I remember being a new Christian and so hungrily devouring God’s word. I had so many questions, so many things I wanted to understand. My Step Mom was such a blessing to me then, guiding and discipling me. In all my questions, she patiently encouraged, pointed and helped to guide me to find the Biblical answer I was searching for. As I studied, she would offer additional questions, scriptures and contextual information relevant to my question, but did just toss out pat answers. I’m sure she knew how much more meaningful it would be for me to see the scriptures myself and allow the Lord to teach me by his Holy Spirit.

I was speaking with a young lady recently who has begun to study the book of Ephesians. It absolutely thrills my heart to see young people searching the word of God

Here are some questions that I knew would help her more. Maybe they will be a help to others studying this wonderful book.

Often those studying the book of Ephesians simply skim over the introduction in chapter one, assuming that since it is written to the “saints” (a term used interchangeably between both Jew and Gentile elsewhere in scripture), that everything there is about every born-again believer. This misunderstanding has led to multitudes of doctrinal errors throughout Christian history.

The questions we need to ask are:

-What two groups of people is this written to?

-Who is Paul referring to when it says “us” and “we” in the first twelve verses?

-Who is Paul referring to when the focus shifts to “ye” in verse thirteen? (Ch 2 v. 11)

-So then, according to these facts, what group of people was predestinated from the foundation of the world?

-What were they predestinated to? (Ch 1 V. 5 &12)

-What was God’s eternal “purpose” which they were predestinated according to? (the mystery revealed) (Ch 1 vs 9-11, ch 3 1-11)

      God’s eternal purpose is an amazing study in itself (Romans 8:28 ,9:11, 9:17,       2 Corinthians 1:17,  Ephesians 1:11, 3:11, 2 Timothy 1:9)  
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-Who were the strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:? But now have become fellowcitizens “with” the saints?  (ch3 v 6)

I pray that someone else may be blessed by this study.
 

I heard a message recently about Goliath and how he defied the men of Israel, mocking them as cowards unwilling to stand and fight against this giant of the Philistines.

It reminded me of one of the biggest problems in the church today- pornography addiction. Although the Bible states, in Ephesians 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you;” I hear regularly how porn use is at epidemic proportions within professing Christianity.

This problem is so big and so widespread that Christians now tremble at the feet of this Goliath as though there is no hope. Porn mocks our great God and our Christianity as it destroys homes and ministries. Men, as helpless victims enslaved to the lust of their flesh, just don’t seem to know how to get victory over this Goliath.

We make excuses for it, citing the accessibility of it on cable and the internet. We justify struggling against this sin for years and even decades, claiming that it is just such a great temptation for men.  

Well, here’s a thought- How about we view it and treat it as the sin it is?

In the Old Testament, those participating in acts of fornication (homosexuality, bestiality, incest, illicit sexual intercourse, adultery) were to be put to death. However, in New Testament Christianity where men claim to be indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God, they just can’t get enough of it.  

Watching these abominable acts is such a huge temptation that Christians willingly invite it into their homes and lives, supporting and increasing the demand for sex trafficking, prostitution, child abuse and every other sexual sin.  

How have we come to a place where we now stand and tremble as though we have no hope? Are we not children of God?

Instead of loving porn and making excuses for it, why not stand and fight? Why not put it out of the church as we are commanded?

1 Corinthians 5:11  But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
12  For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
13  But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.

Can I suggest that if you have been losing the battle to this sin for that long, you’re not fighting, you’re willingly enslaved. Why should a Christian who has been freed from the power of sin be enslaved to such wickedness?

​You are enslaved to your sin because you love your sin. Not only do you love porn more than you love your wife, but more than you love Christ. You fall because you choose to.

Don’t be deceived, God does not accept this as your personal weakness. He is not ok with it. If you think your god understands and overlooks your sin, you are not worshipping the God of the Bible. You’ve created your own god. Could this be why immorality and idolatry always seem to go hand in hand?
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1 Corinthians 6:9  Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 

Instead of holding up David's example of sin to justify your own, why not stand and fight this giant in the power of the Lord instead?
 
1 Corinthians 6:18  Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's
 

Ephesians 2:1  “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;”

Can a dead man repent and believe? This is a question posed often by Calvinists. They reason that if a man is (spiritually) dead in sins and trespasses then he is completely unable to do that which God commands. He is unable to turn to God in repentance, to believe, or even to desire anything which God commands. According to the Calvinist, God must first quicken man, bringing him to new life before he can believe or desire to be right with God.

If we are going to apply this interpretation to this verse, we must also apply it to others (in the proper context). The same Apostle who penned Ephesians 2:1 also penned the following verses.  Speaking of born again believers, Paul writes:

Romans 8:10  “And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.”  Applying this same interpretation, it would have to be suggested that if our bodies are now dead, that we could no longer walk or talk or breathe. Can a born again believer yet walk, talk and breathe?

Romans 6:11  “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Can and do we yet sin? The obvious and logical answer to all these questions is a resounding Yes.

