Ephesians Chapter 1 Discussion Page 3

What is the glory of Gods Grace??????

Suzanne, May the Spirit grace you with his understanding of his words:

Do Gods creatures have FREE WILL; or, are we the WORKS of the creator?

Ephesians 1:11 In whom (Spirit) also we have obtained (by grace) an inheritance (children), being predestinated (you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. John 15:16) according to the purpose of him (Spirit) who WORKETH all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God (Spirit) which WORKETH in you both to WILL and to DO of his good pleasure.



Colossians 1:29 Whereunto, I (Paul) also labour, striving according to his (Spirit) WORKING, which WORKETH in me mightily.

Isaiah 26:12 Lord, thou (Spirit) wilt ordain peace for us: for thou (Spirit) also hast wrought (WORKED) all our WORKS in us.

Isaiah 44:26 ......that PERFORMETH the counsel of his (Spirit) messengers....

Psalm 57:2 I will cry unto God most high that PERFORMETH all things for me.

Proverbs 16: 33 The lot is cast into the lap (we were predestined); but the whole disposing (WORK) thereof is of the Lord (Spirit)

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord (Spirit), as the rivers of water: he (Spirit) TURNETH it (man's heart) whithersoever he (Spirit) WILL.

Job 12:9 Who (man) knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord (Spirit) hath wrought (WORKED) this?

Job 23:14 For he (Spirit) PERFORMETH the things that is appointed (predestined) for me....

Job 23:10 But he (Spirit) knoweth the way that I take: when he (Spirit) has tried me, I shall come forth as pure gold.

Hebrews 4:3 For we which believed do enter into rest.....the WORKS (we are the works of the Spirit) were finished before the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us (works of the Spirit) labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of UNBELIEF.

May the Spirit grace you with his wisdom.

Ok ,im not going 2 get into any kind of arguement with u or any one else ,taking verses out of context is always a mistake ,ive done it and im sure most of us have ,Ezekiel is talking 2 the nation of Tyrus ,Isaiah is talking 2 Babylon and its king and in Matthew Jesus is refering 2 people who say they r Christians but cannot even do the most basic acts of Christian kindness .Taking verses out of context is a big mistake ,i learned that the hard way ,its the best way ,u never forget a hard lesson .

You wrote "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" but the Bible disproves that. You offered no scriptural evidence to support your claim. You are encouraged to read the Bible and a concordance if you need more information.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

The word Kuria I believe is not the ladys' name in 2nd John. From what I've read John is simply addressing his letter to a chosen spiritual lady.

how do i ask for forgiveness if i have committed an abomination , plz help me

Yes i would like one.

God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior. Through the spilling of blood he gave up the holy ghost and die. By Jesus being so humbled told the truth. People didn't want to hear that, especially when the Pharisees, sanducees and scribes couldn't phantom who Jesus is. The people wanted everything that this world have to offer. The word of God they couldn't understand because it compromised their status. Just like today people go about their business trying to get as much gain as possible. But forgery to say thank you Lord for another day. In reference to Ephesians 1.

Water baptism is definitely needed. Read Mark 16:16. 1 Peter 3:18-20. Romans 6:3-8. There's more. Even the parting of the Red sea was a type of baptism. Same as Noahs Ark. Read it for yourself. It's all in the Bible. The Bible says you must be born again to SEE the kingdom. But water & the Spirit are needed to enter into the kingdom of God. In the book of Corinthian 11, it speaks of the heavenly language. It is a language that only God knows but it's me talking to him from my heart. If I know not what to pray then this is where the Ho!y Spirit comes in to help. So many ppl think they have the Holy Ghost but do not. Study what the Bible says. Do not go to a commentary for answers.Do not Go to YouTube for answers. Go to God. Many churches out there do not teach all truth. Only partial. This is a matter of making it to heaven or not. Take no chances. You will receive power once the Holy Ghost has come upon you. I speak the truth & you were told what I wrote is truth. Pray & ask God for the a revelation. Open your heart for truth. Baptism has always been in Jesus name from the early church days. Research that truth.

