Ephesians 1 & 2
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Every Spiritual Blessing in heavenly places
Blameless before Him
Adoption
Redemption
Forgiveness
Sealed with Holy Spirit
Last time we met we looked at the first 10 verses of chapter 2 and I pointed out how Satan has introduced false teaching in verses 1 and 8 and how this has become a huge mis-direct from the essential message of Chapter 2.
If Satan had his way, we would think that verses 1 & 8 were the key points of chapter 2.
We need to dig further into chapter 2 this evening.
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
How can this be? Are you there as a guest or a resident?
Can we say “This is where I belong”? Do you believe that you belong where He is?
Only those “of His stock” can take up residence where He is. And this matter of being of His stock is presented to us in Romans.
Having our sins forgiven will give us a glimpse of the Savior but being a member of His family is what enables us to reside where He is. This we see in chapters 6-8 of Romans.
Look across the room and recognize the person you’re looking at also resides there in union with Christ.
Christ Jesus can declare to the Father “These I’ve brought with me are of my stock and thus they belong here with me.” This is “Union with Christ”.
When you enter your home, you don’t knock on the door to be granted entry.
We aren’t just wandering around where He is, we are seated, at rest, at home.
On this basis He could say “Peace I leave with you...” in John 14:27
Romans prepares us for these first three chapter of Ephesians. Plan to circle back here after the next study you do in Romans.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father while He is doing work down here. Ditto for you!! You are with Him there while He is with you here.
We are here now to participate in His work, according to His purpose today.
All of this list of blessings which we opened with in Chapter 1 has a purpose. He intends to work through us, to use us as a conduit or channel.
The doctrine of chapters 1-3 becomes the basis for the expression of Christ through us in chapter 4
The world will have opportunity to see Him today through each one who sojourns here while being in union with Him there.
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Then in the following verses comes this reminder....we are in this position side by side with Jews. Why does Paul now bring this point into the text?
This is an essential part of Christ’s design for the proper function of the Church.
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,
In His body, no more division between Jew and Gentile
How is it that “in His flesh” He abolished the enmity?
He rendered inoperative the law of commandments in ordinances.
This Law of commandments is what was the enmity, the hatred, the hostility.
So, what would you do if you walked into a church today and saw the 10 commandments posted on a wall?
Should they be in our schools?
What did they lead to? A Gentile was an outsider, outside the camp, an unclean dog.
Why is there antisemitism in Christendom today? Have they not read this chapter?
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.
Many Jews are clinging to that which Christ abolished and it seems that many Gentiles are not clear on this either.
Should we post the Ten Commandments on our walls? Should they be on display in our churches and schools? NO.
For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.
But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.
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.
Read verses 19-22 And, make reference to Arnold Fruchtenbaum book to illustrate how we need one another, each with unique gifts from God.
We need one another!!!
Does anyone here know a Jewish believer?
Does anyone here know a Jewish non-believer?
In the closing verses of chapter 2, Paul saw fit to give us a clear perspective on the relationship between Jew and Gentile in the Church. 2.
As the book of Acts unfolds we see that when the Church began to move out of Jerusalem into Samaria that God took special steps to assure there was no longer any division. This what God thinks about divisions, the work of Satan.
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
God has created a marvelous thing in the Church and even uses it as an illustration of how a marriage relationship should work.
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.
In time we will get to chapter 5 and when we get there we’ll want to recall what we are learning about the Church in chapters 1-3.
God created Eve as a helpmate suitable to the 1st Adam. The Church is in similar relationship to Christ. Eve was created out of Adam’s stock. We, the Bride of Christ, are likewise out of the Last Adam’s stock. This will unpack further in chapter 5.
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Chapter 2 has added to our understanding of the Body of Christ, the Church. Now look at the first few words of chapter 3....”For this reason...” Paul was imprisoned in Christ Jesus for us Gentiles.
Paul is to the Church what Moses was to Israel.
Do we appreciate the power of the Church?
“I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
All hell breaks loose when the Church is taken out of the way.
Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
You ask “What’s so special about the Church?”
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
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