Excellent Sealed Peter
The cleaning of the church in Ephesus (the washing of water)
Many believe that the church in Ephesus (the church is the membership) was cleansed of sin by faith based on the teachings of their denomination and the passing of famous Ephesus in chapter 2, verses 8 and 9, "For by grace are ye saved through of faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast. "(NAS) Many, many passages of the New Testament teaches that salvation is a matter of God (grace Acts 15:11, Rom. 3:24, Gal. 2:21, 5:4, Eph. 1:7, 2:5, 2 Thess. 2:16, 2 Tim . 1:9, Titus 2: 11, Titus 3:7, 1 Peter 1:10, 1 Peter 1:13). I've listed most of them here so the reader knows that I am well aware of them.
I might also add here I am grateful that is that way. If salvation were of works of a man may well fall short (the Bible teaches it – see Gal. 3:21). He has to worry continuously about what works (do not know that all I do), I've done enough, I did pretty well for the pass the test. Almost everyone has participated in efforts work in our lives where we gave our best, worked as hard as we could, and yet at the end. Every time you watch a ball game to someone who has worked hard falls short and lose. Many a man or a woman has given everything on the job and then released. Many more examples that the student has worked hard to prepare of a test and no. How many can be offered? So, yes, I think everybody is pleased salvation is a matter of God's grace.
The grace of God gives us as a result of the faith we possess. "So, justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we live. "(Romans 5:1-2 NAS)" For by grace are ye saved through faith. "(Ephesians 2:8 NAS) There are many other passages of the teaching that we are saved by faith. Here's a good number of them: John 3:14-16, John 8:24, John 11:25-26, John 20:31, Acts 16:31, Rom. 10:9, 1 Cor. 1:21, Gal. 3:22, 1 Tim. 1:16, Heb. 11:6, 1 John 5:13, Rom. 3:26, 28, 30, 5:1, 11:20, Gal. 2:16, 3:24, 26, Eph. 2:8, Philippians 3:9, 1 Peter 1:9. These were again the list that the reader may know that I am fully aware of them.
The question arises, however, is what he is justifying faith? I'm not asking what the object of faith is that we know and agree on it. I am wondering what is the nature of that faith. Most today are convinced (and have been since the Reformation), which is simply a state of mind in connection with a belief is in Jesus, that is, and what he has accomplished for us. It is mental assent to the teachings of Scripture about him. This is the faith that saves is said. I agree with that, so far, but he stops short, too short. The hell do you think (do you know) Who was Jesus (Matthew 8:29, Mark 1:34, Luke 4:41).
One must not only believe what the Scriptures teach about Jesus, which was, what he accomplished for us, but also faith commits us to believe that the man himself believe what he said and act accordingly. If faith does not rise to the action is dead faith (James 2:17). James says it is "useless." (James 2:20 NAS) Even in this world with regard to worldly affairs How can we say we have faith in a man when You Are Not going to take the man of his word?
The faith of the Ephesians that had led to its purification sin is their faith in what Jesus taught. Paul was a man inspired, but the Holy Spirit, if he speaks through Paul, or any other apostle or first-century prophet will not speak on his own initiative. "Why not speak on His own initiative, but whatever he hears, he will speak … it will take of Mine, and will disclose it to you. "(John 16:13-14 NAS – the words of Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit) Thus, the Holy Spirit spoke the words of Jesus. No one knows who first Gospel to Ephesus, but we can be certain in view of the fact that Paul is addressing those whom he writes the book as "saints" they were taught the truth and obeyed. Who was your teacher? Jesus: "But you did not learn Christ in this way, if you listened." (Ephesians 4:20-21 NAS) He, the master was Christ.
