Bible Study - Culture (3) - When Circumstances Overwhelm - Psalm 42 and 43 - January 27, 2019

Bible Study – Culture (3) – When Circumstances Overwhelm – January 27, 2019

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled “Engaging Culture in an Everchanging World.”

Our focus scripture is Psalm 42:1-3, 6-8; 43:3-5.

GOD lifts us up when circumstances pull us down.

Often, when we, as Christians, look at our local, state, nation and world we may say “LORD where are you?” The psalmist wrote this psalm or poem to direct those who feel abandoned by GOD to have a change of attitude toward GOD and HIS ability to restore their relationship.

First, some history regarding Psalms as copied from the “Advanced Bible Study, Winter 2018-2019, LifeWay, written by Dr. Janice Meier, pages 113 and 114. Dr. Meier is a gifted Hebrew scholar and she participated on the translation team of the Holman Christian Standard Bible.

[“The book of Psalms differs from other books of the Bible in some key ways. First, while the Scripture as a whole is God’s revelation of Himself to human beings, the Book of Psalms consists of worshipers’ response to God’s revelation. Furthermore, it consists of worship songs a variety of inspired writers composed over a period of approximately one thousand years. Thus, these poems functioned for centuries as the hymnbook of God’s people. In the Hebrew language the book’s title means “praises.” This title reflects the book’s main purpose – to help people worship God.

The entire book of Psalms has been divided into five separate books. Book I consists of Psalms 1-41. Psalms 42-72 constitute Book II. Psalms 73-89 comprise Book III. Book IV encompasses Psalms 90-106. The final portion, Book V consists of the Psalms 107-150. Bible scholars believe the fivefold divisions reflects the fivefold division of the Law – the five books of Genesis through Deuteronomy. Thus, while the five books of Law convey God’s revelation of Himself, the five Books of Psalms reveal His people’s fivefold response in praise to Him.

Bible scholars have categorized the psalms into different types. As you would expect, the largest single category of Psalms consists of poems of praise. Approximately half of the 150 psalms fall into this classification. Another large category is prayers of lamentations, including both individual and community laments. Psalms 42 and 43 (Our focus scripture) fall into this classification. Other categories include royal psalms, wisdom psalms, enthronement psalms, penitential psalms, and thanksgiving psalms. Many psalms have headings called superscriptions. These headings provide historical information, musical instructions, and writer information. These superscriptions are ancient, accurate, and reliable. They were added to help worshipers understand and know how to sing these psalms.]

In Psalm 42, we see the heading “For the choir director or chief Musician. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.” “Maskil” is likely a specific type of hymn. Psalm 42 and 43 make a single lament-poem sung by “The sons of Korah;” likely a musical group of singers of that time period. Let’s explore!

Psalm 42 and 43 are written as one. Note verses 42:5, 11 and 43:5 are repeated:

42:5 - 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

42:11 - 11 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

43:5 - 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Let’s read Psalm 42:1-3:

For the choir director. A Maskil of the sons of Korah.

1 As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, God.

2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?

3 My tears have been my food day and night, while all day long people say to me, "Where is your God?"

Water is essential to life upon earth. In this poem of lament, the writer gave us a word picture of a deer desperately needing water to survive. The psalmist compared this to a person desperately needing GOD in his or her life. Not just any god but the one true “living GOD.” The psalmist has been consumed by this need to the point that he could not eat. His heart was broken and it ached. His food was his tears.

Recorded in Jeremiah 2:13 we read: (GOD is the source of Spiritual water.)

13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

JESUS told the Samaritan woman at the well, in John 4:9-15, that she could have living water gushing within her:

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

11 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water?

12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,

14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Christians have this living water within them the instant they ask JESUS into their hearts. This living water is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a person and is the third person of the Trinity. Allow HIM to flow through you to others as you obediently serve the LORD. The people of the world are thirsty for the right relationship with GOD. Most do not know that their Spiritual thirst can only be quenched by placing their faith in JESUS. JESUS broke the sin barrier that separated mankind from GOD but to do so cost JESUS HIS sinless life. JESUS is the only perfect sacrifice GOD has accepted to break the sin barrier.

Do you believe that JESUS gave HIS sinless life just for you? HE did but you have to accept this gift from GOD to receive forgiveness and eternal life through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth.

