Discuss Ephesians 1 Page 14

I sure do not know everything but I do believe that there are good and bad Angles. Not really sure it is just something I kind of caught on to while reading the Bible. We will know all these answers one day and it may not be very long now??

I never said angels were robots or were acting on animal instincts ,dont put words in my mouth . Perhaps you would benefit from a Concordance ,Strongs is the best i think ,then you would b able 2 find out all the different meanings of the word angel and there fore understand the context each instance it is used .

Suzanne,

Angels aren't robots or mere animals acting merely on pre-programmed instinct. They have freewill to choose. I believe this because the Bible says so. It clearly says satan was a cherub (angel) in heaven and he disobeyed and was cast out.

Sources:

Ezekiel 28:12-18

Isaiah 14:12-14

Matthew 25:41 says satan also has angels. So, if you believe no angels can sin, and since satan has angels, do you not believe satan is evil or commits sin?

Does your belief that angels don't sin come from the Bible? If so, where in the Bible do you think it says angels don't think for themselves, don't have freewill, and that satan wasn't an angel? Now that you know these verses above exist in the Bible, does that influence your perspective?

Angels always obey God ,u say they have free will but i am not convinced ,that would mean they r capable of sin ,i dont believe angels can sin ,they r not humans ,sin is very much a human perogative .

The answer is two fold God almighty all powerful and all knowing gives us freedom of will along with his created angels and He also knows who is going to be born again, incredible God and he never makes anybody do anything or else you would not have free will either to do his word or not. Even his only begotten son had freedom of will he had to make up his mind to believe who the scriptures said he was, which is why he kept saying have ye not read, and on the road to emmmaus expounded all scripture concerning himself. that would have been a dynamite teaching to hear.

This stipulation pertains to the priests in Aaron's line. In order to approach unto the Holy God, without offense, on behalf of their people, they must be as perfect as humanly possible. This models Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest:

For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; ( Hebrews 7:26)

Believers in Jesus Christ, by grace through faith, are encouraged to approach unto God regardless our many personal shortcomings.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. ( Hebrews 4:16)

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. ( Ephesians 1:6)

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: ( Colossians 1:21-22)

The Almighty God is all powerful all knowing and everywhere present and knows the beginning and end, what more remarkable all of His created works i.e. man and angels have been given freedom of will. The true God does not over step that, therefore does he know who will believe by freedom of will and be born again absolutely. I like to think how patient he was to wait long enough for a woman to believe to bare his son and Knowing his son would carry out his will perfectly so Our Father God would have a family for all eternity that are cleansed from sin totally and love him by freedom of will. Heres food for thought Jesus Christ said he doesn,t know when hes coming back thats in the hands of the father because only he knows that being written because OnlyGod almighty knows when the last person will believe to be born again. food for thought.

Hebrews 1:3

Hebrews 8:1

Hebrews 10:11-13

Hebrews 12:2

Luke 16:19

Mark 14:62

Romans 8:34

Ephesians 1:21

1 Peter 3:22

Acts 7:55

Colossians 3:1

These verses should be sufficient to show that the risen Jesus Christ is now at the Father's right Hand.

I don't understand this as, 'Either Or'. Both are different: one, that we hold onto & exercise, & the other, which is in God's domain. Of predestination, it's meaning suggests that God has given each one of us a destiny to reach. In the case of Ephesians 1:5 & 11, our predestination is in respect to our inclusion into His Family & our inheritance in Christ. In the Bible the word is not used as God laying out a plan that we have to reach regardless of the choices we make (I know there are some who believe this). But we do know, that God is Omniscient & that must mean that He knows what our destiny will be & how it's reached & that our choices will conform to His Plan.

Of our choice (or, free will), we have that ability as God's gift to us, as one of His Attributes given to us made in His Image. God doesn't control our free will - He expects that we choose & act properly, but given our fallen nature, it is inevitable that we will not do so & fail Him. So how do we bring the two (free will & predestination) together? Before we were even born, God knew all about us: our birth, our life, our death & our eternity ( Jeremiah 1:5, Psalm 139:16). And that Knowledge of God would also include all that we, as humans, experience, choose, suffer, excel in, in life.

His predestinating each of us, whether to be His very Own or to be outcasts, is not dependent on what He randomly allocates to each person, but on how we will respond to Him in life & particularly in our response to His Gospel. Therefore the life we choose to live & the destiny that we receive is based on our free will to choose & not on God's predetermination for us.

