Oh the wonder of passing from being “God-damned” to being “marvelously saved by Jesus”. We then begin growing into our natural new life in Christ. Oh how marvelous this journey! Ephesians chapter 1 lists “the natural order of things” in our spiritual dimension.
This is part of a series on Every believer’s new life in Christ: Ephesians 1. We are made new creatures, given new life in Christ – when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
- Growing into our natural new life in Christ
- Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One]
- You are here: Explaining the Basic Christian Experience [Part Two]
Explaining the Basic Christian Experience [Part Two]
Introduction Skip to 16 Elements
Life is quite the complex existence, is it not? What a beautiful world. But life is complicated. We deal with rain or shine, “in sickness and in health”, rich or poor or in between, powerful or powerless, smart or not-so, wise or stupid, the wonderful and the ugly, smooth roads and …addictions, lovely living, but, with persistent sins that easily beset us — and the list goes on. That’s life.
And then – we accept Christ as Savior – and wow, the complexities only increase. Now you battle the “old nature” and it’s pull to do exactly opposite of what you really want in Christ (Romans 7). This is part of what Paul calls “the good fight“. We are in a struggle.
We are given new life in Christ when we accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Then we begin growing into our natural new life in Christ.
Learning is lifelong. Like a toddler learning to walk, we take a few steps, flounder and fall, fuss a bit, then get back up, and repeat. We must be pro-active and continually…
- Put on the new …Ephesians 4:22-24
- Put it on …Colossians 3:12
- Put this on
- This is natural for us so put it on
- Be this everywhere all the time
“for you have stripped off the old self
with its evil practices,
10 and have put on
the new [spiritual] self
who is being continually renewed
in true knowledge
in the image of Him
who created the new self”
– Colossians 3: (v10)
Where’er you walk 1… be God’s chosen people, with “compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). Actually be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient.
I will determine, every day, to be this… everywhere all the time. I am motivated to actually be this type of person because of who I am in Christ, and because God Himself has chosen me to be His representative here (We all are: 2 Corinthians 5: verses 5-21), for as long as He sees fit to – until He calls me home.
Source: – Be this everywhere all the time
Colossians 3:12
So,
as God’s own chosen people,
who are holy
[set apart, sanctified for His purpose]
and
well-beloved [by God Himself],
put on a heart of
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness,
and patience
[which has the power to endure
whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes,
with good temper]
Ephesians chapter 1 lists “the natural order of things” in our spiritual dimension. We are born into this at the precise moment of salvation, and then proceed to grow into, “actuate” (Collins: to put into action or motion) what we have been made in Christ. It is natural. But we must pursue God continually.
What we are to be – is easily stunted and disfigured by sin in this life on earth. It is natural to grow, but we must fight – actually do battle spiritually in the good fight. We can so easily give in and let sin reign over us… just “let it”.
Don’t let it. Fighting the good fight is done in the power of His Holy Spirit residing inside us, helping us not let sin have dominion over us.
“Therefore
do not
let sin reign
in your mortal body”
–Romans 6:12
What does this “natural order of things” in our new life in Christ look like, specifically? The Apostle Paul gives us his prepared list, so to speak. Let’s look into Ephesians 1.
Explaining the Basic Christian Experience
Ephesians 1
Elements of our natural new life in Christ 2
Consecutive Order
Let’s put Paul’s 16 elements of our natural new life in Christ – in a more or less consecutive order as it is normally experienced. We grasp a hold of these by faith as we grow into Him more and more.
Explaining the Basic Christian Experience [Part Two]
16 Elements of our natural new life in Christ
Ephesians 1
First thing, Paul says, is – you’ve got to hear it! You hear the truth, which is the “good news” – the “Gospel of Jesus Christ“, and then of a sudden you have the faith God gives you to actually “believe in Him”. You personally choose to place your faith in Him.
“heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him – Ephesians 1:verse 13
There was a time you knew nothing…. Then someone told you, or you read it, and the Holy Spirit was active in you convicting you of sin (John 16:8-11):
“17 So faith comes from hearing
[what is told], and
what is heard comes by
the [preaching
of the] message
concerning Christ.”
– Romans 10: verse 17 3
Second event is: you suddenly have faith where before you had none. I have faith. Where have you put yours?
“faith in the Lord Jesus” – Ephesians 1:verse 15
Third thing, and most amazing is: truly getting born again. You approach Jesus and accept Jesus, with sincerity and truth – and as your Savior He redeems you, and makes you His own, and you make Him your Lord.
