Ephesians 2 prt 2:

Steven White

Sermon • Submitted 6 months ago • Presented 6 months ago

0 ratings

· 1 view

Notes

Transcript

INTRODUCTION

GOOD MORING:

A QUICK REVIEW OF WHAT WE HAVE DISCOVERED SO FAR IN THIS BEAUTIFUL AND POWERFUL LETTER FROM PAUL TO THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS.

GOD THE FATHER CHOSE US GENTILE AND JEWS TO BE HIS CHILDREN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.

God the Father predestined us to be saved from sin, our fleshly cravings, spiritual principalities, and death in and through Jesus, God the Son.

God plans to unite and sum up all creation in Jesus and this plan starts by uniting humanity in the body of Christ, the Church

Jesus redeemed us (Purchased us) from the consequence of sin, spiritual principalities, and death through the blood of Jesus.

God the Father has sealed those in Christ with the Holy Spirit, making us in Christ His possession and inheritance.

God the father, through God the Holy Spirit has raised Jesus (God the Son) from the dead as evidence of His power to save, and seated Jesus above all powers, names and principalities in this era and the next. All powers are under the feet King Jesus.

God the Father has given Jesus to be the Head over the Church (King and ruler) for the benefit of the Church.

In Jesus we have been saved from hostile spiritual forces, the culture of this age, our fleshly desires, and death.

We are no longer alienated from God the Father but are now Sons and Daughters of God - fully reconciled in Jesus.

God the Father has seated us in Jesus in Heavenly places, above all powers, hostile forces to God, and all names.

He did this for Jew and Gentile, making us His beautiful tapestry. Uniting what was once seen as impossible into one new humanity in Jesus.

He did all of this so we (Jew and Gentile) might live in the good works he planned for us before the foundation of the world. (Ruling over the earth as co-regents of Yahweh - spreading God’s Kingdom over the globe.)

----------------------------------------------------------------

TODAY WE WILL BE FINISHING UP EPHESIANS 2.

GOD IS BUILDING ONE CHURCH THAT SPANS TIME AND ETHNICITY - MADE OF JEWS AND GENTILES IN CHRIST.

LET’S JUMP RIGHT IN.

Ephesians 2:11–14 NASB95

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

WE WERE BROUGHT NEAR BY YAHWEH THROUGH THE WORK OF JESUS.

No pride for we did not accomplish this -

Romans 5:8–9 NASB95

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

Our position in Christ is one of grateful humility.

We make no demands with our voice - we only lift up praise

For we did not save ourselves.

GOD HAS BROKEN DOWN THE ETHNIC DIVIDE IN CHRIST.

Ephesians 2:13–14 NASB95

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Galatians 3:28–29 NASB95

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.

God has not abolished our ethnic differences. Instead He united us together to celebrate His beauty through our differences.

Our position in Christ is not based on being Jew or Gentile, Black or White, Hispanic or Asian. Our position in Christ is based on the Love of God and the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

---------------------------------------------------------------

HOW DID GOD DO THIS THROUGH JESUS?

Ephesians 2:15–18 NASB95

by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Enmity - deep seated hatred and hostility as an inner disposition. Hatred!

Vs 13 tells us that Jesus is our Peace - Shalom -

The law given to Israel had become a division between Jews and Gentiles.

No longer is the focus the law but Jesus Himself!

Jesus fulfilled the law for Jews and Gentiles - Dying the law died with Him.

We are now under the law of Grace - both Jews and Gentiles in Jesus.

RECONCILED IN ONE NEW BODY.

The cross reconciles us to God (Father, son, HS)

It then reconciles us together as brothers and sisters in Christ.

All the saints in Jesus have the same access to the Father - not the law but the Spirit of God which dwells in all who are in Christ.

----------------------------------------------

Ephesians 2:19–21 NASB95

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

ONE CHURCH IN JESUS WHO IS OUR PEACE.

NO ETHNIC DIVISIONS

No gender divisions

No social divisions

Together - throughout time, past and future - we are being built up into the Temple of God.

Jesus as the corner stone -

The Apostles and Prophets are the foundation.

---------------------------------------------

HOW DO WE MAINTAIN THE PEACE OF GOD’S CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST IN THIS WORLD?

-------------------------------------------

I WANT TO GIVE YOU FOUR WAYS FOR CHRISTIANS TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

Ephesians 4:1–6 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

-------------------------------------------

THE FOUR GIFTS OF GOD TO THE CHURCH THAT ENABLES US TO LIVE IN UNITY AND PEACE.

Humility

Remember the cross - JESUS IS OUR EXAMPLE -

Philippians 2:6–11 NASB95

who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We are called to follow the way of Jesus.

Humility leads to exaltation - pride leads to a fall.

We lower ourselves to our brothers and sisters in humility and God will raise us up.

Gentleness

Galatians 6:1 NASB95

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

When a brother and sister fall we are to restore them in gentleness.

No we do not lie and accept the sin.

But we also do not verbally and emotionally beat them.

Our goal is always restoration.

Patience - tolerance for one another in love.

“Patience is that long-suffering which makes allowance for others’ shortcomings and endures wrong rather than flying into a rage or desiring vengeance.

Sometimes we want to give up on one another - The gift of patience, allows us to suffer long, knowing through the HS they will be restored.

Diligence towards peace.

God through the Holy Spirit gives us all we need to maintain the peace Jesus purchased for His Church.

Humility / Gentleness / Patience / These are all fruits of the Spirit - the Energize of God.

Yet, we are called to be dillegent to rely on these graces and not on our own corrupt nature.

----------------------------------------------

GOD IS BUILDING ONE CHURCH IN AND THROUGH JESUS, THAT CONSISTS OF SAINTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY FROM ALL RACES AND ETHNICITIES.

HE HAS BESTOWED ON US IN CHRIST THE GRACES TO MAINTAIN THIS UNITY.

BUT YOU AND I MUST BE DILLIGENT TO RELY ON THE GRACES OF HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, AND PATIENCE.

1 Corinthians 13:1–8 NASB95

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.

-----------------------------------------------

ALTAR MINISTRY -

If you are at your witts end and you no longer feel the graces of humility, patience, and Gentleness.

You are ready to explode - come to the altar today and at the feet of Jesus allow the SPirit to refill you.

If you have a division with another member of the Body of Christ - today is the day to seek reconciliation.

If you have been hurt by the Body of Christ - come to the altar today and seek Jesus - seek His love and forgiveness for your offender.