Ephesians 2:18

 

Ephesians 2:18

We Have Fellowship Through the Trinity

 

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.    

         1.      The Trinity is Our Source of Unity

a.       The doctrine of the Trinity is central to unity in the Church

                                                              i.      Ephesians 2:20-22 

b.      The doctrine of the trinity is central to love in the Church

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:2-6 

c.       The doctrine of the trinity is central to faith in the Church

                                                              i.      1 John 5:6-8 

d.      The doctrine of the trinity is central to the practice of ordinances in the Church

                                                              i.      Matthew 28:19-20 

e.       The doctrine of the trinity is central to the spiritual development of the Church

                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 13:14 

          2.      The Father Initiates with His Love

a.       Jesus was sent to earth on a mission by the Father

                                                              i.      John 17:4 

          3.      The Son Saves Us with His Love

a.       The Son was willing to face the shame of a criminal’s death to save sinners such as you and I

                                                              i.      Hebrews 12:1-2 

          4.      The Spirit Preserves Us with His Love

a.       The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our coming inheritance

                                          i.    Ephesians 1:13-14 

John Piper and Tim Keller Wrestle with Sanctification

Ephesians 2:17

 

Ephesians 2:17

Christ Came to Preach Peace

 

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

          1.      Christ’s Mission to Earth is Peace

a.       Christ proclaims that mission of peace in one of His first public sermons

                                                              i.      Luke 4:16-21 

b.      Christ wants you to experience the peace of God personally

                                                              i.      He wants us to bring our cares to Him

1.      Philippians 4:6-7  

                                                            ii.      He doesn’t want us to be unstable

1.      James 1:6-8

                                                          iii.      He wants to heal our hurts

1.      Isaiah 57:18-21 

                                                          iv.      He wants us to be firm in our faith

1.      Ephesians 4:13-14 

           2.      Christ Offers Peace to the Gentile

a.       The Gentile is condemned and in need of the gospel

                                                              i.      Romans 1:18-20 

           3.      Christ Offers Peace to the Jew

a.       The Jew is condemned and in need of the Gospel

                                                              i.      Romans 2:1-5 

           4.      Christ is the Only Hope for All Men

a.       Both the Jew and the Gentile are saved only by the Gospel

                                                              i.      Romans 1:16-17 

Ephesians 2:16

 

Ephesians 2:16

Christ Brings Us Together in God

 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

            1.      Peace with God is Found in Christ

a.       There is no true love for our neighbor apart from a true love for God

                                                              i.      Matthew 22:34-40 

b.      The Church will never understand how to reach the world until she first understands what God did to reach her

                                                              i.      2 Corinthians 5:18-21 

           2.      Unity Among Believers is Found in Christ

a.       True rich, beautiful fellowship among believers is based in our faith in Christ

                                                              i.      1 John 1:5-10 

            3.      Beautiful Unity in the Church is Made Possible by the Cross

a.       John 8:31-36 

             4.      When Christ was Killed on the Cross, He Killed Enmity Forever

a.    Philippians 2:1-8 

Ephesians 2.14-15

 

Ephesians 2.14-15

Christ is Our Peace

 

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

          1.      Christ is Our Peace

a.       Christ makes peace between us and God

                                                              i.      Isaiah 9:6-7 

                                                            ii.      Luke 2:14 

                                                          iii.      Colossians 1:20 

          2.      Christ Ends Division Between Men

a.       Galatians 3:28 

          3.      Christ Died in Order that He Might Abolish Enmity

a.       1 Corinthians 12:12 

          4.      Christ Died to End the Enmity Between Us and the Law

a.       The greatest conflict between believers is often over misinterpretations of the law

                                                              i.      At first Peter listened to God

1.      Acts 10:28 

                                                            ii.      Then he got scared under pressure and yielded

1.      Acts 11:2-3 

                                                          iii.      Finally, he had to be corrected by Paul

1.      Galatians 2:11-14 

                                                          iv.      The resolution to these debates in found in Christ

1.      Romans 10:4 

          5.      True Unity is Found Only in Christ

a.       There is no unity between the believer and the world

                                                              i.      John 15:18-19 

b.      The world will not find unity with Christ

                                                              i.      Psalm 2:2 

c.       Christ brings unity only to His true Church

                                                              i.      Ephesians 4:15-16 

           6.      Christ is Our Peace

a.       John 14:27