PT-7 (Last) "Salvation is from Sin" from Eph. 2:1-3

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/18/2018 10:29 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  PT-7 “Salvation is from Sin”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 2:1-3

            Message of the verses:  “1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2  in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”

            As mentioned in our last SD it is my desire to finish this section of Ephesians chapter 2:1-3.  We begin this SD by looking at the word lusts in the Greek “Epithumia” is the word and it refers to strong inclinations and desires of every sort, not simply sexual lust.  “Thelema) is the Greek word for “desires” and this emphasizes a strong willfulness, wanting and seeking something with great diligence.  I would suppose that this could be in a good way or in a bad way.  If my desire is to study and understand the Word of God, then that would be a good desire, but if my desire was to rob a bank then that would be a bad desire.  MacArthur adds that “As trespasses and dins, lusts and desires are not given to show their distinctiveness but their commonness.  They are used synonymously to represent fallen man’s complete orientation to his own selfish way.  By nature he is driven to fulfill the lusts and desires of his sinful flesh and…mind.  The flesh (sarx) refers to the dissipation of life that comes when one is abandoned to doing whatever feels good.  The mind (dianoia) indicates the deliberate choices that defy the will of God.”

            When Jesus died on the cross He defeated the world, the flesh, and the devil, and these are fallen man’s three great arenas where he is in a losing battle with these spiritual enemies-yet they are enemies with whom, by nature, he is now allied. John speaks of this in 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”  MacArthur writes “Rather than all men being children of God, as most of the world likes to think, those who have not received salvation through Jesus Christ are by nature children of wrath (cf. John 3:18) ‘"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.’  Apart from reconciliation through Christ, every person by nature (through human birth) is the object of God’s wrath, his eternal judgment and condemnation.  They are characterized most accurately not only as ‘sons of disobedience’ but consequently as ‘children of wrath’—objects of God’s condemning judgment.”

            Now for the good news and that is for all who have been born from above as Paul is speaking of what we once were before we came to know the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.  Because of Christ’s past word of this great salvation that is in us as believers we are presently and eternally under His love and delivered from the natural human condition of death, sin, alienation, disobedience, demon control and divine judgment.  When Jesus Christ died on the cross He died the death that we as believers should have died, but because of God’s great love, and grace when a believer dies it is called sleep in God’s Word. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I realize that this section has been long, perhaps the longest that I have ever written about, I am thankful that I have a better understanding of what I was before I came to be a believer in Jesus Christ, and even more thankful that I am not that person anymore.  I am not perfect, but I am perfect in the eyes of God because I am in Christ.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will continue to work in my life as He has promised so that my life will be a life that is pleasing to the Lord.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Incurred boils from head to toe” (Job. 2:7).

Today’s Bible question:  “What grew into a great tree so that birds swayed in its branches?”

Answer in our next SD.

12/18/2018 10:59 AM