Ephesians: Recent Episodes
Twin Cities Grace Fellowship
Christ Gave Grace For Perfecting, Work, & Edifying | Lesson 102
Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher conducted a reteaching of Lesson 102 from Ephesians chapter 4, verses 7 through 16, titled "Christ Gave Grace for Perfecting Work and Edifying" due to technical difficulties at church.
In this sermon, he explains the significance of Jesus Christ's ascension and the gifts given to men, emphasizing their connection to the church and the world. He also led a detailed discussion on the diversity and order of spiritual gifts, drawing from biblical passages including Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, 13, and 14, and Ephesians chapter 4.
He delves into the purpose of Christ's gifts, highlighting the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers in perfecting the saints, facilitating the work of the ministry, and ultimately edifying the body of Christ. He emphasized the interconnected nature of these activities, explaining that the perfecting of the saints serves as the foundation for the work of the ministry, which in turn leads to the edification of the body of Christ. Strelecki also provided a detailed analysis of the interconnectedness of spiritual gifts, administrations, and operations, drawing from 1 Corinthians 12.
Finally, Strelecki delivered a passionate discourse on the essential nature of the perfecting of the saints within the church, emphasizing that it should take precedence over pragmatic gimmicks and cultural catering. He delved into the gifts bestowed by Christ for the perfecting, work of the ministry, and edifying of the body of Christ, highlighting the ongoing nature of these aspects through a shift in mechanism via the faith and knowledge of the Son of God. Strelecki also addressed the misconception surrounding the word "till," clarifying its adverbial usage in relation to the perfecting, work, and edifying.
What is it that Christ first descended into the lower parts of the earth, then ascended far above all heavens? It is that He would fill all things. When Christ ascended He led captivity captive and gave gifts to me. Christ's route of victory details His authority, power, and glory as well as provision to work all things according to His Father's will. and build a habitation of God through the Spirit. In this sermon Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher exposes the both the invisible realm in heaven and earth, the enemies there, and Christ triumph over them.
The body of Christ is charged to walk worthy of our vocation by keeping the unity of the Spirit. The Spirit has planted a spiritual garden for us to keep made up of His seven one-ders. Such unity is to be kept in the context of differences. Christ had given different gifts to the church according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher develops "the measure of the gift of Christ" and begins to unpack Paul's use of Psalm 68 concerning Christ's descension and ascension.
We walk worthy of our vocation with all lowliness and meekness, and longsuffering. We walk worthy forbearing one another in love. We walk worthy endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher continues to unpack the unity we are to keep with one another in love and the bond of peace. The unity we are to keep contains seven great one-ders.
We walk worthy of our vocation with all lowliness and meekness, and longsuffering. We walk worthy forbearing one another in love. We walk worthy endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher continues to unpack the unity we are to keep with one another in love and the bond of peace. The unity we are to keep contains seven great one-ders.
We walk worthy of our vocation with all lowliness and meekness, and longsuffering. We walk worthy forbearing one another in love. We walk worthy endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher begins to unpack the unity we are to keep with one another in love and the bond of peace. The unity we are to keep contains seven great one-ders.
As God planted a garden, made man, and put the man in the garden to dress and keep it so too does the body of Christ have a spiritual garden that we have been put in - to keep. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher examines the unity of the Spirit as revealed in Ephesians and our charge to keep His unity.
The Christian's worthy walk not only entails what we do but how we do it. We "forbear", "endeavor", and "keep" however, we do so "with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering". Yet, where do these nouns, these things come from for us to walk worthy with? In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher draws from the Ephesians epistle context to see that all lowliness, meekness, and longsuffering can only come from Christ, His nature and redemption, and the power of His redemption.
God has called the Christian. Our calling is in the gospel of His grace. His calling is holy, and high, and has hope. God's calling in Christ is rooted in His eternal purpose established before the foundation of the world, worked out in Christ, working out in Christ's body, and will come to full consummation. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher highlights what our calling is according to what Paul has written in Ephesians, the walk of it, and the honor and exhortation to walk worthy of it.
Every element of Paul's prayer for the Ephesians leads to this climactic expression - "the fulness of God". Moreover, "the fulness of God" is intended to "fill" the Christian that believes and not with just some of His fulness, but all of it. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher teaches in this sermon on Christ being the fulness of the Godhead and the context of Paul praying for us to be filled with Christ, what the fulness is, and what the fulness is for.
The lofty yet weighty prayer of the apostle Paul requests strength, Christ, comprehension, and a filling in the inner heart of the believer. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher expounds on the reality that we can comprehend Christ and the love of Christ in breadth, length, depth, and height. Josh also highlights how such breadth, length, depth, and height have been communicated already in the epistle and how such comprehension ought to change the Christian.
