Ephesians 2:14-16

For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony). He has made us both [Jew and Gentile] one [body], and has broken down (destroyed, abolished) the hostile dividing wall between us, By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two might create in Himself one new man [one new quality of humanity out of the two], so making peace. And [He designed] to reconcile to God both [Jew and Gentile, united] in a single body by means of His cross, thereby killing the mutual enmity and bringing the feud to an end. Ephesians 2:14-16

Jesus has brought the feud between those who know God and those who don’t know Him to an end. He has done this by abolishing the Law with its decrease and ordinances. Now let what our Father tells us here in Ephesians sink in: Jesus has made peace, because He has annulled, through His death, the Law with its decrease and ordinances.

But sin, finding opportunity in the commandment [to express itself], got a hold on me and aroused and stimulated all kinds of forbidden desires (lust, covetousness). For without the Law sin is dead [the sense of it is inactive and a lifeless thing]. Romans 7:8

For being ignorant of the righteousness that God ascribes [which makes one acceptable to Him in word, thought, and deed] and seeking to establish a righteousness (a means of salvation) of their own, they did not obey or submit themselves to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the Law [the limit at which it ceases to be, for the Law leads up to Him Who is the fulfillment of its types, and in Him the purpose which it was designed to accomplish is fulfilled. That is, the purpose of the Law is fulfilled in Him] as the means of righteousness (right relationship to God) for everyone who trusts in and adheres to and relies on Him. Romans 10:3-4

So let’s put the Truth into some practical applications for our life’s today. There is no longer any feud between Homosexuals and Christians. There is no longer any angst between believers and non believers. There is no longer any animosity between those who go to church and those who do not. Why? Because there is no longer any Laws being broken. There is now only Grace and Grace superabounds all of our sin. 

The glorious Truth is that even our righteousness is as filthy rags. The Truth is that none of us is righteous, no not one. The Truth is that none of us knows even how to pray as we ought to, but the Truth is also there is now no Law to convict us for any of it. So why would we ever have animosity against someone because they may be doing something that we disagree with? I mean we can’t say that we do because we are doing things right, because according to the Word, we aren’t. 

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Jesus has brought peace; He has not brought condemnation, fear, anger, doubt, unrest, or retaliation. Jesus has brought us Grace and He freely causes unto give Grace in spite of what we may or may not be doing. The only way that we will ever stop doing the things that we shouldn't is when the Holy Spirit empowers us to understand that we have no ability whatsoever to stop. It is only when this Truth sets us free that we will stop because we will completely be trusting in our Father to stop it. So we pray now and we freely forgive now, because we have been freely forgiven.

Ephesians 2:11-13

Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands. [Remember] that you were at that time separated (living apart) from Christ [excluded from all part in Him], utterly estranged and outlawed from the rights of Israel as a nation, and strangers with no share in the sacred compacts of the [Messianic] promise [with no knowledge of or right in God’s agreements, His covenants]. And you had no hope (no promise); you were in the world without God. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away, through (by, in) the blood of Christ have been brought near. Ephesians 2:11-13

We are so near to God now because of Jesus’ success that we are one with Him. There is no separation whatsoever between us and God, nine whatsoever The two of us have become one flesh. As Jesus is, so are we. We are now and forevermore premaritally connected to the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. He will never leave us and He will never forsake us. He will always be greater in us than anything that is in this world. Because of our unity with God, we will always be more than conquerors. Our Father will never let us know defeat, because all things now work out for our good, just as all things work out for our Father’s good. 

We now have the Mind of Christ. We now have the Holy Spirit strengthening us, teaching us, interceding for us, and standing by for us. Every last one of our needs is now met for us by the riches of God Himself. We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit. We now have the exact same glory that Jesus has. There is nothing that our Father is or that He has that we are not completely and totally one with. Our Father has held nothing back from us. 

We are now perfect, because the One Who created everything and Who all things, whether seen or unseen, exist through has said that we are! God has made us one with Himself, so if we aren’t perfect, how could our He be? At one time we were not these things, but now we are and it is all free and it is all undeserved. For us to believe or think any other way would be a direct slap in the face of Jesus. 

We can’t boast about any of this, because we did nothing at all to earn it, but that doesn’t mean for one second that we can’t fully enjoy it.   

