Remember

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Retire group - July 28th at 6pm

Youth going to Six Flag August 5 & 6th ($75)

VIDEO: Men’s Conference September 11th from 8am to 12pm ($20)

Community group (see slides)

INTRODUCTION/WHY:

WHY: We have a tendency to be forgetful…God was constantly calling His people, Israel to remember!

TODAY: Remember

Examples of needing to Remember:

Sticky Notes, Phone Reminders, Calendars

Remember your past situation

Ephesians 2:11–13 ESV

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

You were far from Christ (vv. 11-12)

v. 2:11 “remember” is the only imperative/command in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians

v. 2:11 “called ‘the uncircumcision’” was a derogatory term

v. 2:11 “made in the flesh by hands” is connected with human-made temples and temples in which God does not dwell

Circumcision as a sign of the Abrahamic covenant was only for men and thus they thanked God daily for not being a gentile and not being a woman (NICNT)

Circumcision all along has been about the heart (Deut. 10:16, Jer. 4:4)

Historical Background: The Temple still separated the two groups as well as men and women…Paul was a prisoner because the claim he brought someone past the barrier in the temple and ultimately because of being sent by God to the gentiles.

But now you have been brought near to Christ (v. 13)

“But now” there is hope for those “far off” too, who previously were without hope

“by the blood of Christ” is the means to their Election/choosing/predestination

Eph. 1:7 Christ’s blood is the means to redemption

Col 1:20-22 and Rom 5:10 Christ’s blood is the means to reconciliation with God

Heb 10:19-22 Christ’s blood is the means to our confidence for drawing near in God’s presence

Remember that Christ is your peace

Ephesians 2:14–18 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Jesus is “our peace”

Don’t seek peace from anywhere else

Example of Jesus being our peace:

Jesus coming walking on the water. Another time Jesus sleeping int he boat and came up from the boat and spoke to the storm!

Reconciliation to one another

Christ has made Jews and Gentiles one (v. 14a)

Christ has broken down the dividing wall (v. 14b)

Christ accomplished this by abolishing the law and making peace (vv. 15–16)

Christ preached peace to Jews and Gentiles (vv. 17–18)

Remember your new status in Christ

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

You are fellow citizens in God’s kingdom (v. 19a)

You are members/children of God’s household (v. 19b)

You are part of God’s holy temple (vv. 20–22)

CONCLUSION: Declarations over SVCC:

SVCC is built by God (vv. 20, 22)

SVCC is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (v. 20a)

SVCC is built with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone (v. 20b)

SVCC is joined together by union with Christ (vv. 21a, 22a)

SVCC is growing (Eph. 2:21)

SVCC is a dwelling place of God by his Spirit (v. 22)

REFLECTION QUESTION:

Prisoner of Joy (SFL; Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon) Unexpected Reconciliation

What diverse groups of people who normally don’t get along have you seen reconciled within the relationships of the body of Christ?

GK. Notes

v. 2:11 “remember” is the only imperative in the first 3 chapters of Ephesians.

v. 2:11 “called ‘the uncircumcision’” was a derogatory term

v. 2:11 “made in the flesh by hands” is connected with human-made temples and temples in which God does not dwell

v. 2:13 “in Christ” is by the means of “the blood of Christ”

v. 2:14 “in his flesh” modifies ptc. in v. 15 “abolishing” and means by setting aside in his flesh the law”

Bibliography:

Benjamin L Merkle, Andreas J. Köstenberger, and Robert W. Yarbrough. 2016. Ephesians. Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Academic. http://search.ebscohost.com.lpc.idm.oclc.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1338892&site=ehost-live.

Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984.