Hi, do we have free will or are we predestinated.

In Malachi 3:8-12, Israel had defaulted in their tithing, by holding back more than they should have. This was very wrong, as tithes at that time that were brought into the 'storehouses' were for the feeding of the priests who were not given land to cultivate & grow crops & were dependent on others for this need. God is saying here, that even if the people performed this commandment & duty fully, with a ready obedient heart, He would reciprocate with blessing, more than they could comprehend. Their fields would flourish & the nations would have the witness of the God of Israel's Love & Blessings upon His people.

In Ephesians 1:3-14, the blessings that come upon the Christian are dependent on what God has done in our lives & what He gives to secure our salvation: they are spiritual blessings which of course, can certainly be seen materially as well but not always. What Israel failed to receive because of their disobedience, the Christian gains because of his position in Christ Jesus & His cleaving unto Him.

So the similarities are there by the receipt of God's blessings, but the difference I see, is that those in Christ, receive doubly to what Israel could ever receive, blessings that come from an eternal, joyful, familial relationship to the Godhead. Where Israel still had to sacrifice each year for their sins, we have One Who has paid sin's price for us. Where Israel's hope lay in their faltering obedience to God's Commands & trust in God to help them, the Christian's sure hope lies only in Jesus Christ & His Spirit Who guarantees our salvation & position in Christ; we naturally demonstrate our faith & love for Him in doing all this for us, which we could never hope to do ourselves.

I agree, that is something hard to understand when so much of the creation & the creature declares the supreme presence of a Being Who only could undertake this great task. To say that things just happened out of nothing requires a whole lot more faith. After reading what you wrote, I thought of that great quote by Pres. Abe Lincoln, though he himself did not claim to be a Christian, yet demonstrated wonderful thoughts & attributes that would have brought him much closer to the Lord, I would think.

He once said, "I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God."

And dear brother, you WILL get to Heaven: your faith in Christ's work at the Cross, your new nature in Christ, the Spirit's indwelling you, is the guarantee of your redemption. God will not undo or sideline what He has done for you & in you - His Work was too great & too costly for any errors or shortcomings.

Ephesians 1:13,14: "In whom (Jesus) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED with that holy Spirit of promise; which is the earnest (guarantee, promise) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." You belong to the Lord & nothing, but nothing, can separate you from His Love.

Acts 16:31; 1 Peter 1:8-9; Romans 10:10; Ephesians 1:12-13; Titus 3:5-6; Once a person gets saved, they will want to do what is right to honor God in any circumstance! James 2:14-26; 1 John 5:11-13

I believe that one who has truly repented for his sins, receiving the salvation of Jesus through faith in the Blood, is born again by the Spirit of God. That being the case, then the reception of the Spirit must be in residence that person's life because it is the Spirit's Work alone, & the new child in Christ is sealed (or, marked) as God's property. And this sealing is God's guarantee that we belong to Him unto "the redemption of the purchased possession" ( Ephesians 1:13,14).

This then has to be the experience of every child of God & the presence & working of the Spirit in him, will produce many ways of confirmation to our hearts. It could be an outward manifestation of a spiritual Gift or an inward witness of that Divine indwelling. In Acts chapter 2, we read of the very first reception of the Holy Spirit upon the new Church, with the evidence of speaking in other languages as witness to both speaker & hearer. Then in Acts chapter 8 we see that the laying of hands was required for the Christians in Samaria, who believed on Jesus through Philip's preaching, but had not received the Holy Spirit. Peter & John went to them that they too might receive the Spirit. All this happened to the fledgling Church as it was being established on Christ's Sacrifice, His teaching & that of the apostles.

But in Acts chapter 10, Cornelius & others who heard the Word brought to them by Peter, had the Holy Spirit come upon them, even while Peter was still preaching, as they then spoke in other tongues. Or, when the Ethiopian Eunuch was baptised by Philip, no mention is made about the Ethiopian receiving the Spirit. So, it seems that in the establishment of the Church & with the apostles present, God at times used them to minister the Spirit to believers. But today, with the Church now grounded in the Word, matured in Christ & with no apostolic presence, the Spirit is given liberally to all who are truly born again, who call upon the Lord in faith.

