Ephesians 2:11-22 "The Gospel of Reconciliation"
1) What we once were, when alienated from God as Gentiles (v.11-12):
- separated from Christ
- alienated
- strangers to the promises of God
- having no hope
- without God in the world
2) How Christ has made peace and reconciled us (v.13-18):
- through His blood
- through His flesh (death on the Cross) which has:
*broken down the wall of hostility between God and us; and between Jews (God’s covenant community) and Gentiles => likewise all worldly barriers of inequality class, race, gender have been broken down and overcome in Christ – He is the only way for unity
*abolished the condemnation coming from the Law by fulfilling the moral law, and becoming the one and only sacrifice necessary for atonement, thus abolishing the cermonial law (v.14-15a)
*made a new man and new humanity united to Him (v.15b)
*reconciled us to God in His body (v.16)
- granted us access to the Father through His Spirit (v.18)
3) What Christ's new community looks like (v.19-22):
We are given three pictures of what the church is to look like:
- fellow citizens (v.19a) => members of God's kingdom, with all its attendant rights, privileges, protections and status
- members of God's household (v.19b) => members of God's family as children
- a Temple built on the foundation of Christ for => we ARE the place where God receives praise and worship in Spirit and in Truth. We are living stones of His temple, we are indwelt by His Spirit who fills His temple; and we are built up upon the key foundation stone of Himself.
4) Application:
- The church as God’s new community should be a place of unity amongst diversity. Instead of seeking to make everyone the same, the church should be a place where unbelievers see an incredible unity among people who otherwise should never be able to get on by worldly understanding. The truth of the gospel reconciling work of Christ can be displayed by the local church in this way.
- Citizens have many rights, but they also have responsibilities for participation in kingdom life – let us seek to be active servants and workers in God’s kingdom, since we are His workmanship created for good works and to represent His kingdom wherever we go, and whatever we do.
- Citizenship so often in the world has come out of a struggle for equality of status between unequals (think of Rome's struggle of the Plebians for recognition as citizens equal with the wealthy and powerful Patrician class); in a similar way we are equal with all the saints, even the greatest of Christian examples who we look up to we have the same basic spiritual equality in God's economy and the same potential to be used by God through the working of His mighty power in us.
- We should be moved and broken for the lost who are spiritually destitute, alienated and having no hope in this world. There is hope available through the work of Christ!
- We should be pursuing holiness in this new community and as this new humanity in Christ, since we are to be Christ’s holy temple
- Instead of focusing on the failings of the local church and its many problems, we should see the vision for what God wants this new community to be like and playing our part in asking God to use us in building up His temple established upon Jesus. The fuller context of this text is the incredible grace of God which infuses His church and covers our many failings to live up to the 3 pictures of God's community in this fallen world.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Summer Index #3 - Eph 2:1-10
Ephesians 2:1-10 “The Gospel of Grace and The Old Life”
1) Characteristics of The Old Life (v.1-3)
- dead (v.1)
- in trespasses and sins (v.1)
- lacking purpose, blindly following the crowds of the world, which are ultimately led by Satan (v.2)
- disobedient (v.2)
- lived indulging the passions and desires of the flesh (v.3)
- by nature children of wrath (v.3)
2) Christ’s Rescue (v.4-7)
- God’s kindness, rich mercy and great love has motivated Him to save us (v.4) => what incredible grace it is to save and love those who are enemies and unlovely
- in contrast to the death of the old life, has made us alive with Christ in a new life (v.5)
- raised us up and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (v.7) => our position and standing in Christ is in glory. As Christ sits and rests for His redemptive work which was completed on the Cross; likewise our endeavours to earn favour with God can cease since we sit and rest on the completed work of Christ on our behalf which has been given to us in His grace (v.6)
3) The New Life of Grace (v.8-10)
- The new life begins and continues in faith of what Christ has done for us
- The new life is a gift, which we need to live in thankfulness for having received it
- Instead of being children of wrath prepared for destruction, we are made God’s workmanship, we are His masterpiece
- We have a purpose: to walk in good works that He has prepared for us
4) Application
- We begin the Christian life in faith and we must continue to walk in faith. Never is the Christian life about our works, our earning greater favour with God, or us needing to impress Him by doing things ourselves. He does the work to save us, He prepares the work for us to walk in, and He gives us the power and enabling to do His work.
- We need to consciously seek to live and apply grace to our lives and ways of thinking; rooting out any of the spiritual pride and self-righteousness that so easily creeps in to detract from God’s work of grace in saving us.
- We need to turn from following the crowds of this world, recognising that that is the way of destruction led by Satan and instead seek to live as God’s workmanship going the other direction
- We need to remember this new life is in Christ, was given by Him and is secured by Him who sits on the throne in Heaven today. We must seek to live holy lives fit and glorifying Him for the grace He has given us; not to say “I owe you” (which is moralism and legalism) but that says “Thank you, I love you” (which is obedience in the face of God’s glorious grace).
