“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 9. Appreciation of the Mystery:
In this study, our goal is:
I. To understand the spiritual blessings ‘ IN ' Christ.
II. To recognize the foundations, work, and boundaries for the Church of Christ .
III. To understand our individual role in support of the collective work of the church.
Focusing on these points will give us at the end of the study an overall understanding of the church, the fullness of Christ!
In this specific lesson we are going to visit Paul's second prayer on behalf of these and all Christians. It is in this prayer that Paul is going to focus on his hope that they would comprehend and appreciate the love of Christ on their behalf.
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Writers Note: To truly appreciate something is to gratefully recognize its intrinsic value. The world is full of people who call themselves Christians; yet, they have not found or don't truly recognize the true value of what the Savior has done for them. If they had, the value of the church would not be subject to human speculation. It would on the other-hand, drive a true Christian to honor the foundations, framework, and initial design given the church by its true head.
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Remember, that in our last lesson, Paul did not want them to lose heart over his tribulation. He instead, wanted them to understand that his affliction and any affliction that might come upon any Christian who might suffer for the cause of Christ, would only work out for God's glory and their benefit. This appreciation for all God has done for man through Christ Jesus, motivated Paul to count himself blessed to suffer; to have confidence during his trials, and to feel privileged to be any part of the revelation of the mystery. This stands as a pattern for all of us today! True appreciations are as motivation to learn, act, and glorify God through Christ as valuable servants ‘ In ' Christ, protecting the foundations of His kingdom.
Now let's look at Paul's prayer:
Ephesians 3:14-15
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”
In these first two verses we have Paul's invocation. Understanding that Paul is Imploring God as Father and calling on Him will help us with some of the imagery.
For This Reason: Paul now proceeds to explain his motivation and hope for theirs, in the wonderful story of God's plan in Christ as explained in the preceding verses.
I bow my knees: This does not translate as pattern of an acceptable position for prayer over another. We know that throughout the scriptures there have been many positions that individuals have used, including Jesus ( Matthew 26:39; Luke 18:13 ; Luke 22:14 -17 ) . It was never about what position they took, but the validity in the prayer instead was determined by the condition of the heart. Paul's statement indicates that he has given himself to the will of God completely.
Father: Paul would address the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. All prayer is offered to the Father, and mediated by the Son. Paul would also recognize that it is from God as the originator of all authority, that all of heaven and earth have been placed and kept.
Ephesians 3:16-19 “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-- 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”
These four verses include the heart of Paul's petition. Remember that he wants them to comprehend the love of Christ, thus understanding the love of God from the beginning of the world.
Strengthened with might through His Spirit: God does His favors for the members of the divine family (‘ IN ' Christ) by the agency of the Spirit. This is for the benefit of the inner man, which means the spiritual being, which can be affected only by spiritual help.
This coincides with Paul's first prayer on their behalf, note: Ephesians 1:17-18
“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,”
The ability to have your eyes enlightened in wisdom and knowledge only transpires in the inner or spiritual man. Thus, the greater your understanding of what God would have you know the stronger in the might of His revelation you become. Note:
Romans 8:5-8 “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”
This understanding leads us right into the next thought!
That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith: The heart spoken of here is not the fleshly pump that resides in your chest. It is however, the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, and endeavors (Thayer's). Since Christ does not dwell literally or personally in any place on earth today, we know this verse does not use the heart in a physical sense. This is also verified by the phrase “ through faith ” as used by Paul. Faith comes by hearing the word of God ( Romans 10:17 ), and when man receives that word into his heart, he has the teaching of Jesus constantly with Him (strengthening of the Spirit). Note: Romans 8:9-11
“But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
Paul would explain to Christians in Colossi, just how the Spirit dwells in us, and how it enables us to be fruitful, note: Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding ; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God ;”
Paul would explain to Timothy that this knowledge, wisdom, and spiritual understanding would come from the God breathed and Spirit delivered word of God, note: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete , thoroughly equipped for every good work .”
Rooted and grounded in love: The idea is that a plant will take deep root, and that will give it a solid groundwork for which to make its growth. The soil in which the growth is to take place is love.
To know the love of Christ: This is similar in understanding to the thoughts we discussed from verse 8 . Just because we cannot fathom the length, depth, and height (thus un-searchable, or without boundaries) does not mean that we cannot take advantage of Christ's love via the message and instructions of the mystery (the Gospel). This imagery of immeasurable love is given to enhance the value and make those who are beginning to see the true values ‘ IN ' Christ, appreciate them even more.
When a man complies with the terms of salvation, he becomes the possessor of all that God has provided for him in this life and the next. There is nothing lacking in his spiritual needs ( Chapter 1 “every spiritual blessing” ), even though he does not fully understand this divine love.
Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever.” Amen.
These last two verses, Paul would end his prayer in a doxology (praise to God).
Him who is able: This does not say that he will do everything we ask, as some have said. It is God who knows better than we do, what is best for us. The thought is that God is able to do whatever He deems best, also, God will even do us such favors in a better form than we are able to think or express them.
Power in us. This has reference to the indwelling of the Spirit which we have discussed in the previous verses. The Spirit dwells in us through the word; the word delivers to us the mind of Christ, the mind of Christ enlightens our understanding of just what we should ask of God. This also acts as commentary on the difficult passage of Romans 8:26 ; as they teach the exact same thing.
To Him be glory: Men are expected to honor God, but they are not left to follow their own devices in offering honor to Him. Unless they proceed in the way that God has directed, their pretensions of honor will not be recognized by Him. It is here stated by the Apostle Paul that the glory that is offered to God is to be done in the church. This decree rules out all other attempts!
To all Generations: There are men who teach that the church was sufficient for the Lord's purposes in the beginning of the era, but that modern conditions make it necessary for new methods to be used. This verse speaks volumes concerning the Lord's wisdom in the church of Christ as it was once delivered for every generation, forever. AMEN!
Do you really appreciate what God has done ‘ IN ' Christ Jesus and in the establishment of the church, His body, the kingdom? Do you come together in a collective effort to give God glory? Are we honoring all His love for us, by honoring His house the way He built it? If not, this passage of scripture should cause you to begin to want to honor God, His way, right now!
Next: “ Interlude, the Answer to the Questions ”