"So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit."
- Ephesians 2:19-22 (WEB)
Intro:
v.8-10
-
the amazing grace of God – by it we are saved! (through faith)
never
enough good that you could do to earn your own salvation v.9
-
we are God's handiwork v.10
make
sure you look like it!
Formerly
Were: separated/lost v.11-12
-
Gentiles were treated as less than a Jew
called
“uncircumcised” (this focuses too much on the physical)
-
Reality of their alienation v.12
“separate
from Christ”
“excluded
from citizenship in Israel”
“foreigners
to the covenants of the promise”
“without
hope & without God in the world”
Currently
Are: brought near v.13-18
-
“But now in Christ Jesus...” v.13
gentiles
can now have hope – this hope is only found in Christ Jesus
“...brought
near by the blood of Christ.”
example
through song – 'There is Power in the Blood”
-
“For he himself is our peace...” (v.14-18)
This
passage not only talks about peace, but Christ IS our
peace!
peace
between Jews & Gentiles is only accomplished through Christ
this
peace was preached to those far & near
it
is still through Christ that we can know/have peace today
Will
Continue To Be: temple of God v.19-22
We
are the building blocks of the temple of God. The foundation is that
of the apostles & prophets. With Christ being our chief
cornerstone, mortar of the temple, & the continuous builder.
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