There are times when GOD may seem to be avoiding us, when our desire to have an intimate, personal relationship with HIM. The question is “What is blocking this relationship?” We know that GOD seeks this relationship, as well, with us.

In last week’s study, we read scripture that revealed how intimately GOD knows each of us, even to the number of hairs on our heads. HE knows what we are going to say before we speak as recorded in Psalm 139, written by David as revealed in verses 1-4:

1 You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.

A person’s thirst to know the One True GOD in the most intimate, loving way is not as great as GOD’S desire for him or her to know HIM; not to just know about HIM but to really know HIM. Is sin or unconfessed sin blocking your relationship? Ask GOD to search our hearts.

GOD expressed HIS love to all humanity to the max when HE allowed HIS only Son, JESUS, to come to earth to live as a human, subject to being tempted and dying as a human.

Yes. JESUS was dead as a doornail but GOD demonstrated to all the world that JESUS lived a sinless life, as a human/yet GOD, upon earth by the bodily resurrection of JESUS. The resurrection is proof that JESUS paid the penalty for sin, in full, for all who will place their faith in HIM. Life is in the blood and this was true for the physical life of JESUS. JESUS blood was poured out for our sin. The resurrection of JESUS is GOD’S guarantee to all who place their faith in JESUS that they will not die eternally. They have gone from spiritual death to Spiritual Life. JESUS said it best in John 5:24:

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.

Every person who is Spiritually dead will “hear the voice of the Son of GOD” and when he or she hears HIS voice he or she has a decision to make – either to accept or reject JESUS as his or her Savior. If that person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior, he or she is born Spiritually into GOD’s Family – receives eternal life and “will not be judged” because he or she made the transition from eternal death to eternal life. Think about that. No more guessing but this Spiritually born-again person has a guarantee. This guarantee is confirmed and sealed by the indwelling Holy Spirit – 2 Corinthians 1:21-22:

21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us,

22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.

GOD did this so that every person can have an intimate, personal, dynamic relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS. Faith in JESUS is the only way any person can experience the miracle of Spiritual rebirth and become a true born-again Son or Daughter of GOD.

Let’s read Psalm 42:6-8:

6 I am deeply depressed; therefore, I remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.

7 Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me.

8 The Lord will send His faithful love by day; His song will be with me in the night- a prayer to the God of my life.

Of course, this psalm writer did not have what we have today. The coming of the Messiah was still far off. What was a person who was seeking an intimate relationship with GOD do? The psalm writer saw GOD’S power everywhere he looked – the landscape, the waterfalls, the ocean. The psalmist was lamenting that he saw the handiwork of GOD day and night but yet he was not satisfied by what he saw. He wanted an intimate, personal, permanent relationship with GOD - 24/7. But wasn’t GOD in Jerusalem?  

Depression can be a medical condition that is very real and needs to be treated accordingly. Humans can be depressed by the circumstances they encounter in their lives. Often, when depression is due to circumstances these folks need a helping hand or someone to come along their side who can help them. It may take a counselor.  

We read in this psalm that the psalmist would have bouts of despair and then he was reminded of GOD’S love and care for him as recorded in verses 42:5, 11 and 43:5.

It is much like when we get into an internal debate – left brain – right brain analysis of our circumstances. It just goes around and around without resolution. That cycle must be broken and it seems that the psalmist breaks this cycle when he acknowledges what we read in verse 5 “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.”

Now, let’s read what the psalmist wrote after he shifted his circumstance into GOD’S hands -----

Let’s read Psalm 43:1-5:

1 Vindicate me, God, and defend my cause against an ungodly nation; rescue me from the deceitful and unjust man.

2 For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I go about in sorrow because of the enemy's oppression?

3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.

4 Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.

5 Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.

The psalmist was depressed by what he saw and had experienced in the world. Those in the world did not recognize or acknowledge GOD in their lives. The psalmist recognized that there was a negative force in the world that opposed GOD and he was experiencing it.

It is unclear how much the psalmist knew about the coming of the promised Messiah. But it is certain that this psalmist’s desire was to be liberated from the despair of ungodliness and to have an intimate relationship with GOD. He concluded that his liberation was in having the right relationship with GOD. But what would lead him to having this right relationship with GOD? In these times before JESUS, GOD was generally relegated to a physical place e.g. Jerusalem in the temple.

The psalmist reveals this in verses 3 and 4 - 3 Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.