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10

God created us. The Truth is that we are His workmanship, we do not make ourselves who we ought to be. Our Father is the One Who has recreated us in Christ, so that means that He is responsible for who and what we are. God is our Potter and the potter has ownership and he has responsibility of how effective his work is. Man do you see the freedom in this? 

Before our Father took me into the Truth of His Word I was constantly fretting and beating myself up over how messed up I thought I was. I was saved and going to church all of the time, and yet I was completely miserable with salvation. I couldn’t ask for forgiveness enough, pray enough, give enough, or understand enough to ever feel the freedom of what Jesus came and gave us. I couldn’t because I was focused on myself and that is what religion so often does to us. The Truth is that the burden is not ours, it is God’s. If a cup leaks don’t we look at the potter of the cup? If a sheep is lost, don’t we look to the shepherd? If a vine doesn’t produce fruit, don’t we look at the gardener? Religion so many times makes us focus on ourselves and our efforts, when the Truth tells us to completely rely on and fully expect our Father to cause us to be who and what we ought to be. 

The Truth is our Father has predestined the paths that we are to take and the works that He is going to have us do, because our Father is in complete and total control of everything. Nothing is that He isn’t causing t o be. 

Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist]. 1 Corinthians 8:6

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

If you are in a fellowship that wants to tell you what you have to do or not do, please take comfort in the Truth that what is being preached is a total lie. The Truth that we live in is it is what our Father has to cause us to do and not do. Because of Jesus’ success we are free at last, free at last! 

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] Ephesians 2:8-9

We have been delivered from judgment only because of our Father’s Grace. We did nothing at all on our own to deserve or earn it. We didn’t go to church to get it. We didn’t believe on our own or accept on our own, it was just given to us. It’s all just a gift. For whatever reason God chose us. He authored our Faith. He filled us with His Love. He gave us His Spirit so that we could abound in Hope and He recreated us. It was all just a gift, no work brought it on. God knew that we were going to doubt, be scared, question, and mess up and He still freely gave us the perfect gift of being one with Him. 

We cannot take pride in ourselves for our salvation, but what I think is even more important is that we cannot condemn ourselves or others for. The peace in all of this is so wonderful. We can’t lose our salvation because we never did anything to earn it. Salvation was just given to us by God and God never takes back or changes His mind about what He has given. So if all of this is true, how could we ever condemn another person? We can’t and therein lies our really enjoyable life's. We know that we have been completely forgiven in spite of ourselves, so we can completely forgive in spit of what others have done. Life without condemnation is a wonderful thing. Freely we have received and freely our Father will cause us to forgive. His Love within us will not allow anything else. 

There are a lot of us in religion that want to focus on sin. Why? I am asking myself that question as well. If it is all by Grace, sin really doesn’t matter. I honestly believe the only way that we will ever stop doing the bad things that we call sin is when we realize that Grace has trumped sin, it has super abounded it. Out of the abundance of our hearts our mouths will speak, so we need to focus on Grace and the Light of the Truth will drive out all of the darkness.

Ephesians 2:7

He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:7

We have been made one with Jesus, we are now inseparable with Him and because we are we now enjoy joint seating with Him. Our Father allowed our joint heirship with Him to show people His Mercy and Grace, His limitless Grace. So the question is: is our Father just showing us off to none believers? Is He using us to taunt those who do not believe or to condemn them for their unbelief? Or, is He using us to forgive people in spite of themselves? Jesus is the Son of God and when He came to the earth He was born to an unmarried woman and He wasn’t even born to the Tribe of Levi, the Tribe chosen to serve God in the Temple. God dod not show Jesus off with pomp and circumstance. Jesus did not even ask to be served, but to serve. He didn’t even want people to know that He was the Lord. Jesus is the greatest ever because He was the biggest servant. So to be seated with Him means that we too are chosen and used by God to serve; and who we have been called to serve may surprise many Christians.

