OUR FATHER WHO SWORE THAT CHRIST WAS PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

The book of Hebrews chapter 7 begins with the writer explaining how the mysterious figure named Melchizedek (whose origin and end are undisclosed ) approach  Abraham after he was victorious over the five kings, and having shared bread and wine, was given a tenth of all the spoils of the battle.  Melchizedek, was timeless having no record beinging nor end and had no geneology and the writer of Hebrews likened the Son of God to him who was to remain a priest forever.

This eternal priest was paid a tenth by the patriarch Abraham from whom came the Levitical priests to whom were themselves paid tithes by all their brothers according to the law but Melchizedek was not derived from the geneology of the priesthood to whom the law prescribed the payment of tithes and thus this very great figure had stature beyond that of Abraham such that Melchizedek could bless him.

The presence of this priest made it legally possible for the appearance of another priest legitimate priest who was not from the family of Aaron the Levitical priest.    

1 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son ofGod, remains a priest continually.

4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils. 5 And indeed those who are of the sons of Levi, who receive the priesthood, have a commandment to receive tithes from the people according to the law, that is, from their brethren, though they have come from the loins of Abraham; 6 but he whose genealogy is not derived from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 Now beyond all contradiction the lesser is blessed by the better. 8 Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives. 9 Even Levi, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, so to speak, 10 for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.

The point being driven at by the writer is that there existed an order of priests provided for by the law but during the time that this priesthood was in force, David prophesied in Psalm 110 that there would a priest who would be in the order of Melkizedek.

11 Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law. 13 For He of whom these things are spoken belongs to another tribe, from which no man has officiated at the altar.

14 For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest 16 who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. 17 For He testifies:

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek.”

18 For on the one hand there is an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, 19 for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

20 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath 21 (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him:

“The Lord has sworn

And will not relent,

‘You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek’ ”),

22 by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

23 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. 24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens; 27 who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men who have weakness, but the word of the oath, which came after the law, appoints the Son who has been perfected forever.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO AUTHORIZES OUR MOVE INTO ENLIGHTENMENT

The writer of the book of Hebrews continues in chapter 6 telling believers should travel the road of progression from the elementary principles of Christ to the state of enlightenment and the experience of the gifts of heaven and partake of the Holy Spirit and enjoyed the good word of God and been involved in the powers of the age to come.

This elevated state is hazardous because if a person falls aways after reaching that state, they will not have recourse to repent because there is no sacrifice that can provide those who have trampled the provided salvation.

However, there are guardrails provided by God so that people who are prone to being derailed do not get make the irrecoverable spiritual blunder. In verse 3, we see that God acts as a gatekeeper regulating the passage of believers from infancy to adulthood. Only those who he permits ( having measured their personal nature and strength), advance into maturity where they are able to engage in the mature spiritual life. 

If any believer, having been cleared to grow and from that vantage point choose to pursue other options, they will have no sacrifice available for their redemption because the sacrifice was made for human sinners and not for gods.

1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits.

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

An analogy is offered of the earth receiving rain and producing herbs that are useful to the one who cutivates the earth but if thorns and briers are produced, the output is rejected and is thrown into the fire. 

In the same way, if the Lord cultivates a person and what emerges as the output is a source of shame to the one who sincerely and righteously provided the only way of salvation to the point where a curse is warranted (like the fig tree that produced nothing and Jesus cursed it), then no remedy can be found for a person beyond that point.

7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

The writer of Hebrews acknowledges that the subject matter to this point was rather gloomy and declares that the readers would have a better outcome from their experience with salvation (even though they had to alert them to the potential hazzard) and so the reader is reminded that God is fair and would not forget their work for His name and for their service to their fellow believers. They are counseled to remain diligent ad steadfast in their faith till the end so that they don't drift into lethargic sluggishness but rather, they should follow the example of those who walk in faith and are patient in doing so, inherit the promises and do not incur curses.

