“The Just Shall Live By Faith”
New King James Version Written by: David Hicks
Romans 1:17 “ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:11 “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith."
Hebrews 10:38 “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him."
“Articles of Faith”
The Church of Christ
(A Study in Ephesians)
Lesson 6. Far, Then Near, Now Fellow Citizens:
We are still in the process of investigating the three primary points that Paul has established in the first chapter:
I. What is the hope of His calling?
II. What are the riches of His inheritance in the saints?
III. What is God's great power toward those who believe?
In our previous lesson we discussed our condition ‘ outside ' of Christ (Dead in our trespasses and sins; walking according to the courses of the world, fulfilling the desires of the flesh, and children of wrath).
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(Writers note: The New Testament makes a distinction between those who are in a covenant relationship ‘ in ' Christ, and those who are on the outside. As there is only one covenant ‘ in ' Christ; there is only one church belonging to Christ, and since there is only one way to be separated to Christ (saints), this term outside has application to everyone else. The laws of citizenship have application only to those who are citizens ‘ in ' Christ. In addition the spiritual benefits provided by Christ are only applicable to those ‘ in ' Christ. This is elaborated upon by the Apostle Paul, note:
Colossians 4:5 “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.”
1 Thessalonians 4:12 “that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.”
1 Corinthians 5:13 “But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "put away from yourselves the evil person." )
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We also discussed being made alive together with Christ. We are now going to digress in time just a little to set up a time chain, note:
Ephesians 2:11-13
“Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Here Paul is going to a Gentile specific point of view. Up to know everything has been taught in a universal setting. Here Paul signifies them as having been without Christ, aliens to Israel , and strangers to the covenants of promise. This denotes a time prior to the Gospel dispensation and begins to establish his point of unification in Christ.
The Gentiles were aliens or foreigners from the nation of the Jews. Strangers to the promises that were common knowledge to Israel . Although the promise to the patriarch Abraham was universal in scope on behalf of all men, yet it was not known apart from those with access to the writings of the Old Covenant. This caused them to be without hope, in the same sense as being without Christ was used in verses 1-3 .
These who were afar off in the eyes of the Jews, have been made near by the blood of Christ. This is said in contrast to the animal sacrifices that are offered under the Mosaic system (Which were done for the benefit of the Jews only!). These animal sacrifices were individual or nationally benefit specific, but the blood of Christ has been offered for all men of all time. In the next verses, because of the blood of Christ, the Gentiles can now be on equal footing with the Jews, note:
Ephesians 2:14-18
“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
Prior to Christ, Jews and Gentiles were separated religiously by the partition wall of the Mosaic law, which was given to the Jews only. This wall of division has been torn down by replacing the Old system, which was people specific, with a new and greater one that opens to all men universally.
This new peaceful and unified gospel advances all those who obey it to the body which is the church that Paul spoke of in Chap. 1:22-23 . Christ's death on the cross made it possible for both Jew and Gentile to serve God in one religious system, thus slaying the division between them.
The Christ revealed His gospel of peace through the Apostles whom He commissioned to go into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature ( Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15 -16; Acts 1:8 ). The message of this Gospel is access ; the privilege, regardless of background or sinful status, to come to God and remain with Him in a relationship through Christ in His church. In the last passage of this lesson we will see that this is all due to Christ, note:
Ephesians 2:19-22
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
The initial statements of this passage go back to the writers note , in the opening of this lesson. We have through Christ become citizens in the household of God (the church; Chap. 1:22 -23; I Timothy 3:15 ). We are all citizens of the same heavenly government. This government is composed of saints, which means those who have been made righteous by obedience to the Gospel, and it is called a household because the church is regarded as the great family of God ‘ in ' Christ. Note:
Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”
Every building is erected for a specific purpose . This divine structure is no exception. It is to be the spiritual dwelling place of God. It is comprised of a special spiritual people who offer themselves as sacrifice to God through Christ, note:
1 Peter 2:9-10
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”
Romans 12:1-2
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
All of this fitted together into one holy temple in the Lord! As we will look into in more detail, was God's plan from the very beginning.
Summary.
Chapter 2 , goes a long way to explain the three points that Paul is dealing with that we have recorded at the beginning of the these lessons on chapter 2 . All true Christians (Saints, ‘in' Christ) have journeyed from disobedience (outside of Christ) into a covenant relationship with Him through obedience (Made alive or quickened from the dead, into citizenship in the kingdom). This process has unified all men in the peace of the Gospel (universal access, no discrimination). Having been unified by the Gospel, they have been fitted together into a holy temple. This temple; church, body of Christ, and household of God, offers itself freely as a holy sacrifice of worship to God (Separated from the world, and no longer servants of sin), and God dwells with them in the Spirit.
I have a rhetorical question for everyone at this point. How important is this one church and those who legitimately make it up?
Next: “ The Mystery Revealed ”