Whereby In Christ Jesus, We Are Sealed Unto The Day Of Redemption - Part 2450

"This, I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:1-32)

Continuing from the last post, we understand apostle Paul's encouragement to continue faithfully in the Lord, and His specific instructions to put on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. That when we repent and are water baptized in the precious, holy Name of the Lord Jesus, we are no longer walking in the vanity of our minds, having our understanding darkened because of our alienation from the life of God, that invariably leads to uncleanness with greediness, and lasciviousness.

Rather, that as believers we testify in the Lord -- in both word and deed, having heard and being taught by Him. Paul goes onto inform that there is only one truth -- the absolute truth in Jesus, and that when we are renewed in the spirit of our mind, and put on the new man we become willing to work with our hands the thing which is good.

" ... but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs." (Ephesians 4:38)

But apostle Paul - wasn't he a tent maker? And what about the scripture that states," ... that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (II Thessalonians 3:10) Know that there will always be a counter argument to working with your hands the things which are good, and the understanding that when we give to him/her that needs, the Lord Jesus does the multiplication. [Or that His multiplication process is not hindered by the boundaries of math in this world.] The example -- when Jesus fed the five thousand men (plus women and children) from the offering of a young lad who gave Jesus his five loaves and two fishes.  

As food for thought -- what if the tents that apostle Paul made were used to house the homeless, the widows and orphans? 

Let's look at II Thessalonians 3 as well -- but this time in context.

"Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the Word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

Now we command you, brethren, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.

Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread. But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy but admonish him as a brother.

Now the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." (II Thessalonians 3:1-18)

As we note here, apostle Paul was an ensample to us -- labouring with travail night and day in preaching the good news gospel to one and all. And in so doing, Paul encourages the believing community not to become weary in well-doing (or as we've often said here -- becoming the flow-through for the Lord -- His abundant love flowing through us to others).

Then saith Jesus unto His disciples, "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest." (Matthew 9:37-38)

Perhaps, called to be labourers for the good news gospel of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ? Obviously, this subject is not as cut and dry as this might initially indicate. Nevertheless, we should recognize that in Christ Jesus, we are sealed unto the day of redemption, and that He never fails us.

Below is yet another scripture, from the prophet Isaiah, that might offer sone insight for our further edification and learning, knowing that the Lord has not called us to be makers of idols.

Thus saith the Lord, "The labour of Egypt, and merchandise of Ethiopia and of the Sabeans, men of stature, shall come over unto thee, and they shall be thine: they shall come after thee; in chains they shall come over, and they shall fall down unto thee, they shall make supplication unto thee, saying, "Surely God [is] in thee; and there is none else, [there is] no God. Verily, Thou [art] a God that hides thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. They shall be ashamed, and also confounded, all of them: they shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols." (Isaiah 45:14-16)

Stand in the offering plate.