United

Big Idea of the Message: God reconciles people to each other through Jesus.

What Just Happened?

When was was last time something that made you say “what just happened?”;

This statement is reserved for something truly extraordinary, out of left field and beyond comprehension;

Something like that happen on November 9, 1989 - that is the day that the Berlin Wall came down and therefore reunited East and West Germany;

As you watch videos of this event you can feel the question “what just happened” as there was celebration in the streets and the former boarder;

People have a tendency to separate thing, especially in the area following Christ;

During the time of Paul’s letter to the Church of Ephesus separation of the Jews and Gentiles was normal;

Reagan quote image

However, Paul is about do what President Reagan request of General Secretary Gorbachev on June 12 , 1987 - “Mr Gorbachev tear down this wall.”;

In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul shares how we went from death to life and in Ephesians 2:11-22 he share how we go from separated to united;

Which leaves the big question - “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!”

Have You Forgotten?

When was the last time you truly thought about your old self;

Yes I understand what the tells - “to not look back” - however it also tells us to “do a self examination”;

So when was the last time you thought about where you came from before your encounter with Jesus;

Or maybe I should ask have you encountered Jesus for real yet;

Have you considered where you might be without Christ in you life;

Paul is reminding the Gentiles where they came from so let’s get familiar with where they came from in the eyes of the Jews;

Alive in Christ: Ephesians Simply Explained 1. We Must Never Forget What We Once Were (2:11–12)

To understand verse 11 we must recall that most of Paul’s readers were Gentiles, just like most people reading this book. The Jews looked down on them. They called them ‘Gentile dogs’, or just ‘Gentiles’, saying it with a sneer on their lips.

The Gentiles were by the accounts of the Jewish religious leaders unworthy of life and much less worthy of God;

Alive in Christ: Ephesians Simply Explained 1. We Must Never Forget What We Once Were (2:11–12)

All the Jews carried in their hearts some expectancy of the Messiah, or Christ, as Greek-speakers called him. ‘But you didn’t. You never gave him a thought. And when he did come, you had nothing to do with him. Christ was in no sense part of your world.

We need to remember that at one point in our lives we were without Christ, headed for the final death, but then by the grace of God Jesus came to make you worthy;

Have you forgotten your initial need for Christ - by doing so you will loose your day need for Him.

Are You Hopeless?

Alive in Christ: Ephesians Simply Explained 1. We Must Never Forget What We Once Were (2:11–12)

‘No hope!’ What profoundly empty words! Is there any more eloquent way of describing our unconverted years? We had no hope beyond this life, and no hope in it.

Have you ever had a feeling of total hopelessness, no desire to try, maybe even no desire to live;

Walking through life in a fog, not being able to see what is right in front of you;

What are you missing that brings about this hopelessness, the world will give you a laundry list of thing that revolve around health, wealth and happiness;

These thing will continue to feed your hopelessness, your unworthiness which can bring about unhealthy actions which can cause wealth prevention that fosters deep seeded unhappiness;

The world walks in a false sense of security because many have bought into the “there is nothing beyond this life” mantra;

Are you tired of your hopelessness are you ready to start a new life?

Do You Want Hope?

People wonder is there something more, is there something or someone I can place my hope in that is real and relational;

And the answer is yes there is and it comes through God’s grace which is Jesus Christ;

If you want hope today it starts here and now;

First let’s eliminate your buts -

But I’m not worth of God’s grace - you are correct but He will give it to you anyway;

But the things I have done God won’t forgive - you are correct there maybe things that are terrible in your past but the Bible says in Romans that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God - it also say that God is longsuffering so that none should perish;

But I don’t know if I can please God - you are right you, under your own power will never be able to please God but the angels in heaven will celebrate on sinner that has found his way to God;

But what if I stumble will God walk away shaking His head in disgusts - you are right you will stumble but God will be there to pick you back up, dust you off and stay with you;

But I can’t do this life journey alone - you are correct but the Bible says to not forsake the gathering of like minded people, the church, who will walk through life with you;

The question is still on the table, do you want hope?

Application Point: When we are walking in fellowship with God, we can walk in fellowship with other believers in spite of our differences.