And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, Why does your Master eat with tax collectors and those [preeminently] sinful? But when Jesus heard it, He replied, Those who are strong and well (healthy) have no need of a physician, but those who are weak and sick. Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy [that is, readiness to help those in trouble] and not sacrifice and sacrificial victims. For I came not to call and invite [to repentance] the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with God), but sinners (the erring ones and all those not free from sin) Matthew 9:11-13

We have not been called to intercede and show mercy towards our fellow believer’s, we have been called and chosen to show Mercy and Grace towards those who do not believe. We have been ordained to bless those who curse us, pray for those who misuse us, and feed those who would kill us. We have been called to help those who make fun of our Heavenly Father and Family. We are called to help those who will in all likelihood not be in a church. Think of Jesus’ life and how He served the lost and you will see that He went to where they were. He did not bring them into a building, on a certain day, at a certain hour, to be helped. Jesus helped them right where they were, in the streets, in the markets, and in their homes. 

Our Father has prearranged the path of us going out into the world and helping those who probably believe that they don’t need help. God has called us to be used to forgive people and show them Mercy and Grace in spite of themselves. They will mock us. They will abuse us and they may even kill us, but not one of them will ever answer for it. Because if they did, our lives and Jesus’ sacrifice would be in complete vain. If we have only been called to serve and show Mercy and Grace to our own family what good is it, even the hypocrites do that?

Our Father clearly uses us to demonstrate His Grace and Mercy, which means that people have to see it. Jesus is our Head and our Head will insure that our bodies, souls, and spirits will carry out our Father’s will of serving the lost. Where sin abounds our Father will use us to have His Grace superabound it.    

Ephesians 2:6

And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). Ephesians 2:6

We are now seated with Jesus, because we are now one with Jesus. Jesus has made us complete and we are now as He is, even though our flesh is still in this world. So what does this mean?

Even the Father judges no one, for He has given all judgment (the last judgment and the whole business of judging) entirely into the hands of the Son, John 5:22

[Now having received the Holy Spirit, and being led and directed by Him] if you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained. John 20:23

Our Father gave all of the responsibility of judgment to Jesus and because we are now one with Him, He will use us to forgive. I honestly believe that this is the greatest gift that we have been given. We now forgive anyone and everyone. We don’t have to know what the person did, we just forgive and they are forgiven. We now intercede for people so that they can have life and have it abundantly.

Which is easier: to say, Your sins are forgiven you, or to say, Arise and walk [about]? Luke 5:23

Jesus forgave peoples sins and they were healed and He gave us the same Spirit and the same gift. Think about it, no one that we forgive will ever have to answer for their sins. This is Grace and Mercy in action. We are as Jesus, Who is as our Father, because He is our Father, and we are now one with Him, so how could we also not be full of Grace and Mercy?

But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their reckless and willful sins, leaving them, letting them go, and giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses. Matthew 6:15

We reap what we sow, just as Jesus reaped what He sowed. Jesus constantly forgave people and that allowed Him to take on every sin of every person and become the perfect sacrifice. Hades couldn’t hold Him because He lived for others, not Himself, and we are now His body. We cannot help but to be used to forgive, because Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever and we are now perfectly connected and perfectly one with Him. Jesus' Body will do what His Head directs and leads it to do. 

That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me. John 17:21-23

Love covers a multitude of sins and we are now one with Love. 

Ephesians 2:2-5

In which at one time you walked [habitually]. You were following the course and fashion of this world [were under the sway of the tendency of this present age], following the prince of the power of the air. [You were obedient to and under the control of] the [demon] spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience [the careless, the rebellious, and the unbelieving, who go against the purposes of God]. Among these we as well as you once lived and conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature], obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the mind [our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginings]. We were then by nature children of [God’s] wrath and heirs of [His] indignation, like the rest of mankind. But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). Ephesians 2:2-5

Our Father saved us to satisfy His love for us, not because of our love for Him. Our Father loves us so much that it is His will that all of us are saved and all of us come to the knowledge of the Truth. Salvation is all based solely on our Father’s Grace and Mercy towards us. Salvation is also completely underserved, we can do absolutely nothing on our own to enjoy or have it. It’s all just a free gift from God.