Paul's prayer transitions the believer from learning to putting on by faith. Paul's cause is to not only educate the believers in the revelation of God but also speak the things that are becoming of the revelation. Because of Christ being at the right hand of God what does that mean for us? and what is to work in us? In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher expounds on where Christ, through the revelation given to Paul, is to dwell, how He is to dwell there, and the fruit that is to be produced.
Paul writes down two prayers in Ephesians 1) to know the Father, and 2) to have Christ dwell in your inner man for strength and fulness. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher explains the posture, structure, and substance of Paul's prayer at the end of chapter three. The believer in Christ must receive, learn, and believe in the knowledge of Christ Jesus but also that it would dwell in their hearts by faith. It is from the heart where the issues of life come from and it is His will, knowledge, and wisdom that ought to dwell there by faith.
By the faith of Jesus Christ, we have boldness and access with confidence. In Adam we were alienated, but in Christ we have access. Access is the foundational provision that grants us a relationship with God the Father through Christ. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher details the faith of Jesus Christ for our access and that the greatest fruit of our access and the ground of our boldness is the knowledge of God's eternal purpose in Christ Jesus.
One of the most emboldening doctrines is the eternal purpose of God in Christ. What is a purpose? How is God's purpose greater than all purposes? Can God fulfill His plan and purpose? and how? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher answers these questions and why Paul brings this up when he does.
The apostle Paul was given the grace to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. The responders to these riches are the vessels used to make all men see; however, God isn't only making things known to man, but to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher tracks the history of the principalities and powers in the heavenly places - their creation, fall, and devices of darkness and what the manifold wisdom consists of, and the glory of making it known unto them both the devil and his angels, and the holy and elect angels.
God hid the mystery in Himself although He revealed much to man from the beginning and even more to the principalities and powers from the beginning. Yet now as a result of revealing the mystery of Christ through Paul preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ and the fellowship of the mystery men see and the principalities and powers in the heavenly places know the manifold wisdom of God. In this sermon, Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher travels into "time past" to learn the history between the principalities and powers in the heavenly places with their darkness and the Gentiles. These Gentiles long steeped in darkness are whom Paul is sent to, given such riches, and of whom that believe are beneficiaries to show the rulers of darkness on high the glorious manifold wisdom of God.
The preaching of the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles would cultivate the fellowship of the mystery. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher draws out for the listener that God desires for all men to see the fellowship of the mystery. The Spirit enlightens our hearts and our fellowship works to enlighten all men toward Christ and salvation.
The collaboration of words "the revelation of the mystery of Christ" denotes that which God is, does, and planned, the means of making it known, and the substance of His eternal purpose. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher details Paul's review in chapter 3 of the truth set for in chapters 1-2. Here Paul seeks to pray for the Ephesians, but before he does so he, once again, goes over the ground of the revelation given to him. Also, Josh Strelecki explains the translation of the deep things of God to those whom Paul speaks and writes to, and the substance of that revelation of Jew and Gentiles as fellowheirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise by the gospel.
Paul's profile is important to understand concerning the stewardship that God gave Him over His house. The dispensation of the grace of God is highlighted in saving Paul, a Pharisee of the straightest sect, of which many abhorred the Gentiles, and then sending him to the Gentiles. In this sermon Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher examines these things and introduces some non-innocent Gentile history and the hostile territory Paul was sent into.
A stewardship over God's house was given to Paul as it concerns God's grace. In this sermon Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses Paul's role in God's cause, who it is for, and the understanding we can possess because of the revelation given to him.
The tabernacle and temple were physical structures given to Israel to see and build. God even provided the spirit of all workmanship for their construction. It would be the tabernacle and temple in which God would dwell in the midst of Israel, His presence would be manifest. Yet, the Davidic Covenant describes another house that David's Son, Jesus would build for God's name. This building would parallel as a vessel, but would be spiritual. This house would be a spiritual house. This spiritual house would be the hearts of men. This house doesn't neglect the truth of God's city and temple in the heavenly places made without hands, but is the place where Christ's fulness would extend. Join Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher in this lesson to learn of the glory of Christ's body being part of God's house in which He inhabits through the Spirit.
