PT-1 How Christ Won the Right to Give Gifts (Eph. 4:8-10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/14/2019 12:51 PM

My Worship Time                                   Focus:  PT-1 “How Christ Won the Right to Give Gifts”

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus:  Ephesians 4:8-10

            Message of the verses:  “8 Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON

HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 9  (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10  He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)”

            It looks like Paul was ready to write about some of the gifts that Chris has given, but before that Paul goes back to Psalm 68:18 as a comparison passage that will show how Christ received this right to bestow those gifts.  MacArthur writes “The obvious differences between both the Hebrew and Greek (Septuagint) Old Testament texts of Psalm 68:18 and Paul’s citation of it suggest that he is probably making only a general allusion to the passage for the sake of analogy, rather than specifically identifying it as a direct prediction of Christ.”  One thing that I want to point out here is that what Paul did he did under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and what He wrote is a permanent part of the New Testament.

            We have been covering on my other blog the book of Psalms as I went back into my Spiritual Diaries to go over what I wrote back in 2012, and so if one wants to look at this Psalm they can go to my other blog to see what I wrote about this 68^th Psalm.  ““Read the ‘Song of Deborah’ (Judges 5) as preparation for studying this psalm, and compare the parallels:  Psalm 68:4; Judges 5:3, 7-8, 4-5, 12/30, 13/16, 18/12, and 27, 14, 18.  The emphasis is on God’s mighty acts on behalf of Israel resulting in His decision to dwell on Mount Zion.  Several names of God are used, including Elohim (23 times), Jehovah, Jat (short for Jehovah, as in hallelujah, Elijah, etc), Adonai (6 times), and Shaddai. The psalm is Messianic; Paul quotes verse 18 in Ephesians 4:8 and applies it to the ascension of Christ.  The use of ‘temple’ in verse 29 doesn’t prohibit Davidic authorship since the word hekal was applied to the tabernacle as well (1Samuel 1:9, 3:3; and see Psalm 5:7; 41:4; 18:6; 27:4; 65:4).  The psalm is a jubilant hymn of praise to Jehovah in which the nation of Israel gives four expressions of triumph through their God.”  (This comes from my writings on Psalm 68.)  However John MacArthur writes “Psalm 68 is a victory hymn composed by David to celebrate God’s conquest the Jebusite city and the triumphant ascent of God (represented by the Ark of the Covenant) up Mount Zion (cf. 2 Samuel 6-7; 1 Chron. 13).  After a king won such a victory he would bring home the spoils and enemy prisoners to parade before his people.  An Israelite king would take his retinue through the holy city of Jerusalem and up Mount Zion.  Another feature of the victory parade, however, would be the display of the king’s own soldiers who had been freed after being held prisoner by the enemy.  These were often referred to as recaptured captives—prisoners who had been taken prisoner again, so to speak, by their own king and given freedom.

            “The phrase ‘when He ascended on high’ depicts a triumphant Christ returning from battle on earth back into the glory of the heavenly city with the trophies of His great victory.”

            I have studied this passage at different times and have found it very much interesting as I hope all will see.  We will continue (Lord willing) to look at different ways on how we can understand what Paul was writing about in our next SD, and will probably be camped out on these verses for a few days.

The following are the verses that go along with yesterday’s quotation:  “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2)

3/14/2019 1:16 PM

PT-4 “The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers” (Eph. 4:7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/13/2019 10:42 AM

My Worship Time                              Focus:  PT-4 “The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers”



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                             Reference:  Eph. 4:7



            Message of the verse:  “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”



            We have been comparing this verse and what it means with verses from the 12^th chapter of the book of Romans, as Paul is describing the spiritual gifts that Christ gives to us by grace, and in verse six of Romans 12 we read that “we have gifts that differ according to the grace give to us.”  So by definition, gifts are something that we receive, and we receive spiritual gifts through the working of God’s grace.  Believers cannot just chose the gifts that they want by their preference, or inclinations, or natural abilities, or merit, and or other personal consideration, but they are solely by God’s sovereign ‘measure.’  We have no more to determine what gift we get than what color our skin, or eyes, or hair when we are born.  It is God who is the source of electing grace, equipping grace, and also enabling grace, and when you take some time to think about that I think we all will come up with saying that is the best way, for after all God knows the beginning from the end.

            Let us look at a similar explanation and emphasis from 1 Corinthians 12:4-7, as 1 Corinthians 12 also talks about spiritual gifts:  “4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  As also seen here God is the soul giver and determiner of spiritual gifts.

