Eph 5-6: TIME TO HEAL THE CHURCH BY BRINGING ORDER TO THE FAMILIES OF GOD.

Introduction

Good Morning Life church:

We are about the finish the book of Ephesians.

Today and then next week.

Because of that, I want to give a fairly long intro today so we all can have a firm footing on where we are in the book and how Paul’s logic works.

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God through Jesus has saved Jew and Gentile, male and female, old and young.

Jesus saved us by rescuing us from the Demonic powers, sin, and death.

He did this by offering Himself as our ransom.

He predestined us to be adopted as sons and daughters of God - redeemed by Jesus.

We have obtained and inheritance of Physical resurrection, through the resurrection of Jesus.

And we have been sealed with the seal of God himself, by placing His Holy Spirit in us.

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JESUS HAS BEEN ELEVAT4ED ABOVE ALL POWERS IN THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL WORLD.

Seated at the right hand of God.

Ruling in and through His Church - His body.

God has placed all things in subjection to Jesus.

And we the Church of Jesus have been seated with Him - no longer bound by the evil powers that consume the world.

IT IS THROUGH THIS GOSPEL THAT JESUS HAS BUILT HIS CHURCH.

A diverse people from all over the globe.

Reconciled together in the body of Jesus.

And it is this diverse body that is unified in Jesus, that is to rescue the world from the spiritual powers to the freedom and peace in Jesus.

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Society is redeemed from a culture of death and depravity through the Church of Jesus.

The Church lives out the virtues of the Kingdom of God.

The Church is faithful to maintain the Unity of the Spirit showing society that in Jesus diversity becomes foundational to unity.

The House Hold of God is to Live towards one another in

Humility

Gentleness

Patience

Long Suffering

JESUS HAS GIVEN HIS CHURCH DIVERSE GIFTS

TO BUILD UP AND ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER

TO BRING US TO UNITY IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF JESUS.

TO EXPRESS THE BEAUTY OF GOD THROUGH OUR DIVERSITY THAT BUILDS UNITY.

JESUS HAS GIVEN US A COMMAND TO SPEAK TO ONE ANOTHER IN

TRUTH AND LOVE

WITHOUT SEXUALIZING LANGAUGE THAT DE-HUMANIZES ONE ANOTHER.

SPEAK WITH GRACE TO BUILD ONE ANOTHER UP.

THIS LEADS TO THE CHURCH BEING A NEW KIND OF SOCIETY IN THE MIDST OF PAGAN AND EVIL SOCIETIES.

We have our own King

Our own law

our own ethics and virtues

Our own people and land - All people in all the world from all time who have been born again through faith in Jesus.

THR CHURCH IS THE BUILDING BLOCK FOR A NEW SOCIETY AND POINTS THE WORLD TO THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH.

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BUT PASTOR WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE THE CHURCH IS FAILING TO BE THE EXAMPLE OF A NEW KIND OF SOCIETY? WHY DOES IT SEEM LIKE ETHICS, VALUES, AND VIRTUES ARE ALL AT A LOW IN AMERICAN AND WESTERN SOCIETY?

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BECAUSE THE BUILDING BLOCK OF THE CHURCH IS THE FAMILY, AND THE FAMILY HAS BEEN DECIMATED BY WESTERN CULTURE AND VIRTUES.

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THIS IS WHY PAUL MOVES FROM UNITY OF THE CHURCH, TO THE UNITY AND ETHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE FAMILY HOUSEHOLD.

PAUL STARTS WITH THE FOUNDATION OF THE FAMILY - THE HUSBAND AND WIFE.

Ephesians 5:22–33 NASB95

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

THE WESTERN CULTURE HAS BEEN CREATED BY THE SPIRITUAL POWERS TO DESTROY THE FAMILY.

Ephesians 6:1–9 NASB95

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. With good will render service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good thing each one does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether slave or free. And masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.