Pastor Mike : THE FINAL COUNTDOWN : A Ministry of CHRIST-LIVES MINISTRIES

John 20:1-18 JESUS: THE RESURRECTED REDEEMER

Intro: Today, we celebrate the greatest day in the history of the world. Today we celebrate the great truth that Jesus Christ, who was crucified on a Roman cross and died, arose from the dead just three days later! This one truth is what sets Christianity apart from every other system of belief in the world! All other religious leaders have died. Buddha died! Mohammed died! Confucius died! Every founder of every religion that has ever existed has died. However, only One has risen again from the dead! If we were to strip Christianity of the doctrine of the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, then our faith would be no more than just another religious system condemning the souls of men to an eternity in Hell! If Jesus did not arise from the dead and is not alive today, then everything He did was in vain, His death was a waste of a life, and all of His teachings are simply the ravings of a madman! If Jesus Christ is not alive, then you have no salvation, there is no hope for the world, and we are all headed to Hell!

Now, that having been said, I want to say that HE LIVES! I praise the Lord for this 20th chapter of John's Gospel, for in its verses we are given a portrait of Jesus: The Resurrected Redeemer! We can see in these verses that Jesus is very much alive and well this morning! As we celebrate the truth that Jesus lives this morning, I would like us to take a few minutes to look into these verses and catch a fresh glimpse of the resurrection and what it means to each of us today. Thank God, because we serve a resurrected Redeemer, we have hope in this life, beyond this life, and on into eternity. Let's look together today at Jesus: The Resurrected Redeemer.

Ephesians 4:17-24

A NEW WALK FOR A NEW LIFE

Ephesians 4:17-24

King James Version

17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

20 But ye have not so learned Christ;

21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;

23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Intro: In the first phrase of verse 17, there is a word that beckons to focus our attention backward. It is the word “therefore.” Anytime you see “therefore” in the Bible, you should stop and see what it is “there for.”

This word calls our minds back to what Paul has been teaching us about our high calling in Christ Jesus. Because we have been given all the benefits mentioned in verses 1-16, we are not to be like the lost, pagan Gentiles who live around us. What benefits is Paul talking about?

• Our calling to “salvation by grace” through faith, vv. 1-3.

• Our unity in the body of Christ, vv. 3-6.

• Our unique gifting by the Holy Spirit to serve the Lord and His church for His glory, vv. 7-10.

• Our being built up through the ministries of gifted individuals in the church, vv. 11-16.

Because we have been given all these advantages, and made the partaker of such gifts from God, we are to walk in a manner that is different from the world around us.

In the verses that are before us today, we are called to A New Walk For A New LIfe. Paul issues some very specific challenges for all those who are saved. These challenges teach us how we are to walk, and how we are to be different from those who have not been saved. Let’s take some time to talk about these challenges as we think about A New Walk For A New LIfe.

Ephesians 4:1

PAUL’S CHALLENGE TO THE CHURCH

Ephesians 4:1

King James Version

4 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Intro: The fourth chapter of Ephesians introduces a change of direction for the book. The word “therefore” in verse 1, signals this change. Paul is saying, “because of what I have said, this is what I want you to do.”

To me, the first there chapters of this book are among the most thrilling and most profound in the Bible. Over the course of just 66 chapters, Paul lays out a wonderful catalogue of divine truth. I do not want to re-preach the verses we have a already studied, but I do want to refresh your minds briefly about the glorious truths we have already studied.

In the first three chapters of this book, Paul’s focus has been on doctrine. He has been telling us about the doctrinal truths we believe. He has also been teaching us about our positional standing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:7-13

PAUL THE PREACHER

Ephesians 3:7-13

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Intro: So far, Ephesians 3 has given us some insight into the man we know as Paul. In verse 1, Paul tells us that he is “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul was imprisoned by the Roman beaded on charges made by the Jews. Yet, Paul did not see himself as the prisoner of either Rome or of Judaism; Paul understood that he was where he was by the will of God. Paul was the prisoner of Christ. He was in prison by the will of God, for the glory of God, for the good of the church, the body of Christ.

Ephesians 3:7-13

PAUL THE PREACHER

Ephesians 3:7-13

King James Version

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Intro: So far, Ephesians 3 has given us some insight into the man we know as Paul. In verse 1, Paul tells us that he is “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul was imprisoned by the Roman beaded on charges made by the Jews. Yet, Paul did not see himself as the prisoner of either Rome or of Judaism; Paul understood that he was where he was by the will of God. Paul was the prisoner of Christ. He was in prison by the will of God, for the glory of God, for the good of the church, the body of Christ.