Marie, Romans 9:10? Or, did you mean Romans 10:9?

Do you also have a supporting Scripture that the Gift of Tongues is a 'Heavenly language known only to God'? The Acts 2:4 account of Pentecost Day seems to indicate that the Tongues spoken was not Heavenly but Earthly & Paul's teaching on this in 1 Cor 14 was specifically to show that Tongues was an unknown (unlearned) language to the speaker but may be known to another present or to be used when one gifted with its Interpretation was present. Without an interpretation, the (unlearned) Tongue was not to be used however it could be used in prayer to God only, where "my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful" (v 14). This seems to me that apart from its use in prayer, the Tongue should only be used when someone who understands/interprets it is present.

I would be interested to learn what Scripture you know that can support what you've said.

Beautiful wisdom! Thank you for reminding me the importance of daily praising the Lord.

He truly deserves all praise and glory no matter what is going on here on planet earth.

He created it and knows all about it!!!

God bless you and thank you again!

Mari B.

I differ from you somewhat on your explanation of Acts 2:38. To my understanding you are receiving the Holy Spirit upon the new birth. The birth by water in John 3, is the fleshly birth.( uh oh my water just broke) and then born of the Spirit is the second birth. I believe verse 6 says that which is born of flesh is flesh and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. That is an explanation by Jesus on the new birth. I do believe that you have to be born again to enter the kingdom of Heaven. But also the water baptism is an outward expression of an inward change. Water baptism has nothing to do with salvation. No where in the gospels does it speak of any baptism that seals your salvation. The Word does say in Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no other, there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Salvation is the gift of God and the shedding of Jesus blood for the remission of our sins. Christ and Christ alone.

Douglas Russell, Please read my comment in here. We must receive Christ by repenting. That means turning away from a wrong way of living & truly living for our Lord Jesus every day of our life. We can not do this on our own. It's why we need the Holy Spirit. It's a spiritual birth from above. We must surrender our life unto him. Let go & A!low him to lead our life thru the Holy Spirit. (Holy Ghost & the Holy Spirit are the same). Holy Spirit will lead you to all truth. If we are not lead by the Spirit, we are none of his. Romans 8. Let no man tell you different. Acts 2:38 is the New Testament salvation thru faith, love & obeying the gospel. This is all in the Bible. I learned this bc I was so hungry for God's truth. I still am. He loves everyone but it doesn't mean everyone will be saved. Stay in prayer each day. Ask him for his help. Thank him. Yes give thanksgiving into Christ. We are in the world but we must not love the world. now w the indwelling of God's Spirit, soon you will have the fruits of the Spirit. Peace, love, joy, faith, longsuffering, meekness, kindness. Praise him daily. He loves to be praised & he deserves to be praised & worshiped. God is a Spirit & we must Worship him in Spirit & in truth. This is also biblical. Amen

I meant John 3: 3-8 is where Jesus spoke in red letter words about water & the Spirit are needed to enter into the kingdom of God. Thank you Jesus

Jesus spoke in John 3-8 about the water & Spirit & how it is needed to enter into the kingdom of God. After we read the gospels we then go to the book of Acts. We must obey Acts 2:38. It's for everyone. The Bible from Acts & on is for the people that came from the book of Acts; the baptized, Holy Spirit filled,saved people/churches. First obey Acts 2:38 before you can claim Romans 9:10 or any other verse I was water baptized yet I didn't receive the Holy Ghost until nearly 3 yrs later. You will speak in tongues as the sign of receiving the Holy Ghost. It's a heavenly language known into God. Also in Acts 1:8 says you will receive power once the Holy Ghost has come upon you. Its a wonderful journey. We must know our God & obey the gospel. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 kjv is clear on these words. Amen

LORD thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit and its only by your grace that we haven't been consumed, and you are still offering to us your Only Begotten Son in whom you are well-pleased. Praise the Lord!!!