Ephesians 1:7

"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"

God sent his Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross for your sin's, then on the third day...

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

"[1] Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; [2] By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. [3] For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; [4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:"

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Proverbs 8:11-12 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Ephesians 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Luke 21:15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out

Proverbs 3:13 Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.

Proverbs 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

Ecclesiastes 7:1-29 A good name is better than precious ointment;

1 Corinthians 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Proverbs 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Matthew 13:11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given

As soon as you enter this website is a Search Box. Find answers there.

I can't think of any verses that specifically conform to what you want, but you could take a look at the following:

Psalm 139.

Jeremiah 1:5.

Romans 8:29.

Ephesians 1:4,5.

Once again, thank you for your great testimony Gary & all that you've shared here. Indeed, the incomprehensible wonder of it all: that God should choose us to be IN HIM even before the foundation of the World, to be holy creatures & without blame before Him; & also being predestined unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto Himself, Ephesians 1:4,5. Thus, as His children, so greatly blessed to have His Spirit indwell us, we can only but cry out "Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant (as serving under the Law that brought judgement & death), but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Galatians 4:6,7. What a privilege we have to be called the children of God & what the full import of that will be when we all stand together in that coming day, in great joy before His Glory having full understanding & in perfect love. We can hardly restrain ourselves awaiting that time ( 1 Corinthians 2:9,10).

And yet, in the flesh, we often fail to restrain ourselves from sin. Even knowing to do good, but not following through with it, it becomes sin to us ( James 4:17). We could cry out with the apostle, "O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this body of death?" What a beautiful & correct answer: it's only possible "through Jesus Christ our Lord" ( Romans 7:24,25). It's by Jesus' Blood He cleanses us, by His Spirit He delivers us, & by His Promise He receives us as His children, made worthy to share in His Glory.

Unworthy as we might feel to receive any crown or prize, as the work of Grace in us has been all from Him & of Him, yet as the apostle ran his earthly race, he only saw the prize that lay before him that kept him alert, motivated & on proper course: the prize of his "high calling OF God IN Christ Jesus" ( Philippians 3:14): ultimately to be in the Lord's Presence, finding full rest from his manifold temptations & difficult labours.

Every blessing to you & to Richard - thanks for popping by.

You sound broken and this is the first step to asking forgiveness. Ask Christ Jesus in humility and sorrow to cover this sin with His blood and He will forgive you and you must believe it is done. There is no condemnation with faith in Christ that He died and rose again to show us the path to a relationship with Him. Don't give a foothold to devils to keep throwing guilt at you. Repent, walk away from the past and do this sin no more. If it plagues you to not leave it, then ask Christ Jesus to send His Holy Spirit to help you to stay clear of it. So long as you are reading Gods Word & praying to Christ to use you for His Will, you will begin to live spiritually and nothing that happens on earth has any bearing on this focus of The Kingdom of God. And that is what a new creature in Christ focuses on. Bringing others to Christ so they too will be in Gods Kingdom. The Spiritual relationship with Christ is the answer to overcoming the sins in the flesh! God Bless You!

The word "Dispensation" can be used in a couple of ways in the Bible. In 1 Corinthians 9:17, Paul speaks about "a dispensation of the Gospel" that was committed to him: referring to the Gospel that was committed to him needed to be dispensed, shared or distributed.

Then, in Ephesians 1:10, "in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ": speaks of a Divine arrangement or ordering of affairs. To this meaning of 'dispensation' as also to others who refer to the various dispensations revealed in the Bible, there is clearly a plan & an order given by God, that the Body of Christ would constitute people from all lands (both Jew & Gentile). Since, this had already happened by virtue of Christ's Sacrifice & Resurrection, I think that Paul is referring to the future time, when the Church & all things 'in Christ' (all that belong to Him), will one day come together in unison to sing out to His Praise & Glory.

Can People in Heaven See Earth Events - in Reply on Proverbs 29:2

No, of course not, how absurd, and Ephesians 1:3, certainly does not prove otherwise, Mishael.

By all biblical accounts, when one dies, they go to sleep until judgement day and their resurrection.

The God I believe and trust is NO respecter of persons. My God would not take persons to heaven, to enjoy thousands of years of blissful joy while other Christians are here on earth, working hard, many suffering, and having faith of such joy when they die.

