This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Jesus Is The Light Of The World", 12/23/2012

JESUS IS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 

John 1:1-5, Eph 5:1-2,6-14

 

WHO IS JESUS?

John 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

 A. In the "Beginning" is before God's creative process begin or perhaps; eternity past.

     1. "Was the Word". The "Word" is from the Greek word "Logos", the name given

 

         to Christ.

       a. Through the Word is God's communication of His will to us.

 B. "And the Word was with God."

     1. The word "God" is the Greek word "theos" which is the supreme Divinity.

     2. The Word which is Christ was with Theos in the beginning.

 C. "And the Word was God"

    1. The Word and God are the same.

    2. Jesus , the Word and God the Father are one.

 

V:2. "The same was in the beginning with God."

   A. The Word and God existed before God's creative process.

        1. Jesus and the Father existed together before creation.

        2. Jesus and the Father are the first "cause".

 

V:3. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."

 A. The word "him" refers to Jesus Christ, which is the Word.

     1. All things were made by Christ

     2. Without Christ nothing was made.

     3. Christ is the complete creative process.

 

V:4. "In him was life; and the life was the light of men."

 A. Life= zoe= living soul

    1. In Jesus, In God, In the Word was all living souls.

    2. Life was in Jesus and all living souls come from Jesus.

 

 B. Light= phos= luminousness, to shine, light reaching the mind.

    1. Man's ability to understand the Word, comes from Jesus, who is the Word.

    2. God gives all individuals a mind to understand the things of the world.

        a. He only gives those He elected the ability to understand Himself.

 

V:5. "And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

  A. God's light shines on the whole world.

       1. Darkness= skotia= ruin, unhappiness, spiritual depravity

       2. The world is spiritually deprived.

  B. The world cannot understand God's Word because it is spiritually deprived.

      1. The God's Word which is the light is foolish to the world.

 

WHO WE ARE

Ephesians 5:1. "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children."

 A. A follower is an imitator.

     1. Believers are commanded to imitate the life of Christ.

        a. Be kind to others.

        b. Be considerate.

        c. Be forgiving.

        d. Love each other.

  B. "As dear children"

      1. As=hos= in that manner, according.

      2. Believers are to trust Jesus completely.

         a. Believers are to rely on Jesus as a child relies on his parents.

         b. Believers are commanded to be obedient to the Word.

 

OUR LIFE IN CHRIST

V:2. "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour."

 A. "Walk in love."

     1. Love=agape= affection, a feast of charity, God's willful direction toward men

     2. Let us have an attitude of love.

     3. Everything we do should be out of love.

         a. When we work, it should be out of love.

         b. When we fellowship with others' it should be out of love.

         c. When we serve the Lord, it should be out of love.

 B. "As Christ also hath loved us."

     1. God the Father gave us His only Son out of His love for us.

         a. God is love.

     2. Jesus gave us the supreme sacrifice of His life so that we could have eternal life.

         a. God expects us to make a sacrifice for those in need because we love.

 C.  " A sweetsmelling savour"

      1. For something to be sweet, you have to get rid of any sour ingredients, then pour

 

         in spices.

      2. In order for any sacrifice we claim for love to be acceptable to the Father, we

 

         must get rid of anything that opposes love.

         a. Get rid of any hatred.

         b. Get rid of any envy.

         c. Get rid of any jealously.

         b. Get rid of the attitude that keeps us from forgiving.

 

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR

V:6. "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience."

 A. Don't let anyone fool you that the vices of the world are acceptable to Christ.

     1. All unrighteousness is sin.

     2. The world has made legal many things that are unacceptable to God.

     3. The common practices of the world that violate God's commands cannot be

          practiced by the children of God.

 B. Every unclean thought will be judged by God.

 C. Unbelievers are the children of disobedience.

      1. They will face the wrath of God which is a burning hell.

 

V:7. "Be not ye therefore partakers with them."

 A.  Don't participate in unrighteous behavior.

     1. Stay away from individuals who do not follow the commands of God.

         a. Choose your friends wisely.

         b. It is easy to believe that someone's behavior is acceptable, when you see no

             immediate consequence.