For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] Romans 11:29

Our Father will never change His mind about His Grace and Mercy, they will never be withdrawn from us. The world wants us to believe that we have to work to keep these free gifts, because the world wants us to focus on ourselves. The Truth is we will constantly fail and live in fear and condemnation as long as we believe that we must do anything on our own. It is only when the Holy Spirit empowers us with the Truth that we can do absolutely nothing and that it is all our Father in us doing everything, that we will live in victory. It is only when the Truth sets us free, that we will actually begin doing the things that we are suppose to. Because the Truth will allow us to know that it is God doing everything through us. Our peace in this is that there is absolutely no condemnation for us anymore, Jesus did away with all of it. We now have complete freedom. We have it even if we don’t understand it or even believe it. That is the victory that Jesus obtained for all of us. 

We received all of this even though we were dead. We had no ability to believe, it was just given to us. We didn’t first believe so then our Father could come into our life’s. Our Father gave us the gift of belief and He allowed us to see that He was always with us even though we had never known it. 

There is nothing impossible for us. There is no sin holding us back, there is no doubt that keeps God from doing everything through us. He gave us life even when we were dead, so what can He do now that He has empowered us to know that we have life. If anything needs done or pruned, our Father will do it. The battle is completely His and the victory is ours.  

Ephesians 2:1

And you [He made alive], when you were dead (slain) by [your] trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1

When were we made alive? According to our Father it was when we were dead. Keep that Truth in mind as I ask you this question: what is stopping our Father from making people alive, even though they are dead in their sins, on Judgment Day? Our Father does not respect one person over another, so if He did it for us, why not everyone? We are told in the Bible that it is our Father’s will that everyone be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth, so what is stopping Him from making His will come true? What good is it to be God and want something, and not get it? 

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

The only reason that any of us knows anything about the Truth is because our Father has allowed us to know it. He is the One working in us.

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking under the power and influence of the [Holy] Spirit of God can [ever] say, Jesus be cursed! And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:3

The more that our Father uses me, the more He shows me that His Grace and Mercy are far more freely given than what most of us think. Think of all of the verses that say that we were chosen, that our Path’s were prearranged, that God is our Potter, that He is our Shepherd, that all things exist by Him, through Him, and for Him. I honestly believe that Jesus was really successful and that He is going to insure that our Father gets His will. 

We may not all be the Bride of Christ, just as all of us are not Pastors, Prophet’s, Apostles, Teachers, or Evangelists now.  There were twelve tribes of Israel, but only one tribe served in the Temple. The other elven tribes were still part of Israel and loved by our Father. Some of us are called to serve and some of us are called to be served. Every house has vessels of Gold, Silver, Wood, and Clay and they all make the house complete. 

So just because a person is dead in sin, even on Judgment Day, does not mean that our Father can not, or will not, bring them to life.  

Ephesians 1:20-23

Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]. Ephesians 1:20-23

So often we love to use these verses when talking about Jesus defeating the devil or evil, but look at what our Father is actually telling us here. We are shown that Jesus is above everything and that He Alone has all rule and all authority. We are told that Jesus makes everything complete. Everything is made complete because of Jesus’ success. Aren’t we part of everything? 

Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). Hebrews 13:8

Jesus will never change Who and How He is, so we can have absolute peace that He is going to make sure that we all make it to eternity. Who is going to stop Him? Satan? Religion? Ourselves?

He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? Romans 8:32-34

There is no doubt that we are going to spend eternity with our Lord, none whatsoever. We don’t have to worry or even take thought about it. Jesus is our guarantee.

That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:14

So the question is were we all chosen?

Well then, as one man’s trespass [one man’s false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man’s act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men. Romans 5:18

If anyone ever tries to tell you that this verse means that salvation is not just for Israel anymore, ask them if sin was only for Israel before Jesus? The Truth that sets us free is that we are all going to bow and we are all going to confess Jesus as Lord. All men will be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth because Jesus makes all things complete. 

Ephesians 1:15-19

For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (the people of God), I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Ephesians 1:15-19

Jesus tells us in the Gospels that we are to ask and that it will be given to us. In these verses lies the secret to living an abundant life and the secret is: live to ask for other’s to be blessed. Ask that other's are wise and filled with light. Ask our Father that He fill other’s with His glory and His power. Ask that your enemies are blessed. Ask that they are forgiven and enjoy eternity with us. It’s really just this simple, ask for other’s and take no thought for yourself. Jesus tells us that if we want to be the greatest, then we have to be the biggest servants. Jesus tells us to take no thought for our own life’s. We are told to take thought for the Kingdom and the Kingdom is those around us. The Kingdom of God is those who look like they belong and even those who don’t. 

