His Mercy Endureth Forever

Let’s discuss how the Holy Spirit works. It was some time ago that a voice from within told me to look at the phrase that we are now working on. The voice did not use Elizabethan English, however the KJV uses the Textus Recptus as the base text. The phrase “His Mercy endureth forever” appears 41 times in the Bible. Please understand that I have been led to study the languages of the Bible, but I have no formal training in those languages. Also, I have the best reference material available. I did study Hebrew with Rabbi James Cone at Temple Israel. I was the only Gentile in the class. However, since that class was, for me of very short duration, my Hebrew is limited. And, I never did get used to reading backward.

As I said, the phrase, “His Mercy endureth forever” appears in the Old Testament 41 times. With all that repetition we may think that God is trying to tell us something.

The ancient languages (Hebrew and Greek) did not use punctuation. Repetition was the way they accentuated an idea or concept. Repetition was the ancient exclamation point.

That is the good news, but the bad news is that “His Mercy endureth forever” is not a literal translation! The word “endureth,” or “endures” has been added to the text. The Hebrew literal text says, (Heb. leolam-לְעוֹלָם hasedo-חַסְדּוֹ,” or “for the age, {godly} kindness”. I have added the word “godly” to my translation to indicate the source of the kindness or mercy. The Hebrew translation must have added words when brought into English because one Hebrew word contains many “English” thoughts.

As Carolyn and I were discussing the Hebrew, we turned to the Hebrew word Olam. That Hebrew word refers to an age. It, in no way, speaks of eternity. There is no single Hebrew word that may be correctly translated “eternal.”

The fact is that God’s mercy extended to mankind had a beginning and it shall have an end. Prior to the fall of mankind there was no need for His mercy. At the end of the age of ages all shall be completely filled with the presence of God, and His mercy shall have overwhelmed all that stands in opposition to God, and again His mercy shall not be needed.

1 Cor 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

 Eph 1:21-23

²² And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,

²³ which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJV)

Those few verses take us far past Revelation to the consummation of God’s plan for the ages. In case you do not know, the millennium is NOT the end of the world or the end of all conflict.

Rev 20:7-10
7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Many theologians twist the Scripture in an attempt to make Armageddon seem to be the last conflict, however when we actually read and believe the Bible we find that the War of Gog and Magog is at least 1,000 years past the return of Christ and Armageddon.

The return of Christ Jesus begins a millennium that has 1 thousand years that has no the open conflict.

During that millennium the sin-nature that is within human mankind and is unregenerateable shall lay dormant. However, it shall rise again prior to to the Great White Throne Judgment. The sin nature can, when confronted by the Holy spirit of God, but the only way to prevent the rise of the sin-nature is through the Lake of Fire and its complete destruction. Read Revelation 20 which must be read and understood as being a linear writing, and notice that the Gog and Magog war, and the Great White Throne Judgment resulting in death (Gr. thanatos-θάνατος) and hell (Gr. hades-ᾅδης) being cast into the lake of fire happens after the Millennium. The first death shall be consumed by the second death, and will cease to exist.

As you may have read, I believe that the second death is remedial and not punitive. But if God removes all rebellion within the sin-nature, Death and Hades, nothing shall remain.

The war of Gog and Magog indicates the the sin-nature was suppressed, but not eliminated during the millennium of peace.

The battle of Gog and Magog is the last open rebellion! The Lake of Fire shall consume all rebellion! There is no rebellion against God the Father, God the Son, or the Holy Spirit following the Great White Throne Judgment!

Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.

It is the Holy Spirit that enforces the will of the Father. The Father and Son chose those whom they will to be called and the time of that calling. Then the Holy Spirit comes to indwell at the appointed moment and seals us from the punishment that the Son has already paid on the cross. It all works in concert according to His mercy!

God’s mercy endures forever.

personal

This blog page is very personal. If you read my commentary on Paul’s Letters on my Web Site, (http://darroll.tripod.com/), you will find no footnotes because It is very seldom that I quote other writers. The Late Dr. Manford George Gutzke and one instance of a quote from the Liberty Commentary are the exceptions. Dr Gutzke was an extraordinary writer and speaker, and I use his definition of “love.”

