Ephesians 3
1 My ministry is not measured by the size of my prison cell. I am confined by his grace; Christ Jesus is the prison keeper. You are why I am here. (Grace measures my ministry; this prison cell cannot hide my message from you!)
2 It is common knowledge that I have been entrusted with a message that reveals how included you Gentiles are in the grace gift of God.
3 You must have heard how this mystery was revealed to me, in a dramatic disclosure that broke the silence of a long kept secret. I have previously written briefly about this.
4 In reading these words you will perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ. (The word, anaginosko, suggests an upward knowledge; to know again, to recognize, to read with recognition. Insight, sunesis, from sun + eimi, together “I am”, a flowing together like two rivers.)
5 In no previous generation has there been a more comprehensive and detailed understanding (of the full consequence of grace) as it has now been uncovered in the Spirit to his ambassadors who brought the prophetic promise into full view! Mankind (the sons of men) may now realize that the prophetic word is fulfilled in them! Everything the prophets saw is now declared! Both the prophets (who saw this in advance) and the apostles (who now proclaim this) are sanctioned in Christ.
6 The essence of what I see reveals the fact that the multitude of humanity are joint participants in the same inheritance (together with Israel). We are all part of one and the same body in Christ. The Good news is that God’s promise is equally relevant and applicable to all.
7 This Gospel defines my ministry; I am supercharged by the gift of his grace!
8 I am the lowest ranked saint by far. His grace qualifies me to declare this unexplored treasure of Christ in the nations. (My claim to fame emphasizes the fact that grace is a gift and certainly not a reward for good behavior.)
9 The mandate of my message is to make all men see. The unveiling of this eternal secret is to bring into public view an association that has always been hidden in God; Jesus Christ is the blueprint of creation. (Eph 1:4)
10 Every invisible authority and government in the arena of the heavenlies is now confronted with the display of the wisdom of God. The church acts like a prism that disperses the varied magnitude of God in human form.
11 Jesus Christ, our Boss and Owner, gives definition to God’s timeless pre-determined thought (from pro-thesis).
12 His faith in us gives our lives integrity. We echo and articulate the original conversation publicly. He is our platform to a global audience. (The word parrhesia, from para, a preposition indicating close proximity, a thing proceeding from a sphere of influence, with a suggestion of union of place of residence, to have sprung from its author and giver, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates, intimate connection; and rhesia, conversation. In him we express ourselves freely and openly.)
13 You have no reason to feel embarrassed or responsible because of what I am suffering; rather feel honored!
14 Overwhelmed by what grace communicates, I bow my knees in awe before the Father.
15 Every family in heaven and on earth originates in him; his is mankind’s family name and he remains the authentic identity of every nation.
16 I desire for you to realize what the Father has always envisaged for you, so that you may know the magnitude of his intent, and be dynamically reinforced in your inner being by the Spirit of God. (The word, doxa, opinion or intent.)
17 This will ignite your faith to fully grasp the reality of the indwelling Christ. You are rooted and founded in love. Love is your invisible inner source, just like the root system of a tree and the foundation of a building. (The dimensions of your inner person exceed any other capacity that could possibly define you.)
18 Love is your reservoir of super human strength which causes you to see everyone equally sanctified in the context of the limitless extent of love’s breadth and length, and the extremities of its dimensions in depth and height. (The word, exischuo means to be entirely competent, to be empowered to comprehend. The word katalambano, means to come to terms with, to make one’s own. Rom 12:13 Purpose with resolve to treat strangers as saints; pursue and embrace them with fondness as friends on equal terms of fellowship. Rom 12:16 Esteem everyone with the same respect; no one is more important than the other. Associate yourself rather with the lowly than with the lofty. Do not distance yourself from others in your own mind. [“Take a real interest in ordinary people.”— JB Phillips] In the breadth and length we see the horizontal extent of the love of Christ: the complete inclusion of the human race. 2 Cor 5:14,16. The depth of his love reveals how his love rescued us from the deepest pits of hellish despair and led us as trophies in his triumphant procession on high. Eph 2:5,6, Eph 4:8-10, Col 3:1-4)
19 I desire for you to become intimately acquainted with the love of Christ on the deepest possible level; far beyond the reach of a mere academic, intellectual grasp. Within the scope of this equation God finds the ultimate expression of himself in you. (So that you may be filled with all the fullness of God! Awaken to the consciousness of his closeness! Separation is an illusion! Oneness was God’s idea all along! He desires to express himself through your touch, your voice, your presence; he is so happy to dwell in you! There is no place in the universe where he would rather be!)