            John MacArthur writes “The lists of specific gifts in Romans 12:6-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, and Ephesians 4:11 are not narrow and strict delineations of the spiritual gifts.  There is not, for instance, a single kind of prophetic gift, teaching gift, or serving gift.  A hundred believers with the gift of teaching will not all have the same degrees or areas of teaching ability or emphasis.  One may excel in public teaching in the classroom or church.  Another’s teaching gift will be for instructing children, another’s for teaching one-on-one, and so on.  Each believer is given the measure of grace and faith to operate his gift according to God’s plan.  Add individual personality, background, education, influences in life, and needs in the area of service and it becomes obvious that each believer is unique.”

            He goes on to write “Nor is it that a believer’s single gift will be restricted to only one category of giftedness.  An individual gift may include a number of specific areas of giftedness, in a limitless variety of combinations.  Someone with a major gift of administration may also have something of the gifts of helps and of teaching.  Believer’s gifts are like snowflakes and fingerprints—each one is completely distinct from all others.  Some teachers may emphasize knowledge, some instruction, some mercy, and others exhortation.  Form the palette of gift colors the Holy Spirit uses the brush of His sovereign design to paint the mixture of each believer so that no two are like.”

            As we have learned that it is by God’s grace that we are given the individual gift that we receive after we become a believer, and it is unique, as we are not like any other believer, and the Holy Spirit puts us into where we can serve the church He puts us in and thus bring glory to the Lord.  There are times when our birthday’s come around that we receive a gift that is not useful to us and so later on we will sell it or give it away, but that is not true with the gifts that we get from God.

            Some may wonder why certain believers are not using their gifts, as this is an affront to God’s wisdom, a rebuff of His love and grace, and also a loss to His church.  We have mentioned that we did not determine our gift, deserve our gift or earn our gift, but we all have a gift from the Lord, and if we do not use it, then His work is weakened and also His heart is grieved. MacArthur concludes “The intent of the text before us is to reveal the balanced relationship between the oneness of believers and their individuality which contributes to that oneness.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  When the Lord saved me He gave me a desire to understand the end times as taught in the Word of God, and therefore has given me opportunity to teach it to others by means of teaching it in Sunday school, and also on my blogs.  As I read over what John MacArthur describes in the gifts as seen in these last four Spiritual diaries, I have to believe that this is the giftedness that God has given me as an individual in the church that I attend.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  To continue to learn humility from Eph. 4 and from Romans 12:3.

Quotation for today, and this time it is from an unknown author:  “The more we trust the sovereignty of heaven, the less we fear the calamities of earth.”

3/13/2019 11:33 AM

PT-3 "The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers" (Eph. 4:7)

SPIRITUAL DIAR FOR 3/12/2019 11:30 AM

My Worship Time                              Focus:  PT-3 “The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers”



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 4:7



            Message of the verse:  “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”



            We continue to talk about grace and first want to look at Romans 5:2 “through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”  This highlighted portion of Romans 5:2 talks about the grace in which we stand, and not only does it save us, but enables and that is the sense of the term here.  Verses that speak of God’s grace enabling us are Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13; 1 Tim. 1:12; and 2 Tim. 4:17. 

            Now as we look at our verse for today I want to say that Paul makes it clear there that grace was given to each believer.  John MacArthur writes that “the definite article (he) is used in the original text, indicating that this is ‘the grace,’ that is, the grace unique to Christ.  The term for grace is charis and signifies that what is given is not the charismata (the special gifts indicated by this word in Rom. 12:6-8 and 1 Cor. 12:4-10) but the subjective grace that works in and shows itself through the life of a believer.  This ‘grace’ is the enabling power that makes the special gifts function to the glory of God.”



            MacArthur continues “The distinction is clear for the rest of Paul’s statement, ‘according to the measure of Christ’s gift.’  Enabling grace is measured out to be consistent with what is necessary for the operation of ‘Christ’s gift.’  The term dorea (‘gift’) does not focus on the undeservedness of the gift as does chrismata (the special ‘gifts’; cf. Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:4; 1 Pet. 4:10) nor on the spiritual source of the gift as does pneumatikon (‘special gifts,’ lit., spiritual things; cf. 1 Cor. 12:1), but on the freeness of the gift (cf. Matt. 10:8; Rom. 3:24).”  I know that is a mouthful, and so I want to look at this time at Matthew 10:8 and then Romans 3:24 “"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.”  “being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;” 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware” (1 Cor. 12:1).