 I must sdmit that my commentaries are a result of inspiration and not perspiration.  At times you will find me at odds with the translators. On more than one occasion while I was actively writing the commentaries, I would be awakened in the middle of the night with the statement, “Go to your computer, and I will show you the proper translation.”

 When I began translating the Bible my knowledge of Greek would not fill a thimble. 

 I began in 1990 with Philippians, because it was only 4 chapters in Greek, so how difficult could that be?

 The translation was completed in 1999, just prior to the crash of my computer. And so, all that work was lost. But, the Internet had not become so powerful back in those days. In fact, my first three commentaries on Philippians, Colossians, and Galatians were so new that at the time they were the only commentaries on those letters at that time on the Internet, and if you wanted to read a commentary on any one of those three the only Internet source at that time was my writing. God has indeed blessed me!

I started blogging using the Ephesians text as the base, but I will be changing that to certain verses from both the Old and New Testaments.

 Thank you for reading this blog, and may God bless you.

 If you have any comments or questions please contact me at studycomments@yahoo.com and I will responds as quickly as possible.

Talking Points 19

Eph 2:1-3
¹ And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. (NKJV)

Before the Holy Spirit opened our ears to hear Christ Jesus and our eyes to see the Truth we were spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. We walked, talked and acted as dead men do. Our goal was just to get through the day.

I am not condemning anyone in this. We were born with brown, or back, or blonde hair, and a certain color to our eyes. All of that is neither good nor bad. Instead it simply is!

However, we were also born with a penchant to sin! Until God the Father chooses us to come out of the sin that seems engulf our lives we will live according to the leading of Satan. We who have been called to follow Christ Jesus are the chosen of God. During this age, we are led by the Holy Spirit (Roman 8:14)! In Christ we have been changed from the sons of “disobedience” to the sons of the Father.

In the past we were dominated by Satan and led by our sin-nature. We had no choice as to the direction we walked. But, when we were called out, we learned to walk in the ways of righteousness, the ways of Christ Jesus.

Those who live in Satan’s unrighteousness also live in the sin-nature, with which they were physically born.

Even if you are forgiven, you must still contend with the sin-nature. You Spirit is saved, not your body. Barring the second coming during your lifetime, it shall return to the dust.

Talking points 18

Talking points 18 Eph 1:22-23
22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,
23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (NKJV)

The time when Christ puts all things under His feet may have already happened or may be a long way off (in human terms). That depends on what we mean by “all things under His feet.”

God being “all in all” is also a phrase that needs explaining!

According to the Old Testament the cattle on a thousand hills are already God’s (Psalm 50:10), which picturesque language for “He owns it all.” And, according to Ezekiel 18:4 all souls already belong to God.

Many people attempt to divide the Trinity in order to explain it. But we should always understand that the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) are echad (Heb. ‏אֶחָד‎) and as such are inseparable.

In accordance with the plan of God for the ages, each fulfills a designated task at various times within that plan, but all are in complete unity as to the plan, the moment of its fulfillment and the events within that plan. When I refer to “God’s plan for the ages,” God is God in totality and not God the Father as opposed to God the Son or God the Holy Spirit.

As to God being “all in all” that too may be translated with a slight difference. In fact, there may be no “becoming” to it. That section may also be translated, “all in all is being filled by Him.” All of creation is now following God’s program for their participation in His plan.

All plans are determined by the goal of the one doing the planning. And so, “filling all in all” is the goal of God’s plan for the ages.

We are now living out the greatest object lesson ever devised.

Talking Points 17

Eph 1:17-21
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.(NKJV)

The above is one of four wonderful prayers written by Paul for the “body of Christ.”

Paul’s four prayers may be spoken for each member of our families, and our friends…those for whom we normally offer prayers each day.

However, they are not to be recited as if they are something magical. They must be prayed from the heart.

Here is an example of how to use them by inserting the name of each of our loved ones at the appropriate time.

