Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace be to you and peace from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Meaning, that God determined before the world began that He would call out a certain number as his first fruits. And, that they would be perfected in this world through the sacrifice of Christ and the granting of the Holy Spirit. And that they should become holy and blameless being covered by the sacrifice of Christ before Him in love, according to God’s love.

Having predestined us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of His will. That is, that the Father and the one who became Jesus Christ had determined before the very creation, that they would be calling out individuals to become the first fruits of the New Covenant. And that at a later time, there would be a resurrection of all of those first fruits. And there would later be a continuation of the rest of mankind so that might also be called into the Family of God.

The plan of God was made up and determined and carefully set up before the foundation of the world. Before the creation of anything, God started out with a plan. Part of that plan was that through the sacrifice of Christ, sin could be atoned for. That is why Jesus Christ is called the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world; because it was before the very foundations of the world that this was all planned out.

Verse 6:  The praise of the glory of His Grace, wherein He, He hath made us accepted in the beloved. The Father has made us accepted in the Beloved, in Christ. In whom, that is in Christ, we have redemption through His blood, His sacrifice. And the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His Grace ;or His mercy -- His compassion on us. Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known unto us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure; which He hath proposed in Himself.

That in the dispensation of the fullness of times, He might gather together in one, all things in Christ which are in heaven and which are on the earth even in Christ. In whom, also, we have obtained an inheritance. Being predestined, according to the purpose of Him, who worked all things after the council of His own will.

I don’t think that this means a specific individual was predestined rather it is referring to the fact that it was predestined, according to the plan; that some would be called as first fruits. The criteria that the Father uses to call individuals, I don’t know. But, I would imagine it has something to do with the individual’s willingness to accept the call and the individual’s humility before God. And whether the individual would be willing to keep God’s commandments; rather than leaning to his own understanding,

However, it is also a fact that many are called, and in the end; few will overcome, few will be chosen.  Many are called and few are chosen. Predestined, according to the purpose of Him who works all things after the council of His own will that we should be to the praise of His glory who first trust in Christ. In whom, also, after that He believed, He was healed with that Holy Spirit of promise.

Once the Father calls us and we respond to that call and repent, the sacrifice of Christ is applied to us. From that point on, we are given the Holy Spirit of God to empower us to build a new person in Christ and in the Father and to put aside and get rid of and totally destroy that old sinful person. And, here the Holy Spirit is spoken of as something by which we are sealed. And, this is referred to in the book of Revelation where the, 144,000 are sealed. What it is referring to; is that they will be given the Holy Spirit. The spirit of promise and will be sealed with the Holy Spirit. And, this is after the tribulation and before God pours out His judgment on the world.

Therefore, we know that the 144, 000 have not yet been chosen because they will repent and be sealed with the Holy Spirit after the tribulation, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory. That is, the Holy Spirit that we have been given is only a small amount which was given as an earnest or a down payment toward  our full entry into the family of God; and that spirit will be given in its  fullness when we are changed into spirit.

Wherefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you. Making mention of you in my prayers. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.

Paul, here, is saying that he is praying that God would pour out His spirit upon these people. The eyes of your understanding be enlightened that you may know what is the hope of His calling and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. And, with His exceeding greatness of His power to us who were to believe according to the working of his mighty power; which he wrapped in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and set Him on His own right hand in the heavenly places.

Paul is here reminding the Ephesians that as the Father had the power to raise up Jesus Christ back to life and to give Him life and to change Him into Spirit, He has the power to do the same thing to us. Jesus Christ was a pioneer. He went through it first so that we could know that it can be done. And, we can trust in the Father’s power to keep His word and fulfill His promise.

Far above all principalities and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also, in that which is to come, that is God’s power is far greater than all the power of all the nations and peoples. And hath put all things under His feet, that is, under the feet of Christ and gave him to be the head overall things in the Church, which is His body. The fullness of Him that fills all in all.

The Church, friends, is the body of Christ. It is not any corporate organization. It is those people in whom the spirit of Christ dwells. And, Jesus Christ is the head of those individuals. And, they know their head and they obey their head. They obey the Father, through Christ. And they obey Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, as given by the Father. For Christ and the Father are one.

