We Are Alive Together With Christ(Ephesians 2)
When we read Ephesians 2:1-10, we see how Paul differentiates between a life before coming to faith and a life after coming to faith. He reminds us that after coming to faith in Christ, we are raised up and seated on the throne of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-22 shows us how Gentiles were first without Christ and how they were transformed through Christ and in Christ.
A life before coming to faith in Christ
Before we came to Christ, we were:
1.      Dead in our transgressions and sins
2.       Following the ways of this world and the devil
3.       Disobedient
4.      Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind
A life after coming to faith in Christ
A life after coming to faith in Christ was one that was transformed by God. That even when we were dead in our transgressions:
1.      God raised us with Christ
2.      God made us alive together with Christ
3.      God made us to sit with God in heavenly places
We were transformed so that in the ages to come, God might show the exceeding riches of His grace. God did all this by His amazing grace, love and mercy. God saved us by grace through faith. God created us in Christ for good works and to walk in the right way that God prepared for us in advance.
Gentiles Being in Christ
Gentiles were strangers of God’s promises and had no hope in this world without God. Because of God’s love and grace, they were drawn to Christ. By the blood of Jesus, and His sacrifice on the cross, the wall of division between the Jews and Gentiles were broken. As a result, the Jews and Gentiles were now one in the law and its commands and regulations. Christ reconciled them both to God.  Jesus preached peace to those near and far and they now have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Because of God’s love and grace, the Gentiles are now:
1.      Fellow citizens with the saints
2.      Members of the household of God
3.      Part of a holy temple in the Lord with the foundation built with Christ as the cornerstone




Popular posts from this blog

Do you pray about it, as much as you talk about it?

Image
Do you pray about it, as much as you talk about it?   I saw this sign the other day on the internet and it got me thinking… It’s actually crazy how we can talk about some of our issues, struggles or dislikes for hours. Many times we feel like calling someone or just hanging out with someone close and we just want to share out heart out. Once we share, we feel a momentary relief as well. Our friends, parents or siblings take time out of their schedule to listen to our rants and provide insight, advice, etc. and that makes us happy and comforted. We realize how much we need each other. The more trust we build, the more we share; the more we share the more we care for one another; and the more we care for one another the more we can endure. So I think it’s important to talk about stuff and I believe it will only help you, it relieves stress and anxiety… but the question is “Do you pray about it, as much as you talk about it?” Sometimes we have a lot of plans. Plans for ...
Read more

Sometimes my plan fail, but God always gives me better options.

Image
     There are many times in my life when things went in a completely opposite way than I had thought or planned.  I am an impatient person, so I like things to be done my way and in my own time. I've found that in each and every one of those situations, God had a completely different plan.  Many times, we plan out things with our own knowledge, and then we blame God when things start going wrong.  We try to teach God by telling him how things should work out. We become upset, and frustrated at God. We then begin to fear and wonder why things didn't work the way we planned and prayed. Maybe it’s our sins?  Or did God even hear our prayer? We often say we trust in Him, but if we trust God the way we say we do, we must trust that God knows what is best for us in every situation.  If we put our trust in Him He will direct us in the way that is best for us, even if we don’t think that it’s the best for us in that mom...
Read more

Return, O my Soul, To Your Rest.

Image
Psalm 116: 1-7 (NIV) I love the  Lord ,  for he heard my voice;    he heard my cry  for mercy.   Because he turned his ear  to me,      I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death  entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me;       I was overcome by distress and sorrow.   Then I called on the name  of the  Lord :      “ Lord , save me! ” The  Lord  is gracious and righteous;   our God is full of compassion The  Lord  protects the unwary; when I was brought low,  he saved me. Return to your rest,  my soul,      for the  Lord  has been good  to you .      This is a Psalm that God has continuously been reminding me of for the last two weeks. Before He brought me to it, I was stressed out with many things. Stressed out b...
Read more