9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

To demonstrate how sure the promises of God are, the writer of Hebrews reminds them that God promised a blessing to Abraham (and even though He is the self-existent One), he made an oath to Abraham by swearing upon Himself and binding Himself to the promises He made to Abraham which locked in God's participation in the fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham and those who were to be his progeny through faith. The Lord Jesus Christ, having fulfilled the requirements of our redemption, made a way through the veil of separation and it is to this our souls can be assured of the efficacy of our salvation and that we have a High Priest standing before the mercy seat on our behalf forever.

13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.” 15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. 16 For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. 17 Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, 18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Amen.

1

 OUR FATHER WHO CALLED JESUS TO BE THE ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST

In chapter 5, the writer of the book of Hebrews continues the theme from the last chapter related to role of Christ as our eternal priest by pointing out that the appointed levitical priests were subject to all temptation that were common to man, the author tells us that they were able to have compassion for those who were ignorant and continuously going astray because they too were subject to weakness.

1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. 3 Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. 4 And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:

“You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You.”

6 As He also says in another place:

“You are a priest forever

According to the order of Melchizedek”;

In the case of Christ, even though He was appointed to the role as the eternal High Priest, in the days when He lived on earth, out of godly fear, offered up tearful prayers and supplications to the God who could save Him in His status as a Son, yet remained obedient through the suffering that He went through. 

By the proving of His perfection, He became the author of eternal salvation for any and all who obeyed Him. Jesus would be their High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

7 who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, 10 called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” 11 of whom we have much to say, and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing.

Pivoting to the subject of the condition of those being written to, the writer of Hebrews tells them that they are behind schedule. THey should themselves be teaching others but instead, they need to be re-taught the basics of the things of God and retrograded from being able to ingest the solid food of the word of God back to requiring baby's milk.

In the progression from infanthood to adulthood, believers needs to going from being unskilled in the understanding of the doctrines of righteousness and advancing to being fully exercised in their spiritual senses such that they could spiritually disern the functioning of both good and evil in their midst.

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO INVITES US INTO HIS REST THROUGH THE GOSPEL

The book of Hebrews chapter 4, continuing with the theme of the promise of being invited into the rest of God, tells us to be highly concerned if any in our midst seems to be incapable of reaching a state of rest because it means that they were not able to profit from the hearing of the gospel that, if mixed with faith, produces belief in those who hear it.

1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 3 For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said:

“So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ”

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 5 and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest.”

The point is made that the saving works of the gospel were completed from the time of the foundation of the world. Even though those to whom this salvation by faith was first preached  excluded themselves by disobedience, there were others who were designated to enter into the rest of God and this provision was to be accessed by an affirmative ( and timely ) response to the voice of God during the time of the new dispensation of salvation and an affirmative response will qualify one to enter in a state of rest that precludes striving and the performing of works to fulfill righteousness. 

6 Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience, 7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. 9 There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 10 For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.

We are encouraged by the writer of Hebrews to be very attentive to the business of entering the rest of God so that no one falls again into following the  patterns set by the corrupted fallen nature. With that in mind, we are informed that the spiritual anatomy of a Christian includes a junction between the soul and spirit which operated in the same way that a ball and socket joint. The marrow that exists within the bone connected to the joint represents how our spirits are encased in surrounding structures.

At this joint is where the soul and spirit transmit thoughts and intentions between themselves and the word of God which is living, active and precise, can penerate into this junction between the soul and the spirit and be able to read the hidden interactions happening in the innermost thoughts and motivations and intentions of the heart which is where the thoughts and and intentions originate from.

Understanding that the inner  lives we lead are laid bare before God to whom we will have to give an account and there is no insincerity or hypo

11 Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

With that in mind, it is important to remember that even though we are completely transparent before God, our eternal High Priest who is Jesus is one who has lived a human life and is able to identify with our weaknesses having Himself been tempted (though without sinning) by things we are tempted by.