 B. It is better to be right on the outside of a crowd than to be wrong in the crowd.

     1. If the crowd is enjoying a certain behavior, chances are it is wrong and against

 

         the commands of God.

     2. The Church is the only safe crowd for a believer.

 

DON'T FORGET THE GRACE OF GOD

V:8. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

 A. Before we (believers) came to Christ, we were in the world.

     1. We were born in darkness and practice the things of a dark world.

     2. We have an understanding of the darkness because we have been there.

     3. Don't be afraid to admit that your past was filled with darkness.

 B. But, now we are in the light of the Lord.

     1. It is by the Grace of God, the divine favor of God that we are in the light.

     2. Thank God that Jesus made us part of His divine plan of redemption.

         a. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but only the elect of God will be

             redeemed.

         b. We cannot boast of our salvation because we were saved by Grace through

        

             Faith.

         c. It is the Amazing Gift Of God that saved us.

  C. We must walk as children of the light.

      1. Our walk is our attitude, our behavior and our lifestyle.

      2. Our walk should imitate the life of Jesus.

      3. The walk of a believer is a narrow way. That way is the way of righteousness.

      4. The foundation of our attitude and behavior is love.

          a. Because we love the Lord, there are certain things we will not do.

          b. Those in the dark are drawn to the light they see in us.

          c. You never know how many people you are influencing with your godly

             

              behavior.

 

OUR WORK IN THE LORD

V:9. "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth."

  A. Every believer has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Eph 4:30

       1. Jesus equipped every believer with gifts to produce fruit.

       2. The most important fruit of the Spirit is love.

           a. Love of the Lord is first.

           b. Love of the brethren is second.

       3. All other fruits flow from love. 

  B.  Goodness and righteousness flow from our love for Jesus.

       1. If we love God, we will give our time to Him in service.

       2. If we love Jesus, we will find ways to help our brothers and sisters in need.

       3. If we love the Lord, we will always be careful to do what is right.

  C. Because we are in the light, we know that the only truth is the Word of God.

      1. Because we know the truth, our response should be to act on the truth with full

          confidence in the Lord.

 

V:10. "Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."

 A.  What is acceptable to the Lord is our obedience to His commands.

     1. Love for one another in Christ Jesus is acceptable to the Lord.

     2. Those who love the Lord will serve Him with joy.

     3. Those who love the Lord know that serving the Lord involve serving others.

     4. Those who love the Lord will find peace and joy in their lives.

 B. Those who love the Lord know that we are owned by Jesus Christ and under His

      guidance and directions.  

     1. Those who love the Lord know that they are a role models for Christ.

     2. Because we are role models, we are lights for others to be drawn to Christ.

     3. Our actions are acceptable to the Lord when we imitate the Son.

 

OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE WORLD

V:11. "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

 A. We have a responsibility to those who are working in the dark.

      1. We can't keep company with those who's intent is evil.

      2. We have a responsibility to tell them the truth.

          a. We have a responsibility to tell those in the dark what is right.

          b. The truth hurts, but it is always in season.

 B. There are several types of people in the dark.

     1. There are those in the dark who have no interest in being in the light.

         a. They know about the light, but they hate the light.

         b. They will not change.

     2. There are those in the dark that don't know that they are in the dark.

         a. They have not been exposed to the light.

         b. These people need to see the light in us.

         c. We are their first Church.

         b. We have a responsibility to preach Jesus to them.

    3. There are those in the dark who are stuck and don't know how to get out.

        a. They may have heard about the light but just can't get to the light.

        b. For some reason, they are frozen in their position of darkness.

        c. These people need our help in the form of time, education and resources. Eph 2:10

        d. God has equipped us to help and will provide the resources to be effective.

 

V:12. "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret."

  A. There are some immoral actions that defile the soul that should not be shared.

      1. We have to be careful when we talk about immoral thing of darkness because we

           never know who's tender ears will be affected.

      2. Our own hearts can be affected when our ears are constantly exposed to the evil of

          the world.

  B. We should choose our fellowship with other Christians who worship the Lord in

       spirit and truth.

