put aside our own, thoughts, opinions, and experiences and listen to

what the Lord said. God designed the family to imitate the Church. Christ is the head

of the Church and we are all under His supervision. God established an order for

the Church which is played out in the family.

As Christ is the head of the Church, Christ is the head of man and man is the head of the household. Man was created first and man was given God's command first. To qualify

as head of the household man must live according to God’s commands. Anything

less is unacceptable and leads to problems.

In the first family, Adam’s first encounter with the world, which was Satan, was to

allow Eve to take charge. Eve was deceived into eating the forbidden fruit,

and Adam followed suit in disobedience to God. Instead of consulting the Word of

God for himself or speaking to God for guidance, Adam followed the way of the

world. Thus, the family suffered a great loss because of Adam's disobedience. They

were kicked out of their home (the Garden of Eden) and forced to live a hard life

to survive. The hardships of our lives are the result of Adam’s disobedience.

The dynamics of every family are different, but God's commands are the same.

The husband must first be head as God commands. Not head in name, but head

in obedience to Christ. The husband must know and follow the Word of God.

The husband is the leader of the family. God’s way is the only way to lead.

LOVE A KEY INGREDIENT IN MARRIAGE

V:25 Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

This is marriage and family 101. Love is the foundation of marriage. Man’s love

for his wife has Christ's love for the Church as its role model. Love requires the

man to sacrifice himself for his wife. All too often in marriages, man wants the

status as head, but not the responsibility of being head. The word love requires a

change of attitude to one of unselfish commitment to the wife.

Secular marriage counseling does not teach the man the objective of being Head of

the wife. The objective is the draw the wife to holiness and cleanse her with knowledge

of the Word of God.

The second part of the objective of being the head is for man to present himself as a church

without stain or wrinkle and blemish, but holy and blameless. The old man and

all his ideas must die for the new man to come alive in Christ. This is a great change

in attitude that must be recognized as necessary for a successful marriage.

Couples get excited about all the wedding preparations, but no time is spent preparing

for marriage. The wedding is for a day, but the marriage is for life. After the wedding day is gone, life presents itself with all its problems that only obedience to the

Word of God can solve. Man cannot be head without the guidance and direction of the

Holy Spirit. The wife is lost in the world without a head.

UNSELFISH LOVE IN ACTION

V:28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body.

The third objective of being the head of the wife is to love her as much as he loves

himself. Love is the foundation, the nourishment, and the motivation for family

life. When the man shows affection and attention to his wife, contentment flourishes

in the relationship. When there is contentment in our families we can promote

genuine love throughout the body.

A NEW HOUSE FOR FAMILY

V:31 "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." 32 This is a profound mystery — but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

The union between a man and his wife in the body of Christ is sacred and anointed by

God. Not only is it anointed by God but protected by Jesus and guided by the Holy

Spirit. The union between a man and his wife is first before any other human

relationship. Outside interference is unwelcome. Parents have no business in

their married sons' and daughters' relationships. Parents should be available for comfort

and counseling only. A man and His wife should not live with his parents. To do

so is to invite problems.

A man and his wife are sacred units that should not be corroded by outside influence.

Christ and the church body are a sacred unit that should not be corroded by the world.

The church body is filled with the Word of God. So a marriage must be filled with

the Word of God.

CHILDREN, THE PRODUCT OF MARRIAGE

V:6.1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

Parenting is a combined responsibility between a man and his wife. The man and his

wife must role model Christ in their parenting before their children. God gives the

commands to the parents that must be taught to their children. Obedience must be

enforced during the early development of the children.

It has been said that a child's personality is fixed by the time he (or she) is six years old.

At what age do you teach a child the Word of God? Every child is different.

What I do know is the universal language of a baby is the cry. They cry when they

are hungry. They cry when they need a diaper change. They cry when they are

lonely. They cry for attention. They quickly learn from the results of the cry, that they

can get what they want. The cry should be comforted with the voice of the parents

in love.

Instead of baby talk. I suggest you talk in the language they will quickly learn.

Talk about the things you want them to know. Sooner or later they will understand.

Show them what obedience means. Show them what honor means. Teach them

to say thank you. Role model the way you want your children to act.

Before you know it, the Word of God will be their vocabulary.

