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KoP: A Dwelling Place for God. Ephesians 2:11-22. Temple: The Presence of God. It was the one place where the holy God could dwell among an unholy people The most holy place was the holiest spot in all creation! The Israelites had to journey to the temple in order to be close to God
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KoP: A Dwelling Place for God Ephesians 2:11-22
Temple: The Presence of God • It was the one place where the holy God could dwell among an unholy people • The most holy place was the holiest spot in all creation! • The Israelites had to journey to the temple in order to be close to God • Barriers divided races, genders, and social status • The OT prophets hinted that things would change … • … for the better
Church: The Presence of God • The NT teaches that the church, both corporately and individually, is now the temple of God because the Holy Spirit lives in us (1 Cor 3 and 6) • God takes up permanent residence in us • Barriers to fellowship have been removed • How does it make you feel knowing that God lives in you?
Our Church … • Community of the Lost (Eph 2:11-12) • It’s good to be reminded of our past apart from Christ • Community of the Redeemed and the Reconciled (Eph 2:13-18) • Christ’s blood is the sole source of our salvation • A Dwelling Place for God (Eph 2:19-22) • God has replaced the old temple and its barriers with a new home – a dwelling place where he lives by his Holy Spirit
Conclusion We have a great calling as Christians – to live out our lives as the family of God - to be reconcilers because we have been reconciled in Christ - to be a people where God chooses to live by his Holy Spirit.