Eph 1:17-21
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to (name) the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of (name) understanding being enlightened; that (name) may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (NKJV)

This and other prayers from the Bible are unique in their application to our daily lives. One of the areas of this prayer is contained in verse 20.

God raised Christ Jesus from the dead “and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places.” That is a wonderful statement, because we have been baptized into Christ Jesus. And that means that spiritually we, as saints, are seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Did you know that as a saint (Gr. hagios-ἅγιος) you are pure, holy, and blameless before God?

Talking Points 16

Eph 1:15-16
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: (NKJV)

Many Christians consider these verses as lead ups to the prayer that starts in verse 17. However, they are much more than that.

When we pray for others of the faith, we should name them. Our prayers should be pointed.

In prayers for the nation, although those prayers may appear to be general in nature, those prayers are actually very pointed.

At the time of this writing, Christians around the world are facing great persecution from those who are led by Satan. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Christians are being murdered. In addition, the church in America is being led by the unconverted.

Once great Churches are now led by ordained heathen!

Pray for those of the Body of Christ!

Talking Points 15

Eph 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)

We trust, focus faith on Christ Jesus when we actually hear “the word of Truth.” Until that moment we have not heard the Truth!

There is a great difference between physically hearing and spiritually perceiving.

Repeatedly in the book of Revelation, we find, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:11/NKJV)

Those who do not hear with spiritual ears cannot hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to the Churches.

Have you heard the voice of god?

Those who have been chosen to be a part of the body of Christ have heard the voice of God the Holy Spirit as He opens the door of salvation to the chosen. When we hear the Truth we respond in the affirmative!

From the moment on Christ Jesus is our Lord (Gr. kurios-κύριος), our owner and proprietor. We are His lump of clay and He is the Master Potter molding us into that which is useful in the plan for the ages.

Rejoice that He has called and appointed you to life forevermore in Himself!

Talking Points 14

Eph 1:12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (NKJV)

As a Christian, you are special!

You are among the first to be called to trust in Christ Jesus. You are among the elect!

In some respects, Christianity is inclusive, but in this age, at this time, Christianity is exclusive!

Romans 8:28-30
28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. (NKJV)

You have been called and justified according to His purpose!

You shall fulfill the mission that He has given you!

Talking Points 13

Eph 1:11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJV)

Read that verse carefully!

The fact is that those of us who have been chosen to belong to Christ Jesus have OBTAINED and in heritance and none may deprive us of fellowship with our Lord, Jesus Christ!

Now…That inheritance was given to us according to God’s purpose. This verse is explicit: He works ALL things according to His counsel and His will!

Did you read the ALL, or did you as many do discount God’s will falsely believing that man’s supposed freewill can override or negate God’s sovereign will whenever we want?

The Greek text tells us that we have been called out to receive a special allotment according to His predestined plan!

Again, we find that our calling out was “predestined!”

You have been predestined to obtain an inheritance from God!

Talking Points 12

Eph 1:10 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, (NKJV)

Did you know that you have a wonderful inheritance in Christ Jesus?

Many Christians do not know about that inheritance.

Notice in this verse that it says that we “have obtained” an inheritance. That is not a literal translation and it has led some to a false conclusion.

The literal Greek text refers to an inheritance being allotted to us. That means that our actual inheritance is being reserved for us in heaven. That inheritance is being held safely is a spiritual escrow for us to experience in fullness at the proper time.

We also find that we have been “predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.”

Being “predestined” indicates that Satan cannot interfere with us or our inheritance!

The Father works “all things according to the counsel of His will.” That guarantees success for us!

No matter what we go through in this age, the conclusion will be more glorious than we can imagine!

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (NKJV)

Talking Points 11

The Mystery of God’s Will
Ephesians 1:9-10
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. (NKJV)

Only a few people understand the “mystery of His will.”

But if you read this it shall become apparent…unless the power to believe has not been given to you.

Some may think that they read and understand English very well, but that has nothing to do with reading and understanding the Bible.

