Wednesday Service #50 Galatians 6 Ephesians 1-2 By Josh Monday

the podcast. How can my voice be rasby? All right, let me just shout out a couple of folks that commented on last week's Wednesday Service. Catalyst Jones, my brother, Thank you, man, Brad Gillis, thank you, b thank you, Angela Kelly, thank you. MDMP twenty two, thank you. I appreciate you. Let me check out Sunday service. We had three comments so far. Someone said, thank you Josh awesome. Your name is three ones you five to one, four h z R you and a bunch of other numbers.

You probably know who you are. Thank you. I appreciate you. MDMP twenty two, thank you. And Whiskers White, Hey, I haven't seen you in a while. Brother, Thank you so much. I appreciate you bro as always loved the comments and thank you MDMP twenty two every single show on point. Let's go. So hopefully you guys are doing good this week. I got a second interview tomorrow, yay, And I think tomorrow's interview is actually going to be like a more of a discussion on what they're going to pay me.

So what a blessing. God is great, you know, he, like I said, it was a divine appointment for me. I think he's involved in you know, God's sovereignty is

definitely shining right now. His glory is shining. Man. I'll glory to God because he put me in a position and gave me the strength when I was in the interview and the first interview, man, he was really I prayed, like, Lord, give me every word that you want me to say, Give me every word they want to hear, you know, like basically, just make it so that I'm on point.

That's why I don't do interviews at nine thirty at night like it is right now, because yeah, it's a little tougher to be on point, but it's all good. We're going to crush this Bible study. So yes, so let me go ahead and pull up Galatians six, and we are going to do an intro for Galatian six. But yeah, guys, I think I might have had the job. I might have got it. I will let you guys know on Sunday Service whether I got it unless they want to have a third interview, which I don't see

that happening, but who knows. I hope not. I hope it's just this interview. Get hired. Put my two week notice in on my job, which is going to be so hard. Please pray for me on that because I've been with these guys for nine years and I you know, they're like my brothers, you know, all of them. So it's going to be very up for me. But you know, it's things happen, and sometimes you got to move on and start new, you know, And it's like a new adventure,

a new chapter of my life. So it's gonna be amazing. If anybody that, if anybody that's at my work that's listening to this right now, don't be mad at me. This will be out by the time you guys know, because if I get the job tomorrow, I have to give you guys notice tomorrow. So anyways, Galatian six wraps up Paul's letter to the Galatian Church. What they focus on practical Christian living, emphasizing mutual care, the law of sowing and reaping, and boasting only in the Cross of Christ.

It is a call to bear one another's burdens, sow to the spirit, and stay grounded in the message to the Cross. Amen. So let me go ahead and pull up the teaching points here, perfect, and then let me go ahead and share the screen. Oh yeah, so this is gonna pull up my YouTube home all right? Oh yeah, that's because they did an update. It's all right, yep, let me don't do that. No no, no, no, no no, okay, let me pull you down a little bit. And John, I need you to be over here. Sorry, guys, technical

difficulties sometimes it happens. But it's all good. Galatians, where are you at, bam, And we're gonna be in chapter six. Okay, let's do it, all right, So Galatians six, we're gonna read one through five and then I have some notes for you guys. Okay, let me get ready, all bear and share burdens. Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trustpass you who are spiritual restores such a one

in a spirit of gentleness. Considering yourself less, you also be tempted bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, then he is nothing. He deceives himself. But let one examine his own work, and then he will be rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one

shall bear his own load. Okay, So bearing one's another's burdens is a Galatians six verse two states, carry one another's burdens in this way, and you will fulfill the law of Christ. This verse emphasizes the importance of community and mutual support, reflecting Christ's love through our actions. Let's

look a little deeper into bearing one another's burdens. Bearing one another's burdens is a biblical principle that emphasizes the importance of supporting and caring for fellow believers in time in need, distress, or weakness. This concept is rooted in the teachings of the New Testament, and as vital, is

a vital aspect of Christian community and fellowship. The primary scriptural reference for bearing one another's burdens as found in Galatians six to two, where the apostle Paul instructs carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. This verse highlights the call for believers to actively engage in helping each other, reflecting the

love and compassion that Christ demonstrated. The law of Christ mentioned in Galatians six to two refers to the commandment to love one another as Jesus loved us, as stated in John thirteen thirty four, a new commandment. I give you love one another as I have loved you, so you will also must love one another. So you also must love one another. Bearing one another's burdens is a prack to go expression of this love, fulfilling the moral

and ethical demands of Christian discipleship. So you guys, get why he says Christ's law because he's talking about Christ's lawries as a new commandment. I give you love one another's I have loved you, so you must love. Must love one another bearing one another's burdens. So practical implications of this bearing burdens can take many forms, including emotional support,

financial assistance, prayer encouragement, and physical health. Romans twelve fifteen encourages believers to rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, understanding the importance of empathy and shared experiences within the Body of Christ. Remember earlier I talked about community and unity. The act of bearing one another's burdens fosters unity and strengthens the community of believers. In one Corinthians twelve, verse twenty six, Paul writes, if one

part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. This interconnectedness is essential for the health and growth of the church, as it reflects the unity of the Body of Christ and then challenges and sacrifices. While bearing burdens is a noble calling, it can also be challenging and require personal sacrifice. Philippians two, verse three through four, Advisors, do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility, consider one another's

consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only into your own interests, but also in the interests of others. This mindset requires humility and a willingness to prioritize the needs of others. Guys, are we doing that? Are we doing that in our life. I'm not saying you guys, are I try my very best? But am I doing this every single time? That's the question. We try, you know, we try to help others, right, It's something I find myself doing where some people that

I know get annoyed by that. So it's a little tough, okay. Role of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in enabling believers to bear one another's burdens. Galatians five twenty two through twenty three lists the fruit of the Spirit, which includes love, kindness, and patience. Quality is essential for supporting others. The spirit and powers and guide's believers to act in love and compassion, reflecting the

character of Christ. Conclusion. Bearing one another's burdens is a fundamental aspect of Christian life, rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles. It calls belief to live out their faith through acts of love, support, and sacrifice, thereby fulfilling the law of Christ and strengthening the body of believers. Everything that I talked about right there is like a great portion of how we should be, you know, and what we should be striving for. Everything that I just

read off right there. That's why I thought it was so important to read all that, because man, it's like, as Christians, we should be doing this to the best of our ability or trying or striving to be like this, and just be careful. Obviously, I know that it doesn't say that in here, but you know, just be careful, help as many people as you can help. You know, just be careful of those that want to take advantage of you as a person because you have such a

big heart. Because I'm not saying that, I guess I'd rather be in the position where I'm getting to take advantage of because I'm too nice, than to be a jerk and not be sharing anything or not a assisting others, or not helping people at all. So I guess there's a fine line that you got to find there, Okay. And then in verse five it says for each one shall bear his own load. Verse five reminds us for

each one should carry his own load. While we are called to support others, we must also take responsibility for our own actions and spiritual growth. Some people would say, well, it's up to my pastor to make me grow, you know, spiritually. Here it's up to my pastor to teach me. And if I don't learn from my pastor, he's not doing his job. Well that's he's definitely should be preaching or he should be teaching, or should be doing both depending on his gift. But definitely it's up to us, right