And, as the leg does what the head tells it to and the arm and the foot; even so, the parts of the spiritual body do what Christ tells us to do. We keep all of God’s commandments. We don’t do what some person, here or there, tells us. We look up to God first and we take the things that men tell us and we weigh them in the balance. And, see if they are consistent with God’s word or not. And, we test them against the standard of God’s word. And, if they’re consistent with the word of God then we accept those words. If they are not consistent with the word of God, we do not accept them.

Someone once said; we believe, that we should believe the Bible as explained by Herbert Armstrong. Now, that is the exact opposite of what God expects. Almighty God expects us to believe the words of Herbert Armstrong or anybody else; as they are explained by the word of God. That is, the word of God is the standard. Herbert Armstrong is not the standard, God’s word is. And, we have to test Herbert’s words against God’s words in the same way that you would test anybody else’s words against God’s word.  Indeed; in his early years, Herbert himself declared: “Don’t believe me, believe the Bible”.

God’s word is the standard. Jesus Christ and the Father are the head of the body: not some man. And, if some man is saying something contrary to the head then he is not a part of the body. Or, he is part of the body but he’s made a mistake. In either case, we should follow the head and we should not follow some man into any kind of error. So, by all means, test everything that you hear and judge it all against the word of God; regardless of who is saying those words. Don’t be a respecter of persons, be a respecter of God and his Christ. Put God and Christ first.

Ephesians, Chapter 2: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sin. That is we were dead, or as good as dead, because we were full of sin. And, the wages of sin is death. The ultimate result of sin is death. So, we were as good as dead. But, God, by turning us away from sin and forgiving us of our sin; and Christ reconciling us to the Father by His sacrifice for our sin, made us alive, giving us the hope of life. We no longer face the penalty of death for our sin. We now have the hope of life and life eternal with the Father and with Christ, through the sacrifice of Christ and the forgiveness of the Father.

When we have this hope of life, why would we turn back to the sin which will result in our death? Why would we die? Why do we choose death, when we have been given the reward of life? We must not build again, that evil thing which we have destroyed in our baptism. And, which Christ destroyed by his sacrifice. We must build a new person free from sin and free from those things which will result in death.

When in time past you walked according to the course of this world. According to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now works in the children of disobedience. That is, we, in the past times, were full of rebellion and sin against God and we walked according to the rebellious works of Satan; his disobedience. We followed his example, rebelling against God and being filled with sin; among whom, also, we all had our conduct, in times past, in the lust of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of flesh and of the mind or imagination. And, were by nature the children of wrath even as others.

In other words, we, by being rebellious against God and fulfilling the  lusts of our flesh and our imaginations, were incurring and earning the wrath of God. We were earning His judgment and correction. But, God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love – for  he loved us, even when we were dead in sins. We were full of sins and deserved to die. He hath quickened us together with Christ for by grace ye are saved. That is, by God’s gift of forgiveness, you are saved. And, by the sacrifice of Christ, Christ gave Himself for our sins.

For the Father gave his own begotten Son for us. And he has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. That is, we have the potential to enter into the kingdom of God, to be resurrected and changed in the spirit and to be like Christ and to be with Christ, to sit together with Christ in heavenly places.

Paul is saying, he made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ. That in the ages to come, he might show the exceeding richness of His grace, in His kindness towards us through Christ Jesus for by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ atoning for our sins is a gift of God. It is the gift of the Father and it is the gift of the Son. And, the reconciliation with God himself; is a gift of God. Forgiveness is a gift of God. The Holy Spirit is a gift of God. And the fruit of the Holy Spirit is faith.

It is through God’s gift of the Holy Spirit, that we are given faith. And, we learn to trust in God. For by grace are we saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works or by your own actions, lest any man should boast for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. That is, Jesus Christ created us to do good and to keep God’s commandments, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.[good works]

Therefore, remember, that ye, being in time past, gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by that which is called the circumcision in the flesh made by hands.  That is, he’s telling the Ephesians they were gentiles. And, were called uncircumcised gentiles by the Jews of the circumcision, in regarding, to the circumcision of the flesh 

Verse 12: That at that time ye were without Christ being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and being without God in the world. But, now, in Christ Jesus, he who sometimes were afar off, that is, far off from salvation are brought near by the blood of Christ for he is our peace who hath made both one and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.

