James isn't giving us a command in James 1:26-27, he's describing what real, genuine religion looks like - what real faith does. It isn't just lip service, it's action. Part of the action described is caring for orphans.

Steven Ince helps us understand fostering and adoption better, the church's role in it, and gives practical ways for churches and individuals to get involved with caring for those in need.

James isn't giving us a command in James 1:26-27, he's describing what real, genuine religion looks like - what real faith does. It isn't just lip service, it's action. Part of the action described is caring for orphans.

Steven Ince helps us understand fostering and adoption better, the church's role in it, and gives practical ways for churches and individuals to get involved with caring for those in need.

Let's recap what Paul has been telling the Christians in Ephesus:

- You were dead – now you’re alive. [v.2&5]

- You were children of wrath – now you’re His workmanship. [v.3&10]

- You were following this world, slaves to Satan – now you’re saturated in grace. [v.2&7]

- You were once living for yourselves – now you have divine purpose (good works). [v.3&10]

And now Paul adds:

- You used to be separated from God’s people – now you are members of the same family. [v.12&19]

- You used to have no access to God – now you have it because of Jesus Christ. [v.12&18]

- You used to be strangers – now you are saints. [v.12&19]

God accomplished all of this by the blood of Christ and through the cross. [v.13&16] Christ’s substitutionary atonement crushed/removed the separation between a holy God & sinful man.

What does the blood of Jesus Christ do? What did the cross accomplish?

- those who were far off have been brought near [v.13&17]

- the blood & cross have eliminated the hostility between us & God brought peace [v.14&16]

- they have removed the requirements of the law [v.15]

- they have united the covenant people of God (Israel) with those outside (Gentiles) [v.15&16]

- they have given both Jews & Gentiles access to the Father, through the Spirit [v.18]

- they have given outsiders a seat at the table [v.19]

- they have integrated individuals into God’s family (household) [v.19-22]

Jesus’ blood on the cross has an effect on God, but it also has an effect on His people, too. We are brought near to the Father and we are brought near to one another. It’s vertical and it’s horizontal.

Anyone who believes is made a citizen of heaven, but not just a citizen; now we're family. Previously, the Gentiles wouldn’t have even been allowed inside the Jewish temple, but now they are actually a part of it! Previously, you were not allowed into God’s presence because of your sin. But because of Christ, you are not only allowed into God’s presence, you are His child!

Let's recap what Paul has been telling the Christians in Ephesus:

- You were dead – now you’re alive. [v.2&5]

- You were children of wrath – now you’re His workmanship. [v.3&10]

- You were following this world, slaves to Satan – now you’re saturated in grace. [v.2&7]

- You were once living for yourselves – now you have divine purpose (good works). [v.3&10]

And now Paul adds:

- You used to be separated from God’s people – now you are members of the same family. [v.12&19]

- You used to have no access to God – now you have it because of Jesus Christ. [v.12&18]

- You used to be strangers – now you are saints. [v.12&19]

God accomplished all of this by the blood of Christ and through the cross. [v.13&16] Christ’s substitutionary atonement crushed/removed the separation between a holy God & sinful man.

What does the blood of Jesus Christ do? What did the cross accomplish?

- those who were far off have been brought near [v.13&17]

- the blood & cross have eliminated the hostility between us & God brought peace [v.14&16]

- they have removed the requirements of the law [v.15]

- they have united the covenant people of God (Israel) with those outside (Gentiles) [v.15&16]

- they have given both Jews & Gentiles access to the Father, through the Spirit [v.18]

- they have given outsiders a seat at the table [v.19]

- they have integrated individuals into God’s family (household) [v.19-22]

Jesus’ blood on the cross has an effect on God, but it also has an effect on His people, too. We are brought near to the Father and we are brought near to one another. It’s vertical and it’s horizontal.

Anyone who believes is made a citizen of heaven, but not just a citizen; now we're family. Previously, the Gentiles wouldn’t have even been allowed inside the Jewish temple, but now they are actually a part of it! Previously, you were not allowed into God’s presence because of your sin. But because of Christ, you are not only allowed into God’s presence, you are His child!

Let's recap what Paul has been telling the Christians in Ephesus:

- You were dead – now you’re alive. [v.2&5]

- You were children of wrath – now you’re His workmanship. [v.3&10]

- You were following this world, slaves to Satan – now you’re saturated in grace. [v.2&7]

- You were once living for yourselves – now you have divine purpose (good works). [v.3&10]

And now Paul adds:

- You used to be separated from God’s people – now you are members of the same family. [v.12&19]

- You used to have no access to God – now you have it because of Jesus Christ. [v.12&18]

- You used to be strangers – now you are saints. [v.12&19]

God accomplished all of this by the blood of Christ and through the cross. [v.13&16] Christ’s substitutionary atonement crushed/removed the separation between a holy God & sinful man.

What does the blood of Jesus Christ do? What did the cross accomplish?