personal responsibility. It's up to us because when we stand before God, our pastor is not going to be there to talk for us to God saying hey, they were there every day every week at church. Lord, no, no, no, See, Jesus is the one that's going to represent us, and you know he's he's our defense attorney, right, So what I would say is just we are responsible for ourselves

and our own spiritual growth. You could be listening to your pastor on Sunday and then on Monday while you're you know, driving to work, you can listen to another pastor on Monday morning and then you know, you go to work, and depending on what kind of work you have, you could either listen to I'm Blessed, where I get to listen to stuff from you know, my headphones, or you know, you can listen to pastors preach during the day when you go to the gym. You can listen

to the word of God. You can listen to maybe worship songs, whatever you want to do, you know, but

you know, your spiritual growth is up to you. What happens to a lot of us is we get stuck watching something on social media or watching YouTube, or me like sometimes I'll be, you know, trying to concentrate on Galatians, and while we're here watching sovereign Soul, unchanged mind something on like flat Earth or something talking about disproving gravity or something about you know, some conspiracy, some new shooting that happened, and my mind gets starts wandering. You know

what happens to me. But we're we are definitely responsible for our own actions and our own spiritual growth. We cannot blame what we're doing on anybody else because it's really your choice. When you get presented with the temptation, you're the one that takes debates, so it's on you and me. You know. Personal responsibility is the definition of it.

Personal responsibility. Biblically, personal responsibility refers to the moral and ethical obligation of individuals to account for their actions, make decisions, and bear the consequences of those decisions, and this fundamental concept in Christian theology, emphasizing the importance of individual accountability before God and others. Okay, just want to let you know that, and then I'm going to go over a little description of verses one through five real quick, and

then we'll move on to the next verse six. Okay, So verse Galatians six one through five is about lovingly restoring a fellow Christian cut in a sin, while being mindful of one's own potential for pride and temptation. Key themes include bearing one another's burdens which we talked about,

restoring with the general spirit, and avoiding prideful judgment. It teaches that those who are spiritually mature should help others, and that everyone is responsible for their own personal load, but also obligated to help carry the burdens of others that have become too heavy to bear alone. So key meanings of Galatians six one through five restore with gentleness. If someone is caught in a sin, the.

your own salvation and faith. And then examine yourself instead of looking down on others, examine your own life to ensure that you are serving out of love rather than a desire for recognition. You're going to be serving out of love and humility, okay, rather than a desire for recognition. Thought i'd go over that. Now. Let's go ahead and move to verse six, and we're going to read six through ten. Be generous and do good. Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with

him who teaches. Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. For whoever a man sows that, he will also reap. For he who sows in his flesh will will of the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. Right,

so let's go ahead and stop there. In verses seven and eight, it warns, do not be deceived. God is not mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap. The one who sows please his flesh, sows to please his flesh well. From the flesh will reap destruction. But the one who sows with the spirit, from the spirit will reap eternal life. Is what it says. The principle underscores the consequences of our choices and the importance of living by this spirit. Let's see what the principle of sowing

and reaping is. Principle of sewing and reaping is a fundamental Biblical concept that illustrates the cause and effect relationship between actions and their consequences. This principle is deeply rooted in both the Old and New Testament and serves as a moral and spiritual guideline for believers. In the Old Tests,

we have Genesis eight twenty two. God establishes the natural order, while the earth endoer seed, time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall it never sees. This verse underscores the reliability of this sowing and reaping cycle as part of God's creation. And then we have Proverbs twenty to eight. It says here the principles he who sows and justice will reap disaster, and the rod

and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. Here the principle is applied to the human behavior, indicating that actions, whether righteous or wicked, ye'll corresponding outcomes. And then also in the New Testament, we have the parable of the sower. In Matthew thirteen, verses three through nine, Jesus uses the imagery of sowing seed to describe the reception of the

word of God and different types of hearts. The varied results, ranging from fruitfulness to bareness, illustrates how the condition of

one's heart affects spiritual growth and product activity. And then we already talked about Galatians six, verses seven through eight, where Paul articulates the principle, and then it says the principle of sowing and reaping is applical to various aspects of life, including personal conduct, relationships, and stewardship, and Tewo Corinthians nine, verse six, Paul applies the principle of generosity. Consider this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. Whoever

sows generously will also reap generously. This encourages believers to be generous, trusting that they're giving or result in abundant blessings. And then in James three eight he says peacemakers who sow in peace reap the fruit of righteousness. This underscores the importance of cultivating peace and righteousness in one's relationship. And then in Revelation fourteen fourteen through sixteen, the imagery

of harvest is used to describe the final judgment. Then I saw, Then I looked and saw a white cloud, And seating on the cloud was the one the son of Man, with a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. And another angel came out of the temple, calling in a loud voice to the one seated on the cloud, Swing your sickle reap before the time has come to harvest, for the crop of the earth is ripe. So the one seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the

earth was harvested. The passage illustrates the ultimate fulfillment of the sewing and reaping principle, where the righteous and the wicked received their due rewards. Conclusion, the principle is sowing and reaping serves as a timely reminder of the moral and spiritual laws established by God and encourages believers to live righteously, act generously, and remain mindful of the eternal consequences of their actions. Okay, very important there. And then

verse nine perseverance in doing good. Verse nine encourages let us not grow weary and well doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Persistence and righteousness is key to spiritual growth and blessing. And then the Law of Christ is what the chapter kind of highlights. This whole chapter the highlights. The chapter highlights the fulfillment of the law through love and service, pointing to the ultimate example of Christ's sacrificial love.

And what's the example of the law of Christ, so we kind of get the gist of it through the verse. The term the law of Christ is a theological concept found in the New Testament, primarily associated with the teachings and commandments of Jesus Christ. It is often understood as the ethical and moral teachings that Jesus imparted to his followers, which are seen as fulfilling and transcending the mosaic law

given in the Old Testament. The phrase law of Christ is explicitly mentioned in Galatians six y two, which we read earlier carrying one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Another significant reference is found in First Corinthians nine, verse twenty one, to those without the law, I became the one without the law, though I am not outside the law of God, but I am under the law of Christ to win those

without the law. Here Paul distinguishes between the mosaic law and the law of Christ, indicating that his conduct is guided by the latter. Just want to let you guys know that. And then the commandment of love is a central theme and John thirteen thirty four through thirty five, where Jesus says a new commandment, I give you love one another as I have loved you, so that you will also love one another. So you also must love one another. By this, everyone will know that my disciples,

you love one another. This commandment encapsulate the essence of the Law of Christ, emphasizing the love is defining, characteristic, and in summary, the Law of Christ represents the ethical teachings of Jesus centered on love for God and neighbor, and is empowered by the Holy Spirit. It serves as a guiding prince for Christian conduct, transcending the mosaic law

wiy fulfilling its moral imperatives. Okay, so just wanted to go over that real quick with you, and then let me just go over a quick description of Versus six through ten that we just read. Teachers teach Galatians six six through ten teaches believers to support those who teach them and to do good to all, especially to those in the family of faith. He uses the principle of sowing and reaping to explain that actions have consequences. Sowing to the flesh leads to corruption, while sewing to the

spirit results in eternal life. Therefore, Christians are encouraged to be patient, preserve and doing good, and trust that they will reap a harvest if they don't give up. Key themes support teachers. Believers are instructed to share their good things with those who teach them the word of God, meaning they should financially support their church and leaders, sowing and reaping. This metaphor illustrates that our actions have a

spiritual consequence. Sowing to the flesh, investing in selfish, sinful and worldly desires leads to corruption and decay. Sowing to the spirit, investing in the spread of God's word and spiritual growth leads to eternal life first. And then also, I just want to tell you guys that when I read this, believers are instructed to share their good things with those who teach them the word of God, meaning

they should financially support their church and leaders. That's not pointed for you guys to financially support me in any way. If you guys want to join my Patreon, hey, that's awesome. That's just kind of like supports the ministry. But you guys are definitely not encouraged to support this ministry in any way. You could support cult and conspiracy because cult conspiracy supports this ministry. So when I'm reading this, it's just key themes for you guys to understand for your

current church that you guys go to. Okay, this is not anything about anything about supporting this ministry. Okay. Perseverance in doing good. The passage encourages believers to not grow weary in doing good because a harvest is coming at the right time. Doing good to all believers are to be. Believers are to be opportunities to do good to everyone be, but with a special priority given to those in the

