'The Quality of Love' - Ephesians 6:24

[charity]

'Grace be with all them
that love our Lord Jesus Christ
in sincerity (ie., genuineness).
Amen. '
(Eph 6:24)

Hello there,

This little verse at the very end of Ephesians does not look as though it warrants a thread to be started in relation to it: but I would like to share something I learned in connection with it's wording.

The English word 'sincerity' has the meaning of 'honesty' and 'without hypocrisy', and if that were the meaning intended there are other words that would have been used, eg., 'eilikrineia' (G1505) meaning clearness, pureness, as judged of in the sunlight (1 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 1:12 & 2:17); or, 'eilikrines' (G1506) - meaning 'tested as geniune' (Philippians 1:10, 2 Peter 3:1); or, 'gnesios' meaning 'genuine' (G1103) ( 2 Corinthians 8:8 & Philippians 4:3) translated 'sincerity' and 'true'.

The Greek word translated, 'sincerity' in Ephesians 6:24, is 'aphtharsia' (G861): meaning 'incorruptibility'; generally 'unending existence'; and only figuratively does it have the meaning of genuineness; and as both a noun and an adjective it is translated. 'immortality', 'incorruption' and 'sincerity'. It is translated 'sincerity' also in Titus 2:7:-

'Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.
In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works:
in doctrine shewing -
.. uncorruptness (ie., purity of doctrine),
.... gravity (ie., integrity),
...... sincerity (ie., geniuneness )
Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; (ref: 2 Timothy 1:13)
that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed,
having no evil thing to say of you.'
(Titus 2:6-7)

* Looking at the meaning of each of these, it would seem that the word 'sincerity' in both Ephesians 6:24 and Titus 2:7 is intended to impart the meaning of 'uncorruptness': not in a moral sense, but in regard to the life which is from above; which is unending, or eternal not subject to death or corruption, because not of the flesh but of the Spirit. That is the quality of love that we are to manifest in regard to the Lord Jesus Christ. A love that is from above and not of ourselves, which is genuine in the sense of being un-corruptible and eternal, as He Himself is.

* This is the love (Eph. 6) and doctrine (Titus 2) of one who has died with Christ, been buried and quickened into life with Christ, and raised with Him to walk in newness of life before the Father. It is the love of Christ reflecting back to Himself, from one who is in Him, where He is, in spirit. As near to the Father as He is. - Praise God!

* Our Lord, our Saviour, risen and glorified, and sat at God's right hand, Head of the Church which is His Body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all; awaiting His manifestation in glory, when the Church which is His body will be manifested there with Him, prior to His return.

* This is resurrection ground!

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[Jostler]

Beautiful.

 

[charity]

Beautiful.

'A mountain tree, if it would see,
the far horizon and the stars;
May never know a sheltered place,
nor grow symmetrical in grace.
Such trees must battle doggedly,
the blasts, and bear the scars.
(Marion Loyal Thompson)

Thank you @Jostler. I love this quotation.

 

[Jostler]

I actually used that poem as my "signature " on forums for a long while! Lol...I really like it myself the Lord taught me a lot through that little composition

 

[Jostler]

your post also made me remember John 17....if anyone else was blessed by Charity's opening here....consider reading John chapter 17 along with it for an expanded meditation on the Word this morning

He might bless your efforts

 

[Jostler]

My mind is still pondering g. On the association mbetween sincerity and incorruption you revealed.

1 Peter 1:23 NKJV — having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,


Incapable of being corrupted...glory to God!

 

[charity]

My mind is still pondering g. On the association between sincerity and incorruption you revealed.

1 Peter 1:23 NKJV — having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,


Incapable of being corrupted...glory to God!

'And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power,
Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead,
and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named,
not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
And hath put all things under His feet,
and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,
Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.'
(Eph 1:19-23)

Hello @Jostler,

Thank you for the verse you quoted: like The Living Word, Christ Jesus our risen Lord, the written Word of God lives and abides for ever.

Praise God!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[charity]

'Peace be to the brethren,
and love with faith,
from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.
Amen.'
(Eph 6:23-24)

Hello again,

I read the following concerning this verse, (quote)

'To love Him in incorruptibility, is to love Him as He is, as our risen Head; not as He was 'in the days of His flesh'. To love Him in 'incorruptibility' is to acknowledge Him, as the risen Head of the body, and ourselves as members of that body. It is not the merely saying 'I am OF Christ' as did many of the Corinthian believers, but the acknowledging of the blessed fact that we are 'IN Christ'. 'If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new'. We henceforth know Christ no more after the flesh, but as 'raised in incorruption', not merely as a 'living soul' but as 'a life-giving spirit' (1 Corinthians 15:45); not merely as 'put to death as to His flesh' but as; quickened (or made alive)' in the spiritual resurrection body (1 Peter 3:18).'

'Those who are prayed for in this prayer are those who love Jesus Christ as their risen Lord and Head. Their blessings are 'in the heavenlies, in Christ'. They live and walk on resurrection ground, and serve 'in newness of life'. They are 'born of the Spirit' and all that He produces in them is spiritual. They 'worship God in spirit (or spiritually)' (Phil. 3:3). As they no longer know Christ after the flesh, so they no longer look to their own flesh as being able to produce anything for God, Who is spirit (John 4:24). They know that 'the flesh profiteth nothing' (John 6:63). Hence, they have 'no confidence in the flesh' (Phil 3:3).' (quoted from an old book of selected writings written by Dr E.W.Bullinger)

Thank you
In Christ Jesus
Chris

 

[VictoryinJesus]

And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe,

‘the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward’ makes me think of 2 Corinthians 1:12 with your OP on ‘godly sincerity’ :For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward. (the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe)


2 Corinthians 13:3-4 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty(the exceeding greatness) in you. [4] For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the (exceeding greatness of) the power of God toward you.
As ‘the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe’

1 Thessalonians 1:5-8 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in (the exceeding greatness of His)power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. [6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit: [7] So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.