Ephesians 4:17-32 – “The Gospel Brings New Life"
Last week we looked the unity of the new gospel community, this week the focus is purity.
1) The Old Life
- v.17 “this I testify in the Lord” => Paul speaks and issues commands in the name and authority of Jesus the King
- .17-19 => unbelievers have a hardness of heart due to their sin nature, which as they choose to ignore God and rebel against Him then they grow in darkness of their minds, ignorance, futility and are alienated from the life of God => this also hard heart and mind against God then translates into sinful acts of them choosing to give themselves over as slaves to all kinds of sin and impurity.
=> parallel text to see this development of hardness and rebellion in the old sinful nature self is Romans 1:18-28.
2) The New Life
-v.20 “BUT this is not the way you learned Christ!” => there has been a break with this former way of sin, ignorance, hardness of heart and impurity by Christ having liberated us from our slavery under the dominion of sin.
- v.21-24 the way that we have learned Christ in the past is altogether different (Paul is not telling non-believers these things, rather they are Christians who need a reminder and call to purity, so this applies to all of us today. Paul is calling the Christians to have behaviour consistent with the new life and identity they have Christ – he is not being moralistic, rather is calling us to live holy lives because we have been and are being made holy by God)
=> in contrast to the unbelievers futility of mind, Christians are renewed through their minds to see and know God and worship Him; our conduct then in daily life needs to be examined with this new mind from Christ so we live consistently with who we are
=> we are to be involved in co-operation with the Holy Spirit in “putting off” the old self and “putting on” the new self.
v.24 the new self is in true righteousness and holiness => so essentially the new life is not just about the things we do differently from when we were unsaved, the new life is about putting on Christ, abiding in Christ, growing in Christ, being made more like Christ through sanctification as He alone is true righteousness and holiness and He alone can bring that to be a reality in our lives. The fact He gives us this new life and all these new things in true righteousness and holiness is all of grace!
-v.25-32 Paul then goes from the lofty theology of how we have been made a new person in Christ to practically show us 5 examples of what that looks like (all of this is application of the theology – see next section).
- v.30 the Holy Spirit can be “grieved” – He is a person (not just a force, energy or thing) with emotions and a gentle character. He can be grieved by our sin and living inconsistently with our new life in Christ, as a Temple of the Holy Spirit (which means are lives are called to be set apart from sin and all that defiles that holy place).
=> remarked how when Jesus was baptised the Holy Spirit came and “rested upon Him” like a dove. The Spirit rested on Jesus who lived a perfect life, never grieving Him. However, we don’t! The Spirit is promised never to leave us, but we still can hinder His work and grieve Him.
3) Application
Based on our understanding of God has saved us through the Cross of Christ and the grace we have received, being made new people in His new holy community we are to live changed lives. We will never be able to perfectly achieve these things and this is not about us trying to live in such a way to impress God or make Him love us more (nor does He loves us less when we fail), because we live by grace and not by law – but that grace we have received and our new identity should spur us on to want to live pleasing obedient lives to His honour, praise and glory:
a) speak the truth (put on) and do not lie (put off)
Why don’t we tell the truth? Sometimes because we want to protect ourselves, sometimes to protect others…but the real heart of the matter is (as Tim Keller says) that we love something or ourselves more than we love Jesus! *Our new life in Jesus as His bride means we need to battle our tendency to spiritual adultery and loving other things more than we love Him! His grace for our evil idol-factory hearts is no license to continue with our sin!
b) be angry and do not sin
There are things which it is good to have righteous anger (false teaching, sin, injustice, etc.) but we are not to judge, for that alone is for God. Often our anger is sinful because we judge and condemn the person, forgetting that we ourselves are no better and are only recipients of God’s grace and have received pardon of our sins, which God offers for this life to that other person too. Sometimes we have totally selfish reasons for our anger (simply people have inconvenienced our agenda), which shows that something is not right with our anger.
c) no longer steal (put off), rather work to give (put on)
Our new life in Christ means we must have integrity in all parts of our lives and do honestly to receive earthly blessings, and the focus of those earthly blessings must always not be to accumulate treasures for ourselves, but to bless others and take care of the needy as part of the compassionate work of Christ.