            Every believer has a unique gift as the measure or specific portion given is by sovereign design from the Head of the church.  I keep going back to Ephesians 2:10 which I believe goes along with what we are looking at “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  It is the Lord who has measured out the exact proportion of each believer’s gift and this can be seen in Romans 12:3 where we will see these words “the measure of faith.”  “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”  This “exact proportion of enabling grace on the part of God is linked with the exact proportion of enacting faith on the part of each believer; and God is the source of both.  The sum of this is that God gives both the grace and the faith to energize whatever gift He gives to the full intent of His purpose.” 

            In light of what we just wrote about it is clear that since they are sovereignly given as can be seen in 1 Cor. 12:4-7, and 11 there are not gifts that should be sought after, we have to take what the Lord has given to us and use it to His glory as we serve in His church.  Another thing we need to say and that is that no gift should be unused, and that since they come from the Lord, no gifts should be exalted as seen in Romans 12:3, a verse that I have made my verse for this year.  Paul talks about people who wanted the so called “showy gifts” when he writes to the Corinthians. 



            MacArthur writes and we will close this SD with this quote:  “We each have a ‘gift’ that is measured out to us—with certain distinct capabilities, parameters, and purposes.  Each of us is given a specific gift (singular) through which we are to minister in Christ’s name.  ‘As each one has received a special gift,’ Peter says, ‘employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God’ (1 Peter 4:10).”



            I have to say that after listening to John MacArthur’s sermon on this section yesterday that I still have some things to have cleared up for me that is between the gift (singular) and the spiritual gifts, which we will get into in our next SD.



            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Trust the Lord to continue to show me what it is that He desires for me to do as I serve Him.  Trust the Lord to help me to better understand these difficult truths from the book of Ephesians.



My Steps of Faith for Today:    Continue to trust the Lord to work in my heart as I continue to think about Romans 12:3 and also Ephesians 4:7.



Scripture verse that goes along with yesterday’s quote:  “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” (Romans 14:19).



3/12/2019 12:56 PM



           

PT-2 "The Gifts of God to Individual Believers" (Eph. 4:7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/11/2019 10:50 AM

My Worship Time                                   Focus:  PT-2 “The Gifts of God to Individual Believers”



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 4:7



            Message of the verses:  “7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  Romans 12:3 “For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.”



            The reason that I added Romans 12:3 today is to show that these verses are similar to each other as in both books Paul is about to write about the Spiritual gifts that God has given to us.

            Let us now continue look at Ephesians 4:7.  In our last SD we were looking at God’s grace, and we want to continue to do that this morning, as God’s grace has another dimension, other than God’s self-motivated, self-generated, sovereign act of living.  According to John MacArthur “God’s grace it still further above every other kind of giving.”  He goes on to say that “The greatest gift of grace is self.  ‘Grace’ is therefore God’s Self donation, His Self giving.  He not only gives blessings to men, He gives Himself.”  There could be nothing more important that God giving us the precious blessing of God giving us the gift of Himself.  MacArthur goes on to write these wonderful words to help us better understand our Gracious God:  “The incomprehensible and staggering truth of the gospel is that the holy God of the universe has given Himself to sinful mankind!   God grants us His salvation, His kingdom, His inheritance, His Spirit, His throne, His wisdom, His love, His power, His peace, His glory, and every other ‘spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ’ (Eph. 1:3).  But far more than all of those blessings, He blesses us with His personal presence.  God owes nothing to sinful men except judgment for their sin.  He does not owe men the smallest blessing or favor.  Yet in His grace He has given us the blessing of all blessings, the immeasurable blessing of intimate shared life (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3-4).”  “3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”

            I have to say that on this very day 47 years ago a young woman came into my life, and 17 months ago to that very day we were married, and marriage is something that one has to be careful in picking out the right mate to give your love and devotion to, and yet when God, who has chosen us before the foundation of the word, He did so out of pure grace and not for anything He saw in us that made us worthy of His care as seen in John 3:16.  When God looks down on this world all He can see is sin, and yet He gave Himself to that sinful world by giving us His Son as He came to this sinful world in order to take our place on the cross.  Christ, according to Philippians 2:5-11emptyed Himself of His own glory that He might offer glory to fallen men and giving His own life in order for spiritually dead men might live.  Hallelujah what a Savior.

            As we go through the gospels we can see that Jesus Christ was constantly giving Himself to others in things like spending much time in the training of His disciples, getting little sleep, and then healing many, many people.  Think about the woman at the well from John 4:14 where he gave to her the “living water” which saved her soul.  He cast out many demons from people who were possessed by them, giving them relief.  Paul writes about Christ ministry in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”  MacArthur adds “To those who receive His grace God will continue to ‘show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus’ throughout the ages to come (Eph. 2:7).”