More to the point, sinners would have been sent to eternal punishment in hell? and would have been suffering for 10's of thousands of years while their followers are still living on earth today. This is not the god I WOULD WANT TO PUT MY TRUST IN. How cruel would be such a belief.

And then, on judgement day, all Christians in heaven must leave , be judged, and then sent back to heaven again. All sinners would be released from hell?, judged, and then sent back again. How absurd.

I pray for those that would believe the above, and wish for their asking God to sent his Holy Spirit for their understanding.

I praise God, Thank You Jesus. Let us all depend ONLY on the Holy Spirit for understanding.

"Yes, the Bible assures us that Heaven is a place of absolute happiness and joy and peace-far greater than anything we'll ever experience right now. The Bible says, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ" ( Ephesians 1:3).

Do those in Heaven know what's happening on earth? The Bible doesn't answer all our questions about Heaven-but it does indicate that those who have already entered Heaven may be aware of events on earth. The book of Hebrews, for example, pictures life as a great arena, with those who have gone before us cheering us on in our daily spiritual struggles (see Hebrews 12:1).

Once when Jesus' appearance was changed and His heavenly glory shone through, Moses and Elijah spoke with Him about events on the earth (see Luke 9:30-31).

Does this mean people in Heaven are sad when evil seems to be winning the day?

No, not at all. For one thing, they (unlike us) see the whole picture; they know that even in the midst of life's heartaches and trials, God is still working behind the scenes. They also know that Satan is a defeated foe, and some day all evil will be destroyed and Christ will rule in perfect peace and justice."

Comment by Billy Graham

Who better to answer this question? I've seen the scriptures mentioned. I always think of them cheering us onward. To avoid pity parties with myself. To never doubt what the Word teaches. Mishael

Nancy, the Scripture I like in respect to what you've asked is in Ephesians 1:13,14: "In whom (Jesus) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom (Jesus) also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

The verse reminds us that after we heard the Gospel & subsequently put our trust (faith) in Jesus, we were immediately given God's Seal of Promise. And this came to us through His Gift of His Spirit into our lives. And this was absolutely necessary to happen, as the Spirit's Presence is the "earnest" (the guarantee) of our inheritance: inheritance of our new relationship to the Godhead, of all of God's Blessings, Power, Joy & Peace and the guarantee that God would never leave us or forsake us, just as God promised in His Word: Deuteronomy 13:6 & the direct NT quote in Hebrews 13:5. And this Promise is fully seen by the presence of the Spirit in the lives of God's children.

But Eph 1:14 goes on to say that this "sealing" & this "guarantee" by the Spirit is only until "the redemption of the purchased possession". I understand this to mean that when we finally get to Heaven (& indeed, 'what a day of rejoicing that will be'), the Spirit's presence will no longer be indwelling us as we will be in the presence of God & His Son Jesus. Jesus, in Heaven right now, is seated at His Father's right Hand & in the Body (now glorified) He had on Earth. And so we too shall be ( 1 John 3:2) in the day of our translation (Rapture) when both those alive & dead in Christ arise to be with the Lord forever.

So our Redemption comes in two phases: redemption of our spiritual entity, when our spirits once given over to serving Satan, now have been redeemed by Christ's Blood to belong to & serve our Holy God. And redemption of the physical, when our bodies are transformed to live with Him.

The Holy Spirit shared this very thing you have said, that I pled the blood that Jesus has covered my healing. I thank you for taking time for sharing Christ's promises that were given at the Cross. I appreciate your encouragement and that we share in the strength of our Lord.

Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. Mark 11:22-25

The prayer of faith is important because it is the key to having your prayers answered. You can't effect Spirit-led change in your life and in the lives of those around you without faith. On the other hand, with faith, Jesus says, "you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours." Faith finds out what the Word has to say, prays in accordance with that Word and believes regardless of pain & circumstances.

I'm told my back needs surgery. I told my doc, it doesn't hurt. I choose to believe in God. She smirks slightly.

So when I feel the aches, I plead the Blood of Jesus over it until it stops. If it restarts I do it again. Your faith is centered solely on Jesus as you do that. Your faith is getting bigger than the pain. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.

I am not going to give satan any ground to rejoice! The blood of Jesus is full payment for all of my sins and neglect of my body when I was young. Our pain IS under the Blood of Jesus. No devil is going to touch that Blood.