14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Our great High Priest made it possible for us to approach the throne of grace from where grace is dispensed ( which is the bank account funded by the riches and glory of Christ that underwrites each believer's life (from Ap. Arome)) to those seek to obtain mercy and find grace in confidence when we need grace. 

Amen.

2

 OUR FATHER WHO APPOINTED THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

The book of Hebrews chapter 3 explains that we must follow the  pattern that was set by  the Lord Jesus Christ in His faithfulness to His Father who had sent Him to fullfil His purposes because it is that pattern of faithfullness in our belief that retains us as part of the House of God. We are adjured not to harden our hearts when we hear the voice of God and remain is the state of rebellion for it is the state of rebellion that excludes us from the rest of God.

 1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

In the day of trial in the wilderness,

9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,

And saw My works forty years.

10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,

And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,

And they have not known My ways.’

11 So I swore in My wrath,

‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”

The warning to the believers corresponding to what happened to the evil generation that died in the desert for their rebellion is that we be aware of the emergence of an evil heart within ourselves that would depart from faith in the living God. The injuction is that it is ´today´ that the voice of God must be daily which is a daily practice of faith so that sin does not deceive us.

12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Amen.

2

 OUR FATHER WHO MADE MEN A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS OF GOD

The book of Hebrews, having established the supremacy of Christ in chapter 1, now explains what a special place mankind occupy in the heart of God. 

This chapter starts with the councel to be careful not to lose track of what they had had heard otherwise they could drift away from the truth by simple inattention.

The importance of this is highlighted by the writer of Hebrews using as illustrations the encounters that men had with angles where the messages conveyed were binding and failure to heed the instructions would result in consequences. If the words of angels could carry so much authority, how much more important is it that we heed the words spoken by the Lord God  Himself who provided so great a salvation and further to that, attested to the validity of the message given through signs and wonders and miracles as well as the distribution of supernatural gifts among believers.

1 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2 For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. 4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

The reason the stakes are so high on the salvation provided by God is that mankind has been given a position of glory and honor just a little lower than God Himself and the Lord has placed him over all of creation. The writer of Hebrews observes that the human race does not seem to have attained such status but Jesus is seen as the one among humans who was a little lower than God for a while and then was lifted up to glory and honor for He experienced the pain of death which He undertook in order to  suffer death on behalf of mankind.

5 It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. 6 But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,

    a son of man that you care for him?

7 You made them a little lower than the angels;

    you crowned them with glory and honor

8     and put everything under their feet.”

In putting everything under them, God left nothing that is not subject to them. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to them. 9 But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

In the assembling of His family, God brought sons ( and therefore heirs ) to glory and by His absolute mastery of all of existence, made the saviour of men a perfect man whose extreme suffering was a demontration of His perfection and was indeed able to make men holy and through Christ are integrated in one family and are called brothers in the family of God because of the shared bloodline that the Lord Jesus had with mankind.

10 In bringing many sons and daughters ( in this verse, the NIV added "and daughters"  which negates the meaning of the term "sons" which is a very specific role in the spirit that applies to both men and women who have become eligable for an inheritance in God) to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. ( the NIV here adds "and sisters" which follows through on the inclusion of "daughters" in a preceding verse ( the following verse alo  contains the suffix "and sisters" ) which is a distortion of the deliberate meaning of brothers ) 12 He says,

“I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; 

    in the assembly I will sing your praises.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again he says,

“Here am I, and the children God has given me.”

The Lord Jesus presents Himself and the children God has given Him who the many sons he is bringing to glory. These children, having been taken hostage in the realm of flesh and blood, the Lord joined them in their realm sharing their  humanity and could thus pay the ransom for them by His shedding of blood and His death so that those held in slavery by their fear of death could be freed.

Because it was Abraham's descendants He was saving and not angels, he was made like us humans in everyway in order that from His shared experience with us, He might be a merciful and faithful high priest to God who could make atonement for our sins.

14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. 

Amen.