Christian community. Responsibility. The passage emphasizes personal responsibility for one's action, stating that God cannot be mocked and the people will ultimately reap what they sew. All right, now, I'm going to go ahead and read Galatians six, verses eleven through fifteen.

It says, see with the see with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand, as many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer person execution for the cross of Christ. For not even those who are circumcised keep the law.

But they desire to keep you circumcised, that you may boast in your flesh, But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation. And this is a we'll go ahead and go over a little brief description. We just read Galatians six eleven through fifteen.

Paul emphasizes boasting only in the Cross of Jesus Christ, not in human achievements or religious rituals like circumcision, because the Cross makes the world irrelevant and creates a new creation and believers signifying that salvation and identifying identity came come from grace, not works, leading to true peace and

reliance on Christ finished work. Paul contrasts his genuine boasting in the Cross with false teachings judaizers who wanted to boast in convert's physical obedience circumcision just to gain status. All right, what's some of the key themes that we talked about? Well. In verse eleven, Paul writes the end of his letter in large letters as a personal signature, emphasizing the importance and truth of his message against the

false teachers, showing his deep care for the Galatians. In verse twelve, the Judaizers false teachers pressure Gentiles to get circumcised. They did this not for spiritual reasons, but to avoid persecution from other Jews and to boast in the Galatians physical conformity, seek in human approval rather than God's. And then Paul's true boast in verse fourteen, Paul declares he will never boast in anything but the Cross of Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate source of his value and identity.

And then in verse fourteen, crucified to the world world through the Cross, the world's value systems and allure have lost their power over Paul, and he in turn is dead in the world's standards. To the world standards. New creation not circumcision verse fifteen. Neither circumcision or uncircumcision matters. Will truly counts as being a new creation, a transformed person in Christ, made possible only by the power of the Cross and the Holy Spirit, and that is actually

echoed in Two Corinthians five, verse seventeen. In conclusion, this passage is a powerful declaration that true spiritual life and worth come from identifying with Christ's sacrificial death with the Cross, from the art sacrificial death the cross, which eradicates reliance on human effort or external religious markers like circumcision, leading to a radical transformation and now identity new identity in God's grace. Okay. So that is the end of that

stand of verse fifteen. Let's go sixteen seventeen eighteen. And as many as walk, and as many as walk according to His rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the and upon the Israel of God. From now on, let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit a men. Okay, So we are done with chapter six, and actually we we're done with Galatians. That's the end of Galatians. You know, quick, quick,

six books. You know what a blessing. And let's go ahead and go into some practical applications For chapter six, it says, engage in community support. Actively seek ways to support and lift those around you, whether through prayer, encouragement or practical help. Next, evaluate personal actions. Regularly assess your actions and motivations to ensure they align with the spirit and not with the flesh. Commit to spiritual growth, Dedicate time to prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, to sew seeds

that will yield spirit, that will yield spiritual fruit. And if you're listening to the study, then you are already dedicating time to a Bible study, which is amazing. And I'm trying to make sure when I'm going through these Bible studies that I'm not just reading the Bible to you guys. I'm trying to do commentary. I have some commentary. I have some notes. I have two sets notes. Actually

one set of notes is from biblehub dot com. My other set of notes is things that I copied and pasted from different areas, so you know, it kind of has a breakdown of the chapters, you know, or the verses that we go over. So it's really awesome, you know, It's like just something that I kind of came across, you know, just kind of breaking it down into sections like this. And I hope you guys are enjoying this. If you guys are enjoying the way that I'm doing this,

please leave a comment. If not, I'll go back to just sticking with Bible Hub. But what I've been doing lately, you know, there's kind of a lot of information in between me, you know, reading you know, let's say, from verse like fifteen to verse sixteen, I have all this information. Hopefully you guys enjoy that. It's it's all for our spiritual growth, and it's all for planning seeds, you know,

and something's gonna click. That's that's all I really want to happen, is something to click for you guys, or something to click. You know, when I hear something, we want it to click. So that way, you know, it's like, oh that makes sense, and oh yeah, I'm going to start living that way. I want to start being like that. That's really what it's about, opening up the Word of God to you and making it so that you fall in love with the Word, and that way you get

to know God more. And the more you fall in love with the Word, the bigger shield of faith you're going to be holding. So that way you dodge the wiles of the devil. That way you're protected in spiritual warfare. So as we're doing this, just think about it. You are actually building a bigger shield of faith so that way it helps you dodge the wiles of the devil. So I really love that, you know. I feel like it's like something that assists people, and it's just such

a beautiful thing. Assist people with their spiritual life, their spiritual growth, but their spiritual battles and doing these Bible studies is such a blessing. So next one preserve in good works, stay committed to doing good even when it is challenging. Trust that God will bring about a harvest in his timing. Yes. Amen. And then let's see some connections to additional scriptures we have Romans twelve, verse fifteen. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

This verse compliments the call to bear one another's burdens Tewod Corinthians nine, verse six. Remember this, whoever so sparingly will also reap Sparently, whoever sows generously will also reap generously. This reinforces the principle of sowing and reaping. James one verse twelve blesses a man who preserves under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who loved him. This encourages perseverance in doing good. There we go.

So we are done with Galatians. Guys. Now we are in Ephesians. Guys and girls. Now we're in the Book of Ephesians. Wow, okay, So let me just go ahead and do something real quick. Yeah. Yeah, So we're moving right along quickly. So I'll give you guys a little quick to go to my other notes. So intro are sorry, I had to do like a little looking up of

an intro to Ephesians, okay. Ephesians is a Pauline letter or paul in the New Testament, focusing on God's plan to unite all things in Christ, creating one new humanity the Church from Jews and Gentiles by calling believers to live out this unified identity in love and wisdom, with chapters one and three detailing their position in Christ, and four and six explaining practical living all under the theme of God's immense grace and power, and emphasizes unity, spiritual warfare,

and walking in newness of life as the body of Christ led by him God's unified plan. God. God's overarching purpose is to bring all creation together under Christ's Headship Aphesians one, verse ten. New identity in Christ, believers are chosen, forgiven and sealed by the Spirit, given a new status and family in Christ Chapters one through chapter three. Unity

of the Church. The Gospel breaks down barriers between Jews and Gentiles, forming one multi ethnic body, the Church with Christ as the head Aphesians two, Verses eleven through twenty two. Practical Living the second half calls for a transformed lifestyle reflecting this new unity, addressing walk, love, light, wisdom, and

spiritual armor Aphesians six. Obviously, where that's that the author is Paul, the apostle the audience a network of house churches in Ephesus and the surrounding region intended to strengthen them in their faith and unity. And let's see and then.

