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BIBLE
STUDY LESSON
For
the week beginning Sunday March 15, 2020
WE ARE MADE ALIVE WITH CHRIST
Ephesians 2:1-10
In the Greek, the word used for “world” is “kosmos”. It is from
this word that we derive our English word “cosmos”. In the spiritual sense, “it
describes that complex intertwining of sinful desires that shape our world of
lost humanity”.
When we choose the Christian walk, we
automatically become strangers to worldly behavior. We are no longer permanent
residents of this earth, but rather, we become citizens of Heaven, and
therefore, the laws of GOD should become paramount to us. In other words, GOD begins
to dominate our thought process. We then “change our mind”, or “repent” from
our former “worldly way” of thinking. We, in a very real sense, begin to “share
the mind of CHRIST”.
In the biblical sense, the word “heart” is
translated from the Greek word “kardia” which describes one’s “thoughts” or
“way of thinking”, not one’s emotions. Still, our conversion is often treated
as “an emotional experience of psychological change”. And even though here in
Ephesians 2, Paul correctly depicts “conversion” as a “spiritual transformation”,
or, “a metamorphosis” from a state of “spiritual death” to “spiritual life”,
this passage does have some psychological implications.
Before our conversion to Christianity, we
generally follow the ways of the world and are driven by sinful thoughts and
desires. And while, even after conversion, we still are capable of sin, our
lives are, for the most part, re-oriented toward GOD, through the power of the
HOLY SPIRIT. However, all in all, it is not until a person actually falls in
love with goodness, that wrong things, will no longer fascinate, and have power
over them.
The reality of our inward change, must, in
time, be reflected in a true change of lifestyle, or the supposed conversion is
not real. And so, our relationship with GOD remains the Christian’s greatest
asset, and the person who loses their heart to the things of this world, is the
person most vulnerable to satan.
The end of all things is near, for each of
us, personally. For, that is the warning in the messages that the ancient
prophets, and New Testament writers and thinkers, all leave us with. And those
warnings are as valid today as they ever were. Human nature has long been
corrupted and we tend to desire to create a god in our own image, instead of
worshipping the GOD, WHO made us in HIS divine image.
The GOD of our salvation through JESUS
CHRIST is the only GOD, and theologians often debate whether it is salvation or
faith that HE grants to us freely. But the true Christian has faith that the
gift of salvation is an example of how GOD’s grace is greater than all of our
sins combined. Paul tells us that GOD acted graciously to grant salvation to
each of us, who believe, and no amount of good deeds can earn us what GOD
freely gives.
GOD determined long ago to form the
Christian Church out of the flawed humanity that is “us”. He always took those
of us who were “dead in sin” and made us “alive in CHRIST JESUS”. HE, quite
literally, re-fashions us to make us suitable for every good work that HE has
prepared for us to do, and through JESUS CHRIST, HE closed the gap between us
and HIMSELF, and brought us back into “a personal relationship of friendship
with HIM”.
GOD sees the unbeliever who is walking with
satan, and thereby, in step with this current generation, or, world-way of
thinking. HE desires to exchange their “life of misery”, and, at best, “temporal
happiness”, for “a life that is filled grace, mercy and spiritual riches”.
Salvation, and GOD’s continued abundant
grace, is available to all people, but one has to voluntarily choose to become
a partaker, in GOD’s grace. Every human being has the opportunity to be made
alive with CHRIST, to be in oneness and peace with CHRIST, and, be a temple for
the LORD, our GOD in Heaven.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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