d) no more evil talk (put off) only that which builds up and gives grace (put on)
This is a very hard and challenging calling, but if we are to be ambassadors of Christ and the reality of this transformed new life in the gospel, then it is crucial that we speak only in a way that reflects His perfections and beauty; rather than speaking sinfully and corruptly. Our tongues are dangerous, as James 3 warns us!
e) no more bitter and divisive attitudes (put off) but rather be kind and forgiving (put on)
Paul’s words cover a lot of attitudes here: quarrelling, sour spirit, passionate rage, speaking evil of people, and wishing ill on people. We need God’s help to deal with these wicked heart attitudes of the former self. But we are called to strive as much as we can to be kind (the Greek word is Chrestos, which is a worldplay on Christ – so we are to be kind like Christ was kind even to His enemies) and forgiving (literally in the Greek: giving grace to one another) since we have already been forgiven infinitely more by Christ in His giving grace to us!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
CHALLENGE: What If His People Prayed?
This summer Carrubbers is running 27 days + nights of prayer in preparation for our Summer Festival Outreach: Room65.
As our Students and Young Workers, we would appreciate your prayers for this mission work for the Lord's glory. You can sign-up on the Carrubbers website to receive the daily prayer points e-mail "Praying Together - R65 'What If His People Prayed?' " or you can follow along on the Carrubbers blog each day.
But also you can benefit because we are also taking the whole month of July to GROW and MATURE in our understanding and practice of prayer. Also this coming year we will have a look at the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer with Wayne Sutton. We would really commend to you the daily prayer e-mails and reading/listening along in the daily devotion book: "With Christ in the School of Prayer" by Andrew Murray!
What if INDEX prayed?...Let's Find Out!
INDEX
As our Students and Young Workers, we would appreciate your prayers for this mission work for the Lord's glory. You can sign-up on the Carrubbers website to receive the daily prayer points e-mail "Praying Together - R65 'What If His People Prayed?' " or you can follow along on the Carrubbers blog each day.
But also you can benefit because we are also taking the whole month of July to GROW and MATURE in our understanding and practice of prayer. Also this coming year we will have a look at the Spiritual Discipline of Prayer with Wayne Sutton. We would really commend to you the daily prayer e-mails and reading/listening along in the daily devotion book: "With Christ in the School of Prayer" by Andrew Murray!
What if INDEX prayed?...Let's Find Out!
INDEX
Monday, July 5, 2010
Summer Index #6: Eph 4:1-16
Ephesians 4:1-16 – “The Unity and Diversity of Gospel Community Gifts"
We noticed that the passage has a circle, it begins talking a lot about unity with a focus on what we are to do in order to maitain a spirit of unity within the gospel community. It then deals with how there is unity in our diversity of giftings. Finally, it describes how we are all growing up into Christian maturity and Christ-likeness as part of His body which He holds together and causes to be unified.
1) Community Unity (v.1-6)
- "walk in a manner worthy of the calling"(v.1): based on all the previous studies unpacking the gospel's meaning, Paul says therefore this is to be our great aim. What an exhortation, but what does that look like? Paul helps us unpack it with some directional instructions in how we should walk:
2) Community Diversity (v.7-11)
Having emphasised unity so far, Paul introduces this new idea with "But" in v.7 to say that God's grace (charis) gifts (charismata) have been given to each believer in a different way, according to the measure of Christ's generosity.
-v.8 => we had a long discussion about the use of the OT quotation from Psalm 68:18 in the NT. Paul appears to quote out of context (a Psalm about Israel's victory over her enemies and receiving the gifts of spoil and tribute from them) and changing the meaning as he says that there was a giving of gifts instead.
=> God's Word is infallible (it will not lead us astray) and inerrant (it is authoritative and accurate in all it reports)
=> far from having tampered with the Word or quoted out of context (making it up), Paul here has been faithful to be meaning in the Psalm which widely was speaking of having brought a spoil from victory - which meant that the victor both received the spoil from enemies and gave it to their people. The receiving and giving in the Psalm are indissolubly linked, so Paul is being faithful to the original text in rendering it merely giving.
