Lesson 2095

(Lesson 2095)(08-31-17)  Ephesians 4:9-16
    “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill 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 the 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, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”
    The point of today’s lesson is that before the church could become a whole, properfully functioning body, its members were (and still are) required to abandon all their misbeliefs and false doctrines. Then, they were required to have their minds (spirits) fully renewed by learning of the perfection and eternal salvation through faith in the life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, therethrough becoming worthy as properly functioning parts of the body (Christ’s church).
    For any lost soul to attain eternal salvation and become a member of the body of Christ, that one must recognize, and admit, that he/she is condemned by the sin of Adam and incapable of living the perfection required for reunition with God the Father. One must then confess their sin and accept, through faith, the blood of a perfect Jesus Christ as a sacrifice for the remittance of ALL sin. Once that is accomplished, that person is an eternal member of the body of Christ and therein sealed by the power of the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption.~