He’s talking here about the veil in the temple which partitioned off the holy place -- the inner sanctuary of God; from the people. And, Christ through his sacrifice tore that veil; and tore it apart, eliminating it as a partition. And, that veil is a representation of sin, which is the thing that separates us from God. And, the symbolism of the tearing of the veil is that Jesus Christ atoned for sin and was victorious over sin, thereby, reconciling us to God and allowing us access directly to God the Father.

Verse 15: Having abolished in his flesh, the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances for to make in himself of two, one new man, so, making peace thereby and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross or by his death having slain the enmity thereby.

So, he abolished in his flesh, that is by the death of his flesh; the law of commandments contained in ordinances; to make us, through himself new persons. That is, he abolished our sins. He abolished the list of the commandments we had broken. He did not abolish the commandments or the law. He abolished the indictment against us; which is the list of the laws we have broken, that he might reconcile us to God.

And came and preached peace to you, which were afar off and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father. That is, through Christ’s sacrifice and the forgiveness of sin, we can receive God’s spirit and, thereby, have direct access to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no more strangers and foreigners, you are no more gentiles [sinners] cut off from God, you are fellow citizens with the saints in the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets. Jesus Christ, himself, being the chief corner stone.

The church is built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ and the word of God. And the Apostles and Prophets were the ones who wrote the word of God. Moses was a prophet. The prophets wrote what some would call the Old Testament and the apostles wrote what some would call the New Testament. Even though, there is really no such thing as an old or new testament. The Bible is one cohesive whole. And, the new merely explains and builds on the, so called old. And, the apostles and prophets; is a reference to the Holy Scriptures. And, the church is built on Holy Scriptures and not on the words of myself or any other man.

And, when people say, “I’ll listen to this guy, he’s so great,” well, you better be sure you’re comparing what he says to God’s word. And, that’s how you know, whether that person is so great or not; because, if what he says is contrary to God’s word, he’s not so great, after all. We should always be standing on the Holy Scriptures, on the apostles and prophets and Jesus Christ. In whom, all the building fitly framed together grows in to a holy temple in the Lord. In whom, he also is building together for an habitation of God through the spirit.

That is, the temple is the dwelling place of God. And, through God’s spirit dwelling in us, we become a temple for God. And, if we are submissive to God, and follow where God’s spirit leads and keep God’s commandments, God’s spirit will dwell in us and we will have a hope of a resurrection, not only just to a physical life but a resurrection to eternal life in spirit.

Chapter 3: For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you gentiles, if he have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me to you ward that you heard that I have been sent by God to you. How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ. Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit.

That the gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, that is, the same body of the Covenant, that they should all be made one in Christ and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel where I was made a minister according to the gift of the grace of God, given unto me by the official working of his power. Unto me, whom am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given that I should preach among the gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. And, to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world happened hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ.

So, in verse 9, Paul says that God created all things by the one who became Jesus Christ. Christ created all things. To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church, the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he proposed in Christ Jesus, our Lord. And, whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

That is, we have access to God the Father with boldness and confidence knowing that we are not accessing the Father to encounter wrath and fury over our disobedience. Knowing that our disobedience has been atoned for and has been forgiven and that the Father loves us so much that he gave his Son for us. We can, therefore, approach our Father boldly and have access to Him with confidence by the faith of God.

Wherefore, that I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations and my troubles, for you, which is your glory. Don’t be upset or offended over my suffering which is for your glory [your salvation], for this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that is, the church of God, the family of God. That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man.

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye be rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend, to understand, with all saints what is the breadth, the length, and depth and height. And to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.

Now, unto him that is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

He is hoping and praying here. And, encouraging the saints; so that they will understand and comprehend the tremendous love that Christ had in order to give himself for all people and not just his own brethren in Judah for he was born of the flesh of Judah, but for all mankind, for the gentiles and all humanity. He is saying, I want you to comprehend and to understand; the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of the love of Christ who gave himself for all peoples and to understand the love of the Father who gave his only son, his only begotten son, for the people as well.

