Ephesians- Living the High Calling (3)

From Strangers to Citizens- Christ Changes everything

1. The call to Remember-

Ephesians 2:11–13 NLT

Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

“Once you were far away”- Past tense doesn’t speak of our current position

“used to be outsiders”

“in those days you were living apart from Christ”

“You were excluded from citizenship”

“You did not know the covenant promises of God”

“You lived in this world without God and without Hope”

Remember you are not where you started

“But now you have been united with Christ Jesus.”

“You have been brought near to Him through the blood of Christ .”

2. Peace in a Person — Christ Makes Us One

Ephesians 2:14–16 NLT

For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

Just as Christ made peace between man and God by removing sin- He brought peace between everyone who is in the Body of Christ-

He took away race and ethnicity and made on new group

Not Jew of Gentile - But citizens of Heaven

One body of Christ- Saints of God

Ephesians 2:15 NLT

He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.

If Christ Died for our Peace We should live in Peace

3. Christ is our way to God

Ephesians 2:17–18 NLT

He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Christ brought Good News- Without Christ there is no good news (Gospel)

He is the Good News!