TRAINING, THE FATHER’S RESPONSIBILITY

V:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Training children is an important responsibility of a father. The head of the household

must be involved in training his children. The job cannot be left to the wife alone.

The head of the household must take time to learn God’s way of training.

Do not use harsh language that will anger your children. Teach your children the difference between right and wrong using the Word of God

Disobedience brings consequences and obedience brings rewards. Every child learns

in different ways. The Word of God has to be taught in a way they can understand.

Proverbs 22:6

6 Train a child in the way he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Because the ways of a child are foolish, and at times, they refuse to listen

discipline becomes necessary

Proverbs 13:24

24 He who spares the rod hates his son,

but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

Never discipline when angry or for revenge. Discipline out of love to enforce

obedience to the Word of God.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Living A Life For Christ", Ephesians 4:1-17

 LIVING A LIFE FOR CHRIST

Ephesians 4:1-17

LIFESTYLE CHANGE

V:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Church at Ephesus while a prisoner in Rome.

We are all prisoners while on earth. We are either prisoners of Satan or prisoners

of the Lord. Were born prisoners of Satan to be transformed into prisoners of the

Lord through Jesus Christ. As prisoners of Christ, our freedom from sin was brought

by His death on the cross.

Since we were chosen to be in Christ, Paul urges us to live a life worthy of the calling.

Any man in Christ is a new creation. The new creation is different from the world

and must be lived with a new mindset. Our lives should role-model the graces of

God.

Humbleness is not self-seeking, but the seeking of the will of the Father and the

good of others

Gentle Not struggling with God, but contending with him in love,

obedience and reverence.

Patient To tarry behind, to endure, to see from another person

perspective

Bearing with another in love Not threatened by another person

position or opinion, but in love and supporting their goodwill.

Unity of the Spirit. To seek and desire the things of God recognizing and

appreciating the contributions of others.

Bonds of peace Let the peace rule your heart. Laying aside

any contentions with another, allowing God to work

out any differences.

The reason for war on the outside is the war on the inside

The peace of the soul is found in obedience to God’s

commands.

Ephesus was a Roman colony. The members of the Church were both Jews and Gentiles.

The Jews were God’s first chosen and the Gentiles (that’s us) were adopted

through faith in Jesus making us one body in Jesus. There is one body,

one Lord, one people in Jesus Christ. All believers, regardless of birth,

race, nationality, or gender are one in God who is one in all of us.

GRACE FOR GOOD WORKS FREE OF SIN

V:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

"When he ascended on high,

he led captives in his train

and gave gifts to men."

Christ has a purpose for each believer. He chose us for good works. The Gifts are

the equipment that enables us to perform good works. We were set free from the

old life and set up for the new life in Christ. Every gift was given for the edification

of the Church.

I believe that the spiritual gifts given to each believer were specifically and individually

selected for the good work assigned. No two individuals are alike, so the gifts are

used in ways different from others. For example, If have a gift of singing,

my voice and tone will be different from others. If I have the gift of encouragement,

I will use different words or ways to encourage others. The result is the same,

edification of the body.

SIN BEARER, THE MISSION OF JESUS

V:9 (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.)

Jesus who has no beginning or ending, was sent by the Father to take on human flesh,

become man, preach the gospel, and die for the atonement of sins of the world.

At his death he descended to hell to set the captive free (1 Peter 3:18), those who

died before His birth and were obedient to the God’s commands. Between His

death and resurrection, Jesus was still at work preaching the gospel lower reasons

of the earth.

After His Sunday Morning Resurrection, Jesus ascended back to the highest heaven

and is seated at the right hand of the Father making intercessions for you and

me (Act 2:33)

BODY POSITIONS ASSIGNED BY JESUS

V:11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

All of us have a purpose. But do not have the same gifts or the same assignments.

Each gift and each position is important in building up and edifying the body of

Christ. We were once all unified in the work of the devil. Now in Christ, we are being

unified together to build up the body of Christ.

Each of us should be maturing daily in the Word of God in the image of Christ to

the good work assigned to us before the foundation of the World.

What does the whole measure of the fullness of Christ mean? I am not sure we

can define it in human terms. It is beyond our grasp and comprehension. I

believe it has to do with His unending love, grace, and mercy that extends throughout

all times in the universe covering every person who becomes a believer, in faith in

Him that makes us the one body fitted together in unity.