Jesus also tells us that when we ask that we are to do it in our most private rooms. He tells us that what we ask for in private will be rewarded for us in the open. He tells us that we aren’t suppose to talk about it, that what we are ask for is to be kept between only between us and our Father. Jesus so plainly tells us on the Sermon on the Mount that if we don’t do these things and that if we pray in the open or if we let people know what we are doing that our being noticed will be the only reward that we get. So get private and be blessed beyond expression.

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! Matthew 7:7-11

I tell you, although he will not get up and supply him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his shameless persistence and insistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs. So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks and keeps on asking receives; and he who seeks and keeps on seeking finds; and to him who knocks and keeps on knocking, the door shall be opened. Luke 11:8-10

Everyone will receive if they ask. Some will receive the reward of being noticed by others as they ask to be seen. And other’s will receive their reward from our Father as they ask in private and keep it between them and God.  

Ephesians 1:14

That [Spirit] is the guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and foretaste, the down payment on our heritage], in anticipation of its full redemption and our acquiring [complete] possession of it—to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:!4

The Holy Spirit is our guarantee that we will be fully redeemed. We have a guarantee from God. It’s not a limited guarantee either, it is a full blown 100% bumper to bumper guarantee with no deductible. What does the word guarantee mean anyway? Here is how Google defines it. 

/ˌɡerənˈtē/

a formal promise or assurance (typically in writing) that certain conditions will be fulfilled, especially that a product will be repaired or replaced if not of a specified quality and durability.

a formal pledge to pay another person's debt or to perform another person's obligation in the case of default.

collateral, security, surety, a guaranty, earnest 

provide a formal assurance or promise, especially that certain conditions shall be fulfilled relating to a product, service, or transaction.

God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. He never withdraws them once He gives them and He never changes His mind, Romans 11:29, and the Holy Spirit is our guarantee for this Truth. 

Never allow anyone or any institution to allow you to question the Truth that you will spend eternity with God. Our salvation is not based at all on our works. It’s not based on belonging to a certain denomination, wearing certain clothes or hairstyles, giving money, meeting on a certain day, or eating certain foods. Salvation is only based on our Father’s Grace and Mercy and our Father has Grace and Mercy for all.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

Jesus guaranteed our success. So we can have peace that passes all understanding and anything or anyone that tries to take or place conditions on it can go fly a kite. 

Ephesians 1:13

In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13

How important is it that we have been stamped with the Holy Spirit?

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you]. John 16:7

Jesus, Who was and is God in the flesh, tells us that it t was better that He went away from us. The Truth is that it was better for Jesus to leave and us get the Holy Spirit, then for Him to stay here on the earth. Having the Holy Spirit is better for us then having Jesus in the flesh with us. Why?

The gift of the Holy Spirit is so awesome because He is the power that makes God, God. Without the Holy Spirit our Father would have no power and now God’s very own power, His energy, His ability, His Love, His Faith, His understanding, His Knowledge, is in us and through us. We are now one with all that makes God Who He is. This gift of God’s power forevermore being one with us is far better then Jesus Alone having it and us coming into contact with Him just every so often. The glorious Truth is that we are sealed with all that God is and He will never leave us or forsake us.  

It is because of the Holy Spirit that we even know Christ. 

Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. 1 Corinthians 12:3

It is because of the Holy Spirit that we ever do anything.

And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:27

The Holy Spirit is our success, our knowledge, our protection, and our Advocate. Even when we pray some off the wall prayer that is totally self centered and void of any Truth, and we all have prayed that way, the Holy Spirit will take our empty idol words and turn them into glory for us.

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance. Romans 8:26

Jesus knew what we was saying and He said, it is better to have the Holy Spirit in us, then to have Jesus in the flesh walking beside us. 

Ephesians 1:12

So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined and appointed to] live for the praise of His glory! Ephesians 1:12

You and I have been destined, before anything ever was, to bring praise and glory to our Father. Now many people believe that this is a task that we are responsible for. But is that the case?