The simple fact is that according to God’s good pleasure which He purposed within Himself is that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He shall gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him.

His plan for the ages includes all of creation!

Due to the sin nature that is resident in all humanity we long to see our enemies punished.

However, the “mystery of the Father’s will is to bring all of creation under the headship…the leadership of His Son, Our Lord, Christ Jesus.

For far too many, God’s will is still a mystery!

Talking Points 10

The First Love

Revelation 2:4 (Ephesus) Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Many…far too many Christians have left their first love.

That does not mean that they are backslidden, lost again, or unsaved. It does mean that they have neglected the purpose of human salvation.

Due to a lack of spiritual sensitivity, many preachers have put forth a lack of understanding concerning that “first love.”

When we first spiritually understand that Christ has accepted us, we can hardly wait to tell others what He has done.

Salvation is a miracle that exceeds all the physical healings that have happened since man was created.

And, when we first understand His love for us, we tell others. But many, from all denominations and some entire denominations hate evangelism! They have become ashamed of Christ!

Those who have become ashamed of our Lord really never were Christians! Instead, they wanted to make a show of baptism. That is sad!

The Ephesian Church left their first love. They stopped evangelizing. They forgot the purpose of their salvation among mankind!

We have not been chosen to simply sit around and wait for the return of Christ! We should be working in His vineyard!

The work of the Church is evangelism! The Churches that have lost the desire to evangelize are Ephesian in nature.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent. (NKJV)

While Christ does have a vested interest in individual Christians, he has no vested interest in the preservation of the first church of Sparta, Indiana.

When he tells the Ephesian Church that if they do not turn, repent and do the “first works” he will come and remove their lampstand, He was not being poetic. The fact is that they did not repent, turn and do the first works, and so He took away their lampstand! The Church at Ephesus no longer exists!

Focus on evangelism! Tell the story of His love for you and others!

The fact is that after being “saved” you cannot be “lost” again.

Romans 11:29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. (NKJV)

Talking Points 9

Eph 1:8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (NKJV)

Paul always seems to use the grace of Christ Jesus as his reference point.

This verse is a continuation of his thought that focuses on what God does in Christ for us according to his pleasure.

Here, we find that in Christ, the Father made grace “abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence.”

Prudence comes from the Greek word phronēsis and refers to moral insight.

Without the moral insight given to us by Christ Jesus we would never understand the most simple spiritual concepts!

Talking Points 8

Eph 1:7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace (NKJV)

It may seem odd, but the first point is that in the NKJV there is no period at the end of what may seem to the a sentence.

Verse 7-10 constitute one sentence in the NKJV.

Actually verses 3-14 may also be considered a single sentence in the Greek language.

The fact is that we have redemption in Christ Jesus due to His blood being shed for us on the cross!

Redemption (Gr. apolutrōsis) is the word used to describe the forgiveness of our sins! That Greek word refers to deliverance obtain through the payment of a ransom.

Don’t let anybody cause you to degrade the shedding of Christ’s blood for us on the cross.

He paid the full and complete ransom price for the world, and thereby qualifies as the Savior of the world!

1 John 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. (NKJV)

Talking Points 7

Eph 1:5-6
5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,
6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. (NKJV)

As I said in the previous Talking Points we have been predestined to adoption as sons of God in His beloved, Christ Jesus.

The purpose of our adoption is to display the glory of His grace!

Has anybody ever told you that you were chosen to follow Christ due to your beauty?

Due to the cost of replacement photo lenses I don’t have many personal photos. But, my Lord, Christ Jesus died for me! He allowed Himself to be placed on a cross and did a torturous death because of His love for me. And he did the same for you personally.

Let me make a wild guess: You think that I would disagree with you if you said, “No! I am not that beautiful.”

Wrong!

There is no doubt that you look much better than I do, but the beauty you have comes from Christ Jesus Himself. It is not due to your physical gene pool!

Christ Jesus died so that we may live.

Many years ago I told a fellow Christian that Christ Jesus paid the full and complete price for the salvation of mankind. He said that he did not believe that.

