SEPARATING THE SPIRITUAL FROM THE PHYSICAL
THE HIDDEN MEANING
INTRODUCTION
In these next scriptures, we at VAL-TE’ believe is a gift from God, not earned though good works, and that God has a plan for our belief in Him, to live lives of service. And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Immanuel (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Immanuel, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Immanuel. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Immanuel for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2: 1-10 NKJV
Biblical Word
HOLY – Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11: 1-6 NIV
Reference
Galatians 2: 15-21 – Indeed, we are Jews by birth and not “Gentile sinners,” as they are called. Yet we know that a person is put right with God only through faith in Immanuel, never by doing what the Law requires. We, too, have believed in Immanuel in order to be put right with God through our faith in Immanuel, and not by doing what the Law requires. For no one is put right with God by doing what the Law requires. If, then, as we try to be put right with God by our union with Immanuel, we are found to be sinners, as much as the Gentiles are – does this mean that Immanuel is serving the cause of sin? By no means! If I start to rebuild the system of Law that I tore down, then I show myself to be someone who breaks the Law. So far as the Law is concerned, however, I am dead – killed by the Law itself – in order that I might live for God. I have been put to death with Immanuel on His cross, so that it is no longer I who live, but it is Immanuel who lives in me. This life that I live now, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave His life for me. I refuse to reject the grace of God. But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Immanuel died for nothing! GNT
Significance
Our Belief in God (A gift from God through faith) – We at VAL-TE’ also believe God prepared what He wanted us to do for Him long ago. God’s initiative in drawing us into the care of His people, addresses our motivations, and takes into account both our limitations as well as God’s ability to cause significant, often positive change to people’s outlooks and behaviors. He designed us, His people, to have a purpose. We belong to our Creator, and He designed us to have faith that He exists, who gather to support one another in service to God, bounce thoughts and ideas off one another, give compassion and moral support, and generally share our journey.