2

OUR FATHER WHO SPOKE BY PROPHETS AND THEN SPOKE TO US BY HIS SON

In this examination of the book of Hebrews of the NIV translation, we will consider the context of every thought that is expressed in each chapter and when studying the next chapter, we will make sure  to trace the continuity of context from the previous chapter.

Up till now, we have used the New King James version as our text but in this study, we will be cognisant of translational variances that the NIV translators may have included.

Starting with chapter 1, the writer of Hebrews exalts the Son of God as being the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being. 

This is an important scriptural anchor related to the divinity of Jesus because it clearly declares that the Lord Jesus is the exact represention of God's being and that it is Jesus who sustains all things by His powerful word.

To make clear the distinction between the angels of heaven and the Son of God, the writer of Hebrews makes references to the scriptures that clearly show the divine status of the Son of God who came to earth as a man. 

God the Father, in speaking of the Lord Jesus, calls Him His Son and declares that He is Jesus' Father.

Further to that, God the Father tells all the angels to worship the  Son and He describes an eternal throne occupied by the Son of God from where His scepter of justice would rule a righteous kingdom. The Lord Jesus will occupy this throne seated at the right hand of God the Father who declared that He would ensure that all of Jesus' enemies would be brought into subjugation.

The Lord Jesus is described as the one who laid the foundations of the earth and even when the fabric of existence wears out, Jesus will roll it up and replace it yet He will continue to be forever. 

1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. 

3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

          “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?

Or again,

“I will be his Father,  and he will be my Son”?

6 And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

7 In speaking of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”

8 But about the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; 

a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

    therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions

    by anointing you with the oil of joy.”

10 He also says,

“In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, 

and the heavens are the work of your hands.

11 They will perish, but you remain;

    they will all wear out like a garment.

12 You will roll them up like a robe;

    like a garment they will be changed.

But you remain the same,

    and your years will never end.”

13 To which of the angels did God ever say,

“Sit at my right hand

    until I make your enemies

    a footstool for your feet”?

14 Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?

Here, the writer of Hebrews highlights the fact that the angels of heaven are made to be spirits ( or wind ) and are also made to be  flames of fire 

Amen.

3

 OUR FATHER IN WHOM WE SHOULD BE STRONG AND IN THE POWER OF HIS MIGHT

The last chapter of the Apostle Paulś letter to the Ephesians  ( Chapter 6 ), he continues giving spiritual counsel pertaining to the relationships that occur in our households because their relationships are metaphors for the relationships within the household of God. 

Starting with children, Paul advises them to obey their parents in the same way that the children of God should assidously obey their Father in heaven.

Similarly, Paul advises parents to have a dispostion of  forebearance towards their children taking the time to train them in the way they should go. In the same way, God is longsuffering with us His children and he patiently teaches us the way we should go.

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: 3 “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.

Addressing those who were servants in a household, Paul instructs them to be obedient towards their masters with the understanding that their service should be done as unto Christ with sincerity towards God knowing that goodness will be repaid by God whether slave or free.

Towards the masters, Paul instructs them to give up using fear tactics to control their servants with the knowledge that they are under a master in heaven who does not berate us but is impartial and therefore, mistreatment of servants would be met with judgement. 

5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

9 And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.

The Apostle Paul then moves onto the subject of spiritual contention where  the enemy of our souls  continously schemes to gain spiritual advantage over believers. Paul advises believers to derive their spiritual strength from the Lord and from the power of His might. 

He also gives guidance that believers are not in a battle against the physical world of beings but rather pertaining to spiritual heirachy arrayed against them and he advises the use of protective clothing that we should wear and that is the full body armour of God that protects against the enemy's attempts to derail us. To give us an idea as who would be trying to derail us from our Christian calling, Paul lists the spiritual  hierarchy of ranking as:

• Principalities
• Powers
• Rulers of darkness of this age
• Spiritul hosts of wickedness in heavenly places

In this battle, Paul tells us that wearing the armour of God is what can enable believers to stand in the evil day and that we should expend every possible effort to stand firmly against the spiritual attempts to ruin us.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The apostle tells us to be strong and ensconced in God's mighty power and he gives us specific spiritual virtues and the articles of body armour they represent that would sheild us from the onslaught of the enemy:

