Study through Ephesians. (chapter 1)

EPHESIANS 1

[1] Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
[2] Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Here we have one of the great distinctions between the Church which is the Body of Christ and Israel. The Body is blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

The only guaranteed blessings of the saved believer today are #1 spiritual, #2 in heaven, #3 in Christ. This is unique to the Body (church), for Israel did not have those blessings.

Here is Israel's plan of blessing:

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:”

“And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.”

“Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.”

“Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.”

“Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.”

“Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.”

(Deuteronomy 28:1-6)

Israel's blessings were PHYSICAL/EARTHLY blessings that were not in heaven nor spiritual. Israel's blessings were dependent on keeping the Law, “if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day” (Deut. 28:1). The Body's blessings in heaven are dependent on being saved. All believers are “joined unto the Lord”, “crucified with Christ”, “buried with him”, “risen with him”, “complete in him”, and we “sit together” in “heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6, Col. 2:10-13, Gal. 2:16-21). How is this possible? How can we be crucified with Christ? How can we be “complete” in Christ? Well it is certainly not by any works that we can do that we can obtain this position and blessing, for Galatians 3:1-3 states “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” No! We cannot be “made perfect by the flesh”, it is by the Holy Spirit.

All believers were “sealed with” and “baptized” by the the Holy Spirit when the trusted Christ as their Saviour believing on the gospel of the grace of God.

Ephesians 1:12-14 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom 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 of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.

None of us have been “made perfect by the flesh”, it was all by the Holy Spirit. We have been sealed with and baptized by the Holy Spirit and now, we are spiritually “joined to the Lord”. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 says “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” That is how you can be “crucified”, “buried”, and “risen” with Christ. Because the Holy Spirit joined you to Him. There is no way that a lost sinner dead in his sins could join himself to the Lord by his own works! I am sorry to bust your bubble, but your water baptism, confessing your sins, joining a church, and communion will not put you in Christ. Only the Holy Spirit can do that (Eph. 1:13, 1 Cor. 12:12-14).

Look at what spiritual blessings you have in Christ as given in Colossians 2:10-14.

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”

As believers we are “complete” in Christ. There is nothing that we can do to make us better candidates for heaven. Our standing is “complete”. Not because we are perfect, but because Christ is and our completion is “in Him”.

As believers we are “circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ”. The sins of our flesh were put off from us by “the circumcision of Christ”. That is when Christ was “cut off” (Dan. 9:26), His death. The blood of Jesus Christ cleansed us, putting away our sins. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1:14). “the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28). “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (Rev. 1:5) That is the “gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again three days later (1 Cor. 15:1-4), anyone who believes that will be “justified from all things” (Acts 13:38-39).

As believers we have been “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God”. We have been baptized “by one Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13) and “joined unto the Lord” (1 Cor. 6:15-17). His death became our death, His burial became our burial, and His resurrection became our resurrection.

As believers we have been forgiven ALL trespasses. “and you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses” You know the worst sin you have ever committed? The really bad one that you do not want anyone to find out about? You know all the others sins you have committed, are committing, and will commit? THEY ARE GONE. You have been “forgiven ALL trespasses”. You have been “justified from ALL things” (Acts 13:38-39). God “hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32).

As believers you are dead to the Law.“Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” This is one of the great blessings of being in the church which is the Body of Christ. According to Galatians 2-6 and Romans 3-8, you are “not under the law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). Circumcision means nothing, being a Jew means nothing, it is all “dung” (Phil. 3:1-9). While there us to not be salvation outside of the covenants that God made with Israel (Eph. 2:12), “in Christ” none of those things matter (Gal. 6:15, Phil. 3:9).

Those are the types of “spiritual blessings” that you have in “heavenly places in Christ”. We have not been guaranteed any type of physical blessings. The theory that if you live right and serve God the way you shoud, then God will bless you, is completely FALSE. The apostle Paul was the greatest missionary that ever lived, yet he was always in danger and suffering need (2 Cor. 11:23-27). Philippians 4:11-13 says, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” There have been a lot of good christians that suffered and were killed for believing the Bible and preaching the gospel. There have been a lot of Catholic priests that lived luxioursly with a lot of money and nice possessions. Therefore how much nice stuff you have is not a sign of spirituality. Those who are truly spiritual are content with the grace of God and can be happy in any condition. God has guaranteed you spiritual blessings, not that you would always have a nice car, nice house, or anything like that. The apostle Paul is living proof of that!

By the way, anyone who says that you must tithe of your income or else God will curse you is wrong. Tithing was an Old Testament practice that most people do not know very much about.

