emmythanks

We actually become members of God's very own family, citizens of God's country, and you belong in God's household with every other Christian we are no longer strangers to God and foreigners to heaven. The title of hagios, ie. being dedicated or consecrated to the service of God was once exculsively for the Jew alone but now it has also being granted to the gentile believers as well. We have being set apart, consecrated by & for God alone. SHALOM Emeka.

q1. (Ephesians 2:16-18) Why is "access to the Father" important? In what way is access to the Father similar having diplomatic relations? How did we obtain this access? Extra credit: How does this access fulfill the two greatest commandments (Matthew 22:36-40) and God's purpose for us? " Access to the Father " Is a trilling revelation, considering my origin - that's where I'm coming from. Before now I was cut-off from God, dead, enslaved in sin, excluded from citizenship in Israel, a foreigner to the covenant of promise, without any hope in this world and without God in this world, I could not pled my case because there was no case - I was guilty from birth! Even though I tried to reach Him or do the right things, nothing that I did could get His attention, I was doomed. I was forced to take all kinds of punishment without any help or hope for help even as I cried out. When suddenly everything changed, I was reconciled to Him by the death of His son Jesus Christ on the cross, infact there was a SWAPPING of POSITIONS. Jesus took my place that I may take His. I became alive! I was quickened, raised and now seated at His right hand in heavenly realms. This new position qualified me to have direct access to Him at any time/where, and the word says of me to come in boldly into His presence. With this access I now share a common life (Spirit) with God, for me this is the fulcrum of all other things which I have being priveledged to share with God, by this access. The basis of this access is, -- "in" or "by" (Greek preposition en) "one Spirit" (2:18). This access is not to lesser beings but to the God - the Creator Himself! Enhanced by the death of His son Jesus Christ and enabled by His Spirit (The Holy Spirit), the access I now enjoy to the Father has actually facilitated my ability to fulfil the two greatest commandments in the bible (Matt 22:36-40) and God's purpose for my/our life(ves). First, it shed and stimulated the love of God in my heart by removing the barrier that stood oposing every move I made toward God. It also gave me the opportunity of seeing and experiencing God's love first hand - that actually stired my love ( I can love Him now because he first loved me). Secondly, this access has facilitated the purpose of God i.e in uniting all His own in Christ through the Church, in that, I am aware that we all though from different backgrounds share in one Spirit - HIS SPIRIT. I'm also aware that we all gained access to Him not by our good works but by the finished work of His Son Jesus Christ. With all these in sight, I make myself ever willing, available and yielding to ensure the fulfilment of His commandments and purpose in my life. SHALOM Emeka

Ephesians 3:20-21) Where does God's power work according to verse 20? How much power is at work there quantitatively? Why isn't it more evident? How does exercising Christ's power on earth bring glory to God? Exposition Wahoo! !! This immeasureable power is at work in us, here on earth as individuals and together as a church. Something that should propel us, telling us that no matter what happens we are adequately covered. This power can't be quantified, its just beyond anything we can think, dream or wish for. I simply understand this as God challenging us to try Him - "Stretch me, my children and see if you can touch, talk less of exhaust what I have prepared for you". Lack of faith, or rather unbelief is a major hinderance. Spiritual blindness is another, many christians are blind spiritually and in the use of this power physical power does not count. Closely related is the fact that we live our life more in the physical than in the spirit, forgeting that the spirit controls the physical. As we Exercise Christ's power God is glorified because, its a display of His matchless grace that he took us who were no people and transformed us into a people of great power. SHALOM Emeka

(Ephesians 1:23) What does it mean for us Christians that Christ is "head over everything for the church"? What does this say about the Church's power? This means that Christ is head over all that exists, all of God's creation. The purpose of the headship is not entirely for lordship alone but for the unity of God's creation and to fulfill God's plan. The implication of this for the Church is this; the Church has been chosen as the medium (channel) through(by) which this power and authority is to be excersiced. The remarkable revealation is that we are his body - the church! And its only when we are in line and in tune with God's purpose & in Christ Jesus will this great power & authority be available for us or at our disposal. SHALOM Emeka

From the stand point of Power, being raised up by God with Christ Jesus simply means we have at work in us, the same power that broke through the claws of death & defiled the power of the grave, which has held all mankind captuive before now. " ... Seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus...."? Signifies position from where all who are in Jesus Christ is to operate from. We were not just delivered with power from the power & influence of the devil but we were equally placed in a position where we are now above him and anything other thing he (devil) can come up with - Hellaluya. SHALOM Emeka

The Key to understanding Paul's statement rests on these words "RIGHT HAND" & HEAVENLY REALMS". The message is this; that God raised Jesus from the dead and enthroned Him at His right hand - a position of highest power & authority in the heavenly realms- the spiritual sphere & dimension in which God, Christ, the Powers of darkness and believers exist together. The exaltation of Christ, by God was without boundaries or limits. In every sense, physically & spiritually - in this age and in the age to come power, dominon & autority has being given to Christ Jesus which is far above any other rule, authority or power. And by this action God put everything under His feet, impling that Christ has complete power, dominion & authority over all other spirits/human known & unknown to the Ephesians. The importance of this message to the Ephesians and to us today can not be over emphasised. To fully appreciate who i/we are in Christ we must see the position from where we operate or from where we have be enthroned to operate from.

First, I believe that the eyes mentioned here does not refer to the physical but the spiritual - perception (Vision). As God's greatest mystery "the Church", Paul saw the comprehension of this power bestowed on the the church as very important and a knowledge every christian needs to have inorder to walk in the fullness of God calling and purpose. The richness and complexity of the Ephesian society could also have prompted desire in Paul to see the Church rise above all human comfort, challenges and everything society has to offer. The word 'enlighten' means to give intellectual or spiritual light to; instruct; impart knowledge to. Like the physical eyes, our ability to see depends on the availability of light. Light does not only reveal it also describes. The problem with their eyes can be traced back to the fall of man where our receptiblility to the spiriptual was darkened (actually destroy/perverted/corrupted/covered). The bible say its only in Christ is the veil removed (2 Corth 4:4). This inspired Paul's prayer because the Light in Jesus Christ sheds spiritual light to areas of our ignorance enabling us to know Him with an aim of becoming like Him and attaining to His fullness. This incomparable great Power as revealed is at work in the us - the church. And Paul likens it unto the the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead. This is amazing and the most thrilling news in the bible. That, I (we) have access to the same power that raised Christ from the dead, that this power is actually at work in me (us) and that this power is not limited to this age alone is something I would need God's grace to fully comprehend. Paul's passion here was enable the Ephesian Christians ( all believers) see and walk in the exalted postion they have been called to by the position facilited by their relationship with Jesus Christ. To see the Church (God's Joker) as the unstopable force God planned and purposed her to be.