=> So Paul is not saying Psalm 68 was prophetically looking forward to Christ's ascension, giving of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. No he is using an analogy of the triumphany Israel as an illustration to show that Christ having triumphed through His Cross has stormed Satan's dominion, freed captives and given them gifts from His spoil of victory.
v.9 "...he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth" => we had another long discussion about what this meant and concluded it meant that one of the greatest gifts God has given us is Christ having come incarnate into this world. This is not teaching that Jesus descended into Hell, which is an erroneous doctrine arising in the 2nd century and should not have been added later in the Apostles Creed (nor appear in Robin Mark's hymn: The Lion of Judah)
v.11 lists some of the gifts God has given to His community to bless and help them:
3) The Purpose or Outcome of Community Gifts (v.12-16)
The purposes of these gifts to His church is our spiritual growth in Godliness and maturity in Christ. If we do not keep our focus on these things then we will lose sight of why we are doing anything and what these gifts are for.
We noticed that the passage has a circle, it begins talking a lot about unity with a focus on what we are to do in order to maitain a spirit of unity within the gospel community. It then deals with how there is unity in our diversity of giftings. Finally, it describes how we are all growing up into Christian maturity and Christ-likeness as part of His body which He holds together and causes to be unified.
1) Community Unity (v.1-6)
- "walk in a manner worthy of the calling"(v.1): based on all the previous studies unpacking the gospel's meaning, Paul says therefore this is to be our great aim. What an exhortation, but what does that look like? Paul helps us unpack it with some directional instructions in how we should walk:
- in humility
- in gentleness
- with patience
- bearing with one another in love
- eagering seeking unity
- there is one hope
- one Lord
- one faith
- one baptism
- one God and Father of all
2) Community Diversity (v.7-11)
Having emphasised unity so far, Paul introduces this new idea with "But" in v.7 to say that God's grace (charis) gifts (charismata) have been given to each believer in a different way, according to the measure of Christ's generosity.
-v.8 => we had a long discussion about the use of the OT quotation from Psalm 68:18 in the NT. Paul appears to quote out of context (a Psalm about Israel's victory over her enemies and receiving the gifts of spoil and tribute from them) and changing the meaning as he says that there was a giving of gifts instead.
=> God's Word is infallible (it will not lead us astray) and inerrant (it is authoritative and accurate in all it reports)
=> far from having tampered with the Word or quoted out of context (making it up), Paul here has been faithful to be meaning in the Psalm which widely was speaking of having brought a spoil from victory - which meant that the victor both received the spoil from enemies and gave it to their people. The receiving and giving in the Psalm are indissolubly linked, so Paul is being faithful to the original text in rendering it merely giving.
=> So Paul is not saying Psalm 68 was prophetically looking forward to Christ's ascension, giving of the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts. No he is using an analogy of the triumphany Israel as an illustration to show that Christ having triumphed through His Cross has stormed Satan's dominion, freed captives and given them gifts from His spoil of victory.
v.9 "...he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth" => we had another long discussion about what this meant and concluded it meant that one of the greatest gifts God has given us is Christ having come incarnate into this world. This is not teaching that Jesus descended into Hell, which is an erroneous doctrine arising in the 2nd century and should not have been added later in the Apostles Creed (nor appear in Robin Mark's hymn: The Lion of Judah)
v.11 lists some of the gifts God has given to His community to bless and help them:
- Apostles => the foundational period of the church had these men who were called by the risen Jesus
- Prophets => again the foundational period had prophets who wrote inspired scripture. We agreed any gift of prophecy still continuing is something a bit different, because it is not on-par with scripture and is always having to submit to its higher authority for testing.
- Evangelists => interesting that this is an office, but we are all called to in some part do the work of an evangelist (so we can't use this as an escape clause from evangelising!)
- Shepherds and Teachers
3) The Purpose or Outcome of Community Gifts (v.12-16)
The purposes of these gifts to His church is our spiritual growth in Godliness and maturity in Christ. If we do not keep our focus on these things then we will lose sight of why we are doing anything and what these gifts are for.