What does the Bible say about the "tithe"?

Here are twenty points on "tithing" from Pastor David O'Steen of Landmark Baptist Church:

"1. The English word "tithe" means a tenth (compare Gen. 14:20 with Heb. 7:4). Most churches preach tithing as a means of supporting their ministry. There are variations in how they teach this is to be done. Some pay the local church one tenth of their income after taxes and bills are paid; some pay before. Others demand tithing on unemployment, inheritance, gifts, tax refunds, social security and even gambling winnings. The tithing issue has caused a great deal of strife and division in our churches over the years.

2. Perhaps the most well known passage on tithing is Malachi 3:8-12. This passage is the proof text for "Storehouse Tithing." Simply stated, the congregation is exhorted to channel all of their giving through the local church (storehouse). If they want to give to a Christian organization, radio or television broadcast, etc., it must go through their denominational machinery in order for the local church to get "credit." Also the pastor and elders often must make the determination if the cause supported by the giver is "worthy."

3. This use of the Malachi passage is a good example of Scripture being taken out of its historical and dispensational context. "This whole nation" in verse 9 is the backslidden nation of Israel, NOT the present day church (Mal. 1:1; 3:6). They were under the law of Moses as a system of conditional blessing (obey=blessed; disobey=cursed). The blessings of keeping the law had to do with Israel's LAND (3:11-12). Believers today are not under the law but under grace (Rom. 6:14; 7:4-6). As such we have already been blessed by God with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph.1:3).

4. This should put an end to the common charge that believers who don't tithe are "robbing God" and will be "cursed with a curse." God did not command us to tithe so how could we be robbing Him by not doing what He never told us to do? We cannot be cursed by the law for not tithing (Mal. 3:9) as members of the body of Christ (Gal. 3:13). The storehouse mentioned in verse 10 is not a local church but a storage bin or silo in the Jewish temple where the grain from the Hebrew's tithes was stored (2 Chron. 31:4-12).

5. Under the law only agricultural products were tithed. They included grain, fruit, and livestock. Only products produced within the boundaries of the land of Israel were to be tithed (Lev. 27:30-34).

6. Others exempt from the tithing law included the hired hands, fishermen, miners, lumber workers, construction workers, soldiers, weavers, potters, manufacturers, merchants, government workers, and priests. In short, all who were not farmers were exempt.

7. A farmer with only 9 cattle did not tithe because the law specified the "tenth which passeth under the rod." Likewise a farmer with 19 sheep paid only 1 sheep to the Lord's tithe.

8. The Jewish farmers in the land could redeem (buy back) the tithes of their crops with a penalty of one fifth. In other words, if a farmer wanted to keep his tithe of grain worth $1,000, he could pay the cash equivalent of $1,200 (Lev. 27:31).

9. Livestock could not be brought back nor could the farmer exchange a good animal for a bad one or vice versa. Any attempt to substitute any other animal other than the tenth which passed under the rod would be penalized by the farmer forfeiting both the tenth and its substitute (Lev. 27:33).

10. God ordained the Levites to be the ones to whom the tithe was paid (Num. 18:21). They were one of the 12 tribes of Israel to whom no inheritance was given in the land. The Lord Himself and the tithes of the children of Israel was their inheritance. It was used for the service of the tabernacle (later the temple) (Num. 18:20-28).

11. It was unlawful for anyone outside of the tribe of Levi to receive the tithe, such as prophets, preachers, kings or evangelists.

12. The Levites paid one tenth of their tithes to the high priest. Not all Levites were priests but only the sons of Aaron. The priests did not tithe.

13. The Lord Jesus Christ did not ask for or receive a tithe for support of His ministry. Being of the tribe of Judah (not Levi) He could not without breaking the law (Heb. 7:14; Rev. 5:5).

14. Neither Peter (not of the tribe of Levi) nor Paul (of the tribe of Benjamin) could receive tithes for the support of their ministries.

15. Even the Jews do not practice tithing today because there are no Levites, priests, or temple worship in Jerusalem. Jewish rabbis know biblical law well enough to know that tithing under the present circumstances is unlawful. According to them, when the temple is rebuilt in Jerusalem with a consecrated altar with priests and Levites officiating, all Jews living within the biblical tithing zones will tithe.

16. Those that teach tithing is binding on believers today use the argument that it predates Moses and the law. But this reasoning is not valid, for the Sabbath also predates the giving of the law (Ex.16:23-29) and yet it is not binding on God's people today (Rom. 14:5-6; Gal. 4:9-10; Col. 2:16-17).