Chapter 4: I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech you that you should walk worthy of the vocation where with you are called with all holiness, which is humility; meekness and long suffering which is patient enduring; for baring one another in love putting up with each other’s little difficulties and forgiving one another. Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace.

There is one body and one spirit even as you are called in one hope of your calling. There is one church, or one body of Christ but many parts. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is above all and though all and any all but anyone of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherewith, he sayeth, when he ascends upon high he led captivity captive and gave gifts [salvation] unto men.

Now, that he ascended what is it; but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? That is, the being that created all things descended from heaven unto the earth. The lower part of the earth is simply that the earth itself is lower than the heavens. The Creator descended first unto the earth. He that descended is the same, also, that ascended up. That is, Christ descended to the earth to be made flesh, to dwell among men, to learn through living a physical life, what men have to put up with, to learn about the trials and tribulations and sufferings and joys of men. After atoning for the sins of men, he ascended up to rejoin his Father!  he that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens that he might fulfill all things.

And, he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man and to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That is, God has given us teachers and helpers and guides to help us to become perfect -- to become like Christ.

Christ said, I have kept the Father’s commandments; I have kept my Father’s law. And, we are to become like Christ. We are to fulfill the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. We are to keep God’s commandments as Christ did. He didn’t keep those commandments so we wouldn’t have to. He kept those commandments as our example. So, that we can learn from that example and fill up the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we can become like him. And, therefore, we can be good children of the Father as Jesus Christ was [and is]. And being good children we would be acceptable to the Father.

Verse 14: That we, henceforth, be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the slight of men or the cunning of men -- cunning craftiness, whereby, they lie and wait to deceive. But, standing of the word of God and speaking the truth in love we may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ. The way to avoid being tricked and deceived by cunning men and by the tares sowed amongst the wheat is to stand on the solid foundation of the word of God and the Chief Cornerstone.

And we must test the words of all men against the words of the apostles, and prophets and Jesus Christ. And by the apostles and prophets, I am referring to the written Holy Scriptures. I’m not referring to some fellow, who comes along saying;“ I am an Apostle.” And he is doing that to get your attention and excite your admirations so that he can deceive you with cunning craftiness. Remember that God calls things what they are: men seldom do.

Now, there may be some people who are truly sent by God as messengers and as apostles. But, if they are, they will be utterly consistent with the word of God and they will have no fear and no concern about you testing what they say against the word of God. The only reason for a fellow not to like you testing what he says is because he is not consistent with the word of God. He knows or fears that he is not consistent. He doesn’t want you to find out. That he is only mortal and may be wrong.

A true man of God will say; go ahead and check up on me. Absolutely, I will be consistent with the word of God and if I’m not, then there is a problem and you better believe the word of God, first.

Verse 16: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effecual working in the measure of every part that is every part of the body working together, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. That is to say that the church is the body of Christ.  Every individual in that body should be cooperating and working together for the good of the body and to edify the body in love.

The body should not be divided, as it is today, into many groups or parts. And, even with different groups and parts, as the body has different parts, they should still be working together and not be at each other’s throats. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you, henceforth walk not as other gentiles walk or live, as other gentiles live, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened being alienated from the life of God to the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their hearts.

Don’t act like other unconverted people. Don’t act like blind people, who are blind to the things of God. Verse 19: Being past feeling, have given themselves unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness, with greediness but ye hath not so learned Christ. If so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus. That ye put off concerning the former conversation, the old man. That is, get rid of the old sinful man, who is corrupt according to the deceitful lust, and be renewed in spirit of your mind. And, that ye put on a new person, which is after God and is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Put away the body of sin and build a new person free from sin. A new person in Godliness; learning to follow the example of Jesus Christ and becoming like Christ. And, that ye put on the new man, which after God, is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Verse 25: Therefore, putting away lying, speak every man the truth with his neighbor for we are members one of another. We are all part of the same body. Let’s be honest with one another. Be ye angry and sin not. That, simply means, you can get upset over things that are wrong or evil but you are not to lose control of yourself. You are not to lose your temper. You are not to lose your balance and your sound mind. You’re not to lose sound judgment.