- "equip the saints for the work of ministry" => the ministry in focus here is the widest possible one (not just restricted to a clerical class or institutional church) we are all ministers as believers, we all have a work of ministry towards one another, to serving in the church community, to witnessing to others about the gospel. We are a priesthood of all believers.
- "the knowledge of the Son of God" => how important it is that our gifts are not meant to be the focus themselves, but rather are meant to be there to cause us to grow in our knowledge and relationship with the Lord Jesus
- "to mature manhood" => the standard for Christian maturity is not other Christians, instead it is the "stature of the fullness of Christ" => so we've all got a long way to go. But thanks be to God, that it is His work and not our own!
- "no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine" => we need to be equipped with the truth so we know what is right and wrong about the CHristian faith and the world in which we live.
- in contrast to the "crafty and deceitful schemes" of the world; we are to "speak the truth in love". We cannot just tell people the truth (we will only be a clashing gong as in 1 Cor.13) but we must always speak that truth in love. Truth is a person (not an abstract concept), the Lord Jesus and His Spirit and His Word (He is the Word incarnate); and that person is full of love. So if we are to speak of Him we must speak of His whole person of truth and love!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Summer Index #5: Eph 3:1-21
Ephesians 3:1-21 – “The Mystery and Ministry of the Gospel”
Paul suffers imprisonment for the sake of the ministry of the mystery of God’s gospel.
1) The Mystery (v.1-6)
- “Mystery” here refers to something which was veiled in the Old Testament but which has now been made known; namely, that the Gentiles would be grafted into the tree of Israel and become dominant in the church, while many Jews fell into unbelief for a time. For Jews, who hated Gentiles, this message was of great offence and so they sought to have Paul imprisoned (as seen the in latter portion of Acts).
2) The Ministry (v.7-13)
- “Minister according to the gift of God’s grace” (v.7) is an interesting way to describe evangelism. We see it more as a duty or responsibility (sometimes an unpleasant burden), but here we see Paul imprisoned because of his evangelistic activities describing it as a gift of God’s grace. This is perspective shaping.
- This ministry is done through the power and strength of God (v.7b) and we are not just left on our own to accomplish it, rather we have “boldness and access with confidence through our faith” to the reigning King Jesus to help, comfort and carry us throughout the many hardships and rejections that must necessarily come as gospel ministers.
- Purpose is to “preach” and “bring light to everyone” what is God’s plan and purpose in the gospel
- The theatre for the gospel is i) this-worldly with bringing the gospel to unbelievers who have previously been in ignorance of God’s plans (like the Gentiles), and also ii) other-worldly since now God’s wisdom is being “made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (v.10) so that all the angelic creation might marvel at God’s plan of redemption in His loving grace (something they do not participate in, as those who have fallen have no hope of salvation)
- The focus of this ministry is God’s “eternal purpose” (v.11), not just to save us individually for our own purposes but rather that we might fit into His eternal and cosmic purposes. Let’s not make the gospel so small that it’s just about us!
3) The Ministers (v.14-21)
- Paul prays a long, complex, one-sentence prayer for the individual ministers of the gospel.
- In summary, He prays for their growth in the Christian life (their sanctification) which is made up of being strengthened in their inmost parts by Christ taking up His dwelling/residence within and as they yield to Him daily that He will more and more fill them with His fullness (perfections) and know the incredible, inescapable, incomprehensible, unconquerable love of God. Jesus in our hearts is renovating our being, His dwelling, for Heaven by making us more like Himself through His great power that works within us.
- All the stages that Paul prays for is fuelled and accomplished by an attribute of God’s character and being – we don’t need to make ourselves better by our efforts, we need Him to come and work in us.
- A great reminder in v.20 of God’s incredible power to do more than we can ask or imagine – what a great God we have!
4) Application:
- Paul’s desire to preach the gospel to the Gentiles is still relevant today with many still to hear, but now also there is the need to call to unbelieving Israel to be saved. - -
- What a challenge also to be outward focused and selfless no matter what the cost and consequences to ourselves, just as Paul was in his ministry and imprisonment for the gospel!