       1. Corrupt company can corrupt our minds.

       2. A little leaven, leavens the whole dough.  1 Cor 5:6

 

V:13. "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light."

 A. All things are made known by the truth which is the light.

     1. When you know the truth, a lie is self evident.

     2. When you know the truth, you can't deny it or be satisfied with a lie.

 B. When you know what is right, what is wrong is self evident.

     1. When you know what is right, you want be satisfied with wrong.

 C. The Word of God convicts you so you can't do wrong and be satisfied.

 

A COMMAND TO SERVE

V:14. "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

 A. An inactive Christian is one who is sleep in the Lord.

     1. An inactive Christian can produce no fruit.

     2. An inactive Christian is of no use to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     3. An inactive Christian is like salt that has lost it's power to be salt.

 B. When we get active serving the Lord, the world can see our light.

     1. We may be the only Church some will come close too.

     2. We are vessels that God uses to shed light on the world.

 C. God will not increase the effectiveness of your gifts if you are not using them.

    1. God will not inspire you in the Word if you are not studying the Word.

    2. You can't help sitting on the side lines.

    3. The moment you get active serving the Lord is the moment your gifts become

        effective and the light of the Lord shines through you.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Equipped For The Ministry Of Jesus", 12/16/12

 

 

EQUIPPED FOR THE MINISTY OF JESUS CHRIST

 

Ephesians 4:1-16

 

THE RIGHT ATTITUDE

V:1. "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called."

 A. In order to do the Lord's work effectively, we have to see ourselves as prisoners

     of God.

   1. A prisoner is under the state in which he is kept.

   2. We are prisoners of the Lord and kept by Him.

   3. We are to consider ourselves under the commands of God.

 B. The Lord has some expectations for us.

    Defn: vocation =kleseos= invitation to a banquet, invitation to the kingdom of God.

    1. He called us into the kingdom of God.

    2. He called us to walk worthy of the Kingdom.

        a. The word walk is our life or conduct.

        b. We should conduct ourselves according to God's commands.

        c. When the world looks at us, they ought to see the righteousness of God.

 

V.4:2. "With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love."

 A. The characteristics the world ought to see are these:

    1. Lowliness= tapeinophrosune= humble spirit

    2. Meekness= praiotes=gentle spirit

    3. Long suffering= makrothumia= patience

    4. Forbearing= anechomai= endure, suffer

 B. Whatever we do for one another has to be done out of love.

    1.Whatever we do for others must not be done for self gain.

    2. What ever we do for others must be done for their gain.

 

OUR WORK

V:3. "Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

  A. The word "endeavor" means to labor or make an effort, be prompt.

      1. We ought to make it our business to be unified in the purpose and function

         of the Lord's work.

      2. It is our duty to see the goals and the aspirations of others as important as our

          own.

      3. Our purpose is to give God the glory and there is more than one way to that end.

      4. Every believer has a way they want to serve God. Sometimes we have to step

         

          back  and let someone else shine.

 B. There is only one Spirit in the Church and that is the Holy Spirit.

     1. The  Holy Spirit inspires us all in different ways at different times, but all to the

         glory of God.

     2. We have been given peace with the Father through Jesus Christ, therefore we

         ought

          to seek peace with each other.

     3. Sometimes peace come by forgetting what we want, then seek the desires of

         others

         in the Lord.

 

ONE WITH CHRIST

V.4:4. "There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling."

 A. There is one body, the body of Christ.

      1. All believers are in the body of Christ

 B. There is one Spirit, the Holy Spirit.

     1. All believers have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

     2. Since we are all one, there should be unity.

 C. We were called. The Greek word, "kaleo", means bid to come forth.

     1. We have one calling. The word calling is the Greek, "klesis" meaning an

          invitation

          to the kingdom.

     2. Eternal life is our hope. That hope is made possible because of Jesus.

 

V.4:5. "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."