20 We celebrate him who supercharges us powerfully from within. Our biggest request or most amazing dream cannot match the extravagant proportion of his thoughts towards us.
21 He is both the author and conclusion of the glory on display in the ekklesia,mirrored in Christ Jesus. The encore continues throughout every generation, not only in this age but also in the countless ages to come. Amen! (The word, ekklesia, often translated church, comes from ek, a preposition always denoting origin, and klesia from kaleo, to identify by name, to surname; the ekklesia is the expression of his image and likeness redeemed in human life.)
by Mirror Bible – mobile app. http://www.mirrorbible.com
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As in a Mirror
The bible was not made in the likeness and in the image of God but you were. All of this picture is about Jesus but all of Jesus is about you. The good news is not that you can give your life to God but that God gave his life to you. The good news is that first of all that God saw something more important in you then in heaven. That is why left heaven and became a man.
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 it starts out “The days of window shopping are over!” Window shopping infers that you are just looking or you don’t have any cash to buy something you want. The days of just looking are over. Through the cross Jesus paid for us. We have been pre-paid! Remember, it is finished? It’s done! Our original identity has been reset. Our pre Genesis is what will always be seen as by God. A mirror shows only what is directly in front of it at that exact moment. It does not show the past or the future. When we look into the mirror that God is holding for us to look into it says ” In him every face is unveiled. In gazing with wonder at the blueprint likeness of God displayed in human form, we suddenly realize that we are looking at ourselves! Every feature of his image is mirrored in us!” The stepping into righteousness is not only immediate it’s so immediate it’s past tense.
Ephesians 2:13
But now, wow! Everything has changed; you have discovered yourselves to be located in Christ. What once seemed so distant is now so near; his blood reveals your redeemed innocence and authentic genesis.
2 Corinthians 3:18
The days of window-shopping are over! In him every face is unveiled. In gazing with wonder at the blueprint likeness of God displayed in human form, we suddenly realize that we are looking at ourselves! Every feature of his image is mirrored in us! This is the most radical transformation engineered by the Spirit of the Lord; we are led from an inferior mind-set to the revealed endorsement of our authentic identity. Mankind is his glory! (The word, anakekalumeno, is a perfect passive participle from anakalupto; ana, a preposition denoting upward, to return again, and kalupto, to uncover, unveil. The word, katoptrizomenoi, is the present middle participle from katoptrizomai, meaning to gaze into a reflection, to mirror oneself. The word metamorphumetha is a present passive indicative from metamorpho; meta, together with, and meros, form. [The word commonly translated for sin, hamartia, is the opposite of this as ha, means without, and meros, form.] The word, eikon, translates as exact resemblance, image and likeness; eikon always assumes a prototype, that which it not merely resembles, but from that which it is drawn; doxa, glory, translates as mind-set, opinion from dokeo, authentic thought. Changed ‘from glory to glory’, apo doxes eis doxan; eis, a point reached in conclusion; apo, away from, meaning away from the glory that previously defined us, i.e. our own achievements or disappointments, to the glory of our original design that now defines us. [Paul writes in Romans 1:17 about the unveiling of God’s righteousness and then says it is from faith to faith. Here he does not use the word apo, but the preposition, ek, which always denotes source or origin.] Two glories are mentioned in this chapter; the glory of the flesh, and the unfading glory of God’s image and likeness redeemed in us. The fading glory represented in the dispensation of the law of Moses is immediately superseded by the unveiling of Christ in us! Some translations of this scripture reads, “we are being changed from glory to glory.” This would suggest that change is gradual and will more than likely take a lifetime, which was the typical thinking that trapped Israel for forty years in the wilderness of unbelief! We cannot become more than what we already are in Christ. We do not grow more complete; we simply grow in the knowledge of our completeness! [See Col 3:10] We are not changed “from one degree of glory to another,” or step by step. How long does it take the beautiful swan to awaken to the truth of its design? The ugly duckling was an illusion! Whatever it was that endorsed the ‘ugly duckling’ mindset, co-died together with Christ!)
