аЯрЁБс>ўџ '(ўџџџ&џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџмЅhcр e€Ф6>J#3 HТHТТHТHвHвHвHцHцHцHцHцHцHќHцH(IEIIIII&I&I&I&I(I(I(I(I(I(ImIXХIy(IвH&I I&I&I&I(I&IТHТHII&I&I&I&IТHIвHI&I Їжs‰ЩцHцHТHТHТHТH&I&I&I&IThe Significance of Christ Ephesians 2:11-22 Objective: Help each one’s life attitude be altered by the realization of what Christianity means. Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22 Memory: Ephesians 2:11-22. “And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Introduction: Folks are struggling with moving boxes that were falling apart; Whoa! You know what we have? Duct Tape! This is perfect! ~ Sometimes we forget what we have. Sometimes we forget what we have in Christ as well. We let fear rule as we consider the future. We let jealously, pride, and selfishness cause us problems between people. We loose focus on our purpose and we wander aimlessly. Whoa! Wait a minute; we have the solution! We have Christ! We need to realize the significance of Christ in our own lives. (What?) Paul is writing this letter to the Ephesians because they are having problems. Problems to which Christ is the answer! They have Christ. If they can just realize the significance of Christ in their lives, If they can realize what has happened to them in Christ and begin to act like Christ really means something in their lives, then their problems will diminish and take care of themselves. The fact that they are now Christians ought to override a lot of the problems they are facing. Let’s examine some of the things the Apostle wants Christians to realize about being in Christ, and let the significance of Christ impact our own lives. (Read) Paul calls upon these Christians, first, to remember their former condition; and realize that before they had Christ they were separated from God. Everyone ought to realize that I. Without Christ, Means Without God. Ephesians 2:11-12, “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” A. Even religious people, can be separated from God. If folks don’t have a proper relationship with Christ, they don’t have a proper relationship with God. They may have doctrine right, at least verbally, but if heart is not right, if spirit is not right, they don’t really have Christ, and don’t really have God. Paul calls on the Ephesians to remember when they did not have Christ – and to start acting like they do now. If they have Christ, things should be different than they were! Consider the Jews. They are very zealous religiously, but the New Testament repeatedly makes it clear they do not have a good relationship with God – didn’t even recognize Him when He came in the flesh! Romans 10:1-4, “Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.” Any group or individual today who is not really following Christ, does not have God. Any group or person who has not ever personally established a covenant with God through Christ, does not have God. B. No reason to expect blessings from heaven. Without Christ means no citizenship in heaven. It is not their home. It is not their destination. Without Christ means no covenant relationship with God. No God-given promises. No right to expect His friendship or help. Why would you expect Him to answer your prayers even ? C. Without Christ means NO HOPE. What do you have to look forward to? Nothing. No heaven, No help, no destination, no purpose. Have you ever been in a bad situation where you were completely powerless to do anything? Heart melts, hands limp, feel like crying and even that does no good. Hopeless means gloom, despair. Like feeling you might get wandering in a deep swamp at night; tired, fearful of sounds, dark, not knowing which way to walk, not even having strength to walk. Like 4 year old child lost in Mall; wanders around crying , collapses on floor. Any person who is not In Christ, living, acting in a covenant relationship, is lost like this. We need to apply this realization to our lives in how we relate to others and in how we relate to God. We need to be concerned for those who have not Christ and bring them the Good News. We need to pay attention to ourselves and make sure we are real in our covenant relationship with God in Christ. We need to bring ourselves and others to Christ because II. “In Christ”, There Is “Peace”. Ephesians 2:13-18, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” A. We are “reconciled” in Christ. Word “reconcile” used in verse 16, means “together again”. “Enmities”, “hostilities” are removed, and peaceable relationship is restored. Two parties can now join hands, sit together, talk together. B. Christianity means “peace” and “unity” with God, the Father. 