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River Church Sermons


May 26, 2019

Authentic Spirituality, Pt. 5

God’s New Way To Be Human, Eph. 2:11-22

By Louie Marsh, 5-26-2019

 

To Build an Authentic Spiritual Community I must…

 

1) REMEMBER the foundation we all stand on.

 

  • WHAT I WAS before I came to Christ

 

WHY should I remember this? This is the exact opposite of what everyone would tell you today?

 

11  Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12  remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:11-12 (ESV)

 

  • Separate from Christ
  • Excluded from God’s Family

 

"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, Isaiah 42:6 (NIV)

 

Israel had forgotten they were called to witness to the world of God – and were judging, calling slurs like uncircumcised, dogs etc. Modern Church??

 

  • Without hope and God

 

  • What CHRIST HAS DONE for me.

 

13  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:13 (ESV)

 

  • Through His Blood!

 

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30 (NIV)

 

 

2) UNDERSTAND our unity in Christ.

 

  • Peace is found ONLY IN CHRIST.

 

14  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

 

PICTURE OF TEMPLE – SHOW ON CUE!

 

  • Christ fulfilled the Law AS A WAY TO GOD.

 

15  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, Ephesians 2:15 (ESV)

 

 . the basic sense cause to be idle or useless, the term always denotes a nonphysical destruction by means of a superior force coming in to replace the force previously in effect, as e.g. light destroys darkness

 

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. Matthew 5:17 (NIV)

 

the basic sense put down, loosen, of buildings w. their stones destroy, demolish, dismantle (MT 27.40); fig. as invalidating an institution such as law or sacrifice do away with, annul, abolish

 

  • His Purpose – TO MAKE US ONE.

 

16  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:16-17 (ESV)

 

  • The Cross is THE GREAT LEVELER.

 

18  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. Ephesians 2:18 (ESV)

 

Here we have one of the greatest accomplishments of the Cross, past forgiveness anyway. All of us come to Christ the same way – or at least we’re supposed too. So there’s no place for pride or arrogance, because we are lost sinners without Christ and saved by Grace through Him.

 

All of us have to establish our Spiritual Basis if we are going to be Authentically Spiritual. We must…

 

B – Believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again.

 

A – Accept Him as my personal Lord & Savior.

 

S – Switch (repent, turn around) from a self directed life to a Christ directed life.

 

I – Inform others of my decision – confess Christ publicly.

 

S – Submerge myself in Christ through Baptism.

 

3) ACCEPT our status in God’s New Community.

 

  •  CITIZENS of God’s Kingdom

 

19  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints… Ephesians 2:19a (ESV)

 

  • MEMBERS of God’s Family.

 

and members of the household of God, Ephesians 2:19b (ESV)

 

  • LIVING PARTS  of God’s Temple.

 

20  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Ephesians 2:20-22 (ESV)

 

  • My Foundation – NEW TESTAMENT
  • Centered on CHRIST
  • Holy = SET APART
  • SPIRIT FILLED