Ephesians 5 [p1] - 2006.07.29

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:8

Word studies in scripture can be extremely profitable. Not the least of the words which will yield a treasure trove of instruction for the believer is the word "walk" in its various forms. One of the earliest occurrences, enormously instructive, is found in Genesis 5:24; "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him." Not only is the text significant in itself, but its impact is heightened when it is meditated upon in the light of it context. In a long list of names (obituaries, really) this terse verse stands in stunning contrast. All the others, before and after, end with, "and he died," a grim fact stunningly omitted in the case of Enoch. Generations later the Holy Spirit added this remarkable commentary: "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God [Heb. 11:5]."

In a world of moral darkness, Enoch walked in light. In a world so dark that when God sent the great flood, He could find only one man's family qualified for deliverance, Enoch proved that it was possible for a man who walked by faith to walk in the light as a man apart, pleasing God and experiencing a unique relationship with God and a unique deliverance from the tragic lot of the common man.

It is to this that we are being called when the Spirit of God exhorts, "walk as children of light." How we are to do that may be discovered in considerable detail by a careful study of the principle throughout scripture. Here, let me offer just a few highlights.

First, and most obvious, if we are to walk as children of light we will need the light of the Word of God. David put it this way: "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path [Ps. 119:105]." And again, "Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against Thee [Ps. 119:11]." Earlier he had noted, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways [Ps. 119:1-3]." Observe the emphasis on "walk."

Never in modern times has the light of God's word been more important that it is today. We live in an era when men are calling light darkness and darkness light. We are bombarded daily with the powerful influences of modern communication, and are being conditioned to regard as acceptable behavior, conduct which is condemned in scripture and abhorred by the God of the Bible. It is only as the mind and heart are saturated with the word of God that we will be able to distinguish truth from error, and purpose to walk in light.

If we are to walk as children of light, it will be a walk that conforms to the word of God and is in contrast to the world. The Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, earlier wrote, "This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ… [Eph 4:17-20]." We are then instructed to "put off… the old man (4:22)," and to "put on the new man (4:24)."

The "new man" is Christ. "Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ," the apostle exhorts in Romans 13:14. Walking as children of light means walking in conformity to the character of Christ. "He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself so to walk, even as He walked [I John 2:6]." And what does that mean? We are again sent to the scriptures for enlightenment. The immediate context declares, "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him [I John 2:4]." To be sure, we are not saved by commandment keeping. But, being saved, we are called to obedience to His commandments, which will make our character a reflection of His.

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Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Ephesians 4 - 2006.07.22

"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; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" Ephesians 4:14

During a recent outing we were accompanied by a very large group of handicapped persons, mostly adults of varying ages, and their caregivers. It was an interesting experience, and one to make the heart ache. There is an element of the tragic in seeing so many who have grown old, but have never grown up.

The situation is no less tragic, though to most it may be less obvious, when believers in the church fail to grow up spiritually. The consequences, in the spiritual realm, are far more serious, for God's will is compromised. Evidence is abundant in the New Testament that God wants His children to grow up; that is, to come to spiritual maturity:

"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 children." — Rom. 8:29

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ… " — II Pet. 3:18

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." — I Pet. 2:1-3

"For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." — Heb. 5:12-14

These verses reinforce our text, indicating that the divine plan is that we mature into likeness to Christ (Rom. 8:29); His provision to that end is His word (I Pet. 2:1-3); and revealing His displeasure with those who fail to grow (Heb. 5:12-14).

Yet one more text reveals a significant proof of spiritual growth: "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God… " (II Thess. 1:3, 4a, italics mine). What I like to call "intramural love" is, throughout the New Testament scriptures, not only the "badge of discipleship," but also the mark of spiritual maturity.

Given the strife and infighting in so many assemblies, it is evident that many Christians never come to spiritual maturity. And as a result, the "watching world" sees little that distinguishes Christians from the rest of warring humanity. Until, and unless we cease to be "children," and "grow up into Him," we have little reason to expect them to be impressed with the visible church.

