Speak the Truth in Love

Dearly beloved of God, the first revelation addressed to the Church of the Grace of God is the book of Romans. It is foundational doctrine that lays out what Jesus Christ’s accomplishments mean to those who believe in him.

Doctrine is teaching that sets the standard for what we are to believe. Faith [Greek: pistis: believing] comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God [see Romans 10:17].

The doctrine is given from Romans 3:21- 8:39.

Romans 12-15 deals with our practice of the doctrine. As individuals from both Judeans and from the Gentiles who believe in Jesus Christ we are to present ourselves to God as living sacrifices; those who live to do the will of God. We are to be transformed by renewing our minds to the doctrine revealed in Romans 3:21- 8:39 and live in the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation.

The book of Ephesians is the capstone of truth concerning God’s purpose in Christ. It sets forth the revelation of the mystery of God, which reveals that God took people from both the Judeans and the Gentiles who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead to make a new group; the body of Christ, the Church.

Christ Jesus is the Lord and head of this body. Christ and the members are a joint body, they are joint heirs, and every member is a joint partaker of God’s promise in Christ according to God’s gospel concerning Christ.

Ephesians reveals our association with Christ not as the Savior, but our identification with him in his resurrection, ascension, seating in the heavenlies, and glorification with him when he appears. It reveals that in Christ, God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm.

The practical section begins in 4:1 and concludes at the end of chapter 6. Chapter 4 reveals how we are to walk worthily in the calling wherewith God called us in Christ.

Verses 4-6 reveals the unity that is from the spirit. People did not make this unity; God made the unity in the new birth and we are to make an all out effort to guard it.

God did not make 10,000 denominations; He made one body in Christ.

Each member is filled with the same spirit, the spirit of sonship.

There is only one hope of our calling, which is set forth in 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

There is one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. God made him both Lord and Christ.

The is one faith, that is one right way of believing; believing what God reveals that we are to believe.

There is one baptism, the baptism that Jesus Christ came to make available; the baptism of the holy spirit.

There is one God and Father of all, who is above all, through all, and in you all.

God made this unity in which He called us, and we are to keep it in the uniting bond of peace.

Dearly beloved, we are to speak the truth in love so that the members may grow up into Christ in all things. Christ is the head of this body, and from him the whole body is fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies according to the effectual working in the measure of every part makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We are to be followers of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ walked, to walk as children of the light, to walk accurately, and to walk in the lordship of Jesus Christ in all our relationships with one another.

In Christ, we are seated in the heavenlies in him and that is where we wrestle with the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits from on high.

God instructs us to put on the whole armor of God so we can withstand the evil and having done all, when Christ returns, to stand at the Bema. The armor is set forth and described in 6:11-18.

Dearly beloved, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might; this is how we overcome the adversary. Our citizenship is in the heavenly realm from where we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ who shall change our vile bodies to be like his glorious body by his vast power when he returns for us in the air.

As you have received Jesus Christ the Lord, so walk in him, dearly beloved; walk in his accomplishments by believing. He is the head of all principality and power, and we are complete in him, completely filled with everything he accomplished. He is coming!