[GCFL-discuss] From the Book - Eph. 2

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> Siarlys:  

You can read it all or part of this but please pay close 
> attention to verses 8 - 10.  There is no need to bend the word - it speaks 
> for itself.  I simply believe what it says and do my best to follow it.  And 
> Yes, God is doing things His way and His way is the "only" way for us to live 
> this life.  It is clear that He made the way for all to be saved through His 
> grace and faith in Christ - not works alone.  Our thoughts, feelings and 
> suppositions are just that.  The word is truth.  Solid.  There is a way that 
> seems right to a man but the end thereof are the ways of death.  (Prov. 14:12) 
> You can believe what you want - you have that right and choice.  I cannot and 
> do not condemn you for it.  As a minister of the gospel, I must share with 
> you what I know is right.  What you do with it is up to you.   Read on:
  
Made Alive in Christ 
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in 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. 
3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our 
sinful nature[1] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were 
by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is 
rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in 
transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ 
and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that 
in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, 
expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been 
saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9not 
by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in 
Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

One in Christ 
11Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called 
"uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in 
the body by the hands of men)-- 12remember that at that time you were separate 
from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the 
covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13But now in 
Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood 
of Christ. 
14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the 
barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law 
with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself 
one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to 
reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their 
hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to 
those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one 
Spirit. 
19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens 
with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of 
the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief 
cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy 
temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a 
dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. 

God bless you abundantly today and always!

"Rev. Ev"

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