The household of God in Christ is the good pleasure of God's will counseled before the world began. A household in Christ comprised of a family and government that would dwell in heaven and on earth constituted the good pleasure of God's will in Christ. God would progressively reveal His plans for all the building. Such revelation would span from time past to but now to be fulfilled and commence in the ages to come. The Davidic Covenant set for the doctrine of the Christ; that is, from the seed of David God would come in flesh. David's son, yet David's Lord would build a spiritual house upon Himself for the LORD God. The revelation of this household consisted in promises and covenants with Israel on the earth as detailed in prophecy. Yet, what Israel, the sons of men, nor the angels knew that the household was even more grand than what had been revealed. The mystery of Christ consists of the grace of God by the cross revealing God's whole household for the heavenly places as well. In this lesson Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher tracks the progressive revelation of God's household.
We are to know the exceeding greatness of God's power wrought in Christ and we are able to know it from Ephesians 2:1-10. We are to know the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints and we are able to know it from Ephesians 2:11-18. We are to know the hope of His calling and we are able to know it from Ephesians 2:19-22. God's hope of His calling us with the power to accomplish it brings about His inheritance of a divine family and divine government in Christ. In this lesson Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher
God not only provided for peace in Christ, that is, by His blood, in His flesh, and by the cross, but Christ becomes our peace when we are reconciled unto God. The believers reconciliation unto God becomes the means of reconciliation among ourselves. Christ is our peace not only in that there is "one new man", but that we have been reconciled unto God "in one body." Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher gazes upon these things, as well as, introduces different contexts of "reconciliation".
Christ is the peace between Israelites and Gentiles that are in the body of Christ. How is He our peace. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses the progression of thought of how Christ is our peace. He is our peace by making both one. How did He make both one and when? He broke down the middle wall of partition having abolished in His flesh the law of commandments contained in ordinances.
The time past predicament of the Ephesian Gentiles was two-fold. They were dead in their trespasses and sins, but also they were aliens, strangers, and far off from God in the world. God suffered them to walk in their own ways and Israel God's promised great nation was not so great and wasn't the blessing she was called to be. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher in this lesson delves into the remedy, not found with Israel, but in Christ Jesus.
The Ephesians were just years prior to Paul's writing this epistle, Gentiles in the flesh. They were engaged in fulfilling the desires of the flesh waiting for God's pending wrath. They were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise. Their remedy dwelt within a nation in which did not carry out their calling toward them thus left to their ways in darkness without hope. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher develops the Gentile lot in time past, this lot in which God in Christ now has changed and altered which has resulted in the salvation of these Ephesians and ours.
The Ephesians time past plight wasn't only that they were dead in trespasses and sins but they were aliens and strangers from being able to do anything about it. Gentiles were willfully far off without God and Christ having no hope. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher traces the history of the Gentiles plight from Genesis 11 forward examining their idolatry, but also God's means of reconciling the earth through Abraham and his seed and great nation. Yet, Israel failed and enmity stood in the way between the Jews and the Gentiles. By the cross God would not only bring peace between the two.
Without Christ and God in the world are statements of a grave predicament. We that live later in the dispensation of grace maybe don't fully grasp the "no hope" plight Gentiles were in in time past. What constituted these Ephesians of being without Christ and God in the world in time past? How was it the Gentiles were had "no hope"? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher in this lesson begins to trace two threads important to understand this dismal position - 1) when God gave up, gave up, and gave over the Gentiles to their vain imagination, vile affections, and reprobate mind, and 2) God's remedy for the nations with Abram and the promises given to him and his seed, yet their failure to be the salt of the earth and light of the world and in turn hold such animosity toward the sinners of the Gentiles.
The Ephesians were not only dead in theirs sins, but also in the uncircumcision of their flesh. The Gentiles were judged by God and Israel was the channel of blessing. Yet, Israel's stiff-neck plugged the channel they were to be to the Gentiles by despising them. Therefore, the Ephesians were in dire straits. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses another time past predicament of these Ephesians that gives way to shew the exceeding greatness of His power and the means to have His inheritance in the saints.
Ephesians 2:10 encapsulates knowing the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, that is, we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Yet, His workmanship isn't only in the things He made us to be in Christ, but in the good works we are created unto. It is God that worketh in us to will and to do of His good pleasure. Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher teaches the nature and characteristics of good works. They are wrought in God not us - God alone is good and we are not therefore cannot do good. They were ordained before the world began thus after the Spirit and under grace and not after the flesh nor under the law. And good works stem not only from God, but also His wisdom contrary to the earthly, human wisdom of this world.