So, I asked if he knew that Christ paid the full and complete price for his personal salvation?

That was over a decade ago, and we have not talked since that day, nor has he answered my question!

Talking Points 6

Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Many Christians run from the concept of predestination, however predestination is a valid biblical concept and teaching.

This verse explains that we have been “predestinated” to adoption by Christ Jesus!

“Called” and “chosen” are also biblical teachings that many Christians accept, while others deny.

Predestinated (Gr. proorizō) speaks of something being predetermined. In Fact, the previous verse tells us explicitly that God had chosen us in Christ “before the foundation of the world, so that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”

That single verse puts everything into proper context! It establishes predestination!

Do you honestly think that the Creator of the universe would begin creating without any idea as to what He was creating and what the creation would do?

All of creation was created to follow the plan of God! We were predestinated to be adopted as children of God the Father through His Son, our lord Jesus Christ. And, that predestination is “according to “the good pleasure of His will.”

Talking Points 5

I should have taken this up during the study of verse 1, but it should be studied.

Eph 1:1-2
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s birth name was Saul. Many teach that Paul, in Latin, means short, or least, or small…and it does. Many references give the meaning in reference to Paul calling himself the “least” of the Apostles. However, in 1 Corinthians 15:9 where Paul saying that he is the least of the Apostles he uses the Greek word “elachistas.”

The Latin “Paulos” was taken into Latin from the Greek “pauoo” spelled Pi-alpha-upsilon-omega. That Greek word means “to pause.” In fact, we get the English word “pause” from that Greek word.

Paul’s ministry marks a pause in God’s focus on Israel and a momentary turning to the Gentiles. As the second coming gets closer god shall refocus on Israel. We now see that refocusing.

Luke 21:25-28
25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."
(NKJV)

Talking Points 4

Ephesians 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Many teach that we choose Christ. That is self-salvation!

The fact is that God the Father had chosen us in God the Son before the foundation of the world!

The text states that we were chosen prior to the very conception of the Cosmos!

So, any free will choice is a false teaching.

We were chosen to be holy and blameless before God the Father in the love of Christ the Son.

If you have been saved, you are due to Christ’s salvation pure, holy, and blameless before God the Father!

But, what did you do to become pure, holy and blameless?

You did nothing!

In grace, Christ Jesus did everything.

There are two concepts that affect us even if we do not fully understand them

The Father and the Son are One! And, we have become one with Christ Jesus.

John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Did you notice that John 17:21 says that we may be one “in us”?

Romans 6:3-4
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

We are to become one as the Father and Son are one! That is why we were baptized into Christ Jesus!

Talking Points 3

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

This verse begins in a way that some may consider odd. The KJV says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In Modern English it says, “Sacred, holy, and sanctified is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

That is simply declaring the obvious!

Verse 3 tells us that Jesus Christ is our lord (Gr. kurios). That indicates that He is our owner and proprietor. Jesus bought us at Calvary. He paid the full and complete redemption price for our salvation.

This verse also tells us that God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

That may also seem odd until you realize that we have been baptized into Christ Jesus, and as a result our citizenship is now in heaven where Jesus is!

If we have been baptized into Christ Jesus we are where he is! That shall become apparent within a few verses.

Some may assume that being baptized into the “body” of Christ is similar to being voted into the legislative “body” of Congress.

However…when Paul describes what all that means he uses actual body parts in his description.

1 Cor 12:12-26
12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
14 the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

We are blessed!

Talking Points 2

Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians was written to the “saints” at Ephesus, and "faithful in Christ Jesus."

It was written to believers!

The fact is that all saints are faithful to Christ Jesus, and all who are faithful to Christ Jesus are saints!

Let me give another reading of those two verses: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints at Ephesus, those faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ are yours.”

You may not agree with that slight alteration, but it is important that you understand what Paul is saying.

The name of the city of Ephesus appears in both the Textus Receptus and the Majority Text, but is missing from other manuscripts.

This letter is addressed to the Saints.

