Porter Podcast

Acts 17:16-34

Romans 12:1-16

Series: In Christ 

Personally In Christ 

Ephesians 1:1-14

The phrase, “in Christ” or “in Him,” occurs over 100 times in the New Testament.  

How many times is “in Christ” used in Ephesians 1:1-14? 

Ephesians 1 

What does it mean to be “in Christ”?

·      “In Christ” refers to a state or status.  

Theologians refer to conversations about this aspect of “in Christ” as PositionalTheology. 

·      “In Christ” signifies a dependence.

·      “In Christ” reveals an identity.

Today’s Takeaways

Understanding “in Christ” can help overcome doubts about your relationship with God. 

Understanding “in Christ” will help you develop humility. 

Failing to understand “in Christ” may lead to resentment.

Understanding “in Christ” is the most effective motivator for sanctification. 

How to be “in Christ”

For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

In Him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.                                                                         Ephesians 1:13

People are “in Christ” when they believe to the point of putting their trust in Christ instead of themselves. 

Series: Ezekiel

Hope in Ezekiel

Ezekiel 37-48

Hope involves:  the future, something better and security/confidence.   

To hope is to be confident that something better is in the future.

People have not overcome the propensity to fail and remain broken.

Ezekiel 37      hope for the future  

6 future promises for the exiles

1.    A return to their homeland

2.    A united kingdom

3.    Holiness

4.    A servant king

5.    A peaceful, long Life

6.    God’s presence with them

Christians are people who believe in future promises. 

Ezekiel 38-39        hope that is secure 

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”

John 16:33

The only way to know for sure that God is faithful is to face adversity. 

Ezekiel 40-48        hope for the better 

Ezekiel once again gets a vision of the glory of God, and His response was fear and worship.  

When people submit to the Lordship of God, they experience life flowing from within them.

Christians do not have hope in a building like the temple Ezekiel envisioned; they believe Jesus is the temple. 

Hebrews 9:24-26

Revelation 21:22

In a lost, broken world, we are to be hope bearers.  

Series: Ezekiel

Made New

Ezekiel 36-37

Since the fall, humanity has been drawn to sin and prone to fail.

People have not overcome the propensity to fail and remain broken.

Ezekiel 36

God is just in His judgment of humanity. 

Only God Himself can fix people and reestablish holiness.

Man’s heart was the primary casualty in the fall; therefore, holiness must begin in the heart. 

Ezekiel 37   the valley of dry bones  

the gospel in Ezekiel

Mankind is hopeless apart from God.   

Through God, new life is possible.

God gives His Spirit to those who believe in Him.          

There is life after death for those who are born again. 

No one is too far gone for God to save.

·      This vision should affect what you think about others.

·      This vision should affect what you think about yourself.

Series: Ezekiel

A Better Shepherd

Ezekiel 34

With leadership comes responsibility.

woe to the shepherds

God not only cares about who leads, He cares about how they lead.

Titles do not make you faithful.

The right to lead is inextricably tied to a willingness to sacrifice. 

Ungodly leadership is never without consequence.

Two results of abdicated leadership:

·      needs are unmet

·      hope gets diminished

God will deal with ungodly leadership.

a shepherding God

Ezekiel’s Good News: God will directly care for the sheep.

We do not have to settle for secondhand hope. . .hoping in a provision instead of the provider. 

Jesus in Ezekiel

 I will establish over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will shepherd them. He will tend them himself and will be their shepherd. 

 I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them. I, the Lord, have spoken.

Ezekiel 34:22-24

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd 

lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11

The greatest blessing will not be the place, but the presence.   He is with us now!  

Series: Made New—Ezekiel 

Personal Responsibility 

Ezekiel 12-22; Ezekiel 18

Recap of Ezekiel 

Jerusalem is under threat from the Babylonians, who have taken many leaders captive.   One captive, Ezekiel, receives a call to a prophetic ministry which is guided by four visions.  

Ezekiel pronounces both judgment and hope for captive Israel.

Ezekiel 12-17

Judgment will come regardless of skepticism. 

Judgment will reveal the sovereignty of God.

God’s judgment will be just. 

Ezekiel 18 

This passage suggests that we do not have to be fatalistic.  

We often live with the consequences of our parents’ actions, but we are always judgedaccording to our own deeds; therefore, don’t blame others for your actions.  

This passage affirms sole competency:  

We will all stand individually before God in judgment. 

I searched for a man among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land so that I might not destroy it, but I found no one.

Ezekiel 22:30

Jesus proclaimed new life came through repentance and belief.

Mark 1:15

If Sole Competency is true...

Series: Made New—Ezekiel 

When God Brings Judgment

Ezekiel 4-11

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; 

I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Ezekiel 36:26

Recap of Ezekiel 

The people of Israel (Judah) are under threat from the Babylonians who have taken many leaders captive through two separate deportations occurring over a 10-year span.  

Ezekiel is in Babylon and receives a call to a prophetic ministry which is guided by four visions.  Ezekiel’s ministry reveals that God is in control even when the world seems out of control.

Ezekiel 4-7     The Prediction of Judgment

God is holy, and He demands holiness from His people.

God will judge sin.

The primary reason for judgment is idolatry, which is loving anything more than God.

We have a tendency to think of idols as external things, but idols come from inside of us.

Ezekiel 8-11    The Vision of the Temple Destruction

There is a progressive nature to idolatry.  A step away from the Creator may take you farther than you intend. 

Lessons for Us

If God judged Israel, He will judge us. 

God’s judgment is not the result of a lack in His mercy; it is a result of a lack in our repentance.   

God included Ezekiel to reveal the need of a Savior. 

For those who trust Christ, God’s mercy endures forever.