1) Characteristics of The Old Life (v.1-3)
- dead (v.1)
- in trespasses and sins (v.1)
- lacking purpose, blindly following the crowds of the world, which are ultimately led by Satan (v.2)
- disobedient (v.2)
- lived indulging the passions and desires of the flesh (v.3)
- by nature children of wrath (v.3)
2) Christ’s Rescue (v.4-7)
- God’s kindness, rich mercy and great love has motivated Him to save us (v.4) => what incredible grace it is to save and love those who are enemies and unlovely
- in contrast to the death of the old life, has made us alive with Christ in a new life (v.5)
- raised us up and seated us with Christ in the heavenly places (v.7) => our position and standing in Christ is in glory. As Christ sits and rests for His redemptive work which was completed on the Cross; likewise our endeavours to earn favour with God can cease since we sit and rest on the completed work of Christ on our behalf which has been given to us in His grace (v.6)
3) The New Life of Grace (v.8-10)
- The new life begins and continues in faith of what Christ has done for us
- The new life is a gift, which we need to live in thankfulness for having received it
- Instead of being children of wrath prepared for destruction, we are made God’s workmanship, we are His masterpiece
- We have a purpose: to walk in good works that He has prepared for us
4) Application
- We begin the Christian life in faith and we must continue to walk in faith. Never is the Christian life about our works, our earning greater favour with God, or us needing to impress Him by doing things ourselves. He does the work to save us, He prepares the work for us to walk in, and He gives us the power and enabling to do His work.
- We need to consciously seek to live and apply grace to our lives and ways of thinking; rooting out any of the spiritual pride and self-righteousness that so easily creeps in to detract from God’s work of grace in saving us.
- We need to turn from following the crowds of this world, recognising that that is the way of destruction led by Satan and instead seek to live as God’s workmanship going the other direction
- We need to remember this new life is in Christ, was given by Him and is secured by Him who sits on the throne in Heaven today. We must seek to live holy lives fit and glorifying Him for the grace He has given us; not to say “I owe you” (which is moralism and legalism) but that says “Thank you, I love you” (which is obedience in the face of God’s glorious grace).
Summer Index #2 - Eph 1:13-23
Ephesians 1:13-23 “A Gospel-Driven Life of Praise”
1) In light of the incredible spiritual blessings we have received, which are for “the praise of His glory” (v.14), Paul prays:
- In thanksgiving for the faith of the Ephesians and how it works out in their love for one another in God’s community and Paul’s work (v.15-16)
- Asks they may have a spirit of “wisdom and revelation” so they can
*know Christ better having their hearts enlightened (v.17-18a)
*know the great hope of the gospel (v.18b)
*know the riches of their glorious inheritance (v.18 referring to v.13)
*know God’s immeasurable power working on their behalf, by Christ who has died, risen and reigns at the right hand of the Father with all power, authority and dominion over all things (v.19-21)
2) Application:
- Receipt of the gospel is to work out in our lives as praise to God and love towards others
- After having received the gospel, we still must press on and pray to know God all the better and have our hearts enlightened in the knowledge of Christ
- Need to set our minds on the great future hope and Spirit guaranteed inheritance we have in Christ as we run the race
- Remember in the midst of trouble that God’s great power and authority is on our side, and it cannot be defeated by all the works of the enemy
- We as the church (the new gospel community) as Christ’s body are to seek to be filled with Him and be His fullness in this world to bring Him praise and declare His praises (v.22-23)
1) In light of the incredible spiritual blessings we have received, which are for “the praise of His glory” (v.14), Paul prays:
- In thanksgiving for the faith of the Ephesians and how it works out in their love for one another in God’s community and Paul’s work (v.15-16)
- Asks they may have a spirit of “wisdom and revelation” so they can
*know Christ better having their hearts enlightened (v.17-18a)
*know the great hope of the gospel (v.18b)
*know the riches of their glorious inheritance (v.18 referring to v.13)
*know God’s immeasurable power working on their behalf, by Christ who has died, risen and reigns at the right hand of the Father with all power, authority and dominion over all things (v.19-21)
2) Application:
- Receipt of the gospel is to work out in our lives as praise to God and love towards others
- After having received the gospel, we still must press on and pray to know God all the better and have our hearts enlightened in the knowledge of Christ
- Need to set our minds on the great future hope and Spirit guaranteed inheritance we have in Christ as we run the race
- Remember in the midst of trouble that God’s great power and authority is on our side, and it cannot be defeated by all the works of the enemy
- We as the church (the new gospel community) as Christ’s body are to seek to be filled with Him and be His fullness in this world to bring Him praise and declare His praises (v.22-23)
Summer Index #1: Eph1:1-12
Ephesians 1:1-12 “An Overview of the Gospel’s Blessings”
1) We have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (v.3):-
- chosen to be made holy and blameless (v.4)
- lovingly predestined for adoption as God’s children (v.5)
- blessed us with His grace and with the same love the Father has for the Son (v.6)
- redemption from our slavery to sin and alienation from God (v.7)
- forgiveness of our sinful rebellion against God (v.8)
- an inheritance in Christ Jesus
2) What is the purpose of these spiritual blessings?
