We Are Loved By A Forgiving God, No Longer Strangers To the Covenants of Promise, (The Created Bundle of Mess) Whose Workmanship We Are - Built Together Into A Dwelling of God In the Spirit

Today's Focus Verses: Ephesians 2:1-14

Ephesians 2:1-14
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. 
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 
5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 
6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 
7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall...

To clarify the title of today, I am including Ephesians 2:22 here. ~ "... in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

LAGNIAPPE:

• People that knew us before Christ will see a different creation than they were acquainted with prior to us knowing Christ.
• People that knew us when we were dead in our trespasses and children of wrath; they will see the newness of life that exists within you which gives glory to God.
• People that knew us before Christ will see in us the richness of God's mercy, the greatness of His love that He loves us with, and they will see the life that lives in us because of the grace that saved us. 

God's Laws are more than a line or a point, they are much, much more.  See "Further Reading" below.

CAN I FORGIVE ONLY ONCE? "BUT THAT'S WHERE THE LINE IS DRAWN!"
We are not to be the judge of anyone while there is a Living, Loving God extending forgiveness and love to all who are in need of it, whether we agree with Him or not about who should and should not receive His grace just as we ourselves receive His grace.  Amazing Grace! It's even more amazing when we are able to share that same grace with those who do not deserve it any more than we ourselves do.  How often should we forgive?  Then where do we draw the line?  Demand, "Pay back what you owe!" Will we be unwilling to forgive at some point? Does God ever come to a point where He would not forgive us?


Matthew 7:3-5
3 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 
4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 
5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.


Read: Matthew 18:21-35 click here >>>>>  BIBLE 

IS THERE A LINE THAT CAN BE CROSSED WITH GOD?
There is no line, which some may believe is Law, to cross. We don't cross lines, we follow a path, a path of righteousness, and if we stay on that path, that line, then we can never cross it, but will instead be lead further ahead because of it.  If there is a line that can be crossed on this straight and narrow path of righteousness, then that would be the side line of the path itself. To cross over the side line would be to "get off the best path" ahead, and then we have "crossed the line" by getting off the only best line there is to follow, His word.

Psalm 119:105-106 ~ "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. I have sworn and I will confirm it, That I will keep Your righteous ordinances."

Further Reading: PSALM 119
8 synonyms for the Word of God (Torah, Law of Moses, Tanach, Bible, etc.)

1. Law
2. Word
3. Ordinances
4. Commandments
5. Precepts
6. Testimonies
7. Statutes
8. Judgments

1.  Law (vs. 1) – Instructional teaching, how to live
2.  Word (vs. 42) – Revelation of God’s will
3. Ordinances (vs. 30) – judgments – legal pronouncements, the way God runs His universe, rules of divine administration, the way He expects us to yield to that
4. Commandments (vs. 86) – faithful, religious principles, how to live in a religious community with each other, in a community of faith, how to worship, to worship
5. Precepts (vs. 27) – teach moral obligations before God, to care for the poor, social justice, protect the rights of others, how to live morally in an immoral universe
6. Testimonies (vs. 2) – ways in which He reveals Himself, by keeping His testimonies; self revelations, we invest ourselves in seeking Him, we come to know who God is by His testimonies,
7. Statutes (vs. 8) – limitations, walls of orders, civil and religious, these set limitations upon our lives to keep us from getting out of bounds, the walls of the canyon inside which we live
8. Judgments – see ordinances

Summary - Way – Thy Way of His word, commandments, etc.  The way of God, the scriptural way to live for God, the bible, the way God teaches us how to live, to think, and how to lead.  Thy Way is living the Bible Way.


Points of interest: 

Offering an apology is not always what it seems, as the word literally means to "make and excuse," i.e. "I'm sorry that what I did hurt your feelings."  What about, "Would you forgive me for what I did that hurt your feelings."  Don't offer excuses and justifications with an apology, though that is not what they are entirely about and can be sincere otherwise, but try to see if you need to apologize or if you would be better suited to request forgiveness instead. Apologies are OK, nothing wrong with them, but the definition really sheds light on the actual meaning of the word.

Some definitions of the following words which can help shed some further meaning to their general concepts.
Demand, Apology, Ask, Forgiveness

Demand - 
1. a : an act of demanding or asking especially with authority
b : something claimed as due 
Synonyms
claim, importunity, requisition, ultimatum

Related Words
requirement, stipulation, must, condition

Apology -
1. a : a formal justification : defense
b : excuse 
2. a poor substitute

Synonyms
alibi, excuse, defense, justification, plea, reason

Related Words
color, guise, pretense (or pretence), pretext, rationale, rationalization, vindication, whitewash; cop-out, out; acknowledgment (or acknowledgement), atonement, confession; extenuation, palliation

Ask -
1. a : to call on for an answer 
b : to put a question about
c : speak, utter 
2. a : to make a request of 
b : to make a request for 
5. invite
6. to seek information

Forgiveness - (The act of forgiving)
1. willing or able to forgive
2. allowing room for error or weakness 

Inflected Form(s): for·gave ; for·giv·en
1. a : to give up resentment of or claim to revenge for ... <forgive an insult> 
b : to relieve a debtor of the duty to repay ... <forgive a debt>
2. to stop feeling resentment against ... (an offender) 

Synonyms
absolution, amnesty, pardon, remission, remittal


Related Words
acquittal, exculpation, exoneration, vindication; condonation; exemption, immunity, impunity, indemnity; commutation, commuting, reprieve; clemency, leniency, mercy