- Paul while in chains prays for the Ephesian church that they would grow as Christian believers, which is a challenge for what our prayer life should be like for others and the priorities for prayer!
- We need to be letting Christ dwell in our hearts and be daily surrendering to Him in every area. This also means to cease the many areas of rebellion in our lives which hinder and quench His work through His Spirit, like sin and complacency.
- We need to be heavenly focused on God’s eternal purposes which are the most important, that we might be saved and sanctified. We so easily spend most of our time and energies on things which are far from these purposes.
- A constant reminder of the majesty and awesome love and character of God which is revealed throughout the passage, of His incredible love, strength, grace, abundance, wisdom, purposes, power.
Paul suffers imprisonment for the sake of the ministry of the mystery of God’s gospel.
1) The Mystery (v.1-6)
- “Mystery” here refers to something which was veiled in the Old Testament but which has now been made known; namely, that the Gentiles would be grafted into the tree of Israel and become dominant in the church, while many Jews fell into unbelief for a time. For Jews, who hated Gentiles, this message was of great offence and so they sought to have Paul imprisoned (as seen the in latter portion of Acts).
2) The Ministry (v.7-13)
- “Minister according to the gift of God’s grace” (v.7) is an interesting way to describe evangelism. We see it more as a duty or responsibility (sometimes an unpleasant burden), but here we see Paul imprisoned because of his evangelistic activities describing it as a gift of God’s grace. This is perspective shaping.
- This ministry is done through the power and strength of God (v.7b) and we are not just left on our own to accomplish it, rather we have “boldness and access with confidence through our faith” to the reigning King Jesus to help, comfort and carry us throughout the many hardships and rejections that must necessarily come as gospel ministers.
- Purpose is to “preach” and “bring light to everyone” what is God’s plan and purpose in the gospel
- The theatre for the gospel is i) this-worldly with bringing the gospel to unbelievers who have previously been in ignorance of God’s plans (like the Gentiles), and also ii) other-worldly since now God’s wisdom is being “made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places” (v.10) so that all the angelic creation might marvel at God’s plan of redemption in His loving grace (something they do not participate in, as those who have fallen have no hope of salvation)
- The focus of this ministry is God’s “eternal purpose” (v.11), not just to save us individually for our own purposes but rather that we might fit into His eternal and cosmic purposes. Let’s not make the gospel so small that it’s just about us!
3) The Ministers (v.14-21)
- Paul prays a long, complex, one-sentence prayer for the individual ministers of the gospel.
- In summary, He prays for their growth in the Christian life (their sanctification) which is made up of being strengthened in their inmost parts by Christ taking up His dwelling/residence within and as they yield to Him daily that He will more and more fill them with His fullness (perfections) and know the incredible, inescapable, incomprehensible, unconquerable love of God. Jesus in our hearts is renovating our being, His dwelling, for Heaven by making us more like Himself through His great power that works within us.
- All the stages that Paul prays for is fuelled and accomplished by an attribute of God’s character and being – we don’t need to make ourselves better by our efforts, we need Him to come and work in us.
- A great reminder in v.20 of God’s incredible power to do more than we can ask or imagine – what a great God we have!
4) Application:
- Paul’s desire to preach the gospel to the Gentiles is still relevant today with many still to hear, but now also there is the need to call to unbelieving Israel to be saved. - -
- What a challenge also to be outward focused and selfless no matter what the cost and consequences to ourselves, just as Paul was in his ministry and imprisonment for the gospel!
- Paul while in chains prays for the Ephesian church that they would grow as Christian believers, which is a challenge for what our prayer life should be like for others and the priorities for prayer!
- We need to be letting Christ dwell in our hearts and be daily surrendering to Him in every area. This also means to cease the many areas of rebellion in our lives which hinder and quench His work through His Spirit, like sin and complacency.
- We need to be heavenly focused on God’s eternal purposes which are the most important, that we might be saved and sanctified. We so easily spend most of our time and energies on things which are far from these purposes.
- A constant reminder of the majesty and awesome love and character of God which is revealed throughout the passage, of His incredible love, strength, grace, abundance, wisdom, purposes, power.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Summer Index #4 - Eph 2:11-22
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.
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.
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).
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