Ephesians 2- Part 2

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Study and learn. Be changed.  Ephesians 2 Made Alive in Christ 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not
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No news is good news...

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"Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you" ( Romans 16:19-20 )

God never intended for us to know about evil. In the beginning, God created everything in the universe.  Viewing his creation, He called it good. Then, Eve was deceived by Satan.  Satan used her curiosity about evil (being “like God”) to trick her into thinking she would be better off if she knew what evil was. Mankind has paid the price ever since.. When they ate of the forbidden tree, their eyes were open to the knowledge of good and evil.  Never were we all at peace again.   So, in Romans,  Paul  gives us theological knowledge needed for the Christian life as well as practical advice for living the Christ-cantered life.  We are to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. He is saying the best defense against sin and corruption is a good offense. We are to be wise and knowledgeable about what is good. Meaning we should know good and live that way. In the same way we are to be innocent to the  evil in the word. In other words, we should stay away from it, having nothing to do with it.

  
The next question we should ask is what is the good that we should be thinking on? Paul said in Colossians, "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God" ( Colossians 3:1-3 ). As we think on eternal, good things, the results will be an overflow in the way we live our lives.

  For me, I feel that I should not watch the daily news.  I do not believe this is the way everyone should live.  I get the news “filtered” through my husband.  He tells me the important things that need to be known.  There are cruel parents, cruel strangers ..who do cruel things.  Sometimes believers think they need to know about daily news so that they know how to pray for  the hurting people in the world.  The specifics don’t  need to be known by me.  I already know that there are many hurting people who need to be prayed for.  God knows who they are....specifically.  We don’t have to know the specifics of evil to pray for the hurting people around the world.   Something to think about.....

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