            I desire to continue to look more at this wonderful subject of God’s grace in our next SD.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am very blessed to look into much more about the salvation that God has given to me through grace, and look forward to look at it some more.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Continue to think and learn from Romans 12:3, along with Ephesians 4:7.

Today a quotation from Mark Twain:  “Keep away from people who belittle your ambitions, small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

3/11/2019 11:52 AM

PT-1 "The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers" (Eph. 4:7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/10/2019 8:42 PM

My Worship Time                              Focus:  PT-1"The Gifts of Christ to Individual Believers”



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 4:7



            Message of the verse:  “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”



            I find it interesting that this verse, and sentence begins with the word “but.”  This word is used here as an adversative, rather than as a simple conjunction according to John MacArthur.  He states that the beginning of this verse could begin with “in spite of that” or “on the other hand,” as this would contrast the previous subject matter with what is about to be said.



            In verses 3-6 the theme echoed unity and this parallel emphasis of diversity, which is the theme verses 7-11.  It will set the individual (each one) over against the “all” that is in verse six in regard to unity in the Body of Christ.  MacArthur then goes on to write “The reading of but as adversative is and is perfectly consistent with diversity of gifts.  God’s gracious relation of ‘all’ is also a personal relation to ‘each one’ (cf. 1 Cor. 12:7, 11) and a personal ministry through ‘each one.’  Thus Paul moves from the unity of believers to the uniqueness of believers.”



            What do you think of when you think of the word “grace?”  When we look back at Ephesians 2:8 we read “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” and so what we see in this verse according to the word grace is the definition of the gospel, for the gospel is the good news of God’s grace to sinful mankind, so a one word definition of the gospel is the word “grace.”  It would be fair to say that the nature of grace is giving, and when we study the Bible we see that it speaks much more about giving than getting, and that is because God’s nature is to give, and what a wonderful nature that is.  Unfortunately we as human beings are very selfish and many times do not think of giving, but getting.  God’s grace has nothing to do with anything we have done or have failed to do; it can only be received. 



            The reason that God is gracious is because that is who He is as it is one of His attributes.  God is not gracious because of who or what we are, as He has always been gracious and always will be because that is who He is and He is immutable,(never changing).  God’s grace is therefore unmerited, unearned, and undeserved.  It depends totally on the One who gives it, not on those who are receiving it.  Grace is God’s self-motivated, self-generated, sovereign act of giving.  These statements kind of or should make us want to dwell on them for a while, as they take us out of the picture as far as receiving any favor from God by our own efforts, as it only comes from God. 



This is Sunday and Sunday’s are hard on me (in a good way) but still hard on me as when one teaches the Word of God it takes a lot out of you.



The verse that goes along with the quotation from Benjamin Franklin comes from Psalm 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

3/10/2019 9:10 PM

Intro to "The Gifts of Christ to His Church" (Eph. 4:7-11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/9/2019 9:26 AM

My Worship Time                                          Focus: Intro to “The Gifts of Christ to His Church”



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                Reference:  Ephesians 4:7-11

            Message of the verses:  “7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 9 (Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,”

            I have mentioned that the Spiritual gifts are spoken of in 1 Cor. 12, Romans 12, Ephesians 4, and then 1 Peter 4, and so this is the first time that I have actually studied the different Spiritual gifts since I studied the book of 1 Peter, and off hand I don’t remember when that was, but it was a while ago.  The gifts of the Spirit have had a lot of controversy stated about them for a very long time, and so it is very good that I will get to studied those that Paul mentions in this section, mainly from verse eleven, and he does not mention many in this letter to the Ephesians, but we will study all that he mentions as we go through these five verses.  I am excited to look at this section.

            Before we talk about these verses I want to once again mention what John MacArthur wrote at the end of his introduction to verses 1-6 of this fourth chapter, and I think as I go on with this introduction you will understand why I am doing this.  “In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul appeals to believers to walk worthily of their high position in Jesus Christ,  In describing that walk he discusses its call, its characteristics, and its cause.”   We spent the last several weeks going over those three main points.