PAUL THE PIONEER PREACHER

3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Intro: In our last study, we considered the content of verse 1. In that short, but powerful verse Paul reminded his readers that he was the “prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul might have been under house arrest in Rome, under Jewish charges, as he waited to appear before Caesar, but he wanted everyone to know that Jesus Christ was his real warden.

Ephesians 3:1

3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

PAUL THE PRISONER

Intro: Paul’s letter to the Ephesian church is a blessing. For it is in this letter that we learn about who we are and all that we have as a result of God’s grace. We have discovered the truth that grace is the reason we are saved in the first place. We have learned about how lost we really were before the Lord came to us and delivered us from the bondage and deadness of our sins. We have learned that, in Jesus, we are brought near to God. We have learned that through Jesus, we are in His kingdom. We are members of his family. We are stones in the living temple of God. For me, the journey to this place in this book has been a joy, a challenge and a blessing

As Paul opens this chapter, he begins with the intention of praying for the Ephesian church. He makes the opening statement we have here in verse 1, then for the next thirteen verses Paul delays his prayer as he continues to talk about the divine mystery of the body of Christ. He doesn’t begin his prayer until verse 14. We will look at the teaching in these verses over the next few weeks.

THE MAGNIFICENT TEMPLE OF GOD

Intro: Paul’s emphasis in chapter 2 has been on the grace of God in salvation. He describes our lost condition in verses 1-3. He talks about God’s amazing salvation in verses 4-10. Then, Paul reminds us that we were Gentiles. As such, we were separated from the provisions and promises of God, v. 12. Not only that, but we were separated from the Jews, who were God’s chosen people. They had the Law of God and they held the keys to pleasing God. The Gentiles had nothing but condemnation and hopelessness.

In our natural condition we were lost and headed to Hell, but so were the Jews. They might have had the Law of God, but they did not know the God behind the Law. Both the Jew and the Gentile were lost. In Jesus, Paul tells us that we have been reconciled to one another and to God. Jesus broke down the walls that separated the Jew and the Gentile, and He broke down the walls that separated lost sinners from God, v. 13-18. When Jesus died on the cross, He opened the door of salvation to all who would believe, whether they are Jew or Gentile.

Intro: Our world is a world differences. There are political differences that result in war, division, and strive, both in America and around the world. There are social differences in areas like homosexuality, abortion, and different ways of living. These differences cause division. There are differences in the home. Sometimes there is fighting between spouses, between children, between parents and children, and between extended members of the family. These differences translate into divisions.

Sadly, there are also differences in the church. Differences in styles of worship, doctrinal beliefs, types of music, dress codes, and countless other differences, cause divisions in the church.

In this chapter, Paul is attempting to teach us that in Christ, all our differences are put to death. While the world may fight their wars, society may argue over their different agendas, and homes may be divided, the church is a place where unity and peace should prevail. In Jesus Christ, there is a oneness that that brings all believers together on common ground of faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:10

THE WORKMANSHIP OF GRACE

Ephesians 2:10

King James Version

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Intro: I think you would agree with me when I say that grace is a mystery. As we have studied these first two chapters of Ephesians, the mystery of grace has only deepened for me. As I reflect about what we have learned about grace from this book thus far, I stand amazed at God’s great work of grace for His people.

Consider a few reminders of what we have discovered about God’s grace.

· Grace chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world – Eph. 1:4

· Grace has given us all spiritual blessings through Jesus – Eph. 1:3

· Grace has determined that we will be like Jesus, and with Jesus, one day – Eph. 1:5; 11-12

· Grace has made us accepted in Jesus – Eph. 1:6

· Grace proved the blood of Christ that washed us from our sins – Eph. 1:7

· Grace reached out to us when we were dead in our sins and headed to Hell – Eph. 2:1-4

· Grace loved us – Eph. 2:4

· Grace gave us life – Eph. 2:5

· Grace has secured our future – Eph. 2:6-7

· Grace has secured our salvation – Eph. 2:8-9

Everything we possess as believers is ours through and by the grace of God. We earned nothing we have received. We deserved nothing we have received. We purchased nothing we have received. Everything we have in Jesus Christ has been given to us by the free grace of Almighty God.