  A. There is one Lord.

     1. Lord is the Greek word, "kurios" which is supreme authority.

     2. This supreme authority is Jesus Christ.

  C. There is one faith.

     1. This one faith is the belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior.

  D. There is one baptism.

     1. This baptism is the Spiritual baptism.

     2. We are all baptized by the blood of Jesus Christ into a new life with Him.

         a. We have been consecrated or devoted to God by the blood of Jesus.

         b. Jesus is the only way to be devoted to God.

         c. You have to go through the Son to get to the Father.

 

V.4:6. "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

 A.  There is one God and Father of all.

    1. God= theos= supreme divinity

       a. There are not a lot of little gods.

       b. There is just one God.

   2. Father= pather= parent

       a. God is parent of all of us.

       b. God is the creator of all things, therefore the parent of all things.

 B. This one God "theos" is above all.

     1. He sits high and looks low.

     2. There is no authority above Him.

     3. God is supreme.

 C. His handiwork is in everything because He created everything from nothing.

 D. He, theos is in all believers by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

     1. Since He is in all of us, all of us are one in Him.

 

THE FAVOR OF GOD

V.4:7. "But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

 A. Even though we are one in God we are all unique to God.

     1. God makes us unique by giving us the gifts of Christ necessary for our set of

         circumstances.

     2. Grace means God's favor.

         a. Each of us needs God's favor in different measures because of our

             circumstances.

         b. Each of us has been enabled to live the life that God planned for us

             successfully.

 B. God's grace to us is a gift.

    1. We did not do anything to deserve His favor.

 

V.4:8. "Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men."

 A. Before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He said, "all power over heaven and earth

      was given to me"  Matt 28:18

     1. Jesus had the authority to give gifts to anyone He chooses.

     2. He gave gifts to those the Father chose to give eternal life.

     3. He gave believers spiritual gifts.

     4. He gave believers His holy Word.

     5. He gave man the ability to live life abundantly.

 B. He freed men from the bonds of sin with His shed blood on the cross.

    1. To those He called, He changed their natural appetite for sin to an appetite for

        righteousness.

       a. Any man in Christ is a new creation.  2 Cor 5:17

       b. This new creation seeks the righteousness of the Father.

 

V:9. "(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?"

 A. Christ came down from the Highest heaven to earth to become man.

    1. He gave up His glory and became the least of men.

    2. He who is God, subjected Himself to the rule of man.

    3. He humbled himself before the Father to take on human flesh in the family of a

        carpenter in the worst neighborhood.

      a. The question was asked, "can anything good come from Galilee?"

      b. He gave up everything so that we could have the best of things; eternal life.

 B. God is spirit, so He let His Spirit take on human flesh for the purpose of the cross.

     1. At His death, the earth quaked and dead saints came alive and walked the earth

         giving reference to the new life in Christ.  

 

V:10. "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)"

 A. The work of the Lord was finished on the cross.

     1. He uttered these words on the cross, "It is Finished".  John 19:30

     2. His sacrificial death fulfilled all the requirements of the Law.

       a. Jesus said, "I did not come to do away with the Law but to fulfill

           the Law."   Matt 5:17

 B. His death was voluntary.

     1. Jesus said, "No one takes my life, I have the power to lay it down and

         power to take it back up again."   John 10:15

     2. To make sure He was dead, the Roman soldiers pierced Him in the side

          and out came blood and water.   John 19:34

         a. The blood was for the atonement of the sins of the world.

         b. The water was for the purification of those He called.

 C. Because His work was finished, He arose from the dead, ascended

      back into heaven and took His seat at the right hand of the Father.

 

EQUIPPED FOR CHRIST

V:11. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers."

 A. Jesus gifted the Church with different positions to edify and build up the body.

      1. He gave some as apostles.

          a. Apostles=apostolous= he that is sent, ambassador of the Gospel,

             commissioned

              by Christ.

          b. The Church began with the 12 apostles, the 12 disciples of Jesus. His enter

              circle.

      2. He gave some as prophets.

         a. Prophets=prophetas=inspired speaker, foreteller.

