Posted by Searcher
on 7/1/2009, 8:15 pm, in reply to "Turning to Ephesians 2"
75.104.128.56
Dear Ray,
There is no reason to ever use the unscriptural term, "spiritual death". These are man's words, not God's words.
In Ephesians 2, it says we were "dead in trespasses". All men are dead in their trespasses until they gain faith and understanding. The wages of sin are death. This has not changed. We all must die. Those in Christ will sleep in their graves until they are resurrected. Some who are still alive when He comes will be "changed". (as spoken of during the Acts administration)
Unbelievers are not given eternal life. They perish.
1Cor 15:17,18
And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they ALSO which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
Only Christ has resurrection power to raise us from the grave. Eternal life is dependent on belief in Him.
The resurrection spoken of in Ephesians 2:5,6 is so sure that in God's eyes we are already considered to be raised up together and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ. Does this mean we do not die, but are immediately raised to life? No. We are not told the actual timing of our resurrection except that when He appears, we will appear with Him. The only One Who has ascended to the highest of heavens at this time is Christ Himself. When is our resurrection? All we know is it will be "in His times". 2Tim 15,16. At present, only the Lord has immortality.
Col 3:1-4
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Titus 2:11-13
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
The parable of the prodigal son is not the same truth as that found in Ephesians 2. The return of the prodigal son illustrates the joy God our Father feels when one who was lost is found (i.e., turns to Him). Those who, like the Pharisees, think they can save themselves by their own works and therefore have no need of being saved, have turned away and rejected God. The man who knows that he is a sinner and cannot save himself and therefore seeks out Christ, will be found.
Notice the words of the prodigal son who had been given up as dead by his father, Luke 15:18, "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants." This son is contrite and humble and repents of his sins. He turns to his father asking to be a servant in his father's house. There is no arrogance or hypocrisy.
Psalms 34:18
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
James 4:6
But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
Searcher
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