4 Then I will come to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the lyre, God, my God.

GOD is light. Light dispels darkness. When we can see the path of truth and follow it, we build the right relationship with GOD, The One True Light. Before JESUS, the promised Messiah, came into the physical world, GOD was viewed as dwelling in a specific location - tabernacle or Jerusalem in the temple. This was a human restriction. GOD is everywhere. GOD’S desire is to have an intimate, personal relationship with those who place their faith in JESUS. As we read in 2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him (JESUS) we might become the righteousness of God.

Faith in JESUS purifies the human body so it can be occupied by GOD/Holy Spirit.  First Corinthians 3:16 Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Even today, when we are in despair our hope is in our relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS. Let that hope in GOD be your pathway out of despair. If you have medical depression, then seek medical help.

As the psalmist wrote, when we are in despair or in a depressed state, we need to be led out of that state by allowing GOD to lead us out by the revelation of the light only GOD can provide through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Where does the light of GOD lead a person? The true light leads to Truth, which is faith in JESUS and hope that is in HIM. Faith in JESUS leads Christians to build an intimate, loving, personal, dynamic relationship with GOD. Why? It is because those secure in JESUS know that GOD is real and true. This psalmist finally came to a positive conclusion.

The psalmist ends with verse 5 - Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God. When we know GOD through faith in JESUS, why do we allow circumstances to depress us, which, in turn, produces turmoil. The secret is abiding in JESUS and to trust GOD to lead us through the dark days that will come into our lives. We must do our part and trust GOD to do HIS part.

JESUS gave Christians an example as recorded in John 5:19-20:

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.

Do you recall when a violent storm came up while JESUS and HIS disciples were on the sea as recorded in Mark 4:35-41? JESUS was asleep in the same boat with them. HIS disciples were terrified but JESUS was sound asleep. They frantically awaken HIM. In essence, they said, “How can YOU sleep when we are all facing possible death?” JESUS’ disciples went directly to the source for the solution to their circumstance. JESUS spoke and the winds and waves ceased. HIS disciples were amazed. HIS disciples were taught a valuable lesson. 

Storms come into our lives even when JESUS is present in our lives. JESUS may seem to us to be asleep or aloof to our circumstance but HIS power prevails regardless of what we may think. GOD allows HIS children to experience life to teach us. Can we look beyond the angry storms when they come into our lives, as Christians? Will we go to HIM for help? When we trust GOD’S solution, that is when “peace like a river flow through us.” GOD desires for HIS Children to trust beyond what is they see, ask HIM for light and trust HIM to for HIS solution. The solution may be for us to wait and watch or it might be to take a step of faith. The indwelling Holy Spirit will direct our response.

In the words of the late Dr. Vance Havner, “We must practice in the dark, what we learn in the light.” Blessings!!!   

Bible Study - Culture (2) - When Life is Expendable - Exodus 1:16-17, 22-22:9 - January 20, 2019

Bible Study – Culture (2) – When Life is Expendable – January 20, 2019

This is lesson two (2) in our series entitled “Engaging Culture in an Ever-Changing World.”

Our focus scripture is Exodus 1:16-17, 22-2:9.

Life is a gift from GOD that we are to protect and preserve.

Let’s consider does GOD care for us as a person?

Ephesians 1:3-4:

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love

2 Timothy 1:9:

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

Jeremiah 1:5:

5 "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Ecclesiastes 3:2:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; 

Matthew 10:29-31:

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.

30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

GOD knows each of us in an intimate way. HIS desire is for each of us to know HIM intimately.

GOD has a plan for every person who will exist upon earth. But HE made us with the freedom to choose but not all who exist choose to follow GOD’S plan. Some people choose to allow Satan and the flesh to rule their lives.

GOD chose the Israelites to be HIS people. GOD delivered them from Egyptian bondage and overtly revealed Himself to them beginning with Moses in the desert. GOD led the Israelites to Mount Sinai and spoke these words to them through Moses. GOD’S message was recorded in Exodus 19:3-8:

3 while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying, "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel:

4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."

7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the LORD had commanded him.

8 All the people answered together and said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do." And Moses reported the words of the people to the LORD.

GOD loves every person and desires to have an intimate, loving relationship with each person.

Let’s read Exodus 1:1-15: (Background)

This gives the why in our focus scripture.

Israel Oppressed in Egypt

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; each came with his family:

2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah;

3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

5 The total number of Jacob's descendants was 70; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 Then Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died.