17. Abraham gave tithes to Melchisedec, king of Salem, but this was the spoils of war, not the legalistic tithe of the land which Moses commanded. Also, God did not command the tithe, Abraham chose to give it of his own free will (Gen. 14:17-23; Heb. 7:1-10).

18. The only other scriptural reference to tithing before Moses is Jacob. Again there is no command to tithe. In fact Jacob puts up numerous conditions to be met before he will pay the tithe to the Lord (Gen. 28:20-22).

19. The biblical references which address the tithing issues are: Gen. 14:20; 28:22; Lev. 27:30-32; Num. 18:20-32; Deut. 12:6-7, 11-12, 17; 14:22-23,28-29; 26:12-15; 2 Chron. 31:1-12; Amos 4:4-5; Mal. 3:8-12; Matt. 23:23; Lk. 11:42; 18:12; Heb. 7:5-10.

20. Paul the apostle to the Gentiles for this present dispensation of Grace does not mention tithing but says a great deal about grace giving (Rom. 15:25,26; 1 Cor. 9:7-14; 16:1-3; 2 Cor. 8 & 9; Gal. 6:6-10; Phil. 4:10-19; 1 Tim. 5:9-18). " --Pastor David O'Steen

We cannot be cursed by the Law anymore. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law and we are now under grace.

Galatians 3:

[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
[14] That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

Some people say that since Abraham tithed before the Law was given that we should also tithe under grace. However, Abraham also circumcised and offered animal sacrifices before the Law. To be consistent, our tithing friends would also have to start performing those practices as well. Here is the Bible method of giving under grace: “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2 Cor. 9:6-8)

[4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
[5] Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Those two verses there are what are known as the Calvinist proof texts. The Calvinist view is that all saved people are God's “elect” and are “in Christ” before the world began and that man does not have a freewill to accept the gospel of Christ. Calvinism teaches that God pre-selected (before the foundation of the world) all the people that go to hell and all the people that will go to heaven. Nobody can decide anything on their own. If you were one of the ones that God pre-selected, then He will send His Spirit into you and cause you to be born again and then AFTER THAT you will believe the gospel. But that is completely contrary to scripture.

The Calvinist brethren read Ephesians 1:4 as “According as he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world”. But that is not what the Bible says....it actually says “chosen IN HIM”. That means that the condition on being “chosen...before the foundation of the world” is by being “in Christ”.

There is no scripture that says you were in Christ before the foundation of the world. You have to get into Christ by believing the gospel before you can be sealed and baptized by the Holy Spirit into Christ. You must be born again by believing on Christ trusting His death, burial, and resurrection.

Ephesians 1:13 In whom 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,

John 1:11-13 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Until you believe on Christ you are “of your father the devil”, “in Adam”, “dead in trespasses and sins”, “ye walked according to the course of this world”, “we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath”, and “we were dead in sins” (Eph. 2:1-5, 1 Cor. 15:22, John 8:44). You were not a son of God before you believed the gospel. You were not in Christ before you believed the gospel. Those things are conditioned on whether you believe the gospel of not (Eph. 1:13, John 1:11-13).

Our Calvinist friends will reply to this and say “If you have to believe the gospel before you get saved, then salvation is by works because believing is something that you have to do yourself.” That sounds good at first, but the Bible says that believing is not a work. Romans 4:5 “But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that salvation is by faith, not of works. Therefore believing/faith is not a work.

Predestination is according to God's foreknowledge. Because God knew that you would trust Christ and believe the gospel, He pre-determined that your destiny would be for you “to be conformed to the image of his Son”.

Romans 8:29-30 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

God pre-destinated people based on the foreknowledge of their belief or rejection of the gospel. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 says “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” You were “chosen to salvation” “through belief of the truth” when “he called you by our gospel”. God foreknew that you would believe the gospel, He did not make you believe it and you were not in Christ until you believed it.

The fact that you had to be “ADOPTED” (Rom. 8:15, Gal. 4:1-9, Eph. 1:5) shows that you were not always in Christ and that you were not always a son of God.

One more thing that the Calvinist brethren do not know: there are different types of knowledge in the Bible. You can “know” what someone will do without actually knowing the person and being related to them. You can KNOW someone's action without knowing the person themself. God did foreknow that you would believe the gospel, but He did not know you as one of His sons.

Galatians 4:

[1] Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
[2] But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
[7] Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
[8] Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
[9] But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Before you got saved, you were not known of God. The Calvinist teaching is in error.

