When we were still dead in our trespasses and sins God loved us.God has loved you from eternity, there has never been a time when God didn't love you. Note the difference: the young maiden's new life was given to her secretly. "That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith;" not that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, but "rooted," etc., that ye "may be able to comprehend with all saints." 407 Spirit Divine, Attend Our Prayers CALL TO For by grace are ye saved through faith; We have this expression, "by grace are ye saved," twice over in this chapter. God had a dwelling-place of old in Israel; but it was a house made with hands, however magnifical, that followed the tabernacle of witness in the desert, in both of which the Shechinah, or visible sign of His glory, deigned to dwell. The same "Beloved" who accounts to us for the counsels of God has brought in redemption. I hold nothing as truth that I can put away on a shelf, and leave there. says one, "I have lived fifty years, and I have never felt anything of God." The imagery of death and life, as used here, is often used when illustrating fellowship issues with God. These are the two former points. But now he speaks briefly. Call to Worship #2 L: Though storms rage around me, I will clothe myself with the whole armor of God. God made known His choice, not when the creature was to be proved, but when it had failed to the uttermost; but the choice itself was decided on by God Himself before the creature came into being. Ubi Christus, ibi ecclesia, Where Christ is, there is the Church. A thing which is kainos ( G2537) is new in the sense that it brings into the world a new quality of thing which did not exist before. I mention this, because it is a striking proof that an error imported into Scripture leads even right-minded men into sad evil. (Ephesians 3:1-21) The closing theme shows us where and with whom are our true conflicts as Christians. Ephesians 2 NIV - Made Alive in Christ - As for you, you - Bible Gateway Made Alive in Christ - As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit In these days of dividing walls of race and class and creed we must shake the earth anew with the message of the all-inclusive Christ, in whom there is neither bond nor free, Jew nor Greek, Scythian nor barbarian, but all are one.". New to this blog? Accordingly we hear inGenesis 2:1-25; Genesis 2:1-25 how he gave names to all that was put under him. At first a man regards some wrong thing with horror; the second stage comes when he is tempted into doing it, but even as he does it, he is still unhappy and ill at ease and very conscious that it is wrong; the third stage is when he has done the thing so often that he does it without a qualm. Lord God, we confess that we have each of us grieved the Holy Spirit. It is neither right nor possible to leave the teaching of Paul here--and yet that is where it is so often left. It was revealed by Paul alone. I. I shall begin by noticing, then, first of all, THE CONDITION OF MEN BY NATURE. He prays accordingly that they might enter into both, realizing the holy peaceful atmosphere of the one, and the glorious expectations that were bound up with the other; for clearly the future is before his mind. Contextually, the writer is stating that the Gentiles were spiritually dead to God because of their own "trespasses and sins.". Yet nothing is more certain than that God so speaks to our faith. It is neither "faith" nor "the faith." If we were able to take a wide angle lens picture of the service this evening and posted it on the bulletin board, and you went up to look at that picture, who is the first one you would look for? Some kind of life, I acknowledge, does remain in us, while we are still at a distance from Christ; for unbelief does not altogether destroy the outward senses, or the will, or the other faculties of the soul. There is some perplexity in the language; but, if we attend carefully to what the apostle says about those two parts, the meaning is clear. The have but anticipated the statement of the fourth and fifth verses: "God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.". Walls of prejudice still exist and barriers of racism still hold people back from reaching their true potential. Through faith they can only turn to God in their helplessness, and humbly accept the salvation that God offers. All the chances are that the breach will remain unhealed, for peace is seldom made on the basis of a legal document. The subject of this sentence is God (Ephesians 2:4). Therefore, put on the full armour of God. Angels are not the object. 14. Who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; There is no longer the division between Jews and Gentiles. Never were they to reign; never will they be one with Christ like the saints. Here are some indexes that might be helpful. Merciful God, we celebrate the way that you chose to bring unity and peace to peoplethrough the gift of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ. And you -- God is referring to the non-Jews reading the letter. We don't want trouble, we dont do conflict here! These are the things that governed our lives in the past. Thank God, dear hearer, if you have living pangs. In fact, I ripped one off and brought it home. It is the confident trust of the heart in the favour of God in which we stand, not the remembrance of our first subjection to the gospel. Timeweb - , , . Why, sometimes we can pray, and prevail, and come off conquerors; and at another time, we can only bow at the throne, and groan out, "Lord, help me; I cannot pray; the springs seem to be all sealed." When the Psalmist sang: "I will extol thee, my God and king" ( Psalms 145:1) he meant it literally. They are put into the grave, in order that all may be hidden. Everybody is going. Nor dare I tell the character of some men present here. Your righteousness is like the highest mountains, Your justice like the great deep. Such is the very power that has taken you and me up in divine grace, and wrought toward us. ! To us it is more to be born of the very nature of God, than to be sons adopted into the family of God. Of course that was all rubbish; it cannot be done to order. "Trespasses" literally means to "fall beside," and "sins" literally means "a failing to hit the mark" (Thayer 485, 30). The grace of Jesus Christ rekindles the ideals which repeated failing to sin has extinguished. This is pursued then first with reference to the Gentiles, for now the order is reversed. The psychologists tell us that we never forget anything. Sometimes he feels merry, and can sing hymns; at another time, he can do nothing else but sigh and cry, though he scarcely knows wherefore. Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Man, Satan, yea, the judgment of God that had gone forth against Him because of our sins, had no force to detain Him in the grave. There is no escape. Many wonder that such truths as these should not have more words used in communicating them. That is, we can't earn it. Beware of dead prayers; they are a mockery to the Most High. Now, notice verse Ephesians 2:5 , "with Christ," verse Ephesians 2:6 , "in Christ Jesus," verse Ephesians 2:7 , "through Christ Jesus." The Greek could say: "We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree, "I rejoice and disport me on my youth; long enough beneath the, earth shall I lie, bereft of life, voiceless as a stone, and shall, leave the sunlight which I loved; good man though I am, then. But Satan has so lied to people about God, about the nature of God, that it has caused people to oftentimes fear submitting their lives to God.Now, when I was a child growing up in church, so many times I would hear people say, "You be careful what you say you are not going to do, because that is exactly what God is going to make you do. He that has the divine life is lifted up into the infinities; he gets to hear that which cannot be heard, and see that which cannot be seen, for "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. Accordingly, in Ephesians 2:1-22, the apostle pursues this train, and shows that it is not another exertion of power, but a part of the very same work of God which raised up Jesus from the dead. . Nor does it settle any question as to their ability or power while in that state. P: We come to celebrate Gods abiding love! 9:2). L: I will place Death is a separation, physical death is a separation of the spirit from the body, and spiritual death is the separation of the spirit from God. It is the mystery of Christ emphatically; and the part about Christ is the higher of the two. That peace is won at the price of his blood, for the great awakener of love is the Cross. The priest sprinkled the blood around the altar because it was atonement for the soul. You who have been quickened will understand what I say. And so he began to amass to himself wealth until he was the richest man in the world, and silver was as common as rocks in Israel. The Revised Common Lectionary reads through Ephesians in Year B, Pentecost season. It was not the result of works, for it was God's design that no one should be able to boast. I would say, "Why, Mom? But then I confessed my sin and God forgave me my sin completely. WebCalls To Worship Love Adapted from Psalm 36:5-7 Your love, Lord, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies. i Zohar in Gen, fol. Realize that; believe in it; rejoice in it; triumph in it. And all of those that get down and put their face in the water, send them home. Psalm 65: Hes got the whole world in his hands! Submissions: I am so grateful to those of you who send me your own material to post! But outside of Christ the message is true. Paul begins by reminding his readers that they lived in alienation from God (vv. Paul was the chosen witness to fill up that blank. The son, who "was dead" to his father, repents and confesses his sin. But suppose that someone whom both of these conflicting parties love comes and talks to them, there is every chance that peace will be made. We are Greece was made up of famous cities--Athens, Thebes, Corinth and the rest and it very nearly encountered disaster because the cities refused to cooperate to meet the common threat. People are invited "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once .named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking [even light words dishonour the Christian, as being contrary to Christ], nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Rita Snowden tells a story of the war. "In whom also, after that ye believed, ye were sealed with the holy Spirit of promise, who is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.". Being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. When the elder called at this old woman's cellar with the cards, he found that she had gone. The Greek called any man a barbarian who could not speak Greek; and they despised him and put up the barriers against him. Men may put up their barriers; churches may keep their Communion tables for their own members. When I say Christ is our peace. So that our business as ministers when the young lambs are brought in, is to remember the injunction, "Feed my lambs;" take care of them; give them plenty of meat. This illustration of spiritual fellowship lost does not end sadly. But the connection is important. For it is he who is our peace; it is he who made both Jew and Gentile into one, and who broke down the middle wall of the barrier between, and destroyed the enmity by coming in the flesh, and wiped out the law of commandments with all its decrees. The panoply is against Satan and not God. It is not merely that he accepts names given him by God, but God delights in putting him in this place of lordship, and to a certain extent also of fellowship lordship to that which is below him, and fellowship as regarded his wife. We choose to live in love as beloved children. make us bold as we claim your victory in the world. After some months of Matheson's ministry, communion time came round. The third case goes further still in the manifestation of death; for it is the case of which Martha, using strong words, said, "Lord, by this time he stinketh; for he hath been dead four days." And what will happen to you when the word of God is, "Depart, depart, depart, depart," and unto the graveyard of souls, to the fire that never shall be quenched, you and the rest of the dead are taken away? You are full members of the family of God." The moment that Jesus presents Himself as the answer to what has been put forth already, the saints rise or are changed in the twinkling of an eye. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself." Semi-pelagianism admits his ill-health, but affirms that the symptoms will yield to proper treatment, to a course of tonic drugs and a scrupulous regimen. "Give her meat." (By grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. If a Jew married a Gentile, the funeral of that Jew was carried out. His life will be ever afterwards a loosing and letting go; for he will need it till he cometh up to be with God for ever and ever. There can be peace only in Jesus Christ. Only in verse 22 is the church even named for the first time, where it is said God has given Christ "to be the head over all things to the church." It is not a conferred position, however blessed, but practical enjoyment even that Christ Himself might be habitually the object before them, now that all question of deliverance and blessing was settled in their favour. You are princes of the blood imperial. Jesus has made us members of the household of God and he holds us togetherthrough the power of his Spirit. And what is the manifestation of love? Now, dear friends, if we have received spiritual life, you see what a range of being we have, how we can rise up to the seventh heaven or sink down into the abyss. We had no sense with which to comprehend spiritual things. There is bondage. I must come to my third point; for our time flies. To the father, the sinful "son" was dead in sin and lost. (ii) That is to say that works have nothing to do with earning salvation. Search as they might they could find no trace of the freshly dug soil. Paul cannot do without Christ, you see. The believer's life is the life of Christ in the believer. And then maybe we can do a little water skiing in the afternoon, and I would be looking for those things that we could really enjoy together. Jesus Christ must quicken the one as well as the other, and bring them all to know and love his name. my dear friends, my much loved friends, how many there are among you, I repeat, that are all that the heart could wish, except that one thing that you love not my Master. Finally, there is the activity now for others, just as before there was dependence for ourselves. Paul knew that he needed to repeat himself, or people would forget what he taught. [Note: Stott, p. Paul well knew that barrier, for his arrest at Jerusalem, which led to his final imprisonment and death, was due to the fact that he had been wrongly accused of bringing Trophimus, an Ephesian Gentile, into the Temple beyond the barrier ( Acts 21:28-29). There is a certain murderous power in sin. Let this then rest in His hands. A state of sin is a state of conformity to this world, Ephesians 2:2; Ephesians 2:2. (119) He does not mean simply that they were in danger of death; but he declares that it was a real and present death under which they labored. Whatever could contribute to it, whatever fell in according to it, everything that God Himself could do to bind us up with Christ, sharing with us all that is glorious in Christ His own Son, even to His holy nature and relationship with the Father, as far as this could be conferred on a creature, is no more than God had in His heart yea, is what God has given us now, and will display in heavenly Places ere long. The lark sings for the joy of singing. The worm had not yet begun to gnaw her cheek, the flush had not yet faded from her face; she seemed well-night alive. They describe the Christians condition as an unbeliever before God justified him or her. Having walked in the will of God, I cannot understand why any man would fear it. We dare to believe that you and I are part of a plan. But in Ephesians we are in presence of a new creation in Christ, where claim is out of the question. And God said Gideon, "The men that are with you are too many, because I know the heart of this people. Are we as good workmen as we could be? All of these things that God has done, He has done for us, in, and through, and by Jesus Christ. Such an one is the harlot, from whom one's head is turned in the very street. What I want to hint at is this: when a man is far gone into sin, Christ does this for him he breaks off his evil habits. That is precisely why sin is so universal. What reason have sinners then to be looking out for that grace that will make them, of children of wrath, children of God and heirs of glory! That means throughout the endless ages to come you are going to be dwelling with God in His eternal kingdom as God is revealing unto you the exceeding richness of His mercy and of His kindness towards you through Christ Jesus.The psalmist said, "As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high is God's mercies towards those who fear Him." Deepen your knowledge of Scripture. And so "and you who were dead" really as the result of your transgressions and sins.The Greek word for sin, hamartia, is a word that means "to miss." All have sinned, or missed the mark, and come short of the glory of God. Household of God. higher of the household of God and king (... Of paul here -- and yet that is to say that works have to! In Christ, where claim is out of the two call to Worship # 2:! Worship love Adapted from Psalm 36:5-7 your love, Lord, reaches to the Most High the are! Time came round years, and humbly accept the salvation that God brought! 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