“put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior” – Ephesians 1:verse 12
Fourth. As with the Thief on the Cross beside Jesus – salvation is instant. God immediately, permanently redeems us. It is declared about us in Heaven – “Forgiven”. The angels rejoice when a sinner is saved! Absolutely all penalties are paid up, as we receive His “complete pardon” of all sins — according to “the riches of His grace”. We are set free. Hallelujah!
“we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us.” – Ephesians 1:verse 5
Fifth. The instant you are saved, the Holy Spirit makes you a brand new creature, and comes into you to reside in you. And He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you. Ever. He is “the seal” showing all the heavens (like — all the demons know!) that you are “owned and protected”. This means: No stamp – no seal – no Savior – no salvation – never were born again – still bound for Hell.
“were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].” – Ephesians 1:verse 13
Sixth
“blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ” – Ephesians 1:verse 3
Seventh
Full of “Grace… and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 1:verse 2
Eighth
“the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] … enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit]” – Ephesians 1:verse 18
Nineth
“holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. – Ephesians 1:verse 4
Tenth
“In Him… [d]received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will” – Ephesians 1:verse 11
Eleventh.
“a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]” – Ephesians 1:verse 17
We start with baby faith, “child-like” faith, young in the faith, perhaps exuberant as a child at play, and then the Lord starts revealing more and more of who we are and what we really have in our faith. Insights from God.
But “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation” here in Ephesians is not anywhere indicated to be new revelations of heretofore unknown knowledge from God. Nowhere.
No Ordinary Epiphany
You could describe “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation”, as insights from God, as spiritual “epiphanies” (Collins) or a spirit-filled serendipity (Collins) — but certainly NOT a luck thing, or a “chance” thing (as the ordinary words indicate). This intimate insight: “It’s a God nugget of learning that He helps us see. We gain insights into our faith as He reveals them, and we grow in wisdom. You might enlarge the term, and call it Spirit-laden serendipitous moments where the Spirit fills-in your knowledge. Godly epiphanies (NOT a “chance” thing).
Revealing truth “Aha!” moments
That “Aha!” moment when the truth of God hits you between the ears. THAT’s a revelation moment, a “wisdom nugget of truth”. A dawning of understanding that slowly rises upon you. A “Wow!” fresh feeling – because you had never seen it that way before.
Or “the still, small voice of God whispers. The “voice of God” is mentioned all over the Bible.
As we grow in faith through insights He gives us based in His Word, sudden “realizations” by His Spirit astound our mind, bolster our faith. Warnings about “listen“: Luke 6:47; Luke 8:18; Luke 8:21; John 6:45; 1 Corinthians 2:4; Colossians 3:6; Hebrews 5:11; James 1:22; James 1:25; 1 John 4:5; 1 Corinthians 8:2. (Also: Acts 16:14 – “the Lord opened her heart to pay attention and to respond to the things said by Paul.”)
Jump into the Bible and see for yourself
We realize more and more….
Jump in and see for yourself.
Do you want just your own “think”, or “God’s think“? Don’t settle for limited thinking!
– Source: Why the Bible
As we listen to God, we grow, we gain insights that sort of fill-in missing understandings. Insights like:
- Like this one in verse 18: in Christ we have a sure hope, a guaranteed hope, an unreasonably “confident expectation” of great things to come for us — because He has called us to this.
- Like: “you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God” – Hebrews 12:22-24.
- Like: “we are convinced of better things concerning you, and of things that accompany salvation.” – Source: Hebrews 3:10; Hebrews 6:9.
- Like: “The wisdom from above is….” James 3:17.
The things of God are not understood by ordinary folk.
does not accept the things
[the teachings and revelations]
of the Spirit of God,
for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].
– 1 Corinthians 2:14
50 Now I say this, believers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit nor be part of the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (mortal) inherit the imperishable (immortal).
– 1 Corinthians 15:50
You must be reborn from above, born again — to understand the truths of God, “because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated”. That “wisdom nugget of truth” is not within the grasp of an unregenerate. The unborn-again “man of flesh” does not understand spiritual “epiphanies” or spirit-filled serendipities.
I see these next three as what comes with God’s enlightenment, His continual “spirit of wisdom and of revelation”. He reveals bits and pieces of His truths as we are ready: the hope (12th), the riches (13th), the power (14th), and more and more!
Twelfth. Hope grows in you. He has called you to this. I have hope. My hope is in Christ.
“know and cherish the [b]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you” – Ephesians 1:verse 18
“we are… of good courage
and confident hope,
and prefer rather to be absent from the body
and to be at home with the Lord.”
