Seated with Christ

In Ephesians chapter 2 we see something critical about our salvation.
Verses 1-3 describe fallen humanity’s place before God as being: “Dead in Trespasses and sins.”
We lived our lives according to three basic authorities:
the world system
The Power of the Devil,
And, The Sin Nature
This passage sums up our state saying: “we were by nature children of wrath.”
The words “But God” in verse 4 turn the corner.
We learn about God’s possessions: He has a wealth of mercy
We learn His motivation: love
Finally, We learn God’s method: He spiritually brought us “together with” Jesus Christ.
These three “together” statements are of special importance to every believer.
When Jesus was raised from the dead – So were you.
When Jesus was ascended to heaven – So were you.
And now that Jesus is seated in Heaven so are you.
We will spend all eternity growing in understanding and amazement of His grace and goodness towards us in Christ. And that process doesn’t start later…it started the minute you trusted in Jesus.
This has been a minute for the Bible – thanks for listening

Good Health

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Hello and welcome to a Minute for the Bible
In Titus 2:1 Paul is giving Titus instructions for establishing and encouraging churches. He writes:
But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine…
Titus is told to teach them verbally (Speak to them), and the content is to be what is proper for sound doctrine. The word translated “sound” translates the Greek word:
ὑγιαίνω
and is where we get our English word Hygiene – which we use to talk about cleanliness.
Hugiano, however, means “to be in good health”.
What we believe, teach and say is very important. Those things in keeping with the word of God will bring spiritual health and vitality to those who hear. By contrast, those things which are not in keeping with the truth of God’s word will bring spiritual malady upon the one who receives it. Put another way, our words can be healthy, delicious spiritual fruits and veggies or spiritual cyanide.
As we consider the things that we say today we might ask ourselves – “Will saying this encoruage others to good health in Christ?”
This has been a Minute for the Bible – thanks for Listening!

Federal Headship

Romans 5:15 tells us, “But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.” [NASB]
The idea of a federal head is that one person represents many. A president represents an entire nation in one person – even if the people don’t like it. Adam – and then Noah – represented the entirety of mankind’s genetic lineage. They were bound to sin and they could not revert to a federal headship that included righteousness.
That’s why we needed Jesus to come as fully God and fully man. He broke from Adam’s federal headship and created a new, perfect headship in His resurrection
Ephesians 2:6 tells us that when we believe in Jesus Christ as our savior we are born again a new creation in Christ. His grace truly does abound to the many – to all who believe.