• Truth and transparency - Waist and groin protection belt
• Assurance of righteousness - Breast plate over the heart
• Practice in spreading the gospel of peace - Boots
• Faith -  Shield that protects against fiery darts sent by those involved in wickedness
• Knowledge of salvation - Helmet that protects the mind from disinformation
• Knowledge of the word of God - Sword of the Spirit
• Continual watchful prayer in the Spirit with perserverence to protect the saints including Paul who requested prayer for boldness to reveal to men the mysteries of the Gospel. 

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The apostle Paul then concludes his monumental letter to the Ephesians with a promise to send one of his beloved and faithful brothers named Tychicus would bring the Ephesians up to date on what Paul was involved with and as well as to comfort them.

Paul then prays for peace, love and faith over the Ephesians from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul finalizes his letter with a prayer of grace towards those who sincerly love the Lord Jesus Christ.

21 But that you also may know my affairs and how I am doing, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make all things known to you; 22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our affairs, and that he may comfort your hearts.

23 Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE EXAMPLE WE SHOULD FOLLOW

Continuing in his letter to the believers in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul begins chapter 5 with the guidance that believers shoudl imitate God in the same way that well beloved children imitate their earthly fathers.

Having admonished the Ephesians to eschew their former lives as Gentiles, now Paul gives them a model on which to base their Christian lives and that is to imitate God. The example Paul gives is that the Ephesians should follow God's leading because He loved us and gave His son as a sacrifice for us and the self-sacrificial act of Christ, being a sweet-smelling aroma before God should guide us to live lives of love and self-sacrifice as we imitate what God has done we too will have a sweet fragrance before God. 

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

In this model of a life of shadowing God, Paul instructs the Ephesians that there is no room for:

• Fornication
• Uncleanliness of all kinds
• Covetousness
• filthiness
• Foolish talk
• Coarse joking
• Idolatry

Paul warns that practicing these things can short-circuit a believer's inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 

Paul goes onto to say that the believers should not pay heed to anyone who down-plays the seriousness of trangressing in these ways because it is for those practices that the non-believers are subject to the wrath of God and as such, are entirely inappropriate for believers to be entangled in.

3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Paul contrasts the darkness from which believers originated with the light into which they were called and tells us that as children of light, we should be  yielding fruit of the Spirit (which can be summarized as goodness, righteousness and truth) where we seek out what activities are acceptable to the Lord for each of us individually. 

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

Paul advises us to be disassociated from  activities that are hallmarks of darkness and in fact we should be transparent about such activities if they intrude into our lives. Whereas leaving such practices secret make such things unpeakably shameful, revealing them so as to be exposed to the light and so doing, these activities are worked out by the light and their power to keep a hold on us is destroyed. It is this phenomenon of light on the works of darkness that is referenced by the saying ( probably a song derived from the Prophet Isaiah's call for the sleeping or the dead to awaken and arise so that the light of God would shine on them.

When works of darkness are exposed to this light, they no longer have the power of shame over believers but their redemtion is made to be an example of the power of God unto salvation. 

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:

“Awake, you who sleep,

Arise from the dead,

And Christ will give you light.”

In light of the option to live in light rather than continue in darkness, the Apostle Paul counsels the believers at Ephesus to be circumspect or wise so that they could use the time alloted to this earth to navigate the pathways of righteousness especially the days in which they lived were evil and every opportunity to entrap them in darkness would be deployed against them.

To avoid falling into traps that would derail us from the life that God has for us, Paul advises us understand what the will is for each of us and to avoid getting drunk with wine which is a tecchnique of darkness applied to believers to misspend their energy and annointing. Instead, we should continuously be filled with the Spirit of God and continually speaking psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and remaining immersed in the music of the heart unto the Lord and always being grateful to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and being submissive to one another in the fear of God.

