In Christ, Identity and Intimacy are Intricately linked.

In Christ, Identity and Intimacy are Intricately linked.

Ephesians 2:1-10 No Reason for Boasting Ephesians 2:11-22

No Boasting: God Initiates  We Respond

What we were without Christ (Eph 2:11-12) “ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh . . .” (2:11)

What we were without Christ (Eph 2:11-12) Abram believed the LORD, and He credited it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6

What we were without Christ (Eph 2:11-12)

While people of other faiths pursue their god(s) for a variety of reasons, Christians recognize that the only true God has been the One actively pursuing them even when they were His enemies (Rom 5:8).

Sign of the Covenant “the uncircumcised” “the circumcised”

Will you really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Genesis 18:23

We tend to underestimate the grace of God and overestimate the righteousness of people.

In order to be saved, one must become part of God’s covenant community.

“ So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh . . .” (2:11)

What we were without Christ (Eph 2:11-12) Without God No Messiah Not Citizens No Hope Foreigners

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church It is worth noting that the spiritual plight of the Gentiles was caused not by God but by their own willful sin. Without God No Messiah Not Citizens No Hope Foreigners

Hebrews 8:7-13 (Jeremiah 31:31-34) The promise of a better covenant appears for the first time in Jeremiah 31:31-34, and it is the only Old Testament occurrence of a covenant that is expressed as qualitatively “new”.

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. Ephesians 2:13

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church End of Law

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church • For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; • what matters is faith working through love. • Galatians 5:6 “the uncircumcised” End of Law “the circumcised” No Hostility

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church End of Law No Hostility

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church • Unfortunately, while the old covenant boundaries of God • were removed • the barriers created by His children • often still remain.

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church God is not just adding Gentiles – He is making a new People!! PEACE Unity Reconciliation End of Law No Hostility

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church While, we tend to approach reconciliation as a way to achieve unity. Christ has given us unity in order for us to be reconciled. PEACE Unity Reconciliation End of Law No Hostility

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church When ⌊the Messiah⌋ came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. Ephesians 2:17 PEACE Unity Reconciliation End of Law No Hostility

. . . BUT NOW (2:13-17) What Christ Did to Make the Church The people of the covenant were not necessarily saved but salvation came through them. PEACE Unity Reconciliation End of Law No Hostility

The Central Place of the Trinity in Salvation (2:18) Ephesians 2:18 For through [Christ] we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Glorifies Glorifies Glorifies

What the Church Looks Like (2:19-22) Holy Sanctuary Citizens with Saints Living Building Household Members

God`s Glorious Mystery You also are being built together for God`s dwelling in the Spirit. God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery. Ephesians 2:22

In Christ, Identity and Intimacy are Intricately linked.