Discuss the meaning of being “saved by grace”.

Question:

Discuss the meaning of being “saved by grace” in Ephesians 2:8-9.

Answer:

Before we can begin to talk about what it means to be “saved by grace” we must understand that which presupposes this need  –  that is the condition in which we find ourselves  –  dead and under God’s wrath. It only takes a cursory reading of Romans to see how Paul begins with God’s nature and then speaks of His wrath presenting an accurate context with which we must understand our reality. God is sovereign and righteous and His wrath is upon us (Romans 1:17-18). Furthermore, we see the state of all humanity clearly expressed as we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12).

Once again, in Ephesians, we see Paul start with the cold hard fact that we are “dead in [our] transgressions and sins”. We also see in verse 2 that we had once followed the ways of the world and the “ruler of the kingdom of the air”, which is especially harsh wording as that is the opposition to God on both a spiritual and physical level (note: opposition doesn’t imply God can’t do away with Satan if God wished it). We are called to always be heavenly focused on God’s will and not to be caught up in the world  –  remember we are in the world not of the world. And the spiritual charge is that the “ruler of the kingdom of the air” is Satan himself and we once followed …

Different analogies used in Scripture to describe the church.

Question:

Use at least three different analogies used in Scripture to describe the church. What can be learned from each analogy?

Answer:

As we look throughout Scripture we can see several analogies used of the church to convey a variety of characteristics for this regenerated group of people. The church was first introduced by Christ in Matthew 16 at a time of great importance. It was a time after John the Baptist’s execution and followed the feeding of the five thousand  –  a time where interest and confusion were both at high points. John 6:15 exemplifies the mindset of the crowd as they viewed Christ as instituting a Kingship by force  –  a political reformation from a political messiah, if you will. It is at this time that Jesus hears Peter’s confessions and begins to establish an understanding of the church in contrast to that of the Pharisees and Scribes. The word used for the church is “ekklesia” (which means assembly in Greek) is helpful in ensuring we understand the church is not an institution or building. It is beyond infrastructure and is about a body of disciples who are following the true Triune God. As the new church was being unfolded, as something that was organic and refreshed from a Jewish heritage, the need to define, clarify, and explain is where analogies were most useful. Three analogies that helped present a more complete picture of the church are below:

1.    Bride (personal, grace-gifted love)
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, …

Shadow to substance: The Jewish Feasts

Key verse(s)/quote(s):

“For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” - Amos 3:7

“Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. ” - Colossians 2:16-17

“But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness  —  his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth  —  that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: ‘Not one of his bones will be broken.’” - John 19:33-36

Key takeaway(s):

1. A picture of God’s plan for mankind is found within the Jewish feasts.
2. The first four Spring feasts have been fulfilled in the first coming of Christ.
3. The Jewish feasts foreshadow the fulfillment of the Scriptures in the work of Jesus.

Overview:

This post is part 2 of a 3-part series of messages I had the pleasure of sharing at our 2010 church summer conference. The 2 additional components of this series overview the prophetic significance of The Tabernacle (click here to read) and Jesus in the Old Testament (click here to read).

When one first reads about the institution …