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The Daily Word of Righteousness
Ephesians 2:8,9,continued
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. (Ephesians 2:1,2—NIV)
The passage above reveals clearly that the current interpretation of verses eight and nine is incorrect. Paul is not saying here in Ephesians that it does not matter how we live because we are "saved by grace." He is not saying this at all!
It is a fact that Christ is at the right hand of God and we in Him. We are His fullness, His Body.
In time past we were dead in transgressions and sins.
We used to live in them.
At one time we did follow the ways of the world.
Before we came to Christ we did serve the ruler of the kingdom of the air.
The spirit of Satan at one time did work in us because we were disobedient.
Obviously Paul does not consider that we are living in sin and disobedience now!
Let us note the expression "the ruler of the kingdom of the air."
It is taught commonly today that when the Lord comes the Christian Church will be caught up to Heaven with Him.
This is not true, not scriptural, and will not take place.
We Evangelicals say we hold to the plenary verbal inspiration of the Scriptures. Amen. Then why do we teach something not found anywhere in the Scriptures? Will we continue doing this even though we know it is not in the Scriptures. If so we are found to be an unfaithful steward and we had better make peace with the congregation so they will receive us after we die. The Lord will not have unfaithful stewards in His service!
We are caught up to meet Christ in the air, not in Heaven. This is because the coming of the Kingdom of God will result in a change of the occupants of the thrones in the air. The saints will take the place of the wicked angels.
No, we no longer walk in the kingdom and ways of Satan, that is, not if we have truly been saved. For to be saved means, according to the verses we have been studying, to be made alive.
What does it mean to be "made alive"? It means that the resurrection power of the ascended Christ has entered us and has delivered us from the bondages of death, of sin and rebellion. Divine Life dwells in us and purges the darkness from us. This is what it means to be "saved." We are saved from sin and rebellion by the power of God; not just forgiven but filled with the incorruptible Life of Jesus Christ so we no longer walk in sin, according to the ways of the world, according to the kingdom and ways of Satan.
We are overcoming our sinful nature by the power of Christ.
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. (Ephesians 2:3—NASB)
Formerly! Formerly! Formerly!
To be continued.