Saturday, April 29, 2023

Ephesians 2:13

 

Ephesians 2:13

You are Made Nigh by the Blood of the Lamb

 

Eph 2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

         1.      Now You Are in Christ

a.       Because of the justification of Christ’s work on the cross we now have access to a loving relationship with God

                                                              i.      Romans 5:1-2 

          2.      Once You Were a Far Off

a.       There is no one righteous - Romans 3:10 

b.      Everyone is a sinner - Ecclesiastes 7:20 

c.       The punishment for sin is death - Romans 6:23 

         3.      Now You Have Been Made Nigh by the Blood of the Lamb

a.       How are we made nigh to God?

                                                              i.      Not by morality - Luke 18:10-14 

                                                            ii.      Not by my good deeds - Isaiah 64:6 

                                                          iii.      Not by an interest in religion

                                                          iv.      Not by mysticism

                                                            v.      We are brought close to God by the blood of Christ

1.      Without the shedding of blood there is no cleansing of sin

a.       Hebrews 9:22 

2.      He had to be made sin for us - 2 Corinthians 5:21 

3.      He had to be beaten for us - 1 Peter 2:24 

4.      He had to be the sacrificial lamb for us - John 1:29 

5.      He had to taste death of us - Hebrews 2:9 

6.      He had to be brought back from the dead for us - Hebrews 13:20 

                                                          vi.      What benefits do I now enjoy because of being brought nigh?

1.      A clear conscience - Hebrews 9:14 

2.      No more condemnation - Romans 8:1 

3.      Continual cleansing - 1 John 1:7 

4.      Bold access - Hebrews 4:16 

 

Friday, April 28, 2023

How to Put Together an Expository Sermon - The Expositor Podcast

This is very helpful if you are considering preaching...


Thursday, April 20, 2023

Ephesians 2:12

 

Ephesians 2:12

Once You Were Without Christ

 

Eph 2:12  That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 

 

           1.      Christ is a Jewish Messiah

a.       We must remember first of all that Jesus came first for His people

                                                              i.      Matthew 15:21-28 

           2.      You Are Made a Part of God’s Blessing On His People

a.       Once we were apart from Christ

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:2 

b.      But now you are grafted into Christ’s work with His People and get to receive all the blessings of being the people of God

                                                              i.      Romans 11:17 

c.       What blessings do I now benefit from by being grafted into the work of Christ with His people?

                                                              i.      You are now a part of the commonwealth of Israel

1.      Deuteronomy 32:9 

                                                            ii.      The Covenants and promises are now yours

1.      We are now partakers of the Abrahamic Covenant

a.       Genesis 12:1-3 

2.      We are now partakers of the Mosaic Covenant

a.       Exodus 19:4-6 

3.      We are also partakers in the Davidic Covenant

a.       2 Chronicles 21:7 

                                                          iii.      You now have a hope for the future

1.      Hebrews 6:13-19 

                                                          iv.      You now have a God

1.      1 Peter 2:9-10 

                                                            v.      You are no longer lost in the world

1.      1 John 2:15-17 

Friday, April 14, 2023

Ephesians 2:11

 

Ephesians 2:11

Once You Were Not a Part of the Inner Circle

 

Eph 2:11  Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 

          1.      Once Upon a Time You Were Outsiders Because of Your Flesh

a.       Those that are Gentiles are not descendants of Abraham

                                                              i.      Genesis 12:1-2 

b.      Yet Jesus demonstrates to Jews that being a child of Abraham is more that being a mere descendent

                                                              i.      John 8:39-42 

            2.      Because You Were Outsiders You Were Mocked by the Inner Circle

a.       What is circumcision?

                                                              i.      Genesis 17:9-11 

b.      There were those in the early church who taught that it was a requirement to salvation

                                                              i.      Acts 15:1-2 

c.       Paul destroys such legalism in his epistle to the Romans when he make the point that Abraham is the father of all who have faith

                                                              i.      Romans 4:11-12 

            3.      Yet Their Pride in the Flesh is Utterly Meaningless

a.       The work of salvation is a work that is done in the heart not by human methods

                                                              i.      Colossians 2:11 

b.      The outward man never mattered

                                                              i.      Romans 2:28-29 

c.       Paul did not invent this teaching he got it from the Old Testament

                                                              i.      Deuteronomy 30:6 

d.      Which meant that anyone who was glorying in their circumcision were not glorying in Christ but themselves

                                                              i.      Philippians 3:2-8

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Ephesians 2:10

 

Ephesians 2:10

You are the Workmanship of Christ

 

Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

          1.      You are Christ’s Masterpiece

a.       We have nothing to brag about for our salvation

                                                              i.      Ephesians 1:7 

b.      We have nothing to brag about for our sanctification

                                                              i.      Philippians 2:12-13 

                                                            ii.      Hebrews 13:21 

          2.      You are a New Creation in Christ

a.       Ephesians 4:22 

b.      Colossians 3:9   

         3.      You Were Made Anew to Do Amazing Things for God

a.       2 Corinthians 5:17 

         4.      This was God’s Plan from Before Time

a.       Not only our salvation was planned before time but also the many wonderful works God has called you to do

                                                              i.      Deuteronomy 5:33 

         5.      God is Leading You Through the Path of Life

a.       What are the tools that God uses to mold you?

                                                              i.      The Holy Spirit

1.      John 14:26 

                                                            ii.      His written word

1.      John 17:17 

                                                          iii.      The preaching of that word

1.      1 Corinthians 1:18 

                                                          iv.      His discipline

1.      Hebrews 12:7-11 

                                                            v.      His love

1.      1 John 4:17-19