Ephesus was a major, wealthy port city in the Roman province of Asia modern day Turkey, famous for its massive Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders, diverse population, and strong Christian presence, established by Apostle Paul, who spent years there and wrote the influential Epistle of the Ephesians, focusing on Christ's unifying word Christian living, and despite local

tensions between Jewish and Greek believers. The city of Ephesus had a strategic location, a vital port and capital for Roman Asia, minor crucial for trade and culture, religious hub home to the magnificent Temple of Artemis or Diana, a major center for worship, tourism, economy, economic activity, with a strong local belief in magic. So that's what you kind of see what Paul's up against. Cosmetology center, a busting, multi ethnic city with Greeks, Romans, Jews, and people from

across the known world. And then written by Paul, likely from prison, to the Church of Ephesus, possibly as a circular letter for churches in the region. We know the key themes already significance. Ephesus was a significant early church, with Paul, Timothy, and John playing key roles. The city's story reflects the tension between the Gospel and local culture seen in the riot against Paul by Artemis Silversmiths in Acts nineteen. All right, guys, so that's Galatians six perfect,

and now I'm there. All right, let's go ahead and go to So that's Ephesian's intro for the whole entire book of Ephesians. So let's go ahead and pull this up, and now we're going to go over an intro to Ephesians. Chapter one. Ephesians is a grand declaration of the believers spiritual blessings in Christ. Paul the author opens up with the greed into the Ephesians and swiftly moves to a magnificent doxology, praising God for the spiritual blessings we have received.

He discusses the themes of predestination, redemption, and the revealed mystery of God's will, before ending with a powerful prayer for the believers in Ephesus. All right, let me just go to the teaching points. All right, here we go on, guys, all right, Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God. This is a verse one to the saints who are in Ephesus and faithful in Christ. Jesus. Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and

the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him and love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which he made us accepted in

the Beloved. Let's go ahead and pause there. So we have spiritual blessings in Christ and Ephesians one, verse three states, blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. This verse highlights that every spiritual blessing is available to us through our union with Christ. Let's check out the concept of spiritual blessings

in Christ. Spiritual blessings in Christ is a profound theme in Christian theology, emphasizing the manifold grace and favor bestowed upon believers through their union with Jesus Christ. This entry explores the nature and scope and implications of these blessings as revealed in scripture, particularly through the lens of the New Testament. Ephesians one, verse three, we already read it says, blessed be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed in who blessed us in Christ, with

every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. This verse states that sets the stage for understanding that these blessings are both comprehensive and heavenly in nature, transcending earthly limitations and rooted in the divine purpose nature of spiritual blessings. Spiritual blessings in Christ are distinct from material and temporal blessings. They pertain to the believer's spiritual well being and eternal destiny. These blessings include, but are not limited to election and predestination.

Ephesians one four through five reveals that believers are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world and predestined for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ. This underscores the divine intuitive and purpose in salvation, initiative and purpose in salvation, redemption and forgiveness. We're going to read that actually in verse SI. It says through Christ's sacrificial death, believers receive redemption and the forgiveness of sins, as stated

in Apheesians one seven. I'm not going to read Ephesians one seven because I don't want to do a spoiler alert inheritance inheritance Believers are granted in eternal inheritance, as noted in Ephesians one eleven. Right inheritance is the next one. It says, in Him we are also chosen by God's own having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of his will. And then sealing of the Holy Spirit is mentioned in

Ephesians ie, Verses thirteen through fourteen. What is the conclusion? Spiritual blessings in Christ are a testament of God's abundant grace and love for his people. They are a source of comfort, assurance, and motivation for believers to live out their faith with gratitude and purpose though these blessings. Through these blessings, Christians are equipped to fulfill their divine calling

and reflect the glory of God in their lives. All right, perfect, now, I'm going to go ahead and continue reading the verse

seven Ephesians one, verse seven. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace, which He made a bound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, 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. In Him also we have obtained in inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things, according to the counsel of his will, that he who first trusted in Christ should be the should be to the praise of His glory. We're gonna read thirteen to fourteen as well. Sorry, in Him, you are also trusted. This is verse thirteen. Before you heard the Word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and whom also have believed, you were sealed

with the Holy spirit of promise. Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. So in uh, we're done with the verse fourteen. So let's go back to the notes redemption and forgiveness, and verse seven Paul writes, in Him we have redemption through His blood. The forgiveness of our truspasses according to the riches of his grace. This underscores the sacrificial work of Christ and the grace

that brings us forgiveness. This is important redemption, and the biblical context refers to the act of God delivering his people from sin and its consequences through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The concept is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where it often involves the idea of a kinsman redeemer, as seen in the Book of Ruth. The Hebrew word gal signifies the act of a family member buying back or restoring a relative's property or freedom.

This concept is vividly illustrated in the Exodus narrative, where God redeems the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. Exodus six, verse six therefore tell the Israelites, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out of under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you for being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched

arm and with a mighty acts of judgment. And the New Testament, redemption is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who is described as the ultimate redeemer through his death and resurrection. He pays for the price of humanity sin, offering salvation and eternal life to all who believe. That's in Ephesians one, verse seven, which we just read. The Apostle Paul frequently discusses redemption, emphasizing that it is not achieved through human effort,

but is a gift from God. Romans three, verse twenty four, Paul writes, are we justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. This underscores the unmerited favor bestowed upon believers who are justified and made righteous through the faith in Christ. Forgiveness is a central theme in the Bible, reflecting God's mercy and love towards humanity. It involves the parenting of sin and the restoration of

a right relationship with God and the New Testament. Forgiveness is often associated with the sacrificial system, where the shedding of blood was required for the atonement of sins Leviticus seventeen, verse eleven. The New Testament reveals the fullness of God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ his sacrifice. His sacrificial death on the cross provides the ultimate atonement for sin, making forgiveness

available to all who repent and believe. In First John one, verse nine, it is written, if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and declines us from all righteousness. This assurance of forgiveness is a cornerstone of Christ's faith, emphasizing God's faithfulness and justice. Jesus taught extensively on forgiveness in Matthew six twelve and also Matthew eighteen twenty one through thirty five, if you

guys want to go read those. Forgiveness is not only a divine act, but also a call to believers to emulate God's grace in their relationships. Collations Colossians three, verse thirteen exhorts bear with one another and forgive any complaint that you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. This call to forgive reflects the transformative power of God's forgiveness in the lives of believers, enabling

them to live in harmony and love. Okay, guys, just want to throw that out there, a right, what else do we have? And then in verses nine and ten, revelation of God's will or Verses nine and ten speak of the mystery of God's will, which he purposed in Christ to unite all things in him. This reveals God's ultimate plan for unity and reconciliation through Jesus, so revelation

of God's will. The concept of revelation of God's will is central to Christian theology and is understood as the means by which God discloses his intentions, desires, and purpose

to humanity. This revelation is seen as both general and specific, encompassing the entirety of God's communication with his creation, as seen in Romans one, verse twenty, where Paul speaks and says, for since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power, and divine nature have been clearly seen, been understood from his workmanship, so that men are without excuse. This passage suggests that the natural world reflects God's attributes

in his existence and power evident to all. Okay, and then special revelation is the more direct and specific disclosure of God's will, primarily through scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is considered the authoritative source of God's revealed will and two Timothy three, verses sixteen through seventeen where it is written. I use this a lot when I'm talking about biblical cosmology and things like that.