      3. He gave some as evangelist.

         a. Evangelist= euaggelistes= a preacher of the Gospel

      4. He gave some as pastors.

         a. Pastor= shepherd

         b. A pastor is the shepherd of a group of believers

      5. He gave some as teachers.

         a. Teacher= didiaskalous= doctor or master

 B. Jesus gave everyone gifts, but not the same gifts.

      1. No one should envy another believers gift.

      2. All gifts are equal and important.

      3. No Christian should ever feel less than anyone else.

      4. We are all the same in God's eyes.

 

THE PURPOSE OF GIFTS.

V:12. "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

 A. For the perfecting of the saints.

     1. We all come to Christ in need of help with issues and problems.

     2. We come as babes in Christ.

     3. We need training and encouragement in the Word.

     4. God's intends for His saints to be perfect and lacking nothing.

 B. For the work of the ministry

     1. The ministry of Jesus Christ  involves bringing God's elect  to Christ.

     2. The ministry includes teaching, counseling and building up those in the body.

 C. For the edifying  the body of Christ

     1. One of the jobs of the ministry is to build up Christians in the knowledge of the

         truth.

 

V:13. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ."

 A. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith."

     1. The objective of the ministry of Jesus is to bring all Christians to the perfections

          that is Jesus Christ.

     2. Christians should have the same confidence in Jesus Christ and believe the same

         truths.

 B. "And the same knowledge of the Son of God."

     1. Bible study is an important obligation of each Christian.

     2. To know God, you must study His Word.

     3. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

 C. "Unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"

     1. Jesus Christ is the role model for all Christians.

     2. It should be the objective of all Christians to grow into the moral character of

         Christ.

 

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MINISTRY

V:14. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."

 A. The objective of the ministry of Jesus Christ is to grow Christians to maturity to trust

      and to completely rely on Jesus Christ.

     1. With a complete knowledge of the truth, Christians can easily discern the lies of

          the devil.

     2. Being confident in the doctrines of Jesus Christ, Christians can easily recognize

         and reject the deception of the devil.

 V:15. "But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

 A. Love is the greatest characteristic of a Christian.

     1. It is our duty to show love in everything we do.

     2. Everything we say must be the truth.

         a. The Word of God is the only truth.

         b. Teaching must be the truth about Jesus Christ in love.

 B. Growth in the Lord comes from our compassion and service to others.

 C. Christ is the head of the Church and the head of our lives.

      a. Every thought must begin with our love for Christ.

      b. When we look at each other, we should look with the love of Christ.

 

V:16. "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."

 A. Every Christian has an important job in building the body of Christ.

     1. Since we are joined together in one body, every Christian that is not using

         their gifts, weaken the body.

    2.  We have all been supplied with gifts to edify the body of Christ.

 B. Every gift given is sufficient to be effective in building the body of Christ.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Our Family In Jesus Christ", 12/9/12

OUR FAMILY IN CHRIST JESUS

Ephesians 2:11-22

WHAT WE USE TO BE

V:11. "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands."

 A. It is good to remember where God has brought you from.

     1. Before Christ, we were in the world blind to the grace of God.

     2. We lived according to the desires of the flesh.

 B. Notice God describes two sets of people (the Circumcised and the Uncircumcised.)

     1. The Circumcised, the Nation of Israel is God's first chosen people.

         a. The Nation of Israel started with Abraham.

         b. God established an everlasting covenant with Abraham promising that

             he would be the father of many nations. Genesis 17:6-11

         c. The sign of this covenant was that every male child born to him and his

             descendants would be circumcised on the eighth day after birth.

     2. The Uncircumcised, the Gentiles, is the rest of the world.

        a. The Gentiles were never under this covenant and were the uncircumcised.

        b. All Gentile believers are circumcised in the heart by their faith in Jesus

            Christ.

        c. The true circumcision is the circumcision of Christ which cleanses

             the sins of the world.

 C. Remembering the past should humble us before our Lord and Savior.

      1. Remembering what God has done for us ought to give a spirit of

          gratefulness.

      2. Remembering that God's Grace and Mercy continues to fall fresh on us ought

          to cause us to shout Halleluiah, Halleluiah.

  D. The Israelites received  the circumcision by the promise of God.

      1. The Gentile, that's us, received the circumcision by faith in the Son.

      2. We were included in the promise of God to Abraham.

          a. Genesis 17:5 states that Abraham would be the Father of "many nations."

          b. Israel is just "one nation".

          c. The "many" includes all believers.