Ephesians 2:8-9 may be one of the most memorized verses by Christians - and rightly so. Yet, what is the relationship of the verses to its context? Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher addresses this question and delves into a contextual understanding of how one is saved and what one is saved from. Salvation is a work of God according to the exceeding greatness of His power that we are to know. Truly, salvation is "of God". He planned its provision, established the law of faith, Christ provided for redemption, God calls by the gospel, and all by His grace. When the individual believes in Christ through the word of truth, the gospel of salvation - God worketh that salvation toward the believer. He quickens, raises, and seats them in and with Christ. Such workmanship is peculiar, precise, and purposeful unto good works.
In time past, we were the children of God's wrath, vessels of His future shew of tribulation, indignation, and anguish. But God, when we believed the word of truth in Christ, by the exceeding greatness of His power and for His great love quickened, raised, and seated us together with and in Christ in the heavenly places that we may be His sons and daughters for His future shew of the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness for ages to come, world without end. Join Josh Strelecki, Pastor-Teacher as he delves into the vast differences of "this world", its' "children", and its pending "wrath" to that of "the world to come", God's "children", and His grace, kindness, and power.
We trusted in Christ after we heard the gospel of our salvation. God the Father first trusted in Christ when He put His entire eternal purpose in Christ.
The dispensation of the fulness of times is the stewardship of God under the head of His house the Lord Jesus Christ, when all is reconciled in the heaven and on earth, displayed and operating in a oneness together to the praise of His glory and grace.
The mystery of God's will that He has abounded toward us by making it known unto us has to do with His purpose in creating the governmental authority in heaven and on earth.
The mystery of His will is the fulness of His will of which He hadn't made known until He abounded toward the Gentiles through Paul's apostleship.
Redemption is birthed and established by the riches of God's grace and the provision to purchase those who believe that they may obtain that which God predestinated in Christ, the adoption of sons.
Redemption is the commending of His love for His great love to bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Redemption is the depth of God's great love that provides to work all things to His predestination of us, that is, the height of His great love. Redemption is God's wisdom in Christ how to be bought by God and to have access to all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
The only other time the expression "made us accepted" is used is with Mary. Gabriel says to Mary she is "highly favoured". She would be the earthen vessel to manifest excellent glory and power. We too have Christ in us, the hope of glory. God is making Himself manifest in our mortal, fleshly bodies today. Such is to the glory of His grace.
The blessing of the blessed Father of us with all spiritual blessings is rooted in God's will and the good pleasure thereof. Ephesians begins dealing with all that God the Father counseled in Christ and our benefit having been placed in Christ. In this lesson learn all this is God's good pleasure.
Receiving the adoption as those that have been redeemed in Christ Jesus is the highest expression of God's love which gives us access to the glory of the inheritance with Christ.
Understanding the things ordained before the world unto our glory in the world to come we must learn about that which eye hath not seen, nor ear heard - we must learn about what God predestinated. We also need to learn about predestination is and isn't.
Predestination is that which God determined to do before He did it - learn more in this lesson.
Being before Him in love is the full future condition of our relationship with God in Christ. Learn that God is love, love is of God, He manifests His love, and His love is perfect and we will be "before Him in love".
Being before God is no small feat. We attempt to be holy before Him ourselves we will be destroyed. Yet, God provided Christ for us to be in and thus be holy and without blame before Him. We are called with a holy calling not unto uncleanness, but unto cleanness. We are holy in Him and are to perfect holiness.
Christ is holy and we are chosen in Him that we would be holy and without blame. The chief attribute of God is He is holy, being holy before Him is staggering and the foundation of all that He purpose in Christ and us in Him.
God is holy and all that He plans in Christ must be holy. God chose us in Christ to be holy before Him, that is, suitable to His pleasing.
God's counsel established His purpose in Christ - thus Christ chosen and we (believers) in Him to fulfill His eternal purpose.
Understanding that God choose Christ and what God's purpose in Christ is aids our understanding of how we are chosen in Christ to be blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Him.
Understanding our own selection of God must first be understand of God's choosing of Christ, the Lord of glory.
Another introduction to understanding the blessings the body of Christ is blessed with. The genesis of such blessings were established in the counsel of God before anything was and imputed upon the individual upon faith in Christ. The kind of these blessings are spiritual and the extent to which God has provided them is told in the "all".
Another introduction to understanding the blessings the body of Christ is blessed with. The genesis of such blessings were established in the counsel of God before anything was and imputed upon the individual upon faith in Christ. The kind of these blessings are spiritual and the extent to which God has provided them is told in the "all".
Introduction to understanding the blessings the body of Christ is blessed with. The genesis of such blessings were established in the counsel of God before anything was and imputed upon the individual upon faith in Christ. The kind of these blessings are spiritual and the extent to which God has provided them is told in the "all".
The Father title of God communicates many things of which are love, family, and inheritance.