Often sin is getting all caught up in things; and not exercising sound judgment according to God’s word. Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. I always had a kind of a rule in our marriage, that whenever there was a problem, we might go aside for a little bit to cool off, but then we would meet together and we would work hard to resolve the problem before the sun sets. Now, sometimes that’s pretty hard to do; and sometimes the best way to start resolving a problem is to say, “I’m sorry.” If I offended you, if I was mistaken, I’m sorry to offend you, but this is where I was coming from and I was trying to do the right thing. And that can be the basis for starting the communication and for starting to resolve the conflict.

A man, he wants to be a leader; well, be a leader then and be man enough to say, “I’m sorry.” For the good of the marriage, the good of the family, the good of the wife, say; I’m sorry if I offended you. I did not intend that. This is what my intentions were. I had no idea that this was going to be a problem. Let’s sort this thing out. And, that’s what we have to do. Not just in marriages but in our relationships with other people, as well.

We have to be man enough to take the bull by the horns, to be the leader, to be proactive instead of reactive. To be willing to take the first step in trying to resolve problems and difficulties and to follow the instructions of Jesus Christ in Matthew 18.

Neither give place to the devil. That is, don’t lose your temper, don’t lose your self control and let the devil find a crack to get in there and stir things up. Maintain your self control. It should be a given, that when one is angry, one should go to one’s closet and go to God with the problem before they go out and try and resolve it with the other person. Get rid of that anger. Get rid of that temper. Go to God with it. Lay it out for Him and He will help you to get control of yourself. And that will be a giant step forward in resolving any problems.

Let him, who has stolen the past, steal no more. But, rather let him labor, working with his hands, the thing which is good that he may have something to give to him that is in need. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth. That is, no slander, no lying, no dishonest thing but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace or forgiveness unto the heirs. And, grieve not the holy spirit of God, whereby, you are sealed, again, that word ‘sealed’ unto the day of redemption.

The word sealed means, marked or set apart. And, you’re set apart, you are different if you have God’s spirit dwelling within you. You are different from those people who do not have God’s spirit dwelling within them. Therefore, that spirit within you is a seal and a mark by which you may be recognized by God.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you together with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Chapter 5: Be ye, therefore, followers of God as dear children. That is, as to follow God as young children follow their parents. God is your Father. Follow Him like an obedient and loving child. Walk in love as Christ also hath loved us and hath given himself for us and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. That is, Christ gave himself wholly and wholeheartedly to the Father.

Fornication and uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becoming saints. You should not so much as to be accused of such things. Neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting which are not convenient but rather giving uf thanks. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a good laugh. It does mean that you should avoid filthiness and cruel or evil or despicable kinds of joking; racial joking, racial slurs and sexual slurs and jokes. This is wrong. We should be clean minded and clean-spirited.

For this you know that no whoremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is an idolater, that is, no person who let’s anything come between them and God; including the putting of men between themselves and God. No such person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words for because of these things comes the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not, therefore, partakers with them.

For ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord, walk as the children of light. For the fruit of the spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. Proving what is acceptable unto God. The spirit leads you into those things that are acceptable to the Lord or acceptable to God and his Christ. And, God defines those things that are acceptable to him by his commandments.

Verse 11: Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but, rather, reprove them because the works of darkness lead to decay and death. For it is a shame to even speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made known by the light. For whatsoever does make known or make manifest is light. Light reveals those things that are hidden. And, the darkness obscures them.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil. That is, we should concentrate on the things of God because there is little time in our lives. Our physical lives are short. We think, “oh we’re going to live forever.” and we turn around and we’re old folks and we’ve wasted our lives. We need to make the most of our lives and of our time by learning of the things of God and not wasting our lives on foolishness and the ways of wickedness.

Wherefore, be ye not unwise or foolish but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Learn with the will of God is and be not drunk with wine, wherein excess, but be filled with the spirit. We are not to be drunkards and that can be extended to include becoming intoxicated with any other material or any other drug or narcotic. We are not to allow ourselves to become intoxicated and to lose control of our mental and physical abilities and faculties. And, we are not to waste our time in drunkenness and wantonness and such foolishness.

We are to spend our time concentrating on the things of God. And, I would also say that one can be an alcoholic without being a drunkard if it reaches the point where you are absolutely dependent on alcohol. And, you must take a drink or two or three every day, you are an alcoholic. And, you need to break that cycle. You should not be dependent on anything or anyone except on God.