Paul said later in the book of Ephesians that Jesus cleansed the church by the washing of water by the word. "(Ephesians 5:25 NAS) Who was cleared of that? What Paul said that before had been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). Washing water with the word is clearly a reference to baptism. What did Jesus teach about baptism? "He who has believed and is baptized shall be saved. "(Mark 16:16 NAS) He who is born of water and the Spirit, he can enter the kingdom of God. "(John 3:5 NAS)
John 3:5 and Eph. 5:25 teaches basically the same thing. The Spirit gave the word. The Spirit working through the word works in our spirit, if we allow change our thinking, our attitudes, our desires, our will bring us to where we are willing to put the old man who was with us to death and be baptized arise in "newness of life." (Romans 6:4 NAS) to be cleansed by the washing of water by the word is the same man be born of water and the Spirit. Moreover, in the writings of the church and the kingdom in general, not always but usually are interchangeable terms. Peter received the keys of the kingdom. When using the keys preaching the gospel on Pentecost in Acts 2, when people believed and obeyed were added to the church – one and the same.
Were Ephesians saved by grace through faith "before" they were cleaned? Let me quote this passage in its entirety. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. "(Ephesians 5:25-26 NAS) What was the church (the church members), if not clean of sin? Can one be saved without being cleansed from sin? They were saved by grace through faith when cleaned by the washing of water by the word. that washing is done by the "obedience of faith." (Rom. 1:5 NAS) Paul said he had received grace and apostleship "to secure the obedience of faith among all nations." (Rom. 1:5 NAS)
Paul himself, of course, a church member, was told its own conversion, "Why did it take? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling his name." (Acts 22:16 NAS) Paul had experienced washing himself and for the same reason that the church had in Ephesus. No, the water itself can not wash away sins, which is not in itself, but can, if God has taken the decision that this is the time and place where it will act in response to man's faith. Some have said it is a test of faith and not argue with them.
Naaman in the Old Testament, "was furious" (2 Kings 5:11 KJV) when told he had to go and wash 7 times in the Jordan to be cured of his leprosy. I did not want do it that way. Their faith had led him so far to Elisha, and that it should be enough. Elisha just get out and "stand and call on the name the Lord your God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure leprosy. "(2 Kings 5:11 KJV) The obedience of faith had no place in his thought. One is reminded of today day.
No, the water of Jordan, he had magical powers, but faith in what God told Naaman through God's prophet Elisha to do, a faith strong enough to get to act, simply because God told him to do it was faith that made the difference. Naaman is an excellent example of an experienced man Two types of faith. The first one failed in achieving its objective. The second took him on his trip to a clean house. So it is today in the spiritual world with the baptism.
There are two types of faith in what is commonly known as Christianity which refers to our salvation. He says he is going to stop here (at the point of faith – mental assent) and do it this way, we have gone far enough, let God do the rest while the other says that God said to do it (baptism) for this reason (the reference of sins – Acts 2:38), I believe him, and I'll do what I say because I believe. Both have faith but it is clear that faith is not the same.
One also has to ask the question if Paul did not consider baptism to salvation by works, why us? I do not know that I have heard a direct answer to that question? Paul tells to the Ephesians that have been saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) and then tells them both that they are cleansed by the washing of water by the word (Ephesians 5:26). Do not miss anything, do not seem in the least to feel that he has contradicted himself, so why should we believe that the two passages are contradictory, and we feel that we must try to explain it, one way or another, that washing water is baptism?
But there is more to the point test I'm doing. In Eph. 1:7 Paul says, "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins according to the riches of His grace." (NAS) is a reference in it obviously Jesus, who shed his blood for us. How do you enter it, in Christ? Gal. 3:27 says that "we have been baptized into Christ" and does Rom. 6:3, "Know ye not that all who have been baptized into Christ Jesus." I know of no New Testament passage anywhere that tells us how to get Christ through baptism differently.
If you were to start through the book of Ephesians and start dialing on each step you get to talking about different things that are "therein", "in Christ", "The Beloved," here is something that could come to: (1) every spiritual blessing – Eph. 1:3, (2) grace – Eph. 1:6, (3) Redemption – Ep. 1:7, (4) an inheritance – Eph. 1:10-11, (5) sealed with the Holy Spirit – Eph. 1:13, (6) we sat on the heavenly places – Eph. 2:6, (7) kindness toward us – Eph. 2:7, (8) of its workforce – Ep. 2:10, (9) are made nigh by the blood of Christ – Eph. 2:13, (10) participants the promise – Ep. 3:6. But it should be noted that these goods are found not only in Christ. "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed themselves Christ. "(Galatians 3:27 NAS) How can we enter into Christ? By baptism. If one is put on Christ (baptism again) are you in Christ?
