tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356673368207341414.post3728376225836861447..comments2024-03-12T10:56:20.223-04:00Comments on Fourth Year Ministries: Self-Centered TheologyJoe K.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16735112087369130619noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356673368207341414.post-1357377707143497732023-05-06T00:22:26.144-04:002023-05-06T00:22:26.144-04:00Great article. I am a devoted Christian and style...Great article. I am a devoted Christian and styled myself as a woman of God. I know what I want and do anything to get what I need regardless other people’s feelings. Being raised to go after what you want! For example, I wanted children, my husband was not keen ( he was 57 when our child was one). Does it make me a selfish person? Ejil Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356673368207341414.post-27682874147683105812015-08-26T09:21:18.407-04:002015-08-26T09:21:18.407-04:00Hi BeeBloggin,
Thanks for your great follow up qu...Hi BeeBloggin,<br /><br />Thanks for your great follow up question!<br /><br />Paul refers to the "rulers and authorities" a few times throughout the book of Ephesians. I'll submit my thoughts to you for your prayerful consideration, and you can investigate the matter more deeply and let me know if you think I'm off in the weeds!<br /><br />In Ephesians 1:18-23, Paul prays that the eyes of Christians would be opened to the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints (not ours, but His inheritance ... wow!), and the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These three things are in accordance with the strength of His might which were made evident at the raising and exaltation of Christ at the right hand of the Father, far above all rule and authority.<br /><br />Christ's victory is powerful and complete. He is working in His people to continue magnifying this victory. That's why His power works toward believers, since we are His body.<br /><br />Then, in Ephesians 2:1-2, Paul makes a stark contrast between our former life enslaved to the "prince of the power of the air" (which uses a cognate for "ruler" and the same word "authority" translated as "power" in the NASB) with our new life in Christ. The power of Christ has released us from slavery to these rulers and authorities.<br /><br />As Paul puts it elsewhere: "For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him." (Col 1:13-16 NASB)<br /><br />It is after these two statements that Paul expressed God's eternal purpose in the Church (and Paul's personal ministry of preaching this truth), of God's manifold wisdom being made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Eph 3:8-10).<br /><br />As people respond to the gospel with repentance and faith, they are transferred from darkness to light by the power and grace of God.<br /><br />So, how do Christians make this reality known (which is your first question), and what does this look like (your second question)?<br /><br />Paul addresses that directly in Ephesians 6:10-20. When we take up the full armor of God, clothing ourselves with the strength of His might, we are able to stand against the schemes of the devil instead of being enslaved to their schemes (as we were previously).<br /><br />This living of the Christian life includes proclaiming the gospel in word and living the gospel life in deed. As we do this, God makes known continuously to the rulers and authorities that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, through the people who are called by His name our of darkness into marvelous light.<br /><br />I hope this helps! Let me know your thoughts...Joe K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16735112087369130619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8356673368207341414.post-90435696324489315442015-08-25T16:16:55.285-04:002015-08-25T16:16:55.285-04:00How do we do this?
"This amazing wisdom of G...How do we do this? <br />"This amazing wisdom of God is supposed to be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places." What does it look like to make this known to "the rulers and authorities in heavenly places"?BeeBlogginhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14626338144320085692noreply@blogger.com