- those who were far off have been brought near [v.13&17]

- the blood & cross have eliminated the hostility between us & God brought peace [v.14&16]

- they have removed the requirements of the law [v.15]

- they have united the covenant people of God (Israel) with those outside (Gentiles) [v.15&16]

- they have given both Jews & Gentiles access to the Father, through the Spirit [v.18]

- they have given outsiders a seat at the table [v.19]

- they have integrated individuals into God’s family (household) [v.19-22]

Jesus’ blood on the cross has an effect on God, but it also has an effect on His people, too. We are brought near to the Father and we are brought near to one another. It’s vertical and it’s horizontal.

Anyone who believes is made a citizen of heaven, but not just a citizen; now we're family. Previously, the Gentiles wouldn’t have even been allowed inside the Jewish temple, but now they are actually a part of it! Previously, you were not allowed into God’s presence because of your sin. But because of Christ, you are not only allowed into God’s presence, you are His child!

The Reformation in the 16th century sought to reorient Christianity on the original message of Jesus and there were five pillars that they stood on. These are called the Five Solas:

- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.

- Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

- Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.

- Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.

- Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.

Of those 5 solas, four of them are represented in the first two chapters of Ephesians, and three of them are in verses 8-10. These few verses are hugely important to our understanding of biblical salvation & justification.

Grace is a blessing that is undeserved and unwarranted. It is a gift freely given based on the kindness of the giver to a recipient who has no claim to it. The whole plan and process of salvation comes from God as a gift, not from ourselves as the result of works or good things that we have done.

We are not saved by good works, we are saved for good works. But notice the importance of the sequence. Good works are not the cause of salvation; they are the result of it. God saves us so that we would go into the world and do good works in His name, thus bringing Him glory (Matt. 5:16: “that they may see your good works and glorify the Father”). The very people who were naturally under God’s wrath have now been transformed into God’s own workmanship because of Christ.

Walking in good works & obedience is a result and proof of our salvation.

“Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone”. – Martin Luther

** "Appendix A" is available for download above by clicking "Download PDF" (it's the last page of the notes).

The Reformation in the 16th century sought to reorient Christianity on the original message of Jesus and there were five pillars that they stood on. These are called the Five Solas:

- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.

- Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

- Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.

- Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.

- Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.

Of those 5 solas, four of them are represented in the first two chapters of Ephesians, and three of them are in verses 8-10. These few verses are hugely important to our understanding of biblical salvation & justification.

Grace is a blessing that is undeserved and unwarranted. It is a gift freely given based on the kindness of the giver to a recipient who has no claim to it. The whole plan and process of salvation comes from God as a gift, not from ourselves as the result of works or good things that we have done.

We are not saved by good works, we are saved for good works. But notice the importance of the sequence. Good works are not the cause of salvation; they are the result of it. God saves us so that we would go into the world and do good works in His name, thus bringing Him glory (Matt. 5:16: “that they may see your good works and glorify the Father”). The very people who were naturally under God’s wrath have now been transformed into God’s own workmanship because of Christ.

Walking in good works & obedience is a result and proof of our salvation.

“Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone”. – Martin Luther

** "Appendix A" is available for download above by clicking "Download PDF" (it's the last page of the notes).

The Reformation in the 16th century sought to reorient Christianity on the original message of Jesus and there were five pillars that they stood on. These are called the Five Solas:

- Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”): The Bible alone is our highest authority.

- Sola Fide (“faith alone”): We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

- Sola Gratia (“grace alone”): We are saved by the grace of God alone.

- Solus Christus (“Christ alone”): Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King.

- Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”): We live for the glory of God alone.

Of those 5 solas, four of them are represented in the first two chapters of Ephesians, and three of them are in verses 8-10. These few verses are hugely important to our understanding of biblical salvation & justification.

Grace is a blessing that is undeserved and unwarranted. It is a gift freely given based on the kindness of the giver to a recipient who has no claim to it. The whole plan and process of salvation comes from God as a gift, not from ourselves as the result of works or good things that we have done.

We are not saved by good works, we are saved for good works. But notice the importance of the sequence. Good works are not the cause of salvation; they are the result of it. God saves us so that we would go into the world and do good works in His name, thus bringing Him glory (Matt. 5:16: “that they may see your good works and glorify the Father”). The very people who were naturally under God’s wrath have now been transformed into God’s own workmanship because of Christ.

Walking in good works & obedience is a result and proof of our salvation.

“Justification is by faith alone, but not by faith that is alone”. – Martin Luther

** "Appendix A" is available for download above by clicking "Download PDF" (it's the last page of the notes).

We are dead in our trespasses and sins, hopeless apart from Christ..."But God"... Those two words are the difference between death and life, between despair and hope, between hell and heaven.

In Christ, God has never-ending mercies for those who believe. When the Bible says “Christ died for you” it means that He died in your place. Too many people hear that Jesus died for them and believe that Jesus just got to it before they