THE MATURING OF THE BODY

V:14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Spiritual Maturity has its foundation in faith in the Word of God. When we know the

Word of God we know the truth. Any teaching or doctrine that does not agree with the

The word of God is false. The world's ideas, thoughts, and opinions change daily. But the

The word of God never changes. A mature Christian, having knowledge of the Word of

God is equipped to defend His faith with confidence and in love.

Wisdom is applying the knowledge of God in everyday conversations and decisions.

If we abide in the Word, Christ abides in us, joining all believers together to do the

work of Christ, building up the whole body and glorifying the Father.

THE TRANSFORMED LIFESTYLE

V:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.

Having accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, God no longer sees us as Gentiles, separated

from the commonwealth of Israel, but one united with Christ in the building

of Christ with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Now separated from the Gentiles, we have been transformed into the living temple

of Christ. The way we think, act and reason should be guided by the Holy Spirit

role-modeling Jesus Christ. Our conversations should have their objective of building

up and edifying the body of Christ. Our goal should not be accumulating material

wealth that has no lasting value, but storing up treasures in heaven.

Our thoughts should line up with Christ's Words that have uncompromising

the eternal value that promotes peace, joy, and goodwill for mankind.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Grace Of God" Ephesians 2:11-22

 DON’T TAKE FOR GRANITE THE GRACE OF GOD

Ephesians 2:11-22

GRATEFULNESS FOR WHAT GOD HAS DONE

V:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

Don’t forget where you came from. Don’t forget what God did for you to get you

to the present times. Don’t believe that you arrived at this point in time by any

effort of your own. You are here today because God loved on you to allow your

presence.

God has worked a change on you. The text says you formerly were a Gentile. You

formerly were different from the people He called first to be His people. The nation

of Israel was called first to be His people. He gave the nation of Israel His divine

law. His divine directions were given to the Nation of Israel first. He gave wisdom, Knowledge, the divine Word, and the fear of Him to the Nation of Israel first.

You, we were called the uncircumcised, that is without the righteousness of God

by those who called themselves the circumcised not by the righteousness of God, but by their own hands. People put on an outward mask to make them appear to

be something that they are not. We all do it. You can put makeup on the face to

cover blemishes to make it appear to be perfect skin. You may never know the

real person you are looking at.

Without the Word of God, we live in darkness. But God had a plan before

the Nation of Israel was formed, before the divine Word was given to include

us, Gentiles in the body of Christ. God promised Abraham recorded in Genesis 17:3

that he would be the father of many nations. From Abraham, He grew the

nation of Israel during 400 years of slavery in Egypt.

At the right time, God bore Jesus in the flesh, His only begotten Son to die

on the cross for the atonement of sins, making salvation available to all

who would believe in Him. Notice the text says, we, the Gentiles were

excluded from citizenship of Israel, thus excluded from the promise of

hope. Jesus was born in the tribe of Judah and made way for Jews and Gentiles to become one, all sons and daughters of the living God.

THE WORK OF CHRIST IN THE UNITY OF MANKIND

V:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

As long as men live on earth there will be hostility among men. The hostility

originated between God and Satan but played out between men. God gave Israel

His law became a dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles.

The Gentiles without the law were seen as unclean and separated from God.

The law was a legal document, which included divinely designed sacrifices

performed out of obedience that would lead the Jews to total dependence on God

the Father in love. Love fulfilled the law.

Romans 13:8

8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.

Jesus, the single, sinless, and unblemished sacrifice abolished the dividing wall between

Jews and Gentiles with His blood shed on the cross. It was His love for obedience to

the will of the Father that split the curtain to the Holy of Holies in the temple

opening the way to the peace of God.

The angels said it best to the shepherds on the night of Jesus birth,

Luke 2:14

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

It was Jesus' sacrificial death that dissolved the hostility between Jews and Gentiles

making one nation of believers under God.

THE PEACE OF GOD

V:17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

The Holy Spirit was active in creation and active throughout the Old Testament

times. The Holy Spirit was only given to specific people to do specific jobs.

Most often the Spirit was given to God's judges, prophets, and certain kings.