- so that we would be made a new people, holy and blameless for God (v.4)
- according to the purpose of God’s will (v.5); the mystery of His will (v.9); to work all things together according to the council of His will (v.11)
- to praise and glorify the riches of His grace (v.7) and His glory (v.12)
- to make known God’s wisdom and His richness in lavishing them on us (v.8)
- to achieve God’s purposes of uniting all things in Himself (v.10)
3) Application:
- These blessings form our new identity in Christ, we should live according to who we are now in Christ
- We should seek to live in awe and wonder at what God has done
- We should be praising God’s grace, glory, wisdom and purposes in the Gospel
- To be involved in God’s work of uniting all things to Himself by making known these wonderful blessings in the world
1) We have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (v.3):-
- chosen to be made holy and blameless (v.4)
- lovingly predestined for adoption as God’s children (v.5)
- blessed us with His grace and with the same love the Father has for the Son (v.6)
- redemption from our slavery to sin and alienation from God (v.7)
- forgiveness of our sinful rebellion against God (v.8)
- an inheritance in Christ Jesus
2) What is the purpose of these spiritual blessings?
- so that we would be made a new people, holy and blameless for God (v.4)
- according to the purpose of God’s will (v.5); the mystery of His will (v.9); to work all things together according to the council of His will (v.11)
- to praise and glorify the riches of His grace (v.7) and His glory (v.12)
- to make known God’s wisdom and His richness in lavishing them on us (v.8)
- to achieve God’s purposes of uniting all things in Himself (v.10)
3) Application:
- These blessings form our new identity in Christ, we should live according to who we are now in Christ
- We should seek to live in awe and wonder at what God has done
- We should be praising God’s grace, glory, wisdom and purposes in the Gospel
- To be involved in God’s work of uniting all things to Himself by making known these wonderful blessings in the world
Summer Index 2010 Overview
Over the summer Index continues to meet every Sunday evening for a Bible Study downstairs in the Cafe. This year we are studying the books of Ephesians and 1st Thessalonians.
"The Gospel - New Life in a New Community"
I will try to update this blog regularly to give you a summary of the passages and what we are learning each week, so that even if you are away you can still benefit from God's Word at Index.
Every blessing
David
"The Gospel - New Life in a New Community"
I will try to update this blog regularly to give you a summary of the passages and what we are learning each week, so that even if you are away you can still benefit from God's Word at Index.
Every blessing
David
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Summer Prayer Requests
AUGUST 09
Louise Bennett
August 7-15th : Louise is helping to lead a Scripture Union camp in Arran.
It is a big camp with around 100 kids, aged 12-18.
Prayer that relationships with both kids and other team leaders would be good.
That kids who don’t yet know Christ would come to know him and that those who already know Him will grow in their faith.
Louise Bell
Presbyterian Summer Team in Kilkenny (August 8th – 15th)
That lives would be saved through the street work that will be done over the week
Future plans to become clear; uni, job etc
Joel Woodier
Doing a Christian camp in Wales – 18-25th Aug
Colin Walker
2 week outreach team in NI at the start of August
God would provide good team units
Effective outreach and witness
Laura Combe
Resit in august – this needs to be passed before Laura can stay on the course and do her elective in the Netherlands
David Nixon
That David would be a good witness to his work colleagues.
For energy as dealing with stressed people… patience and grace also!
David is doing an internship at Carrubbers over the summer:
That he would be a blessing as he serves God in the church
That this would provide experience, guidance and wisdom as David looks towards ministry opportunities in the future.
Kirsty McDonald
Going back to uni in July and August – that Kirsty would be able to get back into the swing of things without too much difficulty.
For renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Ruth Acheson
May be back in Edinburgh for some of Room65 – that God would open this door if that’s where He wants Ruth to be.
Emma Forbes
Emma is helping at a Scripture Union camp/holiday club in Peebles in August
Prayer that it would be a fun week!
That the kids would hear the Good news and respond to it!
Jo Hutton
Keep in contact with uni friends and keep conversations going that have been started.
Jason Barrington
Working with a church in Peru
Encouraging the church body
Speaking at churches
Helping at street kids’ breakfast club
Doing some street preaching and evangelism.
Kirsten Strain
That while she is back home she will get the chance to go to church regularly and become part of the church community.
David Meyer
That God would help him decide whether or not to do his honour year.