            Let us begin this introduction by looking at what is the essence of the gospel.  Think for a moment about John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost, but should have eternal life” (Phillips).  What we see here is not what men should do for God, but what we see here is what God has done for man, and that is the essence of the gospel.  Now as we study both the OT, and the NT we see many commands and requirements, we see many standards to be met and also obligations to be fulfilled.  However as important as those things are, they are not the heart of Christianity.  What these are, are simply what God calls and also enables us to do for His glory, and they are in response to what He has done for us through our Lord Jesus Christ.  As we look at each of the New Testament books we will find that they all teach what Christ has done for believers, and also every NT exhortation is built on that foundation, the foundation of what Christ has done for us, that is the foundation of God’s gracious provision through the Savior.  God has given us the supreme gift of grace and so His children are to respond in faithful obedience as seen in a verse which I have quoted many times in these SD’s and that would be 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.”

            John MacArthur writes “Paul begins this passage by referring to what God has done for those who have trusted in His Son.  The worthy Christian walk he has just described (4:1-6) is carried out through the ministry of the gift He has given us.  In verses 7-11 the apostle first assures us that every believer has been individually gifted; then he shows us how Christ obtained the right to give gifts; and finally he mentions some of the specially gifted men through whom the Lord blesses the whole church.”

            As I look at this quotation from John MacArthur it confirms what I have been learning for some time as I have studied the Word of God, and that is that what I am to do for the cause of Christ is to do the things that He has planned for me in eternity past, and in order for me to do that I have to receive His gifts so that I can accomplish those things He wants me to do.  This all boils down to having everything I do bring glory to my Lord, for after all Jesus paid it all so that I can be a believer, and I must remember that He came to earth doing the will of His Father, and then I must also remember that the Spirit of God gave me an effectual call 45 years ago so that I could become a born-again believer in Jesus Christ.  All of this was done by the triune God in order for me to bring glory to God.  I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength to do them so that He will be glorified.

Today’s quotation:  “Do you love life?  Then do not squander time, for that the stuff life is made of” (Benjamin Franklin).

3/9/2019 10:05 AM

Unity of the Father (Eph. 4:6)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/8/2019 1:40 PM

My Worship Time                                                                       Focus:  “The Unity of the Father”



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Ephesians 4:6



            Message of the verses:  “6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”



            I have to say that this will be a short SD as we look at the last member of the trinity’s role of unity, having looked first at the Spirit’s role and then yesterday the Son’s role.



            We want to first look at a number of verses that speak of the basic doctrine of Judaism which is “The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” as seen in Deuteronomy 6:4.  Let us look at a couple of more verses from Deuteronomy 4:35 and 32:39 “35 “To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.”  “39 ’See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.”   Isaiah 45:14 and 46:9 “14 Thus says the LORD, "The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush And the Sabeans, men of stature, Will come over to you and will be yours; They will walk behind you, they will come over in chains And will bow down to you; They will make supplication to you: ’Surely, God is with you, and there is none else, No other God.’"”  “9 “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me.”

            Now we want to look at some verse from the New Testament that show us of His oneness.  1 Cor. 8:4-6 “6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.”  Eph. 4:3-6 “3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4  There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5  one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6  one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.”  James 2:19 “You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.”

            MacArthur adds “Yet the New Testament also reveals the more complete truth that the ‘one God’ is in three persons—‘Father, Son, and Holy Spirit’ (Matt. 28:19; John 6:27; 20:28; Acts 5:3-4).”

            When we look at the NT we see many times that God the Father is often used as the most comprehensive and inclusive divine title, even though it is clear from many texts in the NT that He is never separated in nature or power from the Son or the Holy Spirit.  Paul does not want to separate the Persons of the Godhead, but he wants to note their unique roles and also focus on their unity in their relationship to each other and also their relation to the church—manifested in the several different aspects mentioned in these three verses that we have been looking at.

            John MacArthur concludes this short sub-section and also this 10^th chapter, which by the way we began on the 18^th of February, with the following paragraph.  “Our ‘one God and Father,’ along with the Son and the Holy Spirit, ‘is over all and through all and in all.’  That comprehensive statement points to the glorious, divine, eternal unity that the Father gives believers by His Spirit and through the Son.  We are God created, God loved, God saved, God Fathered, God controlled, God sustained, God filled, and God blessed.  We are on people under on sovereign (‘over all’), omnipotent (‘through all’), and omnipresent (‘in all’) God.”

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I am thankful that the God that I worship is one God in three Persons, for if that were not so then how could I have been saved, and how could I have the third Person of the Godhead living in me.  There is another thing I want to remember and that is that because God is three in One He can have love, and demonstrate love towards us because the trinity demonstrates love to each other.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Praise the Lord for His unity, and also for Him teaching me more about humility as I have studied these verses in the beginning of this 4^th chapter of Ephesians.

Today’s verse that went along with yesterday’s quotation:  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).”

3/8/2019 2:11 PM