The Spirit was placed on them to empower them for a time but not in them.

After Jesus' death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit indwells all who believe

in Him. The blood of Jesus shed on the cross dissolved the hostility between

man and God. Those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, Jews and Gentiles

have peace with God the Father.

The forgiveness of our sins brings us near to God. We now have access to

the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit our teacher

guides us to an understanding of all scripture allowing us to live in peace

with God.

YOUR CITIZENSHIP IN HEAVEN

V:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

God created a new man, a new humanity in Jesus Christ. We, the believing

Gentiles are now part of the new humanity along with believing Jews. Our faith

in Jesus Christ makes us citizens of heaven, and members of God's household.

The Word of God, both Old Testament and New Testament is our guide to

character development in God’s righteousness and the promises of God

made to all believers in Jesus Christ.

ONE NATION IN JESUS

V:21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

The Church of Jesus Christ, the body of Christ includes all believers, past, present

, and future. Our bodies are the temple of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 3:16-17

16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple

Each believer is a building block of the temple in which Jesus is the chief cornerstone.

The Church has many members, but one body, one Spirit, and one Lord.

We are the Church of Jesus Christ. The light of the world and the salt of the earth.

Our job is to lift up Jesus and draw all to Him in peace and unity.

Rev. M. Mitchell

for more lessons follow me revmmtitchell.com

Bible Study Series: I Don't Need A New Years Resolution, I Need a New Me, Ezekiel 11:19-21

 I DON’T NEED A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION

I NEED A NEW ME

EZEKIEL 11:19-21

I NEED A NEW ME

Have you made your new years resolutions? If you did, have made a determination

to keep them? Have you made a plan to keep your new years resolutions?

It is a ritual that some of us go through with no realistic idea of what it will

take to put resolutions into action. Our determination is strong when we make

them, but lose their strength by the end of the month and not thought of by

the end of the second month.

What I have discovered, is I don’t need a new years resolution, I need a new me.

Unless I change the way I think and do things , nothing will change. I really

don’t have the strength to do a new me. I got to first change and rely on the

savior.

This evening, I would like to look at some scriptures where God has made a

resolution to do something new with us.

GOD’S PLAN FOR A NEW ME

Ezekiel 11:19-21

19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

God gave Israel the 10 commandments around 1500 BC. Israel made resolutions after

resolution to keep God’s commands but never did for any long length of time.

After 900 years of tolerance, God gave Ezekiel a new resolution.

Israel couldn’t keep the commandments, so God resolved to take action.

Notice God has plan. We cannot get out of our inactive state without God.

1) I will give them an undivided heart

Out of the heart flows the issues of life. You can’t have a heart focused on

God if it is divided between doing right and doing wrong.

Let’s go to church on Sunday and give God the praise, and Sunday afternoon

praise the the favorite team with more noise and excitement.

God didn’t say don’t watch sports? Don’t give your sports team credit for

being good. They are only good because of the resources God allowed them.

Are they really good? Jesus said there is no one good but the Lord.

The Israelite's praised God in the sanctuary, but Baal in their daily lives.

We are no different. It’s God on Sunday and the man on Monday.

We run to the man on Monday. But we might not show up for Sunday Services

and probable want show for Bible Study. We plan to go to work, but just

happen to show for Sunday Services if there is nothing more important

going on.

The reason we find it difficult to change is our focus is divided between doing

what need to be done and doing what make us feel good. It is easier to stay

the same and do nothing than to make a change.

We have to rely on God to strengthen us for change. It starts with an undivided

heart. It starts in prayer, create in us a clean heart and a right spirit. Psalm 51:10

2) I will put a new spirit in them

The old spirit we were born with, is corrupted with sin. We didn’t do it,

we were born in sin. The new spirit is the Holy Spirit that took residence in

us the moment we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We have to make

an effort to submit ourselves to the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.

We have to have a desire for the Holy Spirit to take control of our thinking.

3) I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.

He is able to remove the adamant , or rebel spirit. He will replace that rebel spirit

with a spirit that is influenced by the Word. A spirit that is not impressed by the world,

but is impressed by the Word of God.

4) Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Notice God did a work in us to get us prepared to be obedient.