Only in the letter to the Philippians does the opening include any mention of Saints by the office held.

Office holders within the Church are servants not overlords.

Being an office holder within the Church is a heavy responsibility.

That responsibility, as under-shepherds for Christ, should never be taken lightly.

Office holders within the Church should always be respected, but never worshipped.

As you study the greeting, notice that it is to the "saints" and the "faithful in Christ Jesus." “The” has been added before “faithful” it is not in the Greek text.

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul wrote that there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, because all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

In verse 2, Paul begins with his normal greeting, "Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and (the) Lord Jesus Christ."

With that in mind, I offer you thoughts concerning God's grace, peace, mercy, and love.

This is not an extensive study. I am certain that each attribute is beyond full human understanding.

Grace, peace, mercy, and love are all without limits or boundaries.

Graceis related to the English word favor.

It indicates something that is given or done from a spirit of good will rather than as a response to an obligation.

It is said to indicate God's unmerited favor toward man.

While seeming to be an intangible, grace provides results far beyond what physically tangible things are able to accomplish.

It is by grace, through faith that we are saved!

God's grace is given to us while we are sinners.

His grace toward us is the reason for changes in our affections and attitudes.

Grace is not the result of such changes. It is the reason for the changes.

Peace is not the mere absence on open hostilities.

God's peace is a serenity, or tranquility that is ours when things around us are going terribly wrong.

God's peace within us is not the result of human reasoning.

It goes far beyond and actually defies human reasoning.

The eye of a hurricane represents God's peace.

Around the eye, the water is churning violently.

The winds are howling.

But, within the hurricane's eye the seas are calm, and the sun is shining.

Mercy speaks of God’s compassion for us.

While love is the engine, mercy is the spark that ignites grace resulting in peace. God works on our behalf because of His mercy or compassion for us.

Without mercy, the engine that delivers us from sin would not work.

Love is the engine that pulls salvation, the super glue that holds the universe together.

God’s mercy is the result of His love, which causes grace to come to us, resulting in peace with God.

Although few believe or teach it, and most teach to the contrary, God's love never ever fails.

God’s love is incapable of failure.

God is Love, and He cannot fail!

1 Cor 13:8a Love never fails. (NKJV)

God's grace, peace, mercy, and love are intertwined as a strong rope with each doing its part to bring us to the knowledge of Christ.

Without that lifeline, the windswept sea of sin would surely cause us to drown without any hope of deliverance.

While we could rightly say that God's grace, peace, mercy, and love are infinite, the God that exercises them is not!

We, with our finite understanding, have put limits on the super-infinite God.

The Creator God is greater than that which He has created.

The human word "infinite" does not do justice in describing God.

God is greater than infinity because He created it.

Talking Points 1

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians begins by declaring that Paul is "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God."

To us it would seem strange that such an obviously called leader would need to declare that he is an Apostle.

At the time of this writing Paul was not universally accepted.

The vast majority of Jewish Christians viewed his message of salvation by grace with suspicion.

Even during our day most Church attendees do not understand the simplicity or power of God's grace.

Salvation and service are by grace!

No works come attached to God’s grace.

Christ Jesus has already done all the "work" required for our salvation.

Paul was not chosen to be an Apostle due to self-will, self-determination, or ego.

He was chosen because of the will, determination, choice, purpose, and inclination of God the Father.

Romans 9:15-16
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Whatever success you have is by the will of God!

Here is an important point. We do not choose God. God chose us!

Without His choosing us, our choosing Him would be an act of futility.

The Father not only chooses us; He equips us according the purpose of His call.

He is the Potter, and we are His clay! Romans 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

It is the faith given through His call that gives us the strength to continue living the life of faith.

The Father's determination-in-love is the only thing that stands between us and Satan's determination-of-death.

His grace was exhibited in, through, and because of Christ Jesus.

As a saint, you are pure, holy, and blameless before God. Your standing in society is of little concern!

Commentary Transliteration Clarification

All Greek transliterations used in these commentaries reflect the Englishman’s style transliteration.

Omega=oo, eta=ee