It says all scripture is God breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training and righteousness, so that the Man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. So all scriptures inspired by God. Okay, that's the main thing you need to understand there. And it's all useful for instruction, for correction, training and righteousness

that the Man of God may be complete. Okay. So the revelation of God's will is a dynamic and ongoing process inviting believers to continually seek, understand, and to live in accordance with His divine purposes. Okay, So I'll let you guys know that. And then when we also read thirteen and fourteen, it says inheritance and sealing by the

Holy Spirit. Verses thirteen and fourteen assures us that we are marked with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee to our inheritance, signifying our belonging to God and the promise of eternal life. Okay, so let's go ahead and go over these real quick. This is a brief description of

Versus one through fourteen that we read. Ephesians Chapter one, Verses one through fourteen is a profound opening to Paul's letter, celebrating God's eternal plan of redemption in Christ, where believers are chosen, adopted, forgiven, and sealed by the Holy Spirit for God's glory, receiving every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms through faith not works, culminating in an inheritance secured

by God's resurrection. It highlights God's lavish grace, the Trinity's role father choosing, son, redeeming and spirit sealing, and the believer's new identity as saints made alive and seated with Christ praise for spiritual blessings Verses three through fourteen. The passage is a doxology expressing of praise, focusing on spiritual blessings of God bestows through Christ, not worldly ones. Versus

four through five. God chose believers in Christ before creation and be holy predestined for adoption as his children, demonstrating his good, pleasure and love, and Verses seven and eight. Through Christ's blood, believers are redeemed, set free with forgiveness for their sins, revealing God's abundant grace and wisdom, adoption and inheritance. In verse five, eleven and fourteen, believers are adopted as sons daughters, inheriting God's promises with the Spirit

as a down payment, guaranteeing this heavenly inheritance. And then the Trinity's work, we said, the Father chose, predestined, lavish grace, planned redemption, son, the beloved, and whom we are chosen, redeemed and made alive. And then Holy Spirit seals believers can form in their identity and guaranteeing their inheritance. Then we have in Christ's status. In verse three, four and six,

the core concept is unity with Christ. Believers are spiritually united with Him, sharing his blessings, resurrection, and heavenly position. And then in six twelve and fourteen, the ultimate goal of these blessings is to praise, to bring praise and glory to God's magnificent grace. Perfect. So now let's go ahead and start reading Ephesians one, verse fifteen, prayer for

spiritual wisdom. Therefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, and the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know that this is the hope of

his calling. That what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far ablove, far above all principality and power, and might and dominion in every name that is named, not only in this age,

but also and that which is to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things, to the Lord, or to the Church, which is which is his body, the fullness of Him who feels all in all. So, I think something is pretty interesting right here. For me. It's interesting, maybe for you not so much. But it says, and he put all things under his feet and gave him

to be head over all things to the church. So you can maybe not take that literal if you like, but I know the location of Heaven biblically would be above the firmament. So whether that is trillions upon trillions of miles away like it would be in this heliocentric galaxy model that everybody goes, that everybody teaches, or whether he's right above the firmament close to us. Still, it looks like Jesus is above the firmament, and he put

all things under his feet. And God is called the most High for a reason because he's at the highest

point of creation and everything is below him. So when it says and he put all things under his feet and gave him to be head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who feels all in all, it kind of reminds me of that Ezekiel one twenty six where he's talking about looking through the firmament and seeing a likeness of a man on a throne Ezekiel ten to one, looking through the firmament and seeing the likeness of a man, right.

So that's very interesting stuff, and it just reminds me of that, you know, And that's why it says in Isaiah, it is he who sitteth above the circle of the earth. You know, He's sitting above the earth. You know, it's just amazing. So I don't really want to get too deep into that, but that's what I see right there. You can to take it not literally and just say like, hey, that just means that everything is below him, as far as power might or however you want to take that verse.

But that's what I'm seeing. He put all things under his feet and gave him, gave him to be head over all things to the Church, which is his body, and the fullness of him wellfills all in all. So very awesome. That's Ephesians one, so fairly quick. We kind of went over that one, but let me just go over a quick description of Aphiesians one fifteen through twenty three.

It's a prayer from the apostle Paul asking God for believers to be spiritsy enlightened, so they can comprehend the hope of their calling, the riches of God's glorious inheritance for believers, and the immercible power God demonstrated in raising Christ from the dead. This passage emphasizes that some immense power that was used to exalt Christ is now available to believers, establishing the authority of Jesus as the head of the Church, providing a foundation for their assurance and

spiritual growth. The core of Paul's prayer spiritual wisdom and revelation. Paul prays for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so believers can have a deep experiential knowledge of God, not just an intellectual one. Experiential is it experience? I don't even know how to say the word. I'm sorry, experiential. It's like experience, but it's experiential knowledge of God. Okay. Knowing their hope, he wants them to understand that the hope to which they have been called eternal life and

their future with God. Knowing their inheritance, Paul desires them to grasp the glorious inheritance God has in store for the saints, which is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. And then, knowing God's power, he prays for them to comprehend the immercible God displayed in raising Jesus from the dead, seating him at his right hand and giving him authority over all things. And then what's the significance of his power?

Christ's authority The power Paul speaks of is the same power that plays Christ in supreme authority over every rule and authority in the present. In future ages, Christ is head of the Church. This power also make Christ the head over the Church, which is His body, and then power for believers. The passage emphasizes that believers can draw

on this same power for their own lives. It is the power that is at work in them through faith and then resulting assurance understanding His power provides assurance for believers, reinforcing that they have everything they need for life and godliness through Christ. Okay, Amen. So yeah, we're moving right along through Ephesians. And we only have six here too, so we're probably going to finish Theesians chapter two. I'll see.

Maybe I want to try to only go to like eleven fifteen tonight because I have an interview tomorrow, so I might have to cut us a little short today, but I will do my very best. Let me start out by or actually we finished Ephesians one. Let me

go over some practical applications I almost forgot. First one, embrace your identity in Christ, Recognize and live out your identity as a chosen and adopt the child of God, secure in His love and purpose, walk in forgiveness, accept the forgiveness offered through Christ, and extend the same grace to others, fostering reconciliation and peace. Seek spiritual wisdom. Pray for wisdom and revelation to understand God's will and purpose for your life, aligning your actions to His vine plan,

and then live with eternal perspective. Live with eternal perspective. Let the assurance of your inheritance in Christ guide your daily decisions, a priorities, focus on what truly matters in the light of eternity. Okay, and let's check out some additional scriptures that connect we have Romans eight twenty eight through thirty. These verses echo the themes of predestination and being called according to God's purpose. Colossians one thirteen through fourteen.

