The Activity of the Spirit in the Church, Part 49

The Activity of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Church Age believers, part 49.

When we look at the big picture of Ephesians, that with which all is being filled, and the fullness, is CHRIST!!!

And that fullness is manifested by our loving one another as Christ has loved us.

What is that one great final purpose toward which God’s entire activity and plan for us is proceeding?

We were originally made in the image and likeness of God, and now we are being conformed into the image of God’s Son!
Eph 1:9-10; Rom 8:28-29.

Did you know that the book of Colossians has a passage which bears striking similarity to Ephesians 4 and 5 ?

I hope you can see the parallels between Col 3 and Ephesians 4 and 5, because they are many.

We have the putting aside of the same evil practices:
Immorality, impurity and greed (Eph 5:3)
These things adding up to idolatry (Eph 5:5)

Anger, wrath, malice and slander (Eph 4:31)
Abusive speech (Eph 4:29, 5:4)
Lying (Eph 4:25)

We have the same…
putting on love for the purpose of unity (Eph 4:2-3, 5:2)

putting off the old man and putting on the new. (Eph 4:22-24)

We have the same…
renewing of the mind. (Eph 4:23)

new man created by God. (Eph 4:24)

We have the same…

putting on humility, gentleness and patience (Eph 4:2)

We have the same teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God (Eph 5:19)

We have the same giving thanks through Christ to God the Father (Eph 5:20)

We then have the series of commands beginning with wives being subject to their husbands (Eph 5:22) and going on to husbands, children and slaves.

The things which - but for the similar pictures - might seem to be different are really related in a wonderful way that sheds new light on both of them.

In both passages, right before the psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, we are given a COMMAND.

Eph 5:18
be filled with the Spirit,
Col 3:16
Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you,

The Spirit and the Word are a team.

The Spirit speaks Bible. The Word comes alive when the Spirit gets a hold of it in our hearts.

Both are working together to conform us to the image of Christ, 2Co 3:17-18.

The members of His body are here to be His fullness corporately in this world, and so we are the beneficiaries of the same gift of the Spirit without measure.

2Co 13:14
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit being with us all is a matter of the relationship of believers in the Holy Spirit.

One of the great objects of the devil is to destroy the life of the Lord’s people by getting them separated, isolated.

Mat 18:20
“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”