God completes the first three steps to get us to step 4;

Undivided heart, new spirit, replace stony heart with heart of flesh.

Once there is a change of heart and change of spirit, then we are ready to follow

God’s commands. Our prayer, God do this work in me.

5) The encouragement: They will be my people and I will be their God.

It is important to know and be encouraged by the truth that God is our God and

we are His people.

God’s change in us is what it will take to keep any resolution.

It is not about us but the Jesus in us that powers us to

to make and keep a resolution.

An undivided heart focused on Jesus is the resolution I need.

I have to submit myself to be guided by the Holy Spirit to make any worthwhile

change in my life. Resolutions ought to be made to glorify God and draw others

to Christ.

GOD MAKE ME OVER

Ephesians 4:22-24

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

We have choices in this life. We make choices many times a day, What will I

ware? What will I eat? Where will I go? The list goes on and on.

The first and most important choice we should make is what kind of character will I develop and display?

Put on the character of Christ. The old man of the flesh is dead and the new

man in Christ is alive with the goodness of God lit up like a Christmas tree for

all to see. We must be mindful that what we say and what we do drives some to

Christ and encourages and up lifts others. The righteousness of Christ displayed

in us may be the only Church some will be see.

Not only that, but we can think ourselves into a mood makes us want to be

be better and look better for the glory of God.

PRACTICING THE NEW SELF

Colossians 3:9-10

9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator,

In this day and time the truth is a rare quality of life. A lie is more acceptable

and expected coming from our politicians and from out social media outlets.

We just celebrated the the birth of our Lord an Savior with the lie that lights

and trees and gifts to ourselves is the reason for the season. We feel good about

ourselves with a mention of Christ mixed in with the mystical jolly old saint nick.

We must be careful that our celebration is the reminder of the mercy and

grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who’s birth was the start of a

new way of living that glorifies the Father 365 days a year. Our life on this

earth was designed to proclaim the gospel Of Jesus Christ in words,

actions and deeds for all to see and rejoice.

THE NEW WAY OF LIVING

Hebrews 10:19-23

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.

From this day forward my brothers and sisters, let us go forth with the knowledge

that we are the Church of Jesus Christ that was not built by human hands and cannot

be torn down by the corruption of this world. From this day forward let us

go forth with the knowledge and confidence that Jesus is our High Priest living in us, with us, and through us and has washed us clean with His blood.

We are ambassadors for Christ for all the world to see and be drawn to Him in the

hope and promise of eternal life. Our daily resolution ought to be to become

more like Jesus and to be drawn nearer to the Father.

COMPETENT MINISTERS

2 Corinthians 3:5-6

But our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Like the Apostle Paul proclaimed, I am determined to know nothing but Jesus Christ and

Him crucified. It is faith in Jesus plus nothing that gives us victory over life’s

trials and tribulations. My salvation is not of works so I cannot boast but lifting

up Jesus draws all men to Him.

Living in the spirit, we are confident ministers of Christ empowered and ordained

by the Word of God to proclaim His glory, power and control.

I DON’T NEED A NEW YEARS RESOLUTION, I

 `NEED A NEW ME IN JESUS Christ.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Saved by Grace", Ephesians 2:1-10

 SAVED BY GRACE

Ephesians 2:1-10

WHAT WE USED TO BE

V:1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.

The Greek word for dead is nekros, a corpse, meaning separated from God. Transgression is a side step, an unintentional error. Sin is an offense against God

Our original state was separation from God because of our unintentional errors and

willful offenses. We were nothing more than dead men walking, a corpse.

The ruler of the kingdom of the air is Satan. He was an arch angel, a spirit

created by God until sin was found in him. Satan’s objective is our disobedience.

Satan is constantly working to keep us disobedient.

All of us have a past where we did what we wanted to do when we wanted to do it,

and how we wanted to do it. Most of what we did opposed God and did not

give Him glory. We were in a terrible state because we were under the influence

of Satan, controlled by the lust of the flesh and the desire to be like the world.

We were born in sin and shaped in iniquity and knew no better way to live. Satan took

full advantage of our ignorance and drove us deeper into sin. And we enjoyed every

minute of our disobedient behavior. As I recall, I was having so much fun that heaven

or hell was not a thought.