– 2 Corinthians 5:8 Amplified Bible
Thirteenth. There is
- No richer state than citizenship in Heaven (Philippians 3:20, Ephesians 2:19, Psalm 87:1),
- No richer mindset than the rich mindset of God,
- No richer inheritance, (1 Peter 1:4; Acts 20:32; Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:22; Ephesians 1:11; Ephesians 1:14-18; Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 1:12; Colossians 3:24; Hebrews 5:9; Hebrews 9:15)
- No richer place to aspire to. See First Day In Heaven, Windows into Heaven and Heaven. What’s it going to be like?
“know …the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people)” – Ephesians 1:verse 18
Fourteenth. When we become born again, He fills us with His Spirit – and in that instant we have inside of us unlimited power (2 Peter 1:3).
“begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe.” – Ephesians 1:verse 19
Fifteenth. 1 Corinthians 13. The love in us for others – is for “all God’s people“.
“love for all God’s people” – Ephesians 1:verse 15
Sixteenth. Maintain endurance with your faith. Know that He holds you with His hand.
To be a “Christian” requires endurance. No two ways about it. Christ endured to the end – dying on the cross for us. Mission accomplished. I want to finish well. How about you? – Source: Endurance with your faith
Throughout our new life in Christ – we look back periodically and see: Yes! We have been “faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus”. Not sinless, but faithful, and loyal to Him, and unbending in our determination to live for Jesus no matter what.
Our daily practice of our faith should not let us be satisfied with a useless way of life.
-
- We are not satisfied being useless and worthless.
- We don’t give it up.
- We give it our all.
- We endure through it all.
“Endurance to do the will of God” (Hebrews 10:36-39) is what the verifiable saved of God practices. We hold tight to Jesus. We hold tight to His promises – through to the end. – Source: Endurance with your faith
“faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus” – Ephesians 1:verse 1
“Your life is a journey
you must travel
with a deep consciousness of God.
It cost God plenty
to get you out of
that dead-end,
empty-headed life
you grew up in.
He paid
with Christ’s sacred blood,
you know.
He died
like an unblemished,
sacrificial lamb….”
– 1 Peter 1:18-21
The Message (MSG)
Those are the 16 elements of our natural new life in Christ – as the Apostle Paul outlined them in Ephesians 1.
NOTE: Read the full series on Every believer’s new life in Christ: Ephesians 1
- Growing into our natural new life in Christ
- Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One]
- You are here: Explaining the Basic Christian Experience [Part Two]
FOR MORE: Go deeper…
Our Life As God Sees It. Ephesians 2:1-10
Jesus can save your soul for all eternity
We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
Fearing God with awe-filled reverence
Being faithful, little by little
This is natural for us so put it on
Growing into our natural new life in Christ
Like gold dust streaming from my heart
If I were to let sin reign in my body
Hell by God …a series about Hell
There is a place assigned to go where nowhere else exists but there.
It’s far from where God’s blessings flow; it’s bad and worse, no good at all.
There is a broad road that says Heaven but goes to Hell
Are you under – A Deluding Influence?
When we face difficult times in our life
We are pressured in every way – but not crushed
Pleasures and bad behaviors we love to fall for
The secret of facing both plenty and hunger, abundance and need
Run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us
We overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us
Be this everywhere all the time
Footnotes
-
1. Where’er you walk – sung by Kathleen Battle – Where’er You Walk – Semele – Händel 7 / 9
2. Lyrics to Where’er You Walk – Semele – Händel 7 / 9
- These are 16 Elements of our natural new life in Christ – from Ephesians 1:
1.”heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him – verse 13
2.”faith in the Lord Jesus” – verse 15
3.”put our confidence in Him as our Lord and Savior” – verse 12
4.”we have redemption [that is, our deliverance and salvation] through His blood, [which paid the penalty for our sin and resulted in] the forgiveness and complete pardon of our sin, in accordance with the riches of His grace 8 which He lavished on us.” – verse 5
5.”were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].” – verse 13
6.“blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ” – verse 3
7.Full of “Grace… and peace [inner calm and spiritual well-being] from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – verse 2
8.”the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] … enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit]” – verse 18
9.”holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. – verse 4
10.”In Him… [d]received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His will” – verse 11
11.”a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]” – verse 17
12.”know and cherish the [b]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you” – verse 18
13.”know …the riches of His glorious inheritance in the [c]saints (God’s people)” – verse 18
14.”begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe.” – verse 19
15.”love for all God’s people” – verse 15
16.“faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus” – verse 1.
- Romans 10:13-17
And you prayed to God to save you:
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord [in prayer] will be saved.”
14 But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? 15 And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
16 But they did not all pay attention to the good news [of salvation]; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.
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