[6] To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
[7] In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Those two verses prove that salvation can only be without our works (2 Tim. 1:9, Titus 3:5, Rom. 8:8, Eph. 2:8-9, Gal. 2:16-21, Gal. 3:1-3). If we are saved by works then we cannot be saved by grace, but if we are saved by grace we cannot be saved by works: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Rom. 11:6). Ephesians 1:6-7 prove this very well.

If we are (in God's “grace”) “accepted in the beloved”, then we cannot be accepted by ANY works, else that would nullify grace. We cannot be accepted by water baptism, public confession, the sinners prayer, or any other deeds. Believing the gospel is the only way to have access to God's grace, and that is not a work (Rom. 4:5). We have redemption and forgiveness through Christ's blood, not by water baptism.

[8] Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
[9] Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
[10] That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
[11] In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

The mystery of Christ's will is defined as “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him”. The Body of Christ will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (Phil. 3:20-21, 1 Thes. 1:10, 4:13-18), Israel will go through the “time of Jacob's trouble” (Matt. 3:7, Jer. 30:1-24, 32:37) , Christ will come and rule the earth for 1,000 years (Jer. 31:31-34, 32:36-42, 33:4-18, Isa. 11:1-12, etc.), and then God burns up the heavens and earth (2 Pet. 3:10-12) and will create a new heaven and a new earth (2 Pet. 3:13, Rev. 21:1, Isa. 65:17, 66:22). Christ's Kingdom will be gathered together serving Him and expanding forever. No church splits, rebelling against the King, no more of any of that stuff. It will be perfectly gathered together in Him with no more division. Or as John puts it in Revelation 21:4, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”

[12] That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
[13] In whom 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,
[14] Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Verses 12-14 are some of the greatest verses in the Bible on salvation. In fact, Ephesians 1:13 is my favorite verse in the entire Bible. These verses prove that salvation is not by water baptism, praying the sinners prayer, or any works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:5).

“In whom ye also trusted” : Trust Christ as your Saviour, believe not only “in Him” but “ON Him” (Acts 16:31)

“after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation” : What is the gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

“in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise” : At the moment you trusted Christ, believing the gospel, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit. No water baptism, no prayer, just simply believing on Christ!

This is a perfect explanation of Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

This best part is, the SEAL of the Holy Spirit is permanent! The Holy Spirit will not leave you, even if you grieve Him by walking after the flesh. This seal is “the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession”. The purchased possession being your body. Your body gets redeemed at the rapture when it is changed and fashioned like unto the body of Jesus Christ. After that you will not sin ever again. Your soul and spirit have been saved/redeemed already, but your body has only been purchased and is awaiting its redemption and salvation....

Romans 8:22-24 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 Corinthians 15:51-55 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

Titus 2:13-14 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Until that day, we have the earnest of the Holy Spirit “until the redemption” of our body. Ephesians 4:30 says this in plainer words: “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.”

[15] Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
[16] Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
[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:
[18] The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
[19] And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
[20] Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
[21] Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
[22] And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
[23] Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

There is a lot of truth in those last few verses of Ephesians 1. Here we see that we should pray for the spiritual growth of fellow brothers in Christ (vs15-18). We should pray about “every thing” (Phil 3:4-7)

but surely the spiritual growth of fellow saints should be on our priority list.

It is also important to notice that Paul said that we should know what is the hope of Christ's calling and what the riches of Christ's inheritance is (vs 18). Did you notice that it does not say “our inheritance” and “our calling”? That is because we are “heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” according to Romans 8:17. We earn fellow inheritance with Christ!

Verse 21 reminds us that we are now in a “present evil world” (Gal. 1:4) that is not our home and that we are looking for the world “that..is to come”. That is why we are instructed not to “mind earthly things” because our conversation is in heaven (Phil. 3:17-21).

Verses 22-23 prove that the Body of Christ is the universal organism of all believers that are “joined to the Lord” “seated in heavenly places in Christ” (1 Cor. 6:15-17, Eph. 2:6). Our Baptist Brider friends teach that the Body of Christ is each individual local church itself rather than the members. In other words, they teach that when the members are not assembled locally then there is no Body of Christ. That is not true, the “Body” is defined as “the fulness of him that filleth all in all”. It does not say “the fulness of him that filleth the local building”. The Body is defined as Christ in INDIVIDUALS, not in a building/assembly. In the Body there is “there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Col. 3:11) The Body is “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:24-28). Therefore you get into this Body when Christ comes into you by His Spirit joining you to the Lord (Eph. 1:13, 3:17, 4:30, Gal. 3:1-3, 4:1-9, Rom. 8:1-15, 1 Cor. 6:15-17), not when you assemble with other believers. The Body is assembled in heaven and in Christ (Eph. 2:6). 

--Eli Caldwell