"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (I Pet. 2:19-24)

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Ephesians 3 - 2006.07.15

"that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." - Ephesians 3:19

What distinguishes the saved from the lost may be defined in terms of inhabitation. The unconverted are described as "having no hope, and without God in the world {Eph. 2:12b]." The believer, in contrast, is a God inhabited person. The Savior prayed to God the Father, "… the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one… [John 17:22-23a, italics mine]." The concept is reinforced in many passages, notably "… Christ in you, the hope of glory [Col. 1:27]."

The divine aspiration for the believer however, as expressed here by the apostle Paul, is for something more than mere residence; he prays that they may "be filled with all the fulness of God." This prayer is made the more striking by comparison with a very similar phrase applied to the Lord Jesus Christ in Col. 2:9, "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Clearly the aim of the prayer is that God should be as evident in our lives as He was in the life of His son. That is a tall order, and one in which most of us come up tragically short.

In aiming for this goal, the apostle begins with prayer, and we must do the same. Spiritual growth, if it is to be achieved at all, has to be accomplished in the context of spiritual warfare. It draws us into a battle for which merely human resources are hopelessly inadequate. Hence Paul prays, "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man… [ v.14-16]." Why? Because "We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places [Eph. 6:12]." The only Resource sufficient to maintain the victory in this battle is the "might" of the indwelling Holy Spirit. As a acquaintance of mine was in the habit of saying, "It takes God to be godly!"

Observe further that the inspired text prescribes this reinforcement for "the inner man." Spirituality is not found, nor the spiritual warfare fought, in the external life, but in the inner man. The externals are what we appear to others to be; it is in the inner man that our real character is determined. Seeking a king for Israel, the Lord instructed Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart [I Sam. 16:7]." Externals may be but a matter of discipline; the issue with the inner man is devotion.

Then follows the reference to Christ as resident in the believer's life: "that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye [may be] rooted and grounded in love… " The inference is that He should be not a guest, but a permanent resident with unrestricted access to the whole residence to arrange it according to His own liking, His own will. It is the Lordship of Christ embraced by love and manifesting the same.

This then leads to our being "filled with all the fulness of God." When this is reflected upon, what becomes evident is that the believer is, in fact, inhabited by the trinity. The Spirit is resident to strengthen us inwardly; Christ is resident to reveal to us and through us the love by which all men may know that we are His disciples; and the Father lends the radiance of "the riches of His glory" to the whole! That is the "new creation" in all its unveiled splendor.

This is not super-spirituiality; it is the spirituality God has intended from the beginning of His redemption program. Sadly, few of us really aspire to it, and because we have no aspiration for it, we do not pray to that end. And because we do not pray, the enemy holds the ground and we fail to reveal the fulness of God in our lives.

In these days of superficial Christianity and growing apostasy may God give true believers a hunger for holiness, "that [we] might be filled with all the fulness of God."
Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier

Ephesians 2 - 2006.07.08

"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. " Ephesians 2:20

The reference to Christ as "the chief corner stone," leading to research and reflection yields some interesting observations. The first reference to the "corner stone" in scripture is found in the oldest book of the bible, Job, where it is related to what I will call the "old creation;" that is, the original physical creation of which we read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth."

In Job 38, contending with Job, "Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? [Job 38:4-7]." It is my judgment, open to debate, of course, that the "foundation" and "cornerstone" that provided the ground and order of this creation was none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. After all, the New Testament reveals that "all things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made." And again, that He is the One who "upholds all things by the word of His power." It was the splendor of His establishment as the foundation of this creation that prompted the morning stars to join in a chorus of praise, and the sons of God to utter their shout of praise. The whole pristine creation rested upon and related to the Lord of Glory, the Word of God.

When, however, the trusteeship of that creation was transferred to the hand of man, it was not long before the builders refused to own His lordship, and undertook independent initiative, in the process handing their sovereignty, unwittingly, to the adversary. It was at this point that the divine emphasis shifted from creation to redemption, from the old creation to the new. Thus the Psalmist writes, by divine inspiration, and in anticipation, "I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. [Ps. 118:21,22]," and later the prophet wrote, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. [Isa. 28:16]."

The New Testament makes it clear that this promised "corner stone" of the new order is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ— rejected by the 'builders' of this present evil world, but established of God the Father as the foundation stone, cornerstone and keystone of "the world to come." According to Isaiah He is in substance, a stone; in quality, a tried stone; in value, a precious stone, and in function a sure foundation!