OBJECTS OF GOD’S WRATH

V:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

Notice the Lord identifies two groups or classes of people; the church and the world.

Every Christian has a history in the world. We were born in the world and naturally

influenced by the world. Our sinful nature led us down a path of unrighteousness.

We were ignorant of the wrath of God and not able to consider the burning hell

that awaited our unchanged nature.

The Greek word for wrath is orge which means anger, vengeance. Our disobedient

behavior makes us an object of God’s anger or vengeance. Our unregenerate state

was one of hopelessness.

GOD’S GREAT LOVE

V: 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.

The conjunction “but” introduces another state for the unregenerate person. God

opens up doors that are closed to us. : But God's great love. The word love is agape

is a noun. But it comes from the verb form agapao which means to seek the the highest

good for a person. God chose us to bestow His highest good. His highest good

is rich in mercy. We don't deserve His highest good, but mercy shows up.

Mercy shows up and considers our depraved state. Mercy shows up and

considers our hopeless state. Mercy shows up for our highest good. Love

forgets the past and starts fresh. His love is great because it has no limits. His love

is great because it is the foundation of human creation.

Love changes things. Love revives things. Love restores things. Love calls on

mercy. Love and mercy go together. You can't have love without mercy and

you can’t have mercy without love.

Were dead, headed to hell. But love and mercy made us alive in Jesus Christ.

Were dead and deserved God’s wrath. But God’s great love showered us mercy which overlooked our fault and made us alive. We didn't do it. We could

not do it because knew nothing but sin.

Not only did love and mercy show up, but grace showed up and provided

salvation. God's grace and His favor were working for us before the foundation

of the world (Ephesians 1:4). God's love, mercy, and grace continue to operate

in our lives. Our highest good is a relationship with Jesus Christ.

GOD’S INCOMPARABLE RICHES

V:6 And God raised us with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

God's love, grace, and mercy continue to operate beyond our comprehension.

God gave undeserving us a new dimension. We have a presence beyond this

earth, but also in heavenly places. He seated us with Christ and with Him in heaven. We have a new life, power, and position in heaven.

This new position in heaven requires a new attitude of obedience and righteousness

on earth. God's love, grace, and mercy raised us from the dead, made us alive in

Jesus Christ, and seated us with Him and Jesus in heaven. He saved us from ourselves

and gave us a clean state free from sin. God put in us a heart with a desire to please

Him

The Greek word for kindness is chrestotes which means moral excellence. God

made us suitable to Christ's moral excellence. In Christ, there is a transformation

of our character, attitude, and life to role model Christ.

SALVATION, OUR UNDESERVED GIFT.

V:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

God now introduces faith as operating in us. Hebrews 11 says faith is the substance

of things hoped for and evidence of things unseen. Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 12:3 says that each is given a measure of faith.

Where did this faith come from since we were dead and not privileged to faith?

Jesus said, no one can come to Him unless the Father draws him.

We were saved because God elected us to be in Jesus before the foundation of

the earth.

Maybe the answer is found in verse 10. We are God’s workmanship.

God's work includes our election, making us alive in Christ, and seating

us in heaven with Him and Jesus. Making us privileged to Christ's excellence

and giving us a measure of faith to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

The question becomes if faith comes by hearing, when did we hear the

Word of God?

Something must have happened when God was drawing us to Jesus.

The drawing included mamma taking us to church. The drawing includes

the testimony of friends, relatives, and family. The drawing includes a

picture of a cross as we drove by churches. Somewhere in our lives the Word

came to us and did not return void. Seeds were planted and watered that grew

into a measure of faith.

God's kindness was shown to us when were dead in our sins undeserving

of His love, grace, and mercy and He raise us from the dead in Jesus Christ.

We were created in Christ to do good works. What is this good work?

John 6:29

Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Belief has its evidence in obedience to God’s commands.

Jesus summed up God's commands with two;

Love the Lord your God with all your mind heart and soul. And love your

neighbor as yourself.

The question is what does love look like?

Jesus showed us and Paul summarized it in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.

We were prepared to love one another before the foundation of the earth.

My brothers and sisters in Christ pursue the GOOD WORKS FOR THE LORD.

Rev. M. Mitchell

For more lessons visit revmmitchell.com