TJHANKS

Since in the past we were ruled by Satan, it is his favorite ploy to remind us of the past. We need to forget our indulgences and selfish desires, for they distract our focus from Jesus. We can't change our past, but our past does not need be our present condition. We must forget what we were and look at who is in us and will guide us to His glory. Part of this process is forgiveness. Everybody has somebody to forgive, for selfish indulgences of the past are often motivated, by being wronged by others. Vengeance feeds our earthly passions for flesh. Forgiveness allows us to let go the past and to focus on the present and our future with Christ.

This passage answers why non-believers are "dead". 1) They "...walk according to thw way of this world...". 2) Their influence is "...according to the ruler of the power of air...". 3) They are "indulging the desires of the flesh and mind...". The difference between them and us is that through Christ we are under no condemnation for our sin..in fact we are dead to the penalty of sin and are alive in Christ. We have hope in eternal inheritance that we are promised, where those who arfe dead will end up in the everlasting lake of fire. We are "walking in the Spirit" and have a mindset on Christ, though we have moments of the flesh, we are not ruled by it. It is our responsibility to "lift up the cross" to reveal the "agape" love of God. Not just by showing them the Word, but by living by the "Word". To reveal that we are led by the "Spirit", that we are not to be lead by the **** of the flesh, the **** of the eyes and the pride of life.

To know Christ is to be a co-heir with Him. To know Christ is to have faith in Him, to know that He loves us and that He has obtained the victory for us. Faith means trust how can you have a relationship withot trust. Like any relationship we must grow in it. I often fear that I "know about" Christ rather than "know" Him. Yet I have seen changes in my life that can't be explained except through my relationship with Christ.

Simply put, God is in control. He makes kings, and takes down kings. Even the wicked kings are under His control. We forget that God has aasured us the victory already. We are powerless against our "spiritual enemies" if we are not truly converted and trust God. "For the battle is not ours, but God's". Temporal victories and lossess are not always heavenly victories or defeats. We must trust God!

We are powerless! Without Christ we ca do nothing! Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! So it must be our faith. Our question should always be, "Are we truly converted?" Too many "Christians" are trying to please God and not truly accepting His grace and His Son's sacrifice, which is what saves us. Is our faith of the Spirit or the flesh? Too many Christians have made God in their image. They have stopped opening up the Word and started to think for themselves and rationalize God in their lives. Wimpy faith comes from lack of true conversion and a belief in a gospel that isn't "Christ on the Cross". It is changed when the congregations start opening up to the word, instead of believing every pastor,evangelist and hot new author. People must seek truth on their own and not rely on the "arm of the flesh". All power is in Christ, so should all our faith and trust.

Righteousness by faith is a matter of the heart and the Spirit. Righteousness by the law is of the flesh. It is practice, playing church. Through faith we trust God, through the law we are trusting ourselves. In our congregation its horrible, people forget that the Cross needs to be lifted up, not the law. Through the flesh we are condemned, through the Spirit there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). Society will pick us apart continoiusly because we are sinners and they want to hold us up and judge us and ridicule us for being "hypocrites". They can't see faith. The carnally minded can't comprehend what is of the Spirit. Here in the United States we live in an "..we must earn it" society. The fact that we have been given a gift and have been justified by no effort of our own plays against our pride and ego. The rich man down the street wouldn't want a Mercedes-Benz if all the poor people were just getting them for free after he had worked hard to earn his. The fact that the gift of salvation is open for everybody goes against a capitolistic society and theology.

Paul understands that his background was based on tradition of Jewish practices it frustrates him because he sees the errors of his fathers and bretheren. So much of it is wasted time and energy. he sees that the Jewish leadership was more interested in keeping power than advancing truth. Our backgrounds our imbedded into our minds and reasonings. It also conflicts at times with family loyalties. Some families take it personal when you change denominations. Traditions are part of the flesh, seeking truth through Christ will create storms. Jesus warned us that it will put son against father, brother against sister....

This is a big one for me...churches that brag about being commandment keeping churches as mine does...fall into the trap that is what saves them. The practice of "religion" is of the flesh in many ways. It's such a fine line, we know Christ and what to do and what not, yet we question our own motives for why we do it and onme can begin to doubt their own motives. I remind myself when it comes to that choice of questioning my motive, I rather be obedient and I work out the rest later. Our flesh doesn't want to do God's will, never has, never will. In my church it shows up through putting doctrine ahead of Christ. Don't get me started I could go on for hours on this subject

To know that I would inherit a great some of money in a few years..would make me live my life more healthier, not just physically, but spiritually too. As far as our eternal inheritance, it reminds me that all things on earth are temporary and that we have the true blessed assurance of a grand unlimited inheritance and to throw it away for temporal, earthly treasures is ridiculous. Since our eternal is inheritance is limitless we should be encouraging all our brothers and sisters in Christ when times are tough. I want to spend eternity with as many as I can.

In Paul's epistle to Titus he refers to the blessed hope, the second coming. This reminds us to focus on the eternal, not the temporal. When we give up the the eternal for worldly, temporary pleasures we are committing suicide. We see what the carnally minded cant see.

The "end term" is at Christ's second coming when He comes for His redeemed. The Holy Spirit is a "Spirit of promise" that will guide us. It also shows that we are "sealed" owned by God, "were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30). God is with us through trials of our life until the end. Finally, the Holy Spirit is a guarantee, a first installment if you will, it secures a legal claim on us. Through belief God not only promises final victory, but GUARANTEES IT! AMEN!!!!

