Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
Join me in starting with The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Today we continue our series based on the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians The theme is “Making a New World”.
Today we are talking about Jesus Makes the Difference.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Text
Ephesians 2:13 AMP
13 But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Scripture Reading
Ephesians 2:11-22 AMP
11 Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands—
12 remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.
13 But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us],
15 by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.
16 And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.
17 And He came and preached the good news of peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away, and peace to those [Jews] who were near.
18 For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
22 In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Introduction
Have you ever been a reference for someone, maybe when they applied for a job, or applied for a rental property, or even when they joined a club?
Paul reminded the Gentiles that they had once sought admission into the Kingdom of heaven.
The sole reason for their admission was the character and work of Jesus Christ.
He made the difference.
- Outside of Jesus Christ people are alienated.
- Paul reminded the Gentiles that they were alienated, regarded as outsiders, before they learned of Christ.
The Gentiles were inferior to the Jews in religious privileges.
Their state was desperate and godless.
Paul described their past state in verse 12, “remember that at that time you were separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and [living] in the world without God.
Paul gave five definite indications that the Gentiles were outsiders.
- “Separated from Christ.”
- “Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.”
- “Strangers to the covenants of promise.”
- “Having no hope.”
- “Without God in the world.”
B. Outside of Jesus Christ people suffer great consequences.
Paul graphically portrayed the reality of alienation.
Those who choose not to live life apart from God suffer from a life apart from God.
This choice makes them strangers to the Lord.
The real outsiders in our age are the nonbelievers.
There is no worse tragedy than being alienated from God.
This alienation stems from a rebellious heart.
Being a stranger does not mean that God arbitrarily cuts certain individuals off from Himself.
And it certainly does not mean that God is stubborn and will not admit sinners.
Being a stranger simply means that simple human rebellion has separated a person from God in this life and in the life to come.
Jesus has made the invitation to come into the kingdom.
2. Through Jesus Christ people are reconciled.
From the distressing description of what Gentiles had been, Paul turned to describe what had been done for them by Christ.
Jesus came to outsiders and made it possible for them to become insiders.
- Christ did a great work of reconciliation.
Verse 13 says, But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
At one time the Gentiles were separated from Christ.
Now they live in vital union with God.
All of this has been accomplished for them “in the blood of Christ.”
B. Christ’s reconciliation brings great benefits.
It brings peace.
Verse 14 says, “For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us].”
Jesus made possible a harmonious relationship between God and humankind and between fellow human beings.
Christ’s reconciliation brings access.
Look at verse 18, “For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.”
The new relation is pictured as an access or right of approach.
Christians have the privilege of access to God as children do to a loving father.
3. In Jesus Christ people are insiders.
Receivers of Christ’s reconciliation become insiders.
Metaphorically speaking, strangers become citizens of God’s country, children in God’s family, and integral parts of a structure.
- Jesus gave the Gentiles a sense of belonging.
Verses 19and 20 say, So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,
Together with Jewish believers, Gentiles form the true Israel of God.
They are the seed of Abraham.
Jesus Christ is the focal point for both Jewish believers and Gentile believers, “Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone”.
B. Believers can learn to be insiders.
Once individuals come into the kingdom of heaven, they need to learn the privileges and obligations of kingdom people.
- Believers are citizens subject to the regulations of the kingdom.
2. Believers are part of the body and take orders from the head, Jesus Christ.
3. Our faith and the church is built on the foundation of Jesus Christ.
Conclusion.
Do you want to be in the kingdom of God?
You have to come through Jesus Christ.
Apart from Him you are an outsider.
Open your life to Him and become an insider.
Jesus makes the difference.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
I really want to encourage you to be diligent with your Bible study time, because God has so much more for us than we can get from just going to church once or twice a week and hearing someone else talk about the Word.
When you spend time with God, your life will change in amazing ways, because God is a Redeemer.
Theres nothing thats too hard for Him, and He can make you whole, spirit, soul and body!
You’re important to God, and you’re important to us at www.refinerylife.org
When it comes to prayer, we believe that God wants to meet your needs and reveal His promises to you.
So whatever you’re concerned about and need prayer for we want to be here for you! Or even if you just want to say Hi, you can contact us
2021 IS A YEAR OF REFORMATION
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