7 But the Israelites were fruitful, increased rapidly, multiplied, and became extremely numerous so that the land was filled with them.

8 A new king, who had not known Joseph, came to power in Egypt.

9 He said to his people, "Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and powerful than we are.

10 Let us deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply [further], and if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country."

11 So the Egyptians assigned taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh.

12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.

13 They worked the Israelites ruthlessly

14 and made their lives bitter with difficult labor in brick and mortar, and in all kinds of fieldwork. They ruthlessly imposed all this work on them.

15 Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,

As stated earlier, this background scripture sets the stage for the why of our focus scripture. Simply, the Hebrews were multiplying so fast that the new king looked upon them as a threat. So, the new king devised a method to control the population of the Hebrew community.

The new king did not know the power of GOD. The new king had a plan to control the population of the Hebrews and GOD had a plan to deliver the Hebrews. Our lesson reveals how the hand of GOD works and HIS plans are not thwarted by human effort.

The new king had a message for the mid-wives who tended to the Hebrew women during child birth.

Let’s read Exodus 1:16-17:

16 "When you help the Hebrew women give birth, observe them as they deliver. If the child is a son, kill him, but if it's a daughter, she may live."

17 The Hebrew midwives, however, feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.

Life is precious and there is a time when a person must choose to do the right thing.

[18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before a midwife can get to them."

20 So God was good to the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very numerous.

21 Since the midwives feared God, He gave them families.]

GOD had a plan for HIS chosen people.

Let’s read Exodus 1:22-2:3:

22 Pharaoh then commanded all his people: "You must throw every son born to the Hebrews into the Nile, but let every daughter live."

Exodus 2:1-3:

Moses' Birth and Adoption

1 Now a man from the family of Levi married a Levite woman.

2 The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son; when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months.

3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with asphalt and pitch. She placed the child in it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile.

It is interesting that both Moses mother and father were from the lineage of Levi. Levi was the son of Jacob. Later in Hebrew history the tribe of Levi would carry out “priestly duties.”

In Exodus 6:20 the names of Moses parents are revealed:

20 Amram married his father’s sister Jochebed, who bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years.

Moses had a sister and her name was Miriam who is identified in Exodus 15:20-21:

20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing.

21 Miriam sang to them: “Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.”

A mother’s love and her trust in GOD is revealed in our study. We also see the guiding hand of GOD in the lives of people. Moses’ mother, Jochebed, built a water proof basket which would float safely on the Nile River. You could consider that she was obedient to the king’s request; she placed Moses into the Nile River. She placed her “beautiful” son into the basket and into the Nile River potentially laden with crocodiles.

Had Jochebed observed the bathing habits of the Princess? We do not know. Moses is bobbing around in the Nile River but not alone. GOD was watching along with his sister Miriam.  

Let’s read Exodus 2:4-9:

4 Then his sister stood at a distance in order to see what would happen to him.

5 Pharaoh's daughter went down to bathe at the Nile while her servant girls walked along the riverbank. Seeing the basket among the reeds, she sent her slave girl to get it.

6 When she opened it, she saw the child-a little boy, crying. She felt sorry for him and said, "This is one of the Hebrew boys."

7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and call a woman from the Hebrews to nurse the boy for you?"

8 "Go." Pharaoh's daughter told her. So, the girl went and called the boy's mother.

9 Then Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay your wages." So, the woman took the boy and nursed him.

10 When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses, "Because," she said, "I drew him out of the water."

When GOD orchestrates there is no such thing as chance. That which needs to come together comes together according to HIS plan and purpose. When it comes together it is a beautiful thing. In fact, it is breath taking.  

Pharaoh’s daughter went to the Nile River to bathe. Notice “her servant girls were walking along the river bank.” Why do you think the servant girls were walking along the riverbank while the Princess was bathing? Were they possibly looking for crocodiles seeking a meal? Likely.

It is interesting that the Princess spotted the basket floating in the river and asked her servant girls to retrieve the basket for her. When she opened the basket the baby boy was crying. What is the first thing most want to do for a crying baby? It is to pick the baby up and console it. We know that baby Moses was beautiful and the instant the Princess saw him she was smitten. The Princess had compassion on the baby. She likely thought what her king daddy would do to him if she did not embrace this beautiful Hebrew boy. She likely realized very quickly that she was not prepared to be the baby’s mother. Necessity breeds action.