Similar to Ephesians one, verse seven, these verses break. These verses speak of redemption and forgiveness through Christ, and then One Peter one three through five. These passages also discuss the living hope and inheritance we have in Christ kept in Heaven for us perfect. Now let's go ahead and hop over to I want to get that intro real quick. Come on. Okay, all right, come on, let's go. Looks

like I need to probably hook up to the Wi fi. Sorry, guys, see technical difficulties tonight, probably because once you're tired, then everything kicks in. Go ahead and yep, go ahead and go to the There we go. Now we're going to get this anyways. All right, I don't know if I'm be able to do the intro for chapter two, because this thing is kind of tripping right now. Let's see if I can maybe do it here. Okay, Ephesians, where

you at? There we go and then two. Yeah, I guess we will be able to Sorry guys, yep, technical difficulties happens on phones. Let's see practical application. And I just went ahead and passed the right up. Apheesians Too unfolds a transformative account of humanity's journey from death to life, division to unity and strangers to to citizens of God's kingdom. This chapter sheds light on God's immersed love and grace, offering salvation to everyone through faith in Christ, in Jesus Christ.

And let's go ahead and go to the teaching points here perfect, all right, we're gonna start reading Aphesians two. Will go one through what is one, two, and three? And then we have a little bit of notes. Wait, we have seasons one through five. Actually, we're gonna go one through five. It says by grace through faith. Right, that's what the title is. And this is a very famous one when we get to verse eight, because Thephesians

two member verse eight, and everybody knows that one. But verse one says, and you said, no, this is nice because now we're gonna read through and see the context of verse eight, because a lot of people just read that verse excuse me, and maybe they don't read the verses before and the verses after. So let's see what it says, right, Pheasans two, verse one, and you and you he made alive you were dead in trespasses and

sins in which you were. 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, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

But God, who was rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace. Excuse me, you have been saved. All right, Let's go ahead and pause there. One of the teaching points is spiritual death. In life highlights our former state of spiritual death due to sin and the transformative power of God's mercy and love which makes us alive in Christ. And you were dead in your trustpass and sin. Let's

look a little deeper. Spiritual death refers to the state of separation from God due to sin. This concept is rooted in the narrative of the Fall in Genesis, where Adam and Eve's disobedience led to a rupture in their relationship with God. Genesis two, verse seventeen warns, but you must not eat from the Tree of knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it, you will surely die. This death was not immediate physical death, but

a spiritual separation from God. You know, Adam lived like nine hundred years, so yeah, you could tell us that wasn't an immediate physical death, but a separation from God, right, it says the apostle Paul elaborates on this and the New Testament, particularly in Romans five, verse twelve. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, so also death has passed on to all

men because all sinned. Here, spiritual death is seen as a universal condition affecting all humanity due to the original sin. And then in Ephesians two, verses one through three, which we just read, it further describes this state as for you, you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you used to walk, when you confirmed to the ways of this world and the rule of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in

the sons of disobedience. This passage highlights the active nature of spiritual death, where individuals live in disobedience and are under the influence of evil oh Man. In contrast, spiritual life is the restoration of the relationship with God through Jesus Christ. This life is characterized by reconciliation, renewal, and

eternal communion with God. John encapsulates this promise, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who everyone who believes in Him shall not perish what I have everlasting life. Our eternal life is what this one says. The transition from spiritual death to life is described as a new birth or generation. In John three to three, Jesus tells Nicodemus, Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he

is born again. This new birth is a work of the Holy Spirit, as further explained in Titus three, verse five, it says He saved us not by the righteous deeds that we had done, but according to His mercy, through the washing of the new birth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. Romans six, verse four speaks on the believers

union with Christ and his death and resurrection. We were therefore or buried with him through baptism and death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in the newness of life. The newness of life is marked by a transformation and behavior and purpose, as believers are called to live according to the spirit, and in Galatians two, verse twenty further emphasizes the personal aspect of

the spiritual life. I have been crucified with Christ. In me, I have been crucified with Christ. And I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. This verse highlights the intimate relationship between the believer and Christ, where the believer's identity and purpose are found in him.

In summary, spiritual death and life life are central themes in the Biblical narrative, highlighting the gravity of sin and the profound hope offered through Jesus Christ. The transition from death to life is a transformative process that affects both the present and eternal destiny of individuals. All Right, and what are the internal eternal implications? The concept of spiritual

death and life have eternal implications. Spiritual death, if unaddressed, leads to eternal separation from God, often referred to as the Second death in Revelation twenty verse fourteen through fifteen. Conversely, spiritual life promises eternal communion with God, as seen in John seventeen three. Now this is eternal life that you may know the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. All right, very important information everything I

just said right there. Now we're going to go ahead and dip into the these famous verses real quick, right, We're gonna start on verse six. We'll get to verse eight in a second. Here it says, by grace you have been saved, and now we're in six and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the age is to come, he might show the exceeding riches of his

grace and his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast, for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus, for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Notice it says that for by grace you have been saved. We're saved by the grace of God. We do not deserve it, but God is gracious enough to give it to us, right

to give us grace. And it says we have for by grace you have been saved through faith, faith and who well, faith in Jesus right, faith in Yahweh, faith in the Holy Spirit. All right, And it says and that not of yourselves until basically you can't work your way to heaven. It says it is a gift of God. Grace is a gift of God, and it's also a gift of God for us to be saved through faith,

not of works. Right, He's just letting you know you cannot work your way to heaven lest anyone should boast, because if you could work your way to heaven, then you're gonna be like, hey, you know, guess what I did today. I did this, and oh, you're gonna end

up in heaven. Yeah, because of everything I did. But you can never work your way to heaven, which makes total sense because if you could work, no one would end up in heaven if you could work your way to heaven, because there'd be some kind of teeter totter relationship, you know, where you know, you do three good things today and then four good things bad things tomorrow, and five good things today and four bad things tomorrow. So now you're teeter tottering like this with your life, you know.

And I'm so glad that God didn't make it like that. So glad we are so blessed. That's why it says is a gift from God. All right, it says, But it also says for we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works. So good works are a byproduct of having faith, true faith, right, which God prepared beforehand. That we should walk in them, meaning God has prepared works for us beforehand, and we should walk in them. Okay,

we should, meaning that's what we should do. Meaning some people don't okay, meaning that even though God has placed him there beforehand, people walk and just totally don't do any of it. So understand that God has put good works in your way, okay, and has put things in your way for you to do, and it's actually being used as a workmanship created in Christ for good work. So good works, like I say, is a byproduct of having faith. All right, So let's go ahead and check

out what we have here. In my notes, Grace and Salvation Verses eight and nine emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not a result of works, though that no one could boast. Okay, So grace and salvation, let's go ahead and check this out. Grace is a central theme in Christian theology, representing the meritive favor of love of God toward humanity. It is through grace that believers receive salvation, forgiveness, and the empowerment to live a life

pleasing to God. The concept of grace is woven throughout the Bible, emphasizing that it is not earned by human effort, but is a gift from God. All glory to God for that too, thank you. In the Old Testament, grace is often associated with God's mercy and loving kindness. For example, Exodus thirty four to six, God describes himself as compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love, devotion, and truth.