Guidance about what to do after finishing uni.
Help with staying in touch with friends, both Christian and non-Christian.
Keep encouraging friends.
David Warden
Prayer for wisdom and guidance about David and Claire’s future!
For willingness that God would use them both for His purposes
Calum Johnston
For help in making and keeping non-Christian friends.
Jonathan Murnane
Involvement in Room65.
Hazel Cochrane
She is involved in some kids’ camps in NI in August
Steph Speers
Possibility of other summer teams happening in NI in August.
Exam resit at the start of august – for help, and motivation to study over summer months.
Being thankful for home and all the opportunities God is providing her with at the moment.
Iain Hamill
Good witness to friends/family and work colleagues
Consistency and discipline with quiet times etc.
Christine Staight
A plan/guidance from September onwards
Provisions to carry out the plan God provides for the future!
Anna Lambert
Patience
Endurance and consistency in bible study and prayer
Leanne Briggs
Pray the café will glorify God’s name and fulfil its purpose in its evangelism and caring capacity.
For friendships to be build on Jesus!
For involvement in Room65 - Overall Catering director
Rachel Meadows
That God would provide a good full time job as a nursery nurse if she is not accepted into uni
Erlend Scott
Room65 involvement
PRAISE: I’ve found a job for after the summer!
Tim Canning
Working in Edinburgh
Girlfriend in Germany
Mikey and Emily Leuhrmann
Adjusting to parenting 3 children
Our future – pray for wisdom about churches we’re pursuing
Louise Bennett
August 7-15th : Louise is helping to lead a Scripture Union camp in Arran.
It is a big camp with around 100 kids, aged 12-18.
Prayer that relationships with both kids and other team leaders would be good.
That kids who don’t yet know Christ would come to know him and that those who already know Him will grow in their faith.
Louise Bell
Presbyterian Summer Team in Kilkenny (August 8th – 15th)
That lives would be saved through the street work that will be done over the week
Future plans to become clear; uni, job etc
Joel Woodier
Doing a Christian camp in Wales – 18-25th Aug
Colin Walker
2 week outreach team in NI at the start of August
God would provide good team units
Effective outreach and witness
Laura Combe
Resit in august – this needs to be passed before Laura can stay on the course and do her elective in the Netherlands
David Nixon
That David would be a good witness to his work colleagues.
For energy as dealing with stressed people… patience and grace also!
David is doing an internship at Carrubbers over the summer:
That he would be a blessing as he serves God in the church
That this would provide experience, guidance and wisdom as David looks towards ministry opportunities in the future.
Kirsty McDonald
Going back to uni in July and August – that Kirsty would be able to get back into the swing of things without too much difficulty.
For renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Ruth Acheson
May be back in Edinburgh for some of Room65 – that God would open this door if that’s where He wants Ruth to be.
Emma Forbes
Emma is helping at a Scripture Union camp/holiday club in Peebles in August
Prayer that it would be a fun week!
That the kids would hear the Good news and respond to it!
Jo Hutton
Keep in contact with uni friends and keep conversations going that have been started.
Jason Barrington
Working with a church in Peru
Encouraging the church body
Speaking at churches
Helping at street kids’ breakfast club
Doing some street preaching and evangelism.
Kirsten Strain
That while she is back home she will get the chance to go to church regularly and become part of the church community.
David Meyer
That God would help him decide whether or not to do his honour year.
Guidance about what to do after finishing uni.
Help with staying in touch with friends, both Christian and non-Christian.
Keep encouraging friends.
David Warden
Prayer for wisdom and guidance about David and Claire’s future!
For willingness that God would use them both for His purposes
Calum Johnston
For help in making and keeping non-Christian friends.
Jonathan Murnane
Involvement in Room65.
Hazel Cochrane
She is involved in some kids’ camps in NI in August
Steph Speers
Possibility of other summer teams happening in NI in August.
Exam resit at the start of august – for help, and motivation to study over summer months.
Being thankful for home and all the opportunities God is providing her with at the moment.
Iain Hamill
Good witness to friends/family and work colleagues
Consistency and discipline with quiet times etc.
Christine Staight
A plan/guidance from September onwards
Provisions to carry out the plan God provides for the future!
Anna Lambert
Patience
Endurance and consistency in bible study and prayer
Leanne Briggs
Pray the café will glorify God’s name and fulfil its purpose in its evangelism and caring capacity.
For friendships to be build on Jesus!
For involvement in Room65 - Overall Catering director
Rachel Meadows
That God would provide a good full time job as a nursery nurse if she is not accepted into uni
Erlend Scott
Room65 involvement
PRAISE: I’ve found a job for after the summer!
Tim Canning
Working in Edinburgh
Girlfriend in Germany
Mikey and Emily Leuhrmann
Adjusting to parenting 3 children
Our future – pray for wisdom about churches we’re pursuing
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