[II Corinthians 3:1]
by Mirror Bible – mobile app. http://www.mirrorbible.com
James 2:22-25
22 Give the word your undivided attention; do not underestimate yourself. Make the calculation. There can only be one logical conclusion: your authentic origin is mirrored in the word. You are God’s poem; let his voice make poetry of your life!
(The word, akroate, means intent listening. James is not promoting the doing of the law of works; he is defining the law of perfect liberty. Doing the word begins with your undivided attention to the face of your birth. A doer of the Word, poetes, means poet. Make the calculation, paralogizomai, from para, a preposition indicating close proximity, union, and logizomai, to reckon the logic in any calculation.)
23 The difference between a mere spectator and a participator is that both of them hear the same voice and perceive in its message the face of their own genesis reflected as in a mirror;
24 they realize that they are looking at themselves, but for the one it seems just too good to be true, he departs (back to his old way of seeing himself) and immediately forgets what manner of person he is; never giving another thought to the one he saw there in the mirror.
25 The other one is mesmerized by what he sees; he is captivated by the effect of a law that frees man from the obligation to the old written code that restricted him to his own efforts and willpower. No distraction or contradiction can dim the impact of what he sees in that mirror concerning the law of perfect liberty (the law of faith) that now frees him to get on with the act of living the life (of his original design.) He finds a new spontaneous lifestyle; the poetry of practical living. (The law of perfect liberty is the image and likeness of God revealed in Christ, now redeemed in man as in a mirror. Look deep enough into that law of faith that you may see there in its perfection a portrait that so resembles the original that he becomes distinctly visible in the spirit of your mind and in the face of every man you behold. I translated the word, parakupto, with mesmerized from para a preposition indicating close proximity, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates, intimate connection, and kupto, to bend, stoop down to view at close scrutiny; parameno, to remain captivated under the influence of; meno, to continue to be present. The word often translated as freedom, eleutheria, means without obligation; spontaneous.)
by Mirror Bible – mobile app. http://www.mirrorbible.com
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Ephesians 2
Mirror Word
Picture where God found us. We were in a death trap of an inferior lifestyle, constantly living below the blueprint measure of our lives. (Sin is hamartia, which comes from ha + meros, meaning without form or without our allotted portion.)
We were all part of a common pattern, swept along under a powerful invisible influence, a spirit-energy that adopted us as sons to its dictate through unbelief.
Throughout that time everyone of us were warped and corrupted in our conduct snared in a jumble of forbidden lusts, driven by the desires of the senses, totally engaged in an expression of a life ruled by mind games; it was as if a twisted passion parented a universal breed of people.
None of this could distract from the extravagant love of God; he continued to love us with the exact same intensity.
This is how grace rescued us: sin left us dead towards God, like spiritual corpses; yet in that state of deadness and indifference, God co-quickened us together with Christ. Sin proved how dead we were (the law confirmed it!) Grace reveals how alive we now are (the gospel announces it!) Before anyone but God believed it, he made us alive together with him and raised us up together with him. (We had no contribution to our salvation! God’s master-plan unfolded in the mystery of the gospel declaring our joint inclusion in Christ’s death and resurrection; God found us in Christ before he lost us in Adam! [Eph 1:4] In the economy of God, when Jesus died we died. God saw us in Christ, in his death and resurrection before we saw ourselves there! He declared our co-resurrection with Christ 800 BC [Hos 6:2]!)
