"God´s plan is to bring all creation together."

"God´s plan is to bring all creation together."

Paul´s Letter to the Ephesians is concerned first of all with "God´s plan is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head." It is also an appeal to God´s people to live out the meaning of this great plan for the unity of the human race through oneness with Jesus Christ.

In the first part of Ephesians the writer develops the theme of unity by speaking of the way in which God the Father has chosen his people, how they are forgiven and set free from their sins through Jesus Christ the Son, and how God´s great promise is guaranteed by the Holy Spirit. In the second part he appeals to the readers to live in such a way that their oneness in Christ may become real in their life together.

Several figures of speech are used to show the oneness of God´s people in union with Christ: the Church is like a body, with Christ as the head; or like a building, with Christ as the cornerstone; or like a wife, with Christ as the husband. This letter rises to great hights of expression as the writer is moved by the thought of God´s grace in Christ. Everything is seen in the light of Christ´s love, sacrifice, forgiveness, grace, and purity.

How do we come from death into life, if we are all mortal beings??

The Bible tells us...

"From Death to Life." (Ephesians 2: 1-10)

"In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. At that time you followed the world´s evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God´s anger.

But God´s mercy is so abundant, and his love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience he brought us to life with Christ. It is by God´s grace that you have been saved. In our union with Christ Jesus he raised us up with him to rule with him in the heavenly world. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of his grace in the love he showed us in Christ Jesus.

For it is by God´s grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God´s gift, so that no one can boast about it. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do."

Praise the Lord!!

Thanks for taking your precious time to visit and read!!

God bless each and everyone of you!!

STARRY DAWN.

"SPIRITUAL WEALTH."

"SPIRITUAL WEALTH."

Life is not a bed of roses, nor a bowl of cherries. At times, it takes a brave heart in order to face the hard blows that one has to endure, for life is not easy if one has to roam out there looking for a place to stay and something to eat...

After my separation from my child´s father in New York, I had no other choice but to return to my mother´s home in order to provide the best care for my little daughter´s sake. Unfortunately shortly after my arrival, my mom passed away.

I indeed, spent many years abroad teaching American English to foreign learners after my dear mom departure from this world into Eternity. I had to encounter raw experiences trying to survive in the asphalt jungle, so that I had been exposed to seeing unpleasant things in my surrounding as an eyewitness.

Being a long-suffering patient of asthma and allergy, a victim of mental cruelty and a savage, appalling domestic violence with a history of abuse, and facing the fact of becoming a single parent in New York at a young age, I had to struggle to make ends meet and provide the best care for my only child. I did my best for my beloved ones, I must admit. My dear family left all their belongings and properties to me making our lives a little easier at last.

Then, immortal sores and memories have been left alive in my heart.

My parents and aunts helped me with the upbringing of my only child. So when they grew into an old age, I took care of my dear father and aunts in their illness and elderly years until the Lord called them to His Heavenly final home.

At times, I saw spiritually dead people bragging about their high morals, but they had done evil deeds for real, instead of proving their honest hearts with good examples of trustworthy Christian lives. We should become the perfect role model to follow with our example of living.

Paul´s Prayer. (Ephesians 1: 15-23)

"For this reason, ever since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God´s people, I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you.

I remember you in my prayers and ask God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you the Spirit who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know him. I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. The power working in us is the same as the mighty strength which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. Christ rules there above all heavenly rulers, authorities, powers, and lords; he has a title superior to all titles of authority in this world and in the next. God put all things under Christ´s feet and gave him to the Church as supreme Lord over all things. The Church is Christ´s body, the completion of him who himself completes all things everywhere."

Thanks for reading!!

God bless!!

STARRY DAWN.

"Spiritual Wealth and Blessings in Christ."

"Spiritual Wealth and Spiritual Blessings in Christ."

As I spent many years abroad teaching English to foreign learners after my dear mom departured from this world into Eternity, I had to encounter raw experiences trying to survive in the asphalt jungle. The devil´s darts and arrows crossed my feeble heart, but my strong will set me free. The Lord always stood by me pulling me up from the deepest well.

My dear parents helped with my upbringing, so I had commitments with them when they needed me the most. So, I took care of my dear father and aunts in their illness and elderly years until the Lord called them to His Heavenly Home.

I have seen spiritually dead people because of their disobedience and sins bragging about their questionable morals, but they follow only the world´s evil ways and deeds instead of proving their honest hearts for real with good examples of trustworthy Christian lives. We should be a role model to follow with our example of living. But God´s mercy is so abundant, and love for us is so great, that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience, God brought us to life with spiritual wealth that is given to us by the strength of God´s plan for our lives in this world that we must follow. I trust my Lord and Savior, and I hear His words speaking to my heart...

"Spiritual Blessings in Christ." (Ephesians 1: 3-14)

"Let us give thanks to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!! For in our union with Christ he has blessed us by giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly world. Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be His through our union with Christ, so that we would be holy and without fault before him.

Because of his love God had already decided that through Jesus Christ he would make us his sons and daughters, this was his pleasure and purpose. Let us praise God for his glorious grace, for the free gift he gave us in his dear Son!! For by the blood of Christ we are set free, that is, our sins are forgiven. How great is the grace of God, which he gave to us in such large measure!! In all his wisdom and insight God did what he had purposed, and made known to us the secret plan he had already decided to complete by means of Christ. This plan, which God will complete when the time is right, is to bring all creation together, everything in heaven and on earth, with Christ as head. All things are done according to God´s plan and decision; and God chose us to be his own people in union with based on what he had decided from the very beginning. Let us, then, who were the first hope in Christ, praise God´s glory!!

And you also became God´s people when you heard the true message, the Good News that brought you salvation. You believed in Christ, and God put his stamp of ownership on you by giving you the Holy Spirit he had promised. The Spirit is the guarantee that we shall receive what God has promised his people, and this assures us that God will give complete freedom to those who are his. Let us praise His glory!!"

Thanks for reading!! God bless!!

STARRY DAWN.