Third Race
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV)
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Let’s Pray
I want us to work through this passage backwards, because sometimes for me, knowing the end result, knowing the goal, helps me understand the now.
I like running. I’ve run a few half marathons now, I enjoy just going, no music, helps me clear my mind, think, give my brain a reset because when you run all you think about is running. Once you start breathing heavy that’s all that you care about.
My last race was the first Saturday in December, I paid for the race in September. Once I had a goal, a destination, training every day was less of a struggle. Waking up at 5:30am is really hard, but when you know that in a few weeks you are putting yourself to the test, when you know the goal, it made those conversations with myself in the early morning easier. Wake up and say lets go. I have my training plan, I know how many miles i’m running and at what pace. Let’s go.
This week. No race on the calendar. Set my alarm for 5:30, planned to run…ahh I’ll just snooze, no big deal. When we take our eyes off the goal, off the purpose God has, it’s easier to get lazy, complacent, selfish, easy to trade our long term goals for short term ease.
So what does God have in mind for His people?
HOLY TEMPLE
HOLY TEMPLE
Ephesians 2:21–22 (ESV)
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
OLD Testament, the temple that God instructs Moses to build, housed the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies. That is where the Glory of God resided, and no one other than the High Priest could enter, unless they die.
Our missions as individual Christians is to Glorify God in all we say and do.
Spirit resides in us individually
1 Corinthians 3:16 (ESV)
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
This passage calls us as a group to do the same, but more, we are being formed into the new temple that houses and proclaims the Glory of God.
Body of Christ
The Church
Bride of Christ
A New Race of People
Dwelling place for God by the Spirit
Now that we know what God has in mind, our purpose on this earth, let’s go back to v19
Ephesians 2:19 (ESV)
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD OF GOD
Used to be enemies of one another, Jew and Gentile, Law vs Lawlessness, Black vs White, Male vs Female
Though we are strangers and aliens on this earth because we are made for Heaven, eternal beings having a physical experience on Earth.
Arthur addressed this last week, this earth is broken, we are sinful, racial injustice is still a huge problem, but Paul is pointing us to the hope in Christ, of a new race, the Church.
Household broken down really just means the people that your house holds.
TAXES: only way you can add someone to your household is by marriage, birth, adoption,
ADOPTION: my wife and I started watching a show, the main character is put in a girls orphanage, and makes a friend with a girl who has been there a long time. Often when parents come to visit, they would talk about being too old, parents only want the young kids…ones who are messed up the least…of course the day comes when the main character gets adopted, and she has to say goodbye, all she can say is I’m sorry you haven’t been adopted yet....
PRAISE GOD for adopting me into his family.
Ephesians 1:5 (ESV)
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
Ephesians 2, what I preached on several weeks ago, tells us I was adopted and probably left the orphanage kicking screaming, wanting nothing to do with my new Dad....while I was an enemy, while i was dead in my sin, a child of wrath…God took the initiative...
New Family, new race
Not only citizens of the same nation,
Household
we eat at the same dinner table, same household.
Same Father.
Same brother and Co-heir, Jesus Christ.
BUILT
BUILT
Ephesians 2:20 (ESV)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
Things are built for a purpose, especially buildings.
Church, Body of Christ was Built
Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets
Apostles proclaimed the Word of God
Today we have this Word of God, our foundation
Cornerstone is Jesus
before concrete trucks just pulled up to a hole in the ground and poured the slab foundation of a house or a building, masons had to use individual blocks or stones to build structures.
the cornerstone was the first stone placed for a building. It is in the corner and every stone of the foundation uses the cornerstone as it’s guide for placement.
Alignment
purpose in regard to the cornerstone
If the cornerstone is off the building is doomed.
BEING JOINED TOGETHER
BEING JOINED TOGETHER
Ephesians 2:21 (ESV)
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
In Christ
WHY?
No afterthought, not only was the church built to Glorify God but we are also God’s plan to save the lost. If you read the Bible, the church is Plan A and there is no plan B…Built on purpose to Glorify God and fulfil his purposes.
That is why, Glorify God, proclaim the gospel, make disciples…so obviously we can’t do this as individuals, church is an assemby, a group, a family...
Romans 12:4–8 (ESV)
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
1 Corinthians 12:14–26 (ESV)
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
14 For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18 But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, 24 which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, 25 that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
John 13:35 (ESV)
35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
You are necessary
Church is necessary for you
Church needs you and therefore you need the church.
Addicts,
guessing some of you are focusing on goals of time right now. 1 week sober, 1 month, 2 months, 6 months
wondering what life is like after recovery? after graduation
Church needs you and you need the church.
household, family, new race of people who are for you and committed to God’s glory and your good
Built on the rock of Jesus Christ. We align ourselves to the cornerstone.
Being means this is not an old building that is finished, it is being build, being joined, it is alive, it is active
GROWING
GROWING
Church is growing, adding family members, growing in unity, to the glory of God.