I'm going to pray that the Lord will give skill and concentration on your surgery. I pray the Lord to guide your surgeons hands. I ask the Lord to heal every wounded nerve in your back and cause them to be replaced by new ones! Amen!

You, dear one, you thank Jesus for daily mending. Step into the healing of his blood every time you feel a twinge. May your faith grow huge.

Mishael

1john 2.17 ,18,19,20,21 .....

We are out numbered but not out powered .

Hello my brother Robert,

Know that you are in my prayers every single day. One thing I pray about specifically is back pains to be healed. Along with many other things. One day we will be with Him in Heaven. As so many of us yearn, for this, we must be patient. God Bless you my brother, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!

The Lord is my everything. This old sin filled world has worn my body down. I live in physical pain daily because of a crooked spine. I just had to have a fourth surgery to put in longer rods in my spine. What ever brother or sister reads this please pray for the pain to lessen Soon. Lord, I praise You this day and come with thanksgiving on my lips. Jesus Christ is everything to me as I continue on the journey from this sinful world to my new glorious home. I long for that new immortal and incorruptible body as the angels. I hope on nothing less than Jesus love and righteousness! HOLY ! HOLY! HOLY! Proclaim those wonderful creatures before the throne of GRACE. Jesus help me to love you more each day and to tell others of the greatest gift ever in Christ.

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Yes, dear Hugo, I was referring to our conversation on 'prophets'. Re: Ecclesiastes 6:11, I think you have the wrong reference; possibly Proverbs 10:19, though this too doesn't apply.

I realize that you're not denying the deity of Christ in one sense, but I would advise you that 'Trinitarians' likewise don't deny it either. A Trinitarian understanding of the Scriptures as you know, is that there is One God & that God has expressed Himself (& revealed to us) His Being. God shows us Himself also by His Word & His Spirit - you know the Scriptures that support this. Then at the appointed time ( Romans 5:6), God sent His Word ( John 1:14) to be clothed with flesh so that a full & permanent sacrifice could be made for sin unlike animal sacrifices.

After Christ's death, resurrection & ascension, He went to sit at the Father's right Hand ( Luke 22:69; Romans 8:34) where He "ever lives to make intercession for us" ( Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). So we see the Father in Heaven, His Son (Word made flesh) at the Father's right Hand & His Spirit who indwells the believer ( John 14:17; Ephesians 1:13,14) & convicts men ( John 16:8). There is no such teaching from the Bible that Jesus only exists in Heaven & that the Father & Holy Spirit are now existing in Jesus. I know this is the teaching of the "Jesus Only" movement. The Father, the Son & the Spirit are still there & all three remain part of the Eternal Godhead (& yes, by all means, level your accusation at me), for the Bible is clear. If you have Scriptures to show that this is not the case, then I welcome your further input & my study.

Just to add to the other good comments given. When you have truly repented (deep contrition for our sins against a Holy God & against man) & found forgiveness that is promised from God's Word ( 1 John 1:9), then you are indeed in a right standing in God's Eyes ( Ephesians 1:3-6). If after what you have done & God has promised to do for you & in you, you still feel guilt over those sins & have no joy or peace, it seems that you have not left those sins at the foot of the cross (i.e. laid your sins upon Jesus Who came for this very purpose).

You need to determine in your heart & mind to leave them behind at the Cross & trust God for doing this & accepting you. Do you have a real sense of the Holy Spirit in you working in some ways to confirm the holy transaction that has been done? Or is this teaching of the Spirit still a mystery & an absence in your experience? Are you prepared to stand on God's Word, believing in what it says to you, or rather wanting your mind to believe & dwell on things that are past, that which was forgiven & forgotten? Sometimes the memory of our past sins can remain with us, but they shouldn't cause us to doubt God anymore, thus losing our joy & peace.

One also needs to be conscious of the lion that prowls, Satan, the enemy of God & of your soul. He not only blinds & deceives the world to disbelieve in God, but more so, attacks God's children in many ways. And one way is to create doubt (as he did with Adam & Eve) & fear. It may be that he is reaching out to you in this way to keep you bound, restless, & removing the peace that you should be enjoying. At those times at night, call out to your Heavenly Father, claim His promises to you & command the spirit of fear to depart. In your waking hours, stay alert by attending to the Word of God & prayer - Satan hates it when we do that & the Spirit of God will minister to you.