When Jesus had spoken these things, He lifted up His eyes to heaven and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify and exalt and honor and magnify Your Son, so that Your Son may glorify and extol and honor and magnify You. John 17:1

Jesus, the greatest ever to live, didn’t look to Himself to glorify God, so how could we? Jesus needed God to be the One Who brought His glory and that is absolutely the Truth for us as well. Our Father gave Jesus His glory to and Jesus wasn’t stingy with it, because He turned around gave it right to us.

I have given to them the glory and honor which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: John 17:22

What I am trying to get at is that we all need to stop looking and taking thought for our success because we can’t help but to be successful. We have become one with Jesus and it is our destiny to be used by God to bring glory to our Jesus. Everything that our Father leads us into, and He leads us into everything, will work out for good. Our Father gave us no responsibility to be sanctified or glorified, He squarely placed all of that burden on Himself. It is solely up to Him to make us who and what He has destined for us to be.  

For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; Hebrews 2:11

As long as we falsely believe that we have to attempt to glorify God or that we must do or not do something on our own to be accepted or used by our Father, we will fail. It is only when we are empowered with the Truth, the truth that sets us free, that it all has to be our Father being greater in us, that we will succeed. 

When I was younger and in church I was constantly being told what I must do. I tried like crazy. I fasted, I prayed, I worked, I tithed, I gave, I confessed, I binned, and I was miserable. Salvation was horrible, it was filled with defeat and condemnation. But then our Father took me out of religion and into the Truth. He showed me that it was Him in me and all of a sudden things turned around. I realized that I was no longer doing anything on my own. I realized that God was in me and that He was the power and the glory doing everything and I was now part of it. I wasn’t a robot or a puppet, I realized that I was one with the Alpha and Omega. It is when this Truth came that I truly began to enjoy salvation and have success. My I problem was fixed. 

Ephesians 1:11

n Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) and we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen and appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, Who works out everything in agreement with the counsel and design of His [own] will, Ephesians 1:11

Because of Jesus, because of His success we are now one with God. We were chosen before the world ever was. We were foreordained, we are not just just ordained, we were chosen before anything ever was. God had a purpose for us before He ever said let there be light. Our Father worked everything out for us before He ever took clay and formed man. It was God’s will that you an I be one with Him. He knew how He was going to make us and He prearranged the paths that we were going to take before the Universe was. It couldn’t have been any other way, because nothing can be that our Father is not causing to be.

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Our Father is not a man, He is a Spirit. He is omnipotent, which means that He is everywhere. There is not place that His Spirit is not and His Spirit controls all things. Nothing can be if our Father is not controlling it and allowing it to be. 

I have had people say that this Truth makes us puppets. We are not puppets, we are God’s body. We are flesh of God’s flesh and bone of His bone. Is my hand a puppet to my head? No, it is one with me and it enjoys everything that I have and am. This is how we are, one with our Father, chosen to serve the world. Chosen to bless those who curse us, feed those who hate us, and pray for those who come against us. We were created to forgive the sins of the people in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus. We have been chosen to be the greatest servants, which means that we have been chosen to be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:27

It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues). 2 Corinthians 1:12

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jeremiah 10:23

It’s not in us to direct our own steps, isn’t that great? That means that all of the burden of success is on our Father and He is really successful. 

Ephesians 1:8-10

Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight and prudence), Ephesians 1:8

Lavished, that is such a great word. Our Father has lavished on us every kind of wisdom. We don’t just have book smarts, we have wisdom. Wisdom into the secret motives of those who would come against us, just as Jesus did. Wisdom on the unspoken fears of those who we are called to serve. Wisdom of when to talk and when to listen. Our glory is that every kind of wisdom has been lavished on us by the Creator of everything.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26

There is nothing too big for us to understand, because we now have the Mind of Christ and we now have the Holy Spirit. People say all of the time that God’s ways are higher than our ways, well of course they are, but that doesn’t mean that our Father doesn’t want us to be wise about what is going on. Our Father’s will is not meant to be a mystery to us. His plans and His purposes are for us and it is His pleasure to let us in on everything. Our Father takes great pleasure in keeping us in the loop. 

Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed and set forth in Him, [He planned] for the maturity of the times and the climax of the ages to unify all things and head them up and consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven and things on the earth. Ephesians 1:9-10

Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world, but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit]. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13