God put man on earth so He could be here! Eat, drink whatever we do, we do for the glory of God. Jesus came to earth not only to save us, but to vindicate the character of God. We are to be like Christ. We are to vindicate the character of God and praise Him for the good and the bad.

God is no respector of persons, He plays no favorites. Those who have Christ in them will be in the kingdom. God planned this from the foundations of Earth. His plan of salvation was not made up as things went along in earth's history. That is why it is important to exhort and encourage and even rebuke (when neccessary) other Christians or non-believers...God wants us all there! "All is all..." I love those 3 words in the new testament. The Father gave us to His Son and He gave us His Son...; John 10:27-30 says it all!

I can tell you very easily that I would be caught up in my indulgences if I wasn't redeemed..I was saved only 4 years ago, before that i was a drunk and everything that goes along with that. I am no longer a slave to my indulgences, thanks be to God for giving me the victory through Jesus Christ! To be without redemption is to be without hope! I am dead to sin and alive in Christ!

The problem was lack of sacrifice by their leaders. The leaders were looking for position and power and not service. Paul describes Timothy as of "proven character" and "like minded" pertaining to himself (Paul). Service, service and service! He doesn't seek his own power. God wants us to serve Him with our "all". Epaphroditus was on the verge of death because of his sacrfice to our Lord. It goes back to Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mindlet each other esteem others better than himself."

For too long some churches taught that we were born into the family of God, but we are all sinners from the beginning and separate from God. The Apostle John reminds us in John 1:12,13 and 3:3,5 that we are to be "born again". "...He gave us the right to be children of God". God loves us so much He says :...be apart of My family!". We have done nothing to deserve this privilige, only by His grace can we call Him "Father". To know the Creator and Master of the universe is desiring us to be His adopted child is overwhelming, because we are now co-heirs to the kingdom!!!

To be "holy" is to be sanctified, set apart from the world. Ephesians talks so much about "in Christ" that is being "holy" when Christ is the dominate influence of your life. When we accept His truth and live it through Him. Holiness was God's intent for all us, that is why we are created in His image. Yet God knew us and our carnal nature and still loved us enough to have a plan of salvation so we could spend eternity with Him, if we choose. The only way I can stand "blameless" before God is on that "Last Day", when He looks at me, He sees not my righeousness, which is filthy rags, but sees the righteousness of His Son Jesus. To be "holy"is to look in the mirror and not see self, but to see Jesus.

The only thing that is scary about predestination is me! Knowing that God predestined all of us, yet we can choose otherwise reminds me that God has a plan for me and if I subject my will to His I will be with Him eternally and forever. For which is my comfort that knowing the sinner I am, He still takes time for me because He wants me with Him forever! Paul is reminding us that the plan of salvation is not an afterthought, that God saw the issues ahead at the foundation of the world. "Christ died once for all" Hebrews 9:26, it is up to us to accept the gift of His salvation. To know that God is in control and always had a plan for us is worthy of all our praise!!!!!

Sefless concern is so rare among church leaders because, their concern is so much on public prestige and position. When it comes to selfless concern I refer back to Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves." How this verse strikes my heart, I have spent 3 years preaching in my area and was struck by this verse as if I had never read it before. This verse answers Cain's question "Am I my brother's keeper?" Paul says "YES!" The refining in my life is painful at times, because I have to face my faults, but Oh what a God who never gives up on me!

To be "in Christ" is the comfort and assurance of salvation to me. That there is no condemnation for my sins. That I am covered by His righteousness. That the fruits of His Spirit (Gal. 5:22) are part of me. That the guilt for my past transgressions need not be. The promise of His inheritance, because not what I did, but what He did. That I know Him and He knows me. That when others see me that they see Him, not me.

Hello, I'm Tom from Spokane, Washington. I'm a lay preacher and a Bible instructor. Ephesians is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I look forward to the lessons.

I always think of Job with questions like this. Our sufferings are to glorify God. "Though He slay me I will still trust in Him!" God allows our struggles, because He has given us the porportionate amount of strength to handle the trial. How we handle our struggles reveals where our relationship with God is at. God is contiuing to "perfect" us daily. To know that God knows I am able to handle the struggle and trials I am in is encouraging because it means He believes in me!

"Holding fast or holding forth" to the Word of Life comes down to one thing believing in the Author and Finisher of our faith. We know what He asks of us through His word and we, through a loving obedience and being in Christ, do. We hold on to His promises and trust that His will is for our best. The Word should be with us at all times, thus we know His will. If we don't hold fast or forth the Word of Life we don't have Christ in us, nor do we have any hope. A church that doesn't hold fast mor forth to the Word of Life is just a building with a sign. When the Word holds forth or fast in the church it is God's sanctuary!

The key for a church to shines as the stars in the dark sky is unity. Granted not everyone will agree on everything, but the importance is to be the body of Christ and to reflect His love. Complaining and arguing leads to discontent in the body. We are to lift up the cross and when we put the complaining behind us and remember what the church is about, then we become the light on the hill that no one can hide. We remove self and replace it with Christ. Jesus is the Light of the world and we need to reflect it. I have seen the ill effects of what arguing and complaining can do. It makes the church unattractive to the community, people seeking selfish gain or their personal beliefs. The one thing I try to do in these situations is to remind the church of what is important. Loving God and loving thy neighbor!

When Christ is truly in us we our delivered from the penalty of sin, we are still sinners because we still have the tendancies from Adam (the flesh), yet as we work out our own salvation it is by allowing God to work in us. We must continue to seek the spritual food that God offers us, not the temporal food. Our works can never save us, but the works through Christ will. Good works are a product of our salvation, not a means to it. Our deliverance from the "death penalty" comes through our relationship with God, not by birth or church affiliation.