Being at the right place at the right time is vital. When we look back over our lives, often, we see that GOD has placed us at the right spot at the right time. Moses sister, Miriam, was at the right place at the right time. The Princess identified Moses as a Hebrew boy so naturally he needed a Hebrew nurse, or did he? As the old saying goes, “strike while the iron is hot.”  

Miriam was at the place at the right time and she scurried off to get Moses’ mother to care for him with pay. Only GOD can orchestrate such matters. Jochebed cared for Moses until he was weaned. It is likely Moses was between 3-6 years old when Jochebed weaned him and took him to the Princess.

The Princess named the boy “Moses,” which means “draw out” as in “taken out of the water.”

Every life is precious to GOD and HE has a plan for every life.  Many women have had abortions for many different reasons. GOD will forgive those who carry that burden when they ask. Adoption is always a good alternative. Life is precious!

Blessings!!! 

Bible Study - Cultyre (1) - When Races Collide - Ephesians 2:11-22 - January 13, 2019

Bible Study – Culture (1) – When Races Collide – January 13, 2019

This is lesson one (1) in our new series entitled, “Engaging Culture in an Ever-Changing World.”

Our focus scripture is Ephesians 2:11-22.

Our relationship with CHRIST should be reflected in our unity with one another.

For the next seven (7) weeks, we will be considering – how we:

-         View each other

-         Treat others

-         Deal with life’s circumstances

-         Handle addictions

-         Define marriage

-         Use our possessions

-         Define truth.

America has become a mixing pot of religious ideologies. Many religions believe they are following truth. But according to our Christian faith, GOD has reconciled all beliefs into one through the Promised Messiah, JESUS.

The Apostle Paul deals with this issue in our study.

How do we, as Christians, stand for truth and righteousness in the world in which we live? Our culture is ever changing, yet, the Bible has not changed its message to the peoples of the world. What are Christians to do in today’s world? Should we change our message? NO! Why? Once truth is revealed, truth stands the test of time.

One of the issues facing the religious community during Apostle Paul’s time period was circumcision versus non-circumcision. The Jews prided themselves in having been circumcised. Circumcision identified them as being in right relationship with GOD. Paul stated that circumcision was done by the hands of men. It was a ritual. It was a step of obedience, which may or may not reflect the attitude of a person’s heart toward GOD. Certainly, when Jewish male babies were circumcised on the eighth day after their birth it was a ritual.

The Jewish way of thinking was that non-Jews or the Gentiles had to first become a convert to Judaism, which included circumcision, before they could be in right relationship with GOD. How could this dilemma be resolved? The Apostle Paul deals with this issue in our focus scripture.

What issues does our Christian community face today?

In today’s world, Christians may face an issue of screens versus no screens in their worship services or the type of music sung. Also, is JESUS the True SON of GOD or a son of god or a prophet or what place does the homosexual community have in the Christian church and the list goes on. These can be divisive issues which must be put into the proper perspective according to the Bible and confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. What is the truth regarding such issues? Where do we go to find the answer? Let’s explore!

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians from prison. It was likely written around 61 AD. It has been estimated that the population of the city of Ephesus was between 250,000 and 300,000 people. Paul had spent about 3 years in Ephesus. He knew that Ephesus was a city where many worshipped the Greek goddess Artemis/Roman goddess Diana. It was a port city and was a cultural melting pot. It was ripe for spreading the Gospel or Good News of JESUS.

Diversity is both a strength and an area that can breed social and religious barriers resulting in islands of isolation. The Gospel is for all peoples and fosters unity. The indwelling Holy Spirit unifies those in CHRIST through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. Through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth, all Christians are brothers and sisters through faith in JESUS.

So why was the Apostle Paul writing this letter to the Christians in Ephesus?

Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus was shared with other Christian churches in the area and is considered a circular letter. Paul’s letter has been preserved for us today.

Let’s read Ephesians 2:1-10: (Background)

We need to keep in mind that the Bible is the revelation of GOD on an ever-ascending scale. We get to read about the issues that faced the world in an effort to discover GOD and build the right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS, HIS only SON.

In Paul’s day there were issues between the Gentiles/non-Jews/the uncircumcised and the Jews/the circumcised. The Jews touted that they were more spiritual than the non-Jews. The Jews bore the marks of circumcision and were in covenant relationship with GOD. The non-Jews could not point to such a mark to show that they had a relationship with GOD.

