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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 2 * PART 3 * BOOK 38
Ephesians 4:25–5:6
Now let’s come back to Ephesians chapter 4, we have a few more verses left in this chapter. Ephesians 4:31
Ephesians 2:1-2
Satan is the one whom the world marches to, and now verse 3.
Ephesians 2:3
"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
Galatians 5:18
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."
The Spirit will do what the Law couldn’t do. Galatians 5:19-21
Now verse 32
Ephesians 4:32
Now love begets love, doesn’t it? Love changes everything, because it’s that attitude of love that immediately puts into practice the keeping of the commandments, love will never let us covet, love will never let us steal, love will never let us commit adultery, because love changes everything. Well so does the new life. Ephesians 4:32b
"...tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath (already) forgiven you."
God has already forgiven you, and what’s past is done! And when God finishes it, it’s done completely. Now here’s another graphic difference between Law and Grace. Look in Matthew chapter 6, and we’ll begin with verse 8. The Lord’s Prayer is in John chapter 17, that’s what He prayed, but here He’s teaching the twelve disciples what to pray for the nation of Israel. So it’s the Disciples’ Prayer, remember that. Matthew 6:8
So even today people will call and write and say, "If God knows everything, if God is Sovereign and everything is going to be as He pre-planned it, then why pray?" Prayer does change things, not that we change God’s mind, but all of that is factored in to the fact that we are to pray. So here is how the disciples, under Law, were to pray.
10. Thy kingdom come...."
Matthew 6:11
Always remember Jesus’ earthly teachings were all under Law. Matthew 19:16117
there is none good but one, that is God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments."
So always remember everything that Jesus taught was in accordance with the Law of Moses. Under Law from the Lord’s own lips we read.
Matthew 6:12
"And forgive us our debts, (or sins or trespasses. When?) as we forgive our debtors." Matthew 6:15
"But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
The Bible teaches that under Grace the following.
Ephesians 4:32
"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, (why?) even as God for Christ’s sake hath (already) forgiven you."
Turn over to the right a few pages to the Book of Colossians chapter 2, verse 13. Under Law there was no forgiveness until you forgave first. But now under Grace look what Paul says.
Colossians 2:13
Do you see how God has forgiven us first? Now you’d better forgive them, because if God forgave me, who am I to say, that I can’t forgive my neighbor. Colossians 3:13
Christ has already forgiven you, it’s done! God expects you to! God forgave you by Grace, and Faith + Nothing!
Sovereign Grace, that’s why God can forgive, and we looked at that a few lessons ago in Exodus chapter 33 God is Sovereign Grace, and I know that’s beyond human comprehension. Moses couldn’t handle it, but look what God says in verse 18 and 19. Exodus 33:17-18
We’re never quite satisfied. "Show me thy glory" he says. Now verse 19.
I suppose way deep down Moses almost thought, "God why don’t you destroy them? I think Moses kind of expected God to simply annihilate that whole nation one of these times. But God had to show Moses, "Listen Moses, you don’t know my heart of Grace! You don’t understand that I Am Sovereign, and I will show Grace and mercy to whom I please!
They’ve been enemies of society, but will God save them? God says, "I died for that person." God died for that person just as much as He did for you and me, and God’s Sovereign Grace can reach down and save that individual just as He saved us, so always remember that. Because of the Grace of God, Paul can now write, "That we can forgive our neighbor and family members, and we should do this because God has already forgiven us." So the lesson is if God forgave you, then why can’t you also forgive. Always remember that’s the vast chasm between Law and Grace." Ephesians 5:1
"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;"
I John 2:1a
"My little children,..."
I John 2:1a
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not...." I John 2:1b
"...And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:"
We are as believers, members of the family of God, and as children we are to walk differently.
Ephesians 5:2a
"And walk in love,..."
So Paul says, "Here’s your motivation as dear children, walk in love." Now remember back in chapter 2, verse 2 Paul uses the same terminology, only then we were in the world before salvation.


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