This foundation under foundational understanding of God's character sets the stage for the New Testament revelation of grace through Jesus Christ. The New Testament further develops the doction of grace, particularly

in the writings of Paul the Apostle. Defesians two verses eight through nine, which we just read, Grace is also seen as the power that enables believers to live a godly life, and Titus two verses eleven through twelve, Paul states, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men. It instructs us to renounce on godliness and worldly passions and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives

in the present age. Here, grace is both the means of salvation and force that transforms that sustains the believer's life. Salvation is the next one we're gonna talk about. Salvation in Christian theology refers to the deliverance from sin and its consequences achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the ultimate expression of God's grace and essential to the Christian faith. The need for salvation arises from the fall of humanity, as described in Genesis, where sin entered the

world through Adam and Eve's disobedience. The Old Testament for that is the coming of a savior who would bring salvation to God's people. That's prophesies in Isaiah fifty three, and it speaks of a suffering servant who would bear the sins of many. This anticipation is fulfilled to the New Testament with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the New Testament, salvation is presented as a past

present in future reality Romans ten, verse nine. If you confess with your mouth Jesus's Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. This verse highlights that initial act of faith that brings about salvation. Salvation is also an ongoing process. Philippians two twelve through thirteen says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of

His good purpose. This indicates that while salvation is initiated by grace through faith, it involves a continual growth in holiness and obedience. The future aspect of salvation is the hope of eternal life with God. In one Peter one three through five, Peter writes, Blessed be the God and

Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. By his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you who, through faith and shielding by God's power, for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In summary, all this stuff

is so important, That's what I'm reading through it. In summary, grace and salvation are intricately linked in Christian theology, grace is the unearned favor of God that brings about salvation, while salvation is the deliverance from sin and its consequence is made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Together, they the foundation of the Christian message

of redemption and hope. Perfect. We haven't done those verses yet, So perfect, all right, Let's just go ahead and go over a little review of Ephesians two verses one through ten before we move on a condensed description of it. Ephesians two verses one through ten means that people are spiritually dead in sin following worldly ways and satan, but God, rich in mercy makes them alive with Christ by grace

through faith and not works. This act of salvation, a gift from God, makes believers his masterpiece created in Christ, Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand for them to do, demonstrating His kindness and love, seeding them with Christ and heavenly places. So in verses one through three,

spiritual death, death and sins. Before Christ, people were spiritually lifely separated from God due to their disobedience, trespasses, and sinful nature following worldly pasts and the influence of Satan, children of wrath. By nature, humans are subject to God's judgment, living according to fleshly desires, making them deserving of wrath divine intervention in Verses four through seven, But God, this phrase makes turning point, highlighting God's initiative marks the turning point.

Highlighting God's initiative made alive. God, out of his great love and mercy, made believers spiritually alive with Christ even while they were spiritually dead. Saved by grace, the salvation as a free gift from God, not earned by human effort or works preventing boasting. Raised with Christ, believers are unit united with Christ and his resurrections, seated with Him in heavenly realms. And then in verses eight through ten,

God's workmanship. Believers are God's special creation, his masterpiece or handiwork, created for good works. The purpose of this new life life is to walk in God's works that God prepared in advance for believers to do. And then not by works, but for works God works. God Good works don't save you, but they are the natural and intended result of being saved,

demonstrating the life of Christ within Okay. This passage shows a radical transformation from spiritual death to life, from being lost to being found, from being under wrath to being seated with Christ, all by God's immense grace, so that incomparable kindness and love might be eternally displayed through His renewed creation. Okay, So, now let's go ahead and check

out Verses eleven through thirteen. Bought near by His blood, It says, 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, 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. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off of having been brought

near by the blood of Christ. Okay. So, so eleven through thirteen means that gentiles, once excluded and alienated from God's promises in Israel, have now been brought near to God and reconciled within Jewish believers through his sacrificial death of Jesus his blood, becoming fellow members of God's household, emphasizing unity and hope in Christ over past divisions. Paul urges remembrance of this past separation to highlight the radical grace and inclusion found in Jesus. Okay so key themes

verse eleven and twelve. Gentiles were once far away, called them circumcised, separate, separate from Christ, excluded from Israel's citizenship, strangers to God's covenants, and without hope or God in the world. Dividing well broken the circumcision, Jews distinguished themselves with the uncircumcision of Gentiles, creating a barrier. Verse thirteen. The turning point is Christ brought near through Jesus's blood his atoning sacrifice. Gentiles are brought close to God and

to Jewish believers, and then in one family. This passage sets the states for verses fourteen through twenty two, explaining how Jews and Gentiles are into one new people of God, breaking down hostility and creating a single spiritual family. Grace not work. Salvation is by grace through faith, not by adhering to Jewish laws like circumcision. Why does it even matter? Unity of demolishes ethnic barriers in the church. Hope, It

transforms helplessness into a secure relationship with God. Identity. It defines the new identity of believers as insiders, not outsiders, and then gratitude remembering their former state, fosters love and humility. All right, so we read through that already. Now we have nineteen through. I'm not saying, oh, yeah, there we go. Let's stop right there, all right? Cool, Now we're gonna

read fourteen through eighteen. So Christ are peace, for He himself is our peace, who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having a ballished 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, and that he might reconcile them both to God and one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were

far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father. So unity in Christ is what we have here. And verses fourteen through sixteen speaks of Christ as our peace, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility and creating one new humanity for he himself, For he himself is our peace, who has made two to one and has torn down

the dividing wall of hostility. So unity in Christ it's a central theme in Christian theology, emphasizing the spiritual oneness and harmony among believers through their shared faith in Jesus Christ. This concept is rooted in the teachings of the New Testament and is considered essential for the health and witness

of the church. It's also talked about in Corinthians twelve verse Corinthians twelve, verse thirteen, where Paul says, for in one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews are Greeks slaver free who were given into the spirit to drink, and then also who were given one spirit to drink. The spirit unites believers into one body. Kay. Yeah. The challenges to unity. Despite its importance, unity in Christ

faces numerous challenges. Doctrinal disagreements, cultural differences, and personal conflicts can threaten the harmony of the Church. The New Testament addresses these issues, urging believers to pursue reconciliation and maintain the unity of spirit. And Colossians three, verses thirteen through fourteen, Paul advises bear with one another bear with each other, and forgive any complaint that you may have against one another.

Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which is the bond of perfect unity. Love and forgiveness are essential for overcoming obstacles to unity and preserving the integrity of the Church. All right, So let's see what we have. All right, So let's go ahead and give a little description of verses fourteen through eighteen.

Two fourteen through eighteen means Jesus is the ultimate peace, uniting Jews and Gentiles by breaking down the dividing wall of hostility ceremonial law through his death, creating one new people, the Church, in one body, reconciled to God, with full access to the Father through the Spirit, ending enmity and bringing closeness to God. For all key themes, Jesus says peace, Christ just as a bringer of peace. He is our peace, the source and the substance of reconciliation, breaking down walls.

The dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles was the mosaic laws ceremonial distinctions, which Christ abolished in his flesh. Through his cross, Jesus created a single new humanity, the Church from two separate groups, making peace between them and reconciling them to God. The result is the ending of hostility between people and between between people and between people of God, and granting both groups access to God the Father through

the Holy Spirit. In simple terms, before Jesus, Jews and Gentiles were separated by religious laws, creating a barrier between them and between between them and God. Jesus sacrificed on the Cross removed these barriers, making one unified family the Church, where everyone regardless of background, can come to God. And then practical application, it says unity Christians should actively tear down any cultural personal walls that divide believers within the Church.

Reconciliation the peace found in Christ should motivate believers to seek peace and reconciliation in their own relationships and then intimacy with God. Believers have direct, unhindered access to God as a loving Father thanks to Christ's work. Let's dive into verse nineteen through twenty two. Now Ephesians two, verse nineteen. Now, therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens, with the saints and members of the household of God.

Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God. In this spirit Okay so Verses nineteen through twenty two describes believers as members of God's household, built on the foundation of the

apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of his household. So the household of God. What's that concept? Well, the concept of household of God is a profound theological theme found throughout the Bible, the intimate relationship between God and his people.

This term is often used to describe the community of believers who are united under the lordship of Jesus Christ, forming a spiritual family the biblical idea, the idea of God's household is rooted in the Old Testament, where God establishes a covenant with Israel, calling them his people. In Exodus nineteen five through six, God declares, now, if you will indeed, obey my voice and keep my covenant. You will be my treasure possession out of all the nations,

for the whole earth is mine and unto me. You shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Here, the Israelites are depicted as a chosen family set a part of God's purposes. In the New Testament, the concept is expanded to exclude all believers in Christ, both Jews and Gentiles. Therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners. This is Ephesians two, verse nineteen through twenty two, which

we already read. It says this passage emphasized the unity and spiritual kingship of kinship of believers, who together form a dwelling place for God. The characteristics of the household unity and diversity. The household of God is marked by unity among its members, despite their diverse backgrounds. Galatians three twenty eight affirms there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave, nor free male nor female, for there are all one in Christ Jesus. This unity is not uniformity, but a

harmonist diversity that reflects the multifaceted nature of God's creation. Next, love and service. Love is the defining characteristic of God's household. Jesus commands as followers in John thirteen, thirty four and thirty five, which we already read earlier, a new commandment. I give you love one another as I have loved you, so you also may must love one another. By this, all men will know that you are my disciples. Love

one another. This and then the love manifest and act service and mutual care is seen in the early Church practice and sharing resources and supporting one another and acts two forty four through forty five spiritual growth and maturity.

In Ephesians four, verses eleven through thirteen, it explains, and it was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for works in ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity and faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full

measure of the stature of Christ. And then the role of the church is found in Hebrews ten, verse twenty four through twenty five and encourages believers and let us consider how to spur one another onto the love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together as some have made a hay, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. Okay, So the household the God is a dynamic and living entity reflecting the love, unity, and purpose of God through

his people. It is a spiritual family that transcends earthy boundaries, united by faith in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit to fulfill God's mission to the world. All right, So I just want to go over that, and then let me go over a brief description of Ephesians two nineteen through twenty two, and then we will go into

the practical applications for chapter two. Ephesians two nineteen through twenty two means believers are no longer outsiders, but are now citizens of God's kingdom, members of his divine family or household. Like we talked about God's household and living stones in a spiritual temple where God dwells all unified through Christ as the cornerstone, breaking down ethnic barriers Jews and Gentiles will form one holy dwelling place for God.

It's about radical inclusion, unity and purpose in Christ, forming a unified community where God's presence resides. In verse nineteen, it says you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the Saints and members of the household of God. In verse twenty the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone, the essential stone, setting the pattern for the entire structure. Verse twenty two the whole structure.

The church is joined together in Christ growing it's a holy temple in the Lord, and in verse twenty two in Christ, all believers, Jews and Gentiles are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit, forming one unified body and then some of the core themes. Unity in Christ eliminates the dividing well between Jews and gentiles, belonging and identity. Believers are citizens and family, not outsiders.

Purpose the church is God's dwelling place on earth, a place for His presence in glory to be displayed, and then growth and structure. The church is a living, growing building built on Christ and the apostles prophets, which each believer as a with each believer as a living stone. Thank you guys for tuning in and keeping up with

all that information. There's a lot of information there that I kind of went over, and yeah, like I said, a lot of notes, a lot of important notes to go over, and a lot of important subjects to go over. So let me just go over the practical applications for chapter two before we end. Embrace grace, recognize and excite, and accept your salvation as a gift from God, not something you can earn. Live in gratitude and humility. Seek actively work towards unity within the Body of Christ, breaking

down barriers and fostering peace among believers. Build on the foundation. Strengthen your faith by studying the teachings of the apostles and prophets with Christ as your cornerstone. Live as a member of God's household. Conduct yourself in a manner worthy of being part of God's family, showing love and hospitality to others. All right, additional scriptures we have Romans five, verse eight. But God proves his love for us in this while we are still sinners. Christ died for us

Titus three to five. He saved us not by the righteous deeds that we have done, but according to his mercy through the washing of new birth and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Then we have one Peter two verse five. You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priest, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Amen. Amen, Amen. So yes,

thank you guys for tuning in. We stopped a little bit early, like a good fifteen minutes early fifteen, maybe twenty minutes earlier, I guess it is, But it's okay. I'm just it's very late. I had to work today, I'm super tired, and I have an interview tomorrow. So please pray for me. Okay. Well, by the time you do pray for me, I should already have the job. But it's okay. Just pray for me to everything to go good for the job and everything. But let me

just go ahead and actually end this in prayer right now. So, Father God, in the name of Jesus, thank you so much for this glorious time. I appreciate you giving us this time to be able to study Galatians and Ephesians. We are going over things that talk about salvation and you know, say, by grace through faith and so many things that a lot of people. It's very popular for people to speak about Lord, but just allow us to dissect digest everything that we're reading so that we can

understand it. Lord, because sometimes there's different interpretations of these, you know, these verses, and I just want to make sure that everybody that's listening and myself also, as we're reading through these verses, Lord, help us to dissect it and also digest it properly and uh to read the proper interpretation so that we are you know, we are good with you. Because if we're reading it and we're getting a wrong interpretation, Lord, then you know we want

to find the truth in these verses. So please allow us to do that. Thank you for everything you do for us, and Lord, thank you so much. I appreciate this new job offer and everything that you have blessed me with. Please give me the strength Lord to go in and speak to them tomorrow with authority, and also give me the words to say. Lord, Please thank you.

Anybody that's going through anything tough right now, we're going to be getting into a Feesian six probably next week, so so it'll Lord, allow these verses to speak to people that are going through spiritual battles, including myself. Lord, please thank you. I love you in Jesus' name. Amen. Like I said, thank you guys for tuning in once again to Wednesday service. Look forward to Sunday service. We're going to be going over. I think we're going to be in Kings. Let me see First Kings, I believe.

Let me see if we're done with the first I think we have a couple chapters of First Kings. What twenty one, twenty two, twenty three, I believe. Let me just double check because I don't want to say it wrong. We're okay. We did First King seventeen through twenty, so we are going to actually be in One Kings twenty one and twenty two, might even be dipping into Second Kings,

all right, So yeah, probably Second Kings. We did twenty so we'll do twenty one twenty two and then Second Kings one probably, so we'll probably do twenty one twenty two, and then we'll do Second Kings Verse one and like an intro too. So yeah, please be looking forward to that. Please comment below, and also if you want to check out my show, it's Josh Monday Christian Conspiracy Podcasts where I release some interview. I mean there's a whole bunch

of interviews on that. I got three hundred and twenty seven episodes, a whole bunch of interviews, and I'm also slowly releasing these Bible studies. So if you want to go on there, check out my YouTube, it's Josh Monday Music and Podcast. If you want to look at it on audio, it's Josh Monday Christian Conspiracy Podcast. I really appreciate everybody that's listening. Thank you, and God bless you.