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NASB | Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above--spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. [Rom 1:20] |
Subject: Created "in " Christ Jesus |
Bible Note: Post 1 of 3. Tim, couldn’t find 1000 chars to cut. In fact, I added! Mostly scripture quotes, though, which I wanted to leave in for ready reference. So, will reply in three parts. I speak carefully, lest I be found to misrepresent God’s word. I know that, according to James 3:1, those who assume to be teachers are subject to a stricter judgment. Can’t say more about Cornelius than what I’ve already posted recently. Will just have to leave the Forum readers with Acts chapters 10 and 11 and related passages, and let them judge whether or not I’ve spoken the truth. You say, “there is not a single verse that limits the Holy Spirit (HS) to the Apostles.” Even though readers are probably tired of this, I will post these words a 3rd time: In Acts 1:15, the text says there were about 120 disciples in the upper room. In Acts 2, the text does not say all 120 received the baptism of the HS. Tracking the antecedent of the pronouns in Acts 2:1-4 leads to Acts 1:26. The pronouns “them” and “they” refer to Matthias and the eleven, and can be traced even further back to the 11 in Luke 24:49. In John 14, Jesus promises the baptism of the HS to the Apostles at their Passover Feast. Nowhere have I said the HS is just for the Apostles (as you keep insisting), but I have said the baptismal measure of the HS and its attendant power was for them. Acts 8:18 and Acts 19 show the gifts of the HS were passed to others through the laying on of the Apostles hands. “And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money.” “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them.’ In the New Testament, I see four levels of work done through man by the HS. 1) Jesus had the HS without measure. After His baptism, the Spirit descended on Him (Matt 3:16) . Col 2:9 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Acts 10:38) The four gospels are full of descriptions of the HS working through the Christ. 2) The Apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), giving them remembrance of what Jesus had told them, guiding them into all truth, giving them power to preach the word, confirm the word with signs and wonders, establish the church, give spiritual gifts via laying on of their hands, and write scripture. Cornelius and household received the same manifestations of the Spirit, to show the Apostles that salvation was for the Gentiles as well as the Jews, but how could Jesus’ promise to “bring to remembrance and to guide into all truth” have been for Cornelius? The Kingdom came with power to the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. The Kingdom did not come again at the time of Cornelius conversion, but it was extended to Gentiles. (Here I go, talking about Cornelius again!) 3) Members of the 1st century church received miraculous gifts of the HS from the laying on of the Apostles hands. Not sure if everyone received a gift, but text does indicate that no one got all 9 of the gifts (1 Cor 12:7-11.) Reason for these gifts was to “confirm the word” and maintain the integrity of the early church. First Cor 13 says these gifts would go away. 4) All Christians, universally, receive the gift of the HS, promised in Acts 2:38-39, reiterated in Acts 5:32, which says, “…And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the HS whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Oops. Looks like we have to believe and then obey before we get the Spirit.) |