(As much as we were co-included in his death,) we are co-included in his resurrection. We are also elevated in his ascension to be equally present in the throne room of the heavenly realm where we are co-seated with him in his executive authority. We are fully represented in Christ Jesus. (Our joint position in Christ defines us; this can never again be a distant goal to reach through religious devotion or striving, but our immediate reference. Col 3:1-3)
(In a single triumphant act of righteousness God saved us from the “guttermost” to the uttermost. Here we are now, revealed in Christ in the highest possible position of bliss! If man’s sad history could not distract from the extravagant love of God,) imagine how God is now able for timeless perpetuity (the eternal future) to exhibit the trophy of the wealth of his grace demonstrated in his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. Grace exhibits excessive evidence of the success of the cross.
Your salvation is not a reward for good behavior! It was a grace thing from start to finish; you had no hand in it. Even the gift to believe simply reflects his faith! (You did not invent faith; it was God’s faith to begin with! It is from faith to faith, [Rom 1:17] He is both the source and conclusion of faith. [Heb 12:2])
If this could be accomplished through any action of yours then there would be ground for boasting.
We are engineered by his design; he molded and manufactured us in Christ. We are his workmanship, his poetry. (God finds inspired expression of Christ in us. The Greek word for workmanship is poeima.) We are fully fit to do good, equipped to give attractive evidence of his likeness in us in everything we do. (God has done everything possible to find spontaneous and effortless expression of his character in us in our everyday lifestyle. The word, proetoimatso, translates a notion that God has prepared a highway for us to lead us out like kings, just like the Oriental custom, where people would go before a king to level the roads to make it possible for the king to journey with ease and comfort. [Isa 40:3-5])
Remember where you came from; (not only were you spiritually dead but) it wasn’t long ago when you were still classified as non-Jewish, judging on the surface you had nothing that linked you to them. They sneered at you because you didn’t share their distinguishing mark of circumcision, which was their claim to fame!
During that time you were distanced from the Messianic hope; you had nothing in common with Israel. You felt foreign to the covenants of prophetic promise, living a life with nothing to look forward to in a world where God seemed absent.
But now, wow! Everything has changed; you have discovered yourselves to be located in Christ. What once seemed so distant is now so near; his blood reveals your redeemed innocence and authentic genesis.
It is in him that we are one and at peace with everyone; he dissolved every definition of division.
In his incarnation, he rendered the entire Jewish system of ceremonial laws and regulations useless as a measure to justify human life and conduct. In that he died humanity’s death all grounds for tension and hostility were entirely removed. The peace he proclaims reveals one new human race, created and defined in Christ, instead of two groups of people separated by their ethnic identity and differences.
Both parties are fully represented and reconciled to God in one human body through the cross. He reinstated the former harmony; all opposing elements were thus utterly defeated.
On that basis he made his public appearance, proclaiming the good news of peace to universal mankind; both those who felt left out in the cold (as far as the promises and covenants were concerned), as well as to those who were near all along (because of their Jewish identity),
Because of Christ both Jew and Gentile now enjoy equal access to the Father in one Spirit.
The conclusion is clear, you are no longer frowned upon as a foreigner; you are where you belong and part of an intimate family where no-one is suspicious or inferior.
Your lives now give visible definition to the spiritual structure, having been built into it by God upon the foundation that the prophets and apostles proclaimed. The first evidence of this building was Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. (He is the first visible testimony to the restored image and likeness of God in human form.)
In him everyone of us are like living Lego blocks fitted together of the same fabric (conversation), giving ever increasing articulation to a global mobile sanctuary intertwined in the Lord. (The word, sunarmologeo, come from sun, meaning union, harmo meaning harmony, and logeo meaning conversation. The word, auxano, means expanding with growth. The word, naos, is translated as the most sacred dwelling space.)
In him you are co-constructed together as God’s permanent spiritual residence. You are God’s address!
by Mirror Bible – mobile app.
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Death-dentity
Philippians 1:21 has always been one of my favorite verses. I learned I like this….
