Rita Futrell

If we're serious about interpretation of scripture, we have to keep it in context, wherein a lot of factors come into play. The context is referring spiritually to us as citizens of the household of God and the picture here is a "building" or "dwelling place" of God just as when Paul speaks about the edification of the church in Cor. the picture is also "building up" as in a structure. Preceding verse 19, however, he is speaking about Israel and the Gentiles being made into one "new man". Then in v. 20 he continues after saying that we are fellow citizens of God's household "having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Himself being the cornerstone." It is an analogy coming together - v. 21 in whom the whole building is growing (present tense) into a a holy temple in the Lord in whom you also are being built (present tense) together into a dwellling of God in the Spirit. It's a picture of the developing universal church as a dwelling place of God.There is no substitute for following the Spirit as he leads and speaks his peace to our hearts. Hopefully, we are encouraged and edified when we come together locally, but I have also experienced the opposite. The writers of Hebrews says not to forsake the assembling of themselves together, but, again in context, he was speaking to a group of believers who was under some serious persecution to go back under the law, posing a threat to their faith in the new covenant they were now under and, as he was encouraging them, he desired that they encourage one another. The writer felt they needed support and instruction. Other than that, I know of no other "implications for those who aren't faithful" and I deeply resent anyone who would put a guilt trip on us because they are misguided themselves or have a personal agenda. Galations has a lot to say about standing our ground in the freedom Christ purchased for us and scripture says to let his "peace" be our mediator. However, it seems that we sometimes have to do a lot of struggling with the law before we let go of it, depending largely, I think, on the degree of influence of incorrect thinking and teaching and other exposure.

Praise is our catalyst for victory. The Lord wants us to pour out our heart to him, as David did, and then His Spirit, indwelling in us, is caught up in praise. It is the Lord's new covenant "sacrifice" if you will.

Holiness is sanctification which is to be set apart to God and the resultant state and I think it refers to the universal church, not "a" church. And however the Lord works it out , I believe it is a done deal because of his sacrifice for us and our acceptance of that sacrifice and his operation and orchestration as head of the church It is as sure, I believe, as we are presently seated in the heavenlies, though in our space and time, we appear not to be. We aren't saved by grace and kept by works or performance, and I believe it is a work of grace by the Spirit, a state predetermined by God for believers. If we're legalistic and judgmental, we're in need of a revelation of the Lord himself, just as the Pharises were. I personally find that the more I focus on myself and my behavior, the more I revert back to legalism so I don't think it's healthy to be judgmental toward ourselves either. Phillipians says that Jesus is faithful to finish in us what he has started. There's no more wonderful place to be than when we can rest in that.

Q1. For one, we become planted and more secure in who we are, his character and where we stand with him, deepening and developing our relationship with him. (It was also Paul's prayer that he would "know" him and the power of his resurrection.) Thus, when he begins to make his love revelation to us it enables us to view things from his perspective. Q2. Is there is a "spiritual life"? In my mind Christ "is" our life because he lives through us, in all our intended diversity, and we are simply spiritual beings. We go through a maturation process of being changed from "glory to glory" as we "behold him", and that being from the Spirit. (Somewhere in Corinthians.) Q3. He has assured us that nothing can separate us from his love.

Jesus said to the religious leaders of his day, who knew the scripture systematically, forward and backward: "Ye search the scriptures because in them ye think ye have eternal life, and while it is they that bear witness of me, you will not come to me." (Partly my paraphrase, but the meaning is clear, he is a living, breathing, personable God, who wants you to come to Him in a relationship.) The old testament records that Enoch, who had no scriptures at all, "walked" with God and God took him. The early churches had little, if any scripture, and many were illiterate. They, however, experienced power unheard of in institutionalized religion today, and I have to believe they matured, just like we true believers do today, by the power of the Holy Spirit. God says his word won't return unto him void, and it will not, but the God I know cannot be limited or put in a box and I fear too much systemization of anything easily turns into legalism. It has been my experience that when I was most heavily in the Bible I was trying to pin God down and searching for"the" answers. Now I find that he's God, I'm not, and he is most happy to share with me any answers that he believes I need, when he believes I need them. In the meantime, I just get to enjoy life, and that's freedom. It's the freedom Christ died for and intended for us, His Bride, when he said, you're gonna find that my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Praise Jesus!! He's such a big, awesome God who became simple enough to come in flesh and identify with us, because of his indescribable love. Rita

Hi! I'm Rita Futrell, 46, mother of two sons, 16 & 21 and reside in a small community in Western Kentucky. I am a full time homemaker, happily married now 29 years. I spent the first half of my Christian life studying the Bible and trying to "pin the Lord down", now I'm just learning to enjoy him and I am experiencing so much joy as I believe He reveals himself to me. I am particularly drawn toward the edification, exhortation and consolation of the Church. I tripped up on this site doing a search on Ephesians 5:26. I'm not sure how I got in here or how to get out.

I believe the Spirit has triggered my curiosity on this particular scripture and from my studies it appears to be one of a great deal of speculation. I am leaning toward "cleansed her by the washing of water" as being used in the same sense as the cross reference Titus 3:5, "washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit" rather than having anything to do with physical baptism since we know the Church is made of more than those who have been. "With the word" either refers to the written word or possibly "rhema", which is the revealed word spoken as it is heard from the Holy Spirit. My NASB Study Bible gives cross references to Jesus with the disciples where He tells them they are clean "because of the word which I have spoken to you", so I am inclined to believe perhaps it is "rhema" and not the written word at all. I believe the church is in a continual state of "baptism" by the Holy Spirit and the way it plays out is through the individual members contributing, through their personal relationship with the Lord, what he or she has to offer. (Spiritually -- I am not referring to works.) Paul sets a decorum for this I believe in I Cor. 14:26 and he says, let all things be done for edification, i.e. spiritual growth, true? The assumption is made in the latter part of the question that "word" here is referring to the written word, but it clearly states that it is the love of God and not wrath that brings about repentence. I believe this is what the Lord may be saying to me about Ephesians 5:26.