And, you should be filled with the spirit of God speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. If you’re filled with God’s spirit and you’re truly happy, you will rejoice. And that rejoicing will manifest itself in a happy bubbling over, singing; kind of attitude. God’s people should not be morose and dour and sour and kind of long faced all the time. They should be happy people. Happy that they are free from the difficulties and the trials that sin brings.

Oh, yes. Satan will bring persecution. But, we know that we can have deliverance and we will ultimately have deliverance by the power of God; whose power is unmatched by anyone or anything or all other things put together. He is a strong fortress. And He has the power and he can and will deliver us if we put him first. Therefore, we can rejoice in heart and in spirit

And, we should have more of a rejoicing and joyful attitude, rather than a sour kind of guilty, oh-woe-is-me attitude. We should be happy in the things of God. And, we should be giving thanks, always, for all things unto God and the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. One of the great sins is ingratitude. And, we should be thankful to God for the things that he has given us and the blessings he’s provided.

And, one of those greatest blessings is forgiveness from sin; and the blessing of the sacrifice of Christ which was a gift of God. And, we should rejoice in that; even if we have nothing else. For we know that through that gift we have eternal salvation. Submit one to another in the fear of God. That is, forgive one another, cooperate with one another. Give place to the other if they have a better idea that you. Just be cooperative and supportive of each other.

Wives submit yourselves unto your husbands as you would submit unto God. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church. And, he is the savior of the body. That is, Christ is the savior of the body of the church. The members, those that respond to the Father’s calling, who come under Christ’s sacrifice and have been given the Holy Spirit by God and who commit themselves to stop sinning, those people have been saved by Christ who is their savior.

Does that mean we don’t have problems? Of course not -- but it means that, ultimately we will be changed and we will never see or taste of death again; once we are changed to spirit. Therefore, as the church is subject to Christ and the church should be subject to Christ. And, if there’s a group of people who says; well we are subject to the teachings of this man or that man, they are not being subject to Christ. And, they had better straighten up very quickly or Christ will correct them.

But as the church is subject to Christ, that is the true church consist of those who are called of the Father, who have repented and resolved not to sin anymore, who have been atoned for by the sacrifice of Christ, and who have been given God’s spirit. The true church is not an organization. It is not a corporation. It is not one group or another group. It is the individual and collectively, all the individuals who are filled with the spirit of God. And as these people, who are the church, who are the body are subject to Christ let wives be subject to their own husbands in everything.

Now, husbands you love your wife as Christ also loves the church and gave himself for it. We look so much at the sacrifice of Christ and at his death and resurrection. And, it should be so; because that is a tremendous gift from Christ and from the Father. But, there is another side to this and that is that; Christ lived for the church. He lived to bring sinners to repentance. He lived to save sinners. He lived to teach the way to true holiness, to true Godliness, to justice, peace, truth, harmony and balance in all things.

Christ lived a life of teaching and service and of setting an example for the people and just focusing on his death, some men might say; well, I can live my own life totally selfishly and then when I die, maybe I’ll die for my wife. No, that is not how it works. You have to live for your wife. Live for your family following that example that Christ set. And, then be willing to take it all the way and die, if necessary, for the good of your family. You are to give yourself, totally, for the good of your family as Christ gave himself, totally, for the good of his bride, his family.

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the work. That he might present it, his people, his church, to himself -- a glorious church, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing. But, that it should be holy and without blemish. It should be pure. So, ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife, loves himself. For no man ever, yet, hated his own flesh but nourishes it and cherishes it even as the Lord does the church.

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause, shall a man leave his mother and father should be joined enough to his wife. And, they too shall be one flesh. And, he is speaking here about a man and a woman joining together to become one. And referring to that as an analogy that Christ is to become one with his bride -- one with his church, one with the saints. That the saints are, in fact, the bride of Christ. They are to present themselves as a chaste, pure virgin to Christ at resurrection.

And to be a chaste, pure virgin that means they are not polluted by seeking after other lovers, [they DO NOT learn the ways of the heathen to believe or do them; that is spiritual fornication!] after other gods and they have not allowed anything to come between themselves and their espoused husband. So, Christ becomes one with the church and we become one with him.