 

V:12. "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world."

 A. Before God drew us to the Son, we were strangers to the promise.

     1. The promise covered us but we had no knowledge of it.

     2. Without Christ, we have no way to receive the promise of God.

     3. Without Christ, we have no hope of eternal life, which is the everlasting

          covenant.

 B. Without Christ, we can know "about" God.

     1. Knowing "about" God does not establish a relationship with God.

     2. We must except the Son as our savior to establish a relationship with God.

     3. It is the Son who changes our position in the world to a position in the

         Father.

 C. Our hope is in Jesus Christ.

     1. "No hope" is no Christ and no relationship with the Father.

     2. The promise to the Gentiles, that us, is made effective with our faith

         in Jesus Christ.

 

THE WORK OF JESUS

V:13. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."

 A. Only the blood of Jesus has the power to save.

    1. Sin separated us from the Father.

    2. The blood of Jesus atoned for the sins of the world.

    3. Our faith in Jesus and His finished work on the cross gives us that relationship

        with the Father.

        a. The word "in" is from the Greek word "en" with means a fixed position.

        b. We are fixed in Christ who is one with the Father.

 B. We all had a sinful past world. But now in Christ, we have a special

   place in heaven.

 

V:14. "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle

 A. Faith in Jesus brings us all together in one body, the body of Christ.

     1. The Jews believed in the promise God spoke to Abraham about making them a

         special people to the Father.

     2. The Word spoken was Christ and in Christ the promise was fulfilled.

 B. Christ fulfilled the promise which include both Jews and Gentiles.

    1. In Christ, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles.

    2. Any hostility between us and the Nation of Israel resolves in Christ.

 C. In Christ, there, is peace for the whole world.

    1. In Christ, we are all brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of the true

        and living God.

    2. If we love the Father, then we love the Son because the Father and the Son

        are one.

    3. We have all been made family in Jesus Christ, therefore we all ought to love

         one another.

 D. Any peace that we have comes through Jesus Christ.

    1. Christ is our direct communication with the Father.

    2. Christ did away with the earthly priesthood for intercession with the Father.

    3. Christ is now the High Priest.

        a. Christ has the authority to make peace between us and the Father.

 

THE EFFECT OF HIS WORK ON US

V:15. "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace."

 A. The death of Christ on the cross fulfilled all the requirements of the law.

      1. Jesus said, "I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it."

      2. Animal sacrifice under the law could not atone for the sins of man.

         a. Man was not able to keep all the commandments of the law.

         b. If you live by the law, you will die by the law.

         c. If you break one of the commandments, you are guilty of them all.

      3. If being good could save, we would not need Jesus.

      4. If making an offering could save, we would not need Jesus.

          a. All of our good is nothing more than a filthy rag before God.

      5. Jesus is the only unblemished sacrifice acceptable to the Father for the

           atonement of sin. Col 2:14

 B. The old man in us died with the death of Christ and became new in His

      resurrection.

     1. We are all one in Christ.

     2. There is peace in Christ with the Father.

     3. Since we are all in Christ, we ought to have peace with each other.

 

HE BROUGHT PEACE TO US WITH THE FATHER

V:16. "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby."

 A. When Jesus was dying on the cross, God was reconciling the world to Himself.

      1. Reconcile= apokatallaxee= to gather together under one head

      2. The gathering is the Church.

      3. The head of the Church is Christ

 B. Jesus the Son of God was placed in the body by the Holy Spirit to die on the

     cross so that His blood shed would atone for the sins of man.

 C. Enmity is from the Greek word "echthra" which means hateful.

      1. The natural man hates the commandments of God, thereby, he hates God's Son.

      2.God resolved all this hatred with His Love through the death of His Son.

      3. God loves you and you can't do anything to change it.

 

V:17. "And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh."

 A. Jesus will not leave you ignorant, nor will He leave you alone.

     1. He came down from heaven to enlighten you about the love of the Father.

     2. Jesus preached the Good News about the salvation that was through faith

         in Him.

