A Digital Newsletter from Living Stream Ministry
According to [Ephesians] 5:26, Christ gave Himself up for the church so that “He might sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing of the water in the word.” After the Lord Jesus gave Himself for us in the flesh, He was resurrected and in resurrection became the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45). As the life-giving Spirit, He is the speaking Spirit.
Whatever He speaks is the word that washes us. The Greek word rendered “word” in Ephesians 5:26 is…rhema, which denotes the instant word, the word the Lord presently speaks to us. As the life-giving Spirit, the Lord is not silent; He is constantly speaking.
God’s way in His economy is not to change us outwardly. His way is for Christ to give Himself up for us and then to come into us as the life-giving Spirit. In a very practical sense, the Lord’s presence is one with His speaking. Whenever He speaks, we realize His presence within us. This speaking of the life-giving Spirit within is the water that cleanses our inner being. This cleansing water deposits a new element into us to replace the old element in our nature and disposition. This metabolic cleansing causes a genuine change in life. This change is what we mean by transformation. Outward correction has no value. What the church needs is the inward metabolic cleansing that comes from allowing Christ as the life-giving Spirit to be our life and our person. (Life-study of Ephesians, second edition, pp. 465-467)
God’s economy is “according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God” (1 Tim. 1:11)…This gospel not only brings good news concerning forgiveness of sins and justification by faith; the gospel of glory is the gospel of God’s economy. Glory is God expressed. Thus, the gospel of glory is the gospel of the expressed God; it is a gospel that expresses God’s glory.
The gospel of the glory of the blessed God is an excellent expression. It refers to God’s economy mentioned in verse 4. The gospel with which the apostle Paul was entrusted is the effulgence of the glory of the blessed God. By dispensing God’s life and nature in Christ into His chosen people, this gospel shines forth God’s glory, in which God is blessed among His people. This is the commission and ministry the apostle received of the Lord (v. 12). This should be commonly taught and preached in a local church.
In verse 17 Paul says, “Now to the King of the ages, incorruptible, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” This word needs to be understood in relation to the decline of the church. When Paul was in prison, the churches began to decline, and the situation was very disappointing. Many were discouraged. Even some of Paul’s coworkers left him. But he had a strong faith with an absolute assurance that the very God in whom he believed, the One who had entrusted him with the gospel of glory, is the King of the ages. He never changes. (Life-study of 1 Timothy, second edition, pp. 12-13, 15)
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