Paul’s message to the religious community was JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay in full for the sins of all people – Jews and Gentiles. Paul was addressing the Gentile community and reminding them to remember who they were before they had accepted JESUS as their Savior.

From Death to Life

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins

2 in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. (The spirit world, Satan.)

Satan’s desire is for us NOT to discover truth. The truth is that JESUS has already defeated Satan. JESUS has won the victory and Christians are to live triumphally in the victory JESUS has already won.

3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also.

All people are born sinners and alienated from GOD because of sin.

4 But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,

The love of GOD for the human race compelled GOD to send HIS only Son to earth to live a sinless life so that HE would be the perfect sacrifice to pay the debt for sin in full for all who would place their faith in HIM.

5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved!

When any person places his or her faith in JESUS he or she is forgiven and experiences the miracle of rebirth in his or her spirit. The instant a person places his or her faith in JESUS, he or she receives eternal life and becomes a Child of GOD and so much more -----

6 He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus,

7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-

9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

10 For we are His creation-created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

What is GOD’S Grace? Grace is a gift from GOD through faith in JESUS. Grace cannot be earned through human effort. Grace is unmerited favor. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life to pay, in full, for all of the sins of the person coming to HIM in faith seeking forgiveness and believing that HE is GOD’S Son. The shedding of the blood of JESUS completely and for eternity washes away all of the sins of the person coming to HIM by faith. GOD shrouds every person, who comes to JESUS by faith, with the righteousness of JESUS. How do we know that? The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:21:

21 He made the One (JESUS) who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we (All who place their faith in JESUS) might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Thus, all who place their faith in JESUS are Spiritually born-again into GOD’S Family. All Christians are either Brothers or Sisters through faith in CHRIST and are in unity with GOD, JESUS and each other as confirmed by the indwelling Holy Spirit. Unity is Paul’s message to the Christians in Ephesus and to all Christians today.

Let’s take another look at verses 4 and 5 – As a Christian, do you realize that when JESUS was crucified and gave HIS physical life that you died with HIM? When HE was buried you were buried with HIM? When HE was resurrected, you were resurrected with HIM? JESUS walked upon earth for 40 days and then HE ascended into Heaven to take HIS seat at the right hand of GOD. All who place his or her faith in JESUS also ascended with JESUS and took his or her seat at the right hand of GOD. As a Christian, in essence, you are already in Heaven but GOD has left you upon earth to represent HIM to those who are seeking truth. As a Christian you have found truth. Truth will always be truth.

In Ephesus, there were two distinct groups trying to claim that they had the answer to being in unity and harmony with GOD as we read on ----

Let’s read Ephesians 2:11-12:

Unity in Christ

11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh-called "the uncircumcised" by those called "the circumcised," done by hand in the flesh.

12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without God in the world.

“So then” refers back to all that Paul had written in verses 1-10.

Paul was writing to his Gentile readers that the Jews once considered them incapable of being spiritual. The Jews had a relationship with GOD because they had been circumcised. But they needed to keep in mind that circumcision was done by hand. Circumcision was a ritual done on a male child when he was 8 days old.

The Gentiles were without JESUS. They were excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, with no hope and without GOD in the world. But GOD had a plan to break the walls that separated the Gentiles and the Jews. GOD sent HIS only Son to earth to reconcile all people to HIM through faith in JESUS.

Let’s read Ephesians 2:13-18:

13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.

14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh,

15 He did away with the law of the commandments in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.

16 [He did this so] that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.

17 When [Christ] came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

The shed blood of JESUS is the reconciler for all people regardless of their religious or non-religious backgrounds. JESUS shed HIS blood for all who will place their faith in HIM. JESUS tore down the wall that separates people. Faith in JESUS unites. Since JESUS unites then ---

Let’s read Ephesians 2:19-22:

19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God's household,

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

21 The whole building is being fitted together in Him and is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord,

22 in whom you also are being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit.

Born-again believers are living stones being used to build a Holy Sanctuary. GOD’S desire is for every born-again believer to be obedient to HIS call. GOD is building a Holy sanctuary and born-again believers are the living stones. JESUS is the chief cornerstone. The cornerstone is the stone which sets the line for the walls of the structure being built.

Have you asked JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your heart? GOD has a place just for you in the Holy Sanctuary HE is building. Blessings!!!