Title: Think therefore./Ephesians 2:11-22
Contents Bible: Ephesians 2:11-22
Title: So think.
Ephesians 2:11 Consider, therefore, that ye were then Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcised by those who call themselves circumcised in the flesh with hands.
Ephesians 2:12 At that time you were outside Christ and outside the kingdom of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
Ephesians 2:13 Now you, who were formerly afar off, have been drawn near by the blood of Christ in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:14 He is our peace, who made the two one and broke down the middle wall.
Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, the ceremonial law of commandments, that made of the two one new man in himself, making peace,
Ephesians 2:16 And that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, who put an end to enmity through the cross.
Ephesians 2:17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off, and peace to those who were near.
Ephesians 2:18 so that through him we both may have access to the Father in one Spirit.
Ephesians 2:19 Therefore, from now on you are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
Ephesians 2:20 You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.
Ephesians 2:21 In him every building is joined together to become a temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2:22 You also are being built together in Jesus to be a dwelling place for God in the Holy Spirit.
There are many different kinds of people on the planet we live in. If they have a false sense of superiority or nationalism, they persecute and despise other peoples. One of the very wrong habits that we humans have is that if we have any vested interests, we do evil and despise them.
They implicitly despise blacks and yellow people (Asians) with wealth (money) or knowledge, which can be said to be the vested interests of white people in European and American societies, and do not treat them as people. No matter how much critics shout, racism is still not going away.
There was also a time in Korea when people called yangbans despised the ordinary people and merchants and did not treat them as people, and the influence is still not gone.
In the Bible, the history of the Jews, descendants of Abraham, is revealed. God chose Abraham and his descendants, said, “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” He gave them special graces such as the covenant and the law, so they were separated. Also, God did not allow us to become one with other nations.
So they had a great sense of superiority and pride.
In today's text, Paul is speaking to Gentiles, the Ephesian church members.
“Think therefore.” What do you mean to think?
1. To think about the past.
Paul has explained in detail how far God has bestowed great grace and blessings on the Ephesian church members in Jesus through chapters 1 and 2:10.
He has bestowed all spiritual blessings in heaven, raised those who were dead in trespasses and sins to life in Christ Jesus, and set them down in heaven to do good works.
However, the words “in those days …” refer to the time when the Ephesian church members were dead in trespasses and sins. In other words, think about the time when you were not saved in Jesus Christ and did not rise again.
Ephesus Church members, think about that time. What was the situation of the women at that time?
They were Gentiles from birth, and were despised by the Jews as uncircumcised. You are the one who was outside of Christ, had no relation to God's covenant, had no hope in this world, and lived without God.
Let's read verses 11-12 together.
11 Think therefore, that ye were then strangers in the flesh, and
Calling uncircumcised to those who call themselves circumcised in the flesh
those who receive
12 At that time you were outside Christ, and you were outside the kingdom of Israel.
Man, a stranger to the covenants of promise, without hope in the world
and there is no God.
How about me and you in the past?
Isn't it the same as the Ephesian church members?
Have you not lived without hope and without God?
But God has given us all spiritual blessings in heaven.
We, who were dead in trespasses and sins, made us alive in Christ Jesus and set us down in heaven.
He made us do good works in Christ Jesus.
we should be grateful
We must love God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind.
We should love our neighbors who need our love as ourselves.
(Worship, service, dedication, offering..., )
2. Think of Jesus Christ.
Why think of Jesus Christ?
Because it is Jesus Christ who united Jews and Gentiles as one.
Because it is Jesus who reconciled us to God.
Ephesians 2:13 Now (1) you who were formerly afar off have become of Christ in Christ Jesus.
draw near with blood
Ephesians 2:14 He is ② our peace, making the two one, ③ breaking down the middle wall
Ephesians 2:15 ④ enmity, that is, the ceremonial law of commandments,
has been abolished, because (5) he made one new man in himself from the two
make peace
Ephesians 2:16 And ⑥ to reconcile them to God in one body through the cross
He destroyed enmity with the cross
Ephesians 2:17 He came again to preach peace to you who are far away,
He brought peace to them
Ephesians 2:18 For, 8, through him, we both prayed to the Father in one Spirit
that you might get better
In the Lord I have drawn near by his blood.
You broke down the barrier in the middle.
Jesus fulfilled the law by dying on the cross.
He created a new person in the Lord and made them one body and reconciled.
He allowed us to preach the gospel of peace and to come to God the Father in one Holy Spirit.
In this way, everything we do begins in Jesus, is accomplished and bears fruit by Jesus.
We are people who should never forget the Lord, even for a moment.
Those who cannot live without forgetting the Lord are saints.
3. Think of your present
Ephesians 2:19 Therefore, from now on you are no longer strangers and aliens, but
① They are fellow citizens with the saints ② They are of the household of God
Ephesians 2:20 You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets
Christ Jesus Himself has become the corner stone
Ephesians 2:21 ④ In him every building is joined together to become a temple in the Lord.
Ephesians 2:22 ⑤ In order that you also may become a dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit, Jesus
being built together within
The Holy Spirit speaks through Paul.
Now you are citizens of the kingdom of God and members of God's family.
Now you are a house of faith, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Himself becoming the headstone.
Now, you are being built together in the name of the Ephesian church to become a temple in the Lord and a dwelling place for God in the inspiration, influence, and work of the Holy Spirit.
concluding remarks
What are you thinking about at this time of worship?
What do you want to live your life thinking?
Think of the past. We are dead in our trespasses and sins.
Think of the Lord. Didn't the Lord save us?
Now we are God's family. You are a citizen of the kingdom of God.
Not enough. However, we are now becoming a holy temple, a temple in the grace of the Lord.
We are being built together in the name of the Ark Church in Jesus to become the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit. All of this is God's grace.
Don't forget this amazing fact, I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.