1 John 2:2-3, says of Christ, that, “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.” We know that we have this atoning sacrifice if we obey his commands! If you are ignoring Christ’s teachings, you don’t know that you have Him. “atoning sacrifice” means the price for our freedom. On the cross, Christ paid for our sins, thus removing the barrier between us and God. Christ is our access, our only means of peace and reconciliation with God. John 14:6., “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Acts 4:12, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” C. Christianity means “peace’ and “unity” with other Christians. Christ breaks down barriers between people. All prejudicial barriers, as between Jews and Gentiles, between any races and cultures today, disappear when one has Christ! Because their goal, motives, thoughts become the same as Jesus’. Christ’s action and His Lordship moves each to forgive whatever transgressions the other has against them; Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Christ not only inspires such forgiveness, but requires it! Whatever barrier there has been between you and God, it comes down in Christ. Whatever barrier there has been between you and another person, it comes down in Christ. D. This is because one “new man” has been created. This “new man” is the church. In the church, Christians become one body. (verse 16) All become children of God; Galatians 3:26-29, “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” We become one new body, one new man. We become the church, which is the body of Christ! As such, we live by His spirit and are moved by His motives, and purposes. As we become “Christ” we have peace with God and peace with each other! If we ever feel like we have no place where we belong, if we ever feel like we have no real purpose or goal in our life and no direction, we need to realize and remember that III. “In Christ” Means Membership In A New Community. Ephesians 2:19-22 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” A. Christianity means functioning together as “fellow citizens”. Part of a common people with a common goal. The Apostle Peter says it like this; 1 Peter 2:9-10, “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;” Being “in Christ” means new loyalties. Do you have new loyalties? A new sort of patriotism? Are you still off by yourself, living for you, or are you really in Christ, have you really become part of this new holy nation, the people of God? Are you thinking of yourself as part of God’s household? Are you acting like part of God’s family? Do you think of the folks around you as brothers and sisters? Have you changed your thinking to line up with this Bible Truth? Do you think and act by yourself alone, or do you live the concept of Romans 12:5, “so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” In Christ, church members sense a feeling of belonging and they work together as a family. B. Christianity means functioning together as the very dwelling place of Almighty God! The people, together, form The Temple to God. It is made of “Living stones”. The people are like cinder blocks joined together by the common purpose in Christ. The living stones, living building blocks are standing together to be a dwelling of God’s Holy Spirit! Are you a part of this? Are you being built, upon the foundation of the Apostles, into a Holy temple with God’s people? The Bible knows no renegade Christians. Are you working in community with a congregation of saints to glorify God? Are you participating in the body of Christ? The unity of this new community is essential and fundamental as a visible sign of Christ to the world. This is what happened in Christ, Jesus! John 17:22-23, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” So What? We don’t always live and function like the temple of God. We get busy with life. We let Satan distract us. We forget the significance of Christ. So we need to keep reminding ourselves. Without Christ we don’t have God. We have no hope. We have NOTHING! In Christ we have everything! If you realize what it means to be in Christ; to be a Christian, that realization will affect your rest and your work. “Rest” in Him in the sense of peace, good relations with God and man, security here and in eternity, be at peace. “Work” in the sense of participation, service, growth in unity together with one another as the body of Christ , a temple to Almighty God. Is your Christianity really significant to you? Do you really have Christ? Closing Prayer: The Significance of Christ Ephesians 2:11-22 Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22 Memory: Ephesians 2:22 “A_ i_ h_ y_ t_ a_ b_ b_ t_ t_ b_ a d_ i_ w_ G_ l_ b_ h_ S_.” We need to realize the significance of Christ in our own lives. Some of the things the Apostle wants Christians to realize about being “in Christ”. I. Without Christ, Means Without God. A. Even religious people, can be separated from God. Romans 10:1-4 B. No reason to expect blessings from heaven. C. Without Christ means NO HOPE. II. “In Christ”, There Is “Peace”. A. We are “reconciled” in Christ. B. Christianity means “peace” and “unity” with God, the Father. 1 John 2:2-3 John 14:6 Acts 4:12 C. Christianity means “peace’ and “unity” with other Christians. Matthew 6:14-15 D. This is because one “new man” has been created. Galatians 3:26-29 III. “In Christ” Means Membership In A New Community. A. Christianity means functioning together as “fellow citizens”. 1 Peter 2:9-10 Romans 12:5 B. 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Kashorek John Kashorek  !"#$%ўџџџ§џџџ*ўџџџ2ўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџRoot Entryџџџџџџџџ РF Їжs‰Щ)€WordDocumentџџџџ>JCompObjџџџџџџџџџџџџjSummaryInformation(џџџџџџџџмўџџџ ўџџџ ўџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџ џџџџ РFMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8є9Вqўџр…ŸђљOhЋ‘+'Гй0Ќ˜ МШф№ќ (4 \ h t €Œ”œЄфEphesians 2;11-22edJohn A. Kashorekodd Sermon FormJohn Kashorek97Microsoft Word for WDocumentSummaryInformation8џџџџџџџџџџџџ аџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџўџ џџџџ РFMicrosoft Word Document MSWordDocWord.Document.8є9Вqtф mY Ephesians 2;11-22indows 95@,˜Ю!@РФeœНШ@ЄIЬ8ЛШ@GY‰Щe**ўџеЭеœ.“—+,љЎ0 @HT\ dl tф mY Ephesians 2;11-22