15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.

Paul, having the practices of individual life in Christ, turns to the marriage relationship and likens it to the relationship between Christ and the church. In the metaphor, Christ is the husband and the wife is the church and the mystery of the Christ and His bride are revealed in the headship of the husband and in the submission of wifes to their husbands.  Husbands must demonstrate sacrificial love for their wives in the same way that Christ died for His bride the church and the wife should model respect and  obedience to Christ in the way she obeys her own husband.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 

28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. 30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO IS OVERALL AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL

In Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul starts by identifying himself as a prisoner for the Lord and beseeches his readers to conduct themselves worthy of the high calling to which they have been called. 

Toward this end, Paul prescribes;

• Absolute humility
• Gentleness
• Patience
• Longsuffering in love
• Unity in the Spirit
• Peacefulness

In sustaining these modes of conduct, Paul tells the Ephesians that they can then be participants in the one body, one Spirit and the one hope to which they were called. 

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul then reveals that the one body of believers to which believers belong is provided with grace that is apportioned to all the members of the body and gifts of men are given to the body as apostles, prophets, evangenlists, pastors and teachers.

This means that individuals within the body are graced with spiritual capabilities that serve the whole body to equip the body of believers for works of service so that they can be built up qualitatively and quantitatively. This means that ultimately, all believers should:

•  Become united in faith 
•  Grow in our knowledge of the son of God
•  Become mature believers
• Maximize our measure of the fullness of Christ

This aspect of our dispensation is pointed to be Psalm 68 verse 18 and we learn that when Christ ascended after He ressurected, He ascended into heaven with the captive whom He had rescured and from among this number, He game men as gifts to the body of believers.

7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says:

       “When he ascended on high,

          he took many captives

          and gave gifts to his people.”

9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions  10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Because of the dispersion of the gifts of men, the body of Christ is guided away from infancy and into maturity where she is no longer tossed around by every variant doctrine that blows in. Further to that, the body of Christ would be supplied with those who are high in disernment so that cunning and crafty deceitful schemers can be flushed out and not able to destabilize the church with impunity.

Paul tells us that the healthy body of Christ would be where all the members of the body were observant and gracious but able to speak directly regarding any contrary issues facing the church and where each member was fully participating in the loving life of the body with their gifts so that each body part was supplying what they were intended to supply.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

The Apostle Paul, having explained the expectation that the body of believers would grow towards maturity and unity in love, he now emphatically instructs them to drop all the behaviour patterns of the Gentiles from among whom they were called out.

The conduct that Paul refers to is generated by the futile thinking that stems from having a darkened understanding and being separated from God.

Without the life of God and being in ignorance, their hearts are hardened and have lost sensitivity to the requirements of righteousness and as a result, they are immersed in unconstrained sensuality and selfishness. 

This corrupt mode of living, Paul explains, is incompatible with the life of Christ and so we must renew our minds to reflect the new life of God and as well, put away our former nature with its deceitful desires.

17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.

20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Paul the lists the specific things that could potentially follow believers from their lives into their new lives in Christ and for each, he prescribes the counter behaviour;

• Speaking falsehoods - Speak truthfully as we are one body
• Uncontrolled anger - Resolve anger within fixed time frames.
• Theft - Work to be self supportive and be generous to others.
• Unwholesome talk -  Only speak things that encourage others and build them up. 

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The Apostle Paul then warns the believers not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God who marked them as claimed when they believed and then ensconced them till the day they would be redeemed by God.

Paul lists the things that would grieve the Holy Spirit of God:

• Bitterness
• Raging anger
• Brawling
• Slander
• Malice in all its forms

Such states would create a repellent atmosphere but conversely, kindness, compassion and forgiveness create an atmosphere that welcomed the Holy Spirit. 

