Ephesians 1:3-14 is a beautiful passage having to do with the spiritual blessings afforded to one who is IN Christ.
Vs. 3 – God hath blessed those IN Christ will ALL spiritual blessings. We have many physical blessings, but IN Christ, we receive spiritual blessings.
Vs. 4 – God chose those IN Christ before the foundations of the world. Some think this supports the erroneous doctrine of predestination. It does NOT. It tells us that God – before He created the world - determined that mans’ salvation would be IN Christ - for those who obey the gospel. Any person, any era, since Day of Pentecost 33AD, can obey Gods word = gospel.
Vs 5 – God ‘predestined’ this salvation for those who would become children of God by the new birth (baptism). In John 3:5, Jesus teaches one must be born of water and the Spirit to enter the kingdom = church; kingdom = eternal in heaven. ‘Kingdom’ is used in two ways in the New Testament.
The water is baptism as directed by the Holy Spirit through the word of God (gospel). Galatians 3:27; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38.
The Holy Spirit guided the apostles into ALL truth – John 16:13.
This is why all scripture is inspired of God – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – and makes the man of God thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Vs. 7 – IN Christ we have redemption [bought back from sin] through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. Matthew 26:28; Galatians 3:27.
Vs. 9 – God made known unto us the mystery (gospel) of His will, which He purposed.
Vs. 10 – That when the fullness of times was come (last days = gospel dispensation), ALL things IN Christ gathered together.
Vs. 11 – IN Christ, we have what God ‘predestined’ (planned) – SALVATION.
Vs. 12 – That we (Christians = IN Christ), should be to the praise of His glory.
Vs. 13 – Through the gospel we (Christians), are sealed with the Holy Spirit. (A seal identifies – Christians follow the teaching the Holy Spirit guided the apostles into, and are guarded by such).
Vs. 14 – This seal is an earnest (foretaste) of heaven to come, unto the praise of God’s glory.
Are you IN Christ? Salvation is one of the spiritual gifts mentioned in vs 3.
NO salvation outside Christ. One cannot be saved outside of Christ. How does one get INTO Christ? Galatians 3; Romans 6.
You can make your “calling (by the gospel) and election (salvation) sure”. 2 Peter 1:10.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Saturday, March 5, 2011
What if....'Feelings' don't work?
Some religious bodies tell people that the way to be ‘saved’ is just to pray to God to save them, and when they ‘get a feeling’, that means they are saved!
A preacher was called to an elderly man who was on his deathbed. The preacher prayed and prayed and the sick man wanted to, tried to, ‘get that feeling’, but he never did. Here is a true example of a man that wanted to be saved, but just could not ‘get the feeling’. Is that what the Bible teaches?
Where in all of God’s word (ie: Bible) is such a thing taught? Where? One can read in Acts 2:37-38 where many heard the gospel preached until they had faith (Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes by hearing)….in Acts many heard until they believed (developed faith) and then were told “to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins”. According to the Bible, then, and only then, were they ‘saved’ and the Lord added them to His church.
One can also read in Mark 16:16 Jesus says, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Again the Bible states in Acts 22:16…”arise and be baptized and wash away they sins”.
In Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27, one can read that people are baptized into Christ. All spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3. Baptism into Christ brings one into death of Christ (contact with blood of Christ) Romans 6:3. Christs’ blood shed in His death is what saves – gives forgiveness of sins. 1Peter: 1:18-19.
I can NOT read in my Bible – from Pentecost in Acts 2 – after the gospel of Jesus Christ was first preached, of anyone ever being told to just ‘pray for salvation’ and when he ‘gets a feeling’, he will know he’s saved! Better felt than told, as some put it. Total error with no appeal to Gods word. False doctrine concocted by some mans ‘feelings’. This error cannot save!
To be saved and spend eternity with God in Heaven, man must go by God’s word in all they do religiously. Go by the Bible, not anyones ‘feelings’.
Colossians 3:17 tells us…..“Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.”
Word – what you teach; deed – what you practice; in the name of – by God’s authority (Acts 4:7).
God’s words – NOT feelings, not man’s ideas – are the words whereby men are saved.
“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:68
A preacher was called to an elderly man who was on his deathbed. The preacher prayed and prayed and the sick man wanted to, tried to, ‘get that feeling’, but he never did. Here is a true example of a man that wanted to be saved, but just could not ‘get the feeling’. Is that what the Bible teaches?
Where in all of God’s word (ie: Bible) is such a thing taught? Where? One can read in Acts 2:37-38 where many heard the gospel preached until they had faith (Romans 10:17 tells us faith comes by hearing)….in Acts many heard until they believed (developed faith) and then were told “to repent and be baptized for the remission of their sins”. According to the Bible, then, and only then, were they ‘saved’ and the Lord added them to His church.
One can also read in Mark 16:16 Jesus says, “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Again the Bible states in Acts 22:16…”arise and be baptized and wash away they sins”.
In Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27, one can read that people are baptized into Christ. All spiritual blessings are in Christ – Ephesians 1:3. Baptism into Christ brings one into death of Christ (contact with blood of Christ) Romans 6:3. Christs’ blood shed in His death is what saves – gives forgiveness of sins. 1Peter: 1:18-19.
I can NOT read in my Bible – from Pentecost in Acts 2 – after the gospel of Jesus Christ was first preached, of anyone ever being told to just ‘pray for salvation’ and when he ‘gets a feeling’, he will know he’s saved! Better felt than told, as some put it. Total error with no appeal to Gods word. False doctrine concocted by some mans ‘feelings’. This error cannot save!
To be saved and spend eternity with God in Heaven, man must go by God’s word in all they do religiously. Go by the Bible, not anyones ‘feelings’.
Colossians 3:17 tells us…..“Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord.”
Word – what you teach; deed – what you practice; in the name of – by God’s authority (Acts 4:7).
God’s words – NOT feelings, not man’s ideas – are the words whereby men are saved.
“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” John 6:68
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