3 Views of the Church, 3of3

~ 3 “B” Word Pictures from Ephesians; Bride ~

 

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Bride  ~  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:25-33).

 

The true Church of Jesus Christ is the bride of Christ and Christ is the Bridegroom.

 

How about you? Are you excitedly waiting for the divine wedding feast?

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION

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          Christian Concepts Series

GOD’S CHURCH: Christ’s Pearl

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree

 

                     Christian Growth Series

GOD’S DESIRE: How to Finish Strong

GOD’S LIGHT: How to Respond

CHRIST’S DISCIPLE: How to Finish Strong

 

                     Christian Theology Series

CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits

PRIDE: Good and Bad

TEMPTATION: 50+ Tips

 

                     Bible Character Series

SAMSON: Spirit-Controlled to Self-Centered

PETER: Failure to Faith

 

                     Missions

JIM ELLIOT: Recorded Messages 

 

For Specific Information about individual books go to:

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* * * * *

3 Views of the Church, 2of3

 ~ 3 “B” Word Pictures from Ephesians: Body ~

 

|||* BOOKS EXTRAVAGANZA: See Below *|||

 

Body  ~  “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16).  “For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:23-24).

 

The true Church of Jesus Christ is like the human body where Christ is the Head.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION

Half-Price eBooks ~ Right now you can obtain any, or all, of my eBooks for half-price (epub). Only at https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=robert+lloyd+russell 

 

Choose From:

          Christian Concepts Series

GOD’S CHURCH: Christ’s Pearl

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree

 

                     Christian Growth Series

GOD’S DESIRE: How to Finish Strong

GOD’S LIGHT: How to Respond

CHRIST’S DISCIPLE: How to Finish Strong

 

                     Christian Theology Series

CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits

PRIDE: Good and Bad

TEMPTATION: 50+ Tips

 

                     Bible Character Series

SAMSON: Spirit-Controlled to Self-Centered

PETER: Failure to Faith

 

                     Missions

JIM ELLIOT: Recorded Messages 

3 Views of the Church, 1of3

~ 3 “B” Word Pictures from Ephesians: Building ~

 

|||* BOOKS EXTRAVAGANZA: See Below *|||

 

Building  ~  “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22). “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:9-11).

 

The true Church of Jesus Christ is like a building where Christ is the Foundation.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

AWARD-WINNING CHRISTIAN NON-FICTION

Half-Price eBooks ~ Right now you can obtain any, or all, of my eBooks for half-price (epub). Only at https://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=robert+lloyd+russell 

 

Choose From:

          Christian Concepts Series

GOD’S CHURCH: Christ’s Pearl

GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

GOD’S CHILD: Like A Tree

 

                     Christian Growth Series

GOD’S DESIRE: How to Finish Strong

GOD’S LIGHT: How to Respond

CHRIST’S DISCIPLE: How to Finish Strong

 

                     Christian Theology Series

CHRIST’S BLOOD: 7+ Amazing Benefits

PRIDE: Good and Bad

TEMPTATION: 50+ Tips

 

                     Bible Character Series

SAMSON: Spirit-Controlled to Self-Centered

PETER: Failure to Faith

 

                     Missions

JIM ELLIOT: Recorded Messages 

7 In Who

 ~ Consider the “In Who” Phrases in the Epistle to the Ephesians ~

In Who We Have Redemption  ~  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth — in Him.” (Ephesians 1:3-10) …

In Who We Have An Inheritance  ~  …  “In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” (Ephesians 1:11) …

In Who We Trusted  ~  …  “That we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.  In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation;” (Ephesians 1:12-13a, see also 1 Timothy 4:9-11) …

In Who Believing We Are Sealed  ~  …  “In whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:13b-14). 

In Who We Are Part of His Building  ~  “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,” (Ephesians 2:19-21) …

In Who We Are Also His Dwelling Place  ~  …  “In whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).

In Who We Have Bold Access  ~  “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.  Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory” (Ephesians 3:8-13).

additional comment  ~  Are you taking advantage (in a Godly way) of your standing in Christ?  If not, why not?  “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *

7-Even As

~ 7 Challenging Challenges ~

The Even As of Sinners  ~   “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  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 2:1-3)

The Even As of Calling  ~  “There is one body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling;  one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). 

The Even As of Following  ~  “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). 

The Even As of Headship  ~  “For the husband is head of the wife, even as Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body” (Ephesians 5:23). 

The Even As of Love  ~  “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). 

The Even As of Care  ~  “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church” (Ephesians 5:29).

The Even As of Identity  ~  “Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife even as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband” (Ephesians 5:33).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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