Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Created "in " Christ Jesus | Eph 2:10 | tms57mi | 86766 | ||
What does it mean to be created "in" Christ Jesus? | ||||||
2 | Created "in " Christ Jesus | Eph 2:10 | Asis | 86788 | ||
Part 2 AT Pierson In Christ Let us first of all glance at the teachings here contained as to this unity of saints in Christ Jesus. To begin with, the conception of Christ, as the sphere of all holy living, implies this unity. This sphere is invisible, however real, and our entrance into it and our abiding in it are not therefore matters of sense. Our place in it has to be obtained or received through the Spirit's working, and recognized or perceived through the Spirit's teaching. We must also recognize the place of other saints in the same sphere, by the same spiritual discernment. As we come into contact with true fellow believers and perceive in them the Christ image -- as we see that they breathe the same air and live the same life, that they also belong to Christ and partake also of His Spirit, our conception of the unity of all believers in Him grows continually in vividness of impression. We cannot help our love going out to them; to whatever different sphere they may belong, in family, social, or national life, they belong with us to that supreme sphere which is celestial and eternal. And here is the only real hope of unity in the Church: it is found in the recognition of our mutual relation to Christ, and in Him to each other -- as our Lord prayed, "that they also may be one in us" (John 17:21). The spheres of family life, social life, church life, and national life are all visible, and they impress us with a vivid sense of our unity, as brothers, neighbors, fellow church members, fellow citizens. But, to a true child of God, the invisible bond that unites all believers to Christ is far more tender, and lasting, and precious; and, as we come to recognize and realize that we are all dwelling in one sphere of life in Him, we learn to look on every believer as our brother, in a sense that is infinitely higher than all human relationships. This is the one and only way to bring disciples permanently together. All other plans for promoting the unity of the Church have failed. Let us live more and more in Christ, and then we shall and must live more and more in the bonds of a holy love and peace. It must be first of all the unity of the Spirit. This unity in Christ is so prominent in this epistle that we must not lightly pass it by. Besides the general conception of Christ as the sphere of holy life, common to all these epistles, we shall find the following other figures used here to express the same thought: 1. The body of which He is the Head and we the members (1:22-23; 2:16; 4:12-16). ["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" (Ephesians 1:22-23). "And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:16). "12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 but speaking the Truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the Head, even Christ: 16 from Whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:12-16).] 2. God's workmanship (2:10). ["For we are His workmanship (Greek, poiema), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).] Poiema -- same word as in Romans 1:20, ["For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made (Greek, poiema), even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse" (Romans 1:20).] a creation with a definite purpose, or object, and we, all, parts of that sphere of creation -- "God's poem". 3. A commonwealth (2:12). ["That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth (Greek, politeia) of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of Promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12).] Politeia -- a community in which we are citizens, introduced into it by the blood (2:19). ["Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19).] |
||||||