When we are changed to spirit and become spirit as Christ is spirit our unity of marriage becomes complete. And this is very much what the relationship between the man and his wife is intended to portray. These physical relationships are intended to be analogies and intended to show us the kind of relationship that we should have with Christ and with the Father. Marriage shows the kind of relationship of being an obedient wife to Christ; that we should have with him.

Verse 32: This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let everyone of you in particular so love his wife, even, as he loves himself. And, the wife see that she reverence her husband, that she esteem her husband, even as we in the faith should be esteeming our espoused husband, Jesus Christ.

Chapter 6: Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honour they father and mother which is the first commandment with promise. That it may be well with thee and thou must live long on the earth. And, we have the promise that if we obey our heavenly Father then it may be well with us and we shall live for eternity. Ye fathers provoke not your children to wrath but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Teach them, guide them, lead them,nudge them in the positive direction of true Godliness. Don’t bully them, abuse them, dominate them, or over control them.

Yes, sometimes discipline is necessary but for the most part, it is patient, loving guidance and instruction that is needed. And, that kind of attitude and that kind of patient guidance and love is to be fulfilled and carried out from the very birth of the child.

Even as a very young child, you should be spending time with that child, guiding, teaching, loving, and patiently pointing them in positive directions. And that will eliminate most of the need for discipline later on. You won’t have to discipline all the time. If you start very early to establish a positive and loving relationship and to establish positive attitudes and positive behavioral patterns in the young child, as young as possible, then you won’t need to be disciplining when they get older.

Servants be obedient to them, that are your masters according to the flesh. And, that is not just talking about a kind of master- slave relationship. That is talking about an employer-employee relationship, or any kind of relationship which involves serving others. Not with eye service as men pleasers. Don’t just be nice when they are around. Don’t just be working when their watching; but be faithful whether they’re watching or not. Servants be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, and singleness of heart as you would obey Christ, as unto Christ.

Now, with eye-services as men pleasers but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. That is, whole-heartedly. And, with a good conscience, seeking to do what is right, with good will doing service as you would to God and not to men. Think of yourself as serving God and not just men. Knowing, that whatsoever, good thing any man does, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. That is, you will receive your reward from God for all the good that you do.

You will be judged as to whether you are good or evil. And, you will receive your reward in either case, according to your conduct.

You masters, do the same thing unto your servants. Forbearing, threatening, knowing that your master also is in heaven neither is there respect of persons is with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities; powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world; against spiritual wickedness in high places, that is, our persecution is not those people, who are abusing us. It is the spiritual forces that are influencing them and inspiring them to do these things.

Wherefore, take unto thee the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day. That is, when you’re being persecuted you are to stand firm on the word of God throughout all your trials. Then you will stand in the resurrection before the throne of God. Stand, therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. We are to be filed with a love for the truth. Having on the breastplate of righteousness and that is the righteousness of God. And, the righteousness of God is to do those things which God commands us to do. It is the commandments of God. We should have on the breastplate of the commandments of God. And, have your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

You should be peaceable in nature. Above all, taking the shield of faith, were with you shall be able to quench all of fiery darts of the wicked. Because you will know and trust and believe in God and he will defend you and take care of you with His great power. And, if He allows you to suffer so that you might learn some things, he will raise you up on that day and change you to spirit and you shall never taste of death again but shall have eternal life and have your reward that God will give you for all that you have done and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit which is the word of God. God’s spirit gives us understanding of the word of God, the Holy Scriptures. And, the holy scriptures are the sword with which we fight in this world. We are to fight evil in this world and we fight evil with the sword of truth and not with bloodshed.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit, that is, with a whole heart with all our heart and spirit; and with intensity and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Pray for all the saints with intensity. And, for me, that reverence may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel for which I am an ambassador in bounds, for at that time being in prison. That therein, I may speak boldly as I ought to speak. But that ye might also know my affairs and how I am doing to concuss a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. I shall make known to you all things. Whom I sent unto you for the same purpose that you might know our affairs and that he might comfort your hearts concerning us. Peace be to the brethren and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all then that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity, Amen.
James David Malm

Copyright 2010