Paul says elsewhere in the book of Ephesians, "we are members of his body." (Eph. 5:30 NAS) But then Paul says in 1 Cor. 12:13 how to get into that body, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." (NAS) What is Christ the Lord according to Paul in Ephesians? "For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is head of the church, he is the Savior of the body. "(Ephesians 5: 23 NAS) This is the same body that are baptized into, if we in it, because it is the only way to give the deed to get into it – not only by baptism, but by the obedience of faith that is in baptism.
Where is grace? "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 2:1 NAS) Paul tells the Ephesians that this grace is "poured upon us in the Beloved. "(Ephesians 1:6 NAS) Again, how can we get in Christ, the Beloved, in accordance with the Scriptures? We have answered that above. When one is led to believe by faith that Jesus and obey Him in baptism for the forgiveness of sins that Christ enters in the kingdom of grace, he is saved.
In the book of Acts chapter 19 Paul comes to Ephesus and found 12 men who are not disciples. They are asked this question: "Was the Holy Spirit when you believed? "(Acts 19:2 NAS), say no and had not heard of the Holy Spirit. Then Paul says," Well, what you baptized? "(Acts 19:3 NAS) Keep in mind one thing – Paul assumes that if they were Christians who had been baptized. It asks them whether they have been baptized. Why Why not? Paul did not ask because he knows what it takes to be a Christian and be saved. "Why did you stop?" Arise and be baptized, and wash your sins. "(Acts 22:16 KJV, Ananias about Saul, a believer, before the baptism of Saul)
You should also take note of the first Paul did with these 12 men after learning of his situation was to have them "baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus." (Acts 19:5 NAS) Yes, Paul taught baptism in Ephesus. Paul stayed in Ephesus at least 2 years (see Acts 19:10) after this event so that when Paul said more Later in Ephesians that the church was cleaned by the washing of water by the word no doubt knew from personal experience, everything about the baptism in Ephesus. There is no such thing as a Christian baptized by Jesus commanded in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) that all the disciples to be baptized. Paul is baptized will be handled personally or who were baptized by one or more of those who helped with the work. Either that or disobeyed Christ to disciple is what Christ said he did not need to be baptized?
Faith is not only something that was thought, but obeyed. One must obey the Gospel to be saved (2 Thess. 1:7-8). In a sense, the Gospel is the faith (Jude 3), is that the body of doctrine that we are to believe, but within that body of doctrine that is the faith that there are things that must be obeyed and believed. Besides mental assent to truth about Jesus, as revealed in scripture must repent of their sins (Acts 17:30), we must confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus (Romans 10:9-10), and one must be baptized in Christ, baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Gal. 3:27). The faith, the faith that saves, not a dead faith, but active. It is by faith that a man do these things by faith, because he heard God's words and believed enough to take them to heart and obey.
Do not be fooled. A person he does not believe in Jesus who said: "Whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16 NAS), but believe the man who says, "He who believes and has not been baptized shall be saved "is not a man of faith. He may think he is but if so, one can clearly ignore the words of Jesus as essential to faith. I asked this question before, but never got a response. If Jesus wanted the man knows that baptism is essential for the remission of sins, how stated in a way to get the man to understand? He could not say, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins "(Acts 2:38 KJV) because it has been said that men and not accept it. How could he say that in order to make clear and simple enough for everyone could understand? No one has answered the question. The truth is that Jesus has said as clearly as may be declared by mere words alone. The men accept it or reject it and therefore be judged.
Having been cleaned in the washing of water by the word? Will you be one of the saints in Ephesus, Paul wrote or are you going to be another unknown kind of Christian church in Ephesus and in fear of the unknown God in the last day?
About the Author
Denny Smith’s articles are all listed on his web site – dennysmith.net – along with many audio sermons by Waymon Swain. There are also links that will take you to hundreds of other articles and audio sermons found on other recommended sites.
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