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO PROVIDES A DISPENSATION OF GRACE TO DRAW ALL THOSE INTENDED FOR GOD'S FAMILY

In the book of Ephesians chapter 3, the Apostle Paul explains that it was for the purposes of the building of the unified body of Christ that he was indentured into the work of the dispensation of the grace that was allocated for the Gentiles. Paul explained that it was through revelation that he learned the mystery of the inclusion of the Gentiles in the one body of Christ which (being a mystery) was not previously known to human beings but was now being revealed by the Spirit to the holy apostles and prophets.

In order for Paul to fulfill the ministry he was assigned, he was given the gift of God's grace by which God's power was underwriting the work he was doing to reach the Gentiles.

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Paul marvels at how he, who was the most junior of all saints, was granted the mission of taking the message of the incredible value and standing of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles and to share the offer of fellowship in the family of God which had been completely hidden within God who created all things through Jesus Christ from the beginning of the ages. It is this mechanism that was put in place to engulf the whole world in the kingdom of God that displayed the multi-faceted, multi-gated and multi-layered wisdom of God as a demonstration to the principalities and powers that occupy territories in heavenly places.

It is for the purposes of God that were made explicit which God accomplished in Christ Jesus, (through whom we have boldness and access to the family of God through faith in Him). Paul adds that the hardships he was enduring for the sakes of those to whom he was writting should not discourage them for it is for their glory because they would be joined to the family of God, the same family of God that Paul was part of.

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul then goes onto say that the incredible sequence of events that we find ourselves involved in causes him to kneel in prayer before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ( from who all the families in heaven and earth derive (NIV) their names), asking him to grant the Ephesians strength in their inner man with might through the Holy Spirit so that Christ can occupy and operate in their hearts through faith.

In this condition, Paul told the Ephesians, if they remain rooted and and grounded in love for one another, they would be able to gain an understanding of how great and multi-dimensional  God's love for them actually is and they would also come to know the love of Christ which resists knowledge and they would then they would be filled with all the fulness of God.

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.  

The apostle Paul concludes the first part of the book of Ephsians ( ending in chapter 3 ) by declaring that the church must be the locus of the glorification of God to all generations forever and ever because His power and ability far exceed our capacity to ask or even think and He executes this capability through the power already placed in us and as such, the glory of God should eternally be shown forth from the Church.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO MADE US ALIVE EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN SIN

In the book of Ephesians chapter 2, Paul the apostle contrasts the state of death we were in during our former lives of sin where we were under the domination of prince of the power of the air and the life that God allocated for us when we were saved through faith.

On one side, we lived to fulfill the desires of the flesh and mind being in league with the spirit of darkness that drove our disobedience to the things of God.  On the other side, God, out of His great mercy and love for us, provided a way that anyone who believed in Christ could be made alive and saved and then raised us up in Christ and made us sit in heavenly places.

This vast contrast between the fate of those who continue in rebellion and those who give up the rebellion by surrendering to Christ will show in the ages to come how unfathomably great Godś kindness was towards us.

This kindness is especially highlighted by the fact that we who needed the grace of redemption were completely provided for such that we were not saved by any righteousness of our own but rather saved entirely by the work that God did on our behalf which not only saved us from destruction but also elevated us into heavenly places where we could be together with the Lord Jesus.

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Paul continues with a discussion of the special circumstances that Gentiles were in vis-a-vis the salvation that came through the children of Isreal by the promise to their patriarch Abraham.

Whereas we were outside the family of God and called Gentiles, yet God provided a mechanism by which Gentiles from the whole world would be able to access the salvation provided by promise to the children of Abraham. This access was in the form of faith that was the same access point used by Abraham. Any Gentile who in faith trusts in the provision of the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, is secured into the family of God and is taken into the one body with all other Gentiles who believe and with the children of Israel who believe. The Prince of Peace that the Lord Jesus was, reconciled the disperate Gentiles, Israel and God and the divisions that were in place were broken down in His body through the cross.

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In the family of faith, we are all citizens and we are integrated with everyone else when we are made part of the holy temple of God where He lives in the Spirit. The Lord Jesus is himself the chief cornerstone of this construction.

Amen.

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