“For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. ”
In college I went through my punk stage, seriously punk! Believe it or not I shaved the back of my head and my bangs were long (think revers mullet). I had the Doc Martin boots and dressed in thrift store clothes. If I wasn’t wearing boots I had Chuck Taylor’s that were totally graffiti’d up and that verse was very prominently scrawled on them. I saw this verse as the Christians answer to the anarchy symbol. Walking through life as a 19 year old Christian punk, I thought I had it all figured out. Little did I know, I didn’t. I was looking for my identity. I was looking to the punk scene, I was looking to the people around me, I was trying to stand out and be noticed…. My identity was important to me but I was looking in all the wrong places.
I love this translation of Philipians 1:20 – 21 from the Mirror Bible;
My thoughts are not trapped in my head! They roam free in expectation that I will not be ashamed by any contradiction! My immediately circumstances do not distract from my message! I am convinced that our conversation now and always will continue to give accurate account of the magnificence of Christ. The message is incarnate in me; whether I live or die, it makes no difference.
Christ defines my life; death cannot threaten or diminish that.
Paul wrote this at what was probably one of the lowest possible points of his life. He was in chains in a prison, yet his image and his identity was not defined by his suroundings or circumstances. He took his definition from who he was in Christ. “Christ defines my life” Was what he wrote, was what he believed.
What do you believe?
I am defined by the words of his mouth.
Any lessor source leads to insecurity. If you seek out your identity from your job, spouse, friends, popularity, wealth, etc you will always end up empty. Believing the lie is living the lie. Being found in Him leads to rest, leads wholeness, and completeness.
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Old Time Religion
I heard a reference to that gospel song “Old Time Religion” and I started to think. Nah, I really don’t want that old time religion. I really in all my life known what pure Christianity really is. I have just lately gotten a glimpse of what I believe to be Christianity is supposed to be.
I’m pushing the 40 + mark right now and I’m looking back at what my impact or how I’ve tried impact those around me. Looking at your spiritual roots can sometimes be a little bit painful. They say we learn by trial and error, and sometimes I feel there’s more error the trial. About 12 years ago I move to Kansas City and took a job teaching at Dominion Christian school. I have the privilege of teaching really bright kids. Many of them have moved on to some really awesome ministry in everything from music, preaching, sports, etc.
One of the classes that I taught was the homeroom Bible class. I often wonder how effective I really was and what my motives we’re. There was one studeny who often said “Oh no, it’s time for one of Mister K’s guilt trips.” I look back and my paradigm was probably one of outside appearance and works.
I have recently been spiritually challenged and with that some blinders have been removed. I was bound up in a works mentality. I was a slave to a set of laws.
Romans 8:15 (TMT) Slavery is such a poor substitute for sonship! They are opposites; the one leads forcefully through fear while friendship responds fondly to Abba Father.
I was moving in a spirit of “look what I can do. ” There’s the Marys and the Marthas, I was a Martha. I moved as a servant not a son.
Luke 10:41-42 NLT
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus blatantly said Mary chose the better. There has to be a balance as sitting at his feet or gazing on Jesus and getting things to happen. How much easier would it be to move out of passion then self will. The DIY attitude works when you are building a deck but in the spiritual world I now know He can do it much better than I could ever do. I worked and pressured change out of guilt and condemnation. Many of my students were striving to change out of will power. I’ve been a part of The International House of Prayer and one of the things stressed there is time spent worshipping and gazing as it were on Jesus will turn you from a Martha to a Mary.
Romans 6:11 “…Calculate the cross; there can only logical solution: he died for your death; that means you died unto sin, and now are alive unto God. Sin-consciousness can never again feature in your future. You are in Christ Jesus; his Lordship is the authority of this union.
His death on the cross brought the New Covenant (Grace) into the equation and wiped out mans reliance on the Law.
James 2:10 If you the standard of the law in just one aspect of it you failed entirely.
Jesus wiped out that old time religion. The law to me is thst old time religion. When I heard the words old time religion I conjure up pictures of fire and brimstone preachers who point that gnarled finger in your face yelling “Repent! ” This is a form of Christianity that to me leaves much to be desired. I do not want to spend my life trying to achieve some level of acceptance that is based on guilt and condemnation God. I love the fact that I now know there is a God who sees me as blameless now. He exudes grace. He knows me and likes me anyway.
No old time religion (law) for me.
Kilen's Spot 