     3. He taught us that peace with God  the Father, was through Him, God the Son.

 B. Without faith in Jesus. we can't get to the Father.

      1. Jesus is the way to the Father.

      2. Jesus is the truth about the Father.

      3. Jesus is our life in the Father.

 C. He came because He loved us.

     1. He preached the Gospel of salvation because He loved us.

     2. He brought us to the Father through His death on the cross because He loved us.

     3. Because He loves us first, we ought to love Him and everybody else.

 

OUR ACCESS TO THE FATHER

V:18. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father."

 A. This is one of many verses that gives us the existence of the God Head, the Holy

      Trinity.

      1. We see God the Father.

      2. We see God the Son.

      3. We see God the Holy Spirit.

 

 B. Notice the unity of purpose in the God Head.

    1. That unity places us in one body, the body of Christ.

    2. That unity gives us the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

    3. That unity gives us communication with the Father.

    4. That unity gives us our worship experience.

        a. They that worship the Lord, must worship in spirit and truth.

        b. We worship the Father

        c. We worship the Son (the truth).

        d. We worship the Holy Spirit.

 C. Access to the Father is eternal life around His throne.

 

CITIZENS OF HEAVEN

V:19. "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God."

 A. Because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross you are not strangers

      or foreigners, but citizens.

    1. Before Christ took on the form of man, died on the Cross and ascended back

        to heaven, the Israelites  thought they had exclusive rights with God.

    2. Jesus put together one community in Himself.

       a. To the Father, we are all the same in Christ.

       b. We have the same savior.

       c. We have the same inheritance because of Christ.

       d. We have the same friend in Christ.

       e. We have the same father.

       f. We all gain salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

 B. We are saints.

     1. We are all separated from the world and dedicated to God.

         a. We are separated from sin

         b. We have been made holy before God through the death of the Son.

 C. We are in the household of God.

     1. We belong to the family of God.

     2. We are residents in Heaven

     3. We are related by the blood of Jesus.

     4. We are all kinfolk.

 

V:20. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone."

 A. We have a solid foundation.

     1. We have the Word God gave His prophets.

     2. The prophet gave us God's commands.

     3. The prophets promoted the righteousness of God.

     4. The prophets foretold the coming of the messiah.

 B. We have the Words God gave His apostles.

     1. We have eye witnesses to the teaching and the miracles of Jesus Christ.

     2. We have eye witnesses to His death resurrection and ascension into heaven.

     3. We have the personal witness of the apostles to the power of the Holy Spirit.

 C. We have Jesus.

     1. We have a savior who is the cornerstone to all our beliefs.

     2. We have Jesus seated at the right hand of the Father making intercessions

          for us.

 THE TEMPLE OF GOD

V:21. "In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord."

 A. Each believer is an important building block in God's Temple.

     1. Each believer has an important role in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

     2. We are all combined together as one building.

     3. Every believer is given gifts and talents that are to be used to build up and

         support one another.

 B. "Together groweth unto an holy temple."

    1. We all are growing in the Lord.

    2. From the time we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we should continue to

        grow

        from babes in Christ to spiritual maturity in Christ.

        a. The objective of our growth is to be more like Christ in attitude and action.

        b. We should develop a heart of obedience, love, compassion and service.

 C. Our bodies are the temple of the Lord.

     1. From the Lord's temple comes praise and worship.

     2. Because were are the Lord's temple, we should study and meditate on His Word.

     3. Because we are the Lord's temple, we should act like children of the king.

 

V:22. "In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

 A. The Holy Spirit indwells every believer.

      1. The Holy Spirit is our teacher, comforter and helper.

      2. The power of the Holy Spirit is present where ever we are.

      3. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ begins when we proclaim the Gospel.

 B. The temple of the Lord should have a powerful impact on the world around us.

     1. All believers have been called out of the world.

     2. There are others who have been predestined to be in the body of Christ but

          have not yet been called by God.

     3. We are the light that the predestined will be drawn to as God calls them out of

         the world.

 C. The world will know we love God because we keep His commands and love the

      brethren.