Jesus Himself affirmed His identification as "the head of the corner" (cf. Mt. 21:42; Mk. 12:10; Lk. 20:17,18). He also expanded His role to include both salvation and judgment. The theme is carried well into the history and epistles of the New Testament. Peter declared, "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved [Acts 4:11- 12]." Paul affirms it in our text for today. And Peter teaches it with emphasis in his first epistle, as follows: "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. [I Pet. 2:6-8]."

Taken together, these remarkable passages, sprinkled throughout the bible, underscore the supremacy of the Lord Jesus Christ, both in creation and redemption. He is the Stone upon which everything rests, the foundation stone. He is the Stone by which everything is divinely oriented, for justification or judgment; whatever does not square with Him will be destroyed. He is the Stone that holds everything together, the capstone or keystone of creation.

You are either established upon this Rock, or destined to be crushed under His mighty hand. Which?! For "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

On the Rock, by grace,

"Pastor" Frasier

Ephesians 1 - 2006.07.01

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ." Ephesians 1:3

The aim of this verse, of course, is to glorify God for His wonderful grace toward those who are "saints in Christ Jesus (v.1)." It merits our thoughtful meditation and should, indeed, eventuate in our high praise to God. Let us proceed by outlining the verse in the classical format of journalism: Who, What, When, Where and Why.

Who: "The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." Think on it; the eternal God, creator and sustainer of heaven and earth, has time and interest to devote to us, individually and particularly. Many an earthly father has little time for, and often little interest in his offspring, but not so our heavenly Father praise His name!

What: His blessings —spiritual blessings. Attend an average prayer meeting, and you may hear thanksgiving for what we call blessings, but more often than not, they are temporal blessings which will sooner or later pass away. Certainly it is appropriate to give thanks for our daily bread, our creature comforts, etc., but that is not what the Spirit of God has in mind here. In view here are blessings of a different order and a much higher level. Confining our research to this chapter alone, some of those "spiritual blessings" are easily identified: our election in Christ, "chosen… in Him before the foundation of the world" (v.4); accepted (of the Father) in Him (v.6); redeemed in Him (v. 7), i.e., bought back from Satan's dominion by the incredible price Christ paid at Calvary to free us from his grasp; afforded an inheritance in Him (v.11), i.e., made "joint heirs" with His Son, Jesus Christ (cf. Rom. 8:16,17); finally, sealed in Him "with that Holy Spirit of promise" (v.13), providing our eternal security.

To all this may be added, we are "quickened," or made alive in Him, a spiritual resurrection from our native condition as "dead in trespasses and sins (2:5)"; raised up "together with Him," and in consequence seated with Christ in heavenly places (2:6). It is this last disclosure that prompted a good friend and fellow preacher once to say, "Keep looking down." In other words, let us reckon our position as already settled with Christ in the heavenlies, and live from that perspective. It is the perspective of victory, properly ours because of the blessings the Father has bestowed upon us "in Christ."

When: Observe that all these spiritual blessings are presented as ours in "the today of our experience," as we have just implied. Our text reads, "Who hath blessed us… " This immeasurable spiritual wealth is ours now; it is not something merely to be hoped for in a vague and distant future. We can claim it, affirm it, rest in it, if we walk by faith. "Keep looking down!"

Where: In heavenly places. That establishes their security. Our temporal blessings are expendable; these are inexhaustible and unassailable. Some may be tempted to say, 'if they are in heavenly places, they'll do us no earthly good.' That is the conclusion if we fail to adopt the divine perspective, but that is not what God intends. We are to value these blessing highly, and make them our first pursuit.

Why: That we should be "to the praise of the glory of His grace (v.6)." If we live earthbound lives, focusing only on the temporal, we will rob God of His glory and oursleves of our joy. If we shift our emphasis, giving priority to the eternal, we will be able to see Him who is invisible, count our spiritual blessings as the real capital of life, and glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits. May you and I be numbered with those who "Worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh [Phil. 3:3]."

Note in conclusion, where all of this is found: it is "In HIM." These blessings are the possession only of those who are "in Christ Jesus." The prerequisite for that is to be born again, through a personal faith in the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself for us. Are you in Him?

Yours for HIS glory,

"Pastor" Frasier