We should never base our theology only on our human reasoning or philosophies, but on the word of God itself.  So, what does the word of God tell us? Can a spiritually dead man do as God commands -turn to him in repentance and believe? Can an unsaved man desire to worship God?

Acts 16:14  “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”

The example of Lydia is often used to prove that man cannot.  But notice here that Lydia is a described as a worshipper of God prior to God’s opening her heart. Of course, we cannot hang our beliefs on this one verse.

Acts 10:1  “There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.”

Cornelius also worshipped God prior to regeneration. We are told that he feared God, gave alms and prayed to God. It sure sounds like he desired to be right to God and turned to him.

We are also told of many Old Testament saints who repented and believed God. It would be difficult, I believe, to find anyone who would suggest that they were regenerated. 

John 7:39 “ (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)”

Old Testament saints had faith that was counted for righteousness and were saved, but they were not regenerated as we are. They were looking forward to the coming of the Savior who would in the future complete the way of Salvation. But we are told that these died, IN FAITH not having yet received the promise. The Holy Spirit was not an indwelling presence, tabernacling with men while the Old covenant was still in effect.  We are told that these things were a shadow of things to come, but not the very things themselves.

The Holy Spirit was known to come upon individuals for a time, empowering them for service as God’s purposes demanded, but also departed from them at times. We know that a regenerated person with the indwelling Holy Spirit can quench that a Spirit, but never lose it. The Old Testament saints were forgiven, but not born again. They were justified by faith (saved) but they were not regenerated; and yet we are told that :

Romans 4:3  “…Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:6-9  “Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.”

As a solution to this obvious problem posed by scripture itself, some would suggest that regeneration and faith happen at the exact same time. (To me, this seems like faulty reasoning at best. Logic itself would demand that one must come before the other. Just as if we were entering a house, we might describe it as one singular act, but that act is made up of more than one element. Clearly we must open the door before we can go through it, and not the other way around.)

Again we have to look to scripture for the answer. Do we repent and believe to be saved? Or are we saved so that we CAN repent and believe? Are we saved through faith? or through regeneration? Does faith come by hearing or by regeneration?

John 20:31  “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

Mark 16:16  “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

John 3:16  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

John 3:18  “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

John 3:36  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

Notice the idea here: The believing are saved to everlasting life, while the unbelieving are condemned. Can a man be regenerated prior to belief? Not according to the scriptures, for then would a regenerate man yet be condemned, and still have the wrath of God abiding on him. He would still be damned.

Romans 8:1  “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

According to the bible, we are either in the flesh or in the spirit. We cannot be both. Romans 8:9  “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. 

Can we actually say that someone is regenerated who has not yet repented or believed? Are they washed, and renewed prior to repentance and belief? The bible tells us that God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. And that He “saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” Psalms 34:18. Will God go against His own word and regenerate an unrepentant, proud sinner?

Psalms 119:155  “Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.”
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If that is not clear enough, there is more:

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,” {emphasis mine}

The bible is exceedingly clear here when it tells us that after they heard the word, they trusted (believed). After they believed, they were sealed with the Holy Spirit.


So then, if man is capable of repenting and believing before he is regenerated, who gets the glory? Of course God does. Man cannot anymore regenerate himself than he can sprout wings. It is only by the great and merciful grace of God, that salvation is possible. If God had not planned from the foundation of the world, to provide his son as a sacrifice for sin, no one could ever be saved. 

John 6:44  “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

How does God draw sinners to Christ? Christ said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” John 12:32  God draws us through the preaching of the word. Romans 10:17 “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  Faith cometh by hearing, not by regeneration.

How many does God desire to draw? All.
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2 Peter 3:9  “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Repent & Believe!
 
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Recently a reader suggested that the phrase turn from sin was confusing and implied that it is also found in the Catholic Good News Bible, we should not use it.
 
Since I have, many times heard others say basically the same thing, I thought it was important to address this and point out a couple of things.
 
1. Although I understand the aversion to using Catholic terminology, or confusing terminology, let me assure you, God used the phrase turn from sin long before the Catholic church included it in their Good News translation.
 
1 Kings 8:35  When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them:
 
2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Ezekiel 3:20  Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
 
Ezekiel 33:14  Again, when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right;
 
2. The phrase turn from sin is not difficult to understand. these simple one syllable words that most every English speaking person knows are not the  cause of confusion. I believe the issue is not in understanding the phrase, but in trying to reconcile it with our modern Easy Believeism teaching that neglects such admonitions in both evangelism and Christian living. Another word which is often referred to as being too confusing is the word repent. Again, the confusion does not lie in these  Bible words, but in our misunderstanding of Bible teaching.
 
3. Throughout the Bible, Old Testament and New, God calls us to repent and turn from sin.  Saved as well unsaved are to turn from sin. There is just no way around it. So, no matter how uncomfortable these terms may be for us to hear or to convey, they are biblical terms that must be used. We must warn sinners to turn from their sin.
 
Luke 5:32  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
2 Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
 
Psalms 32:5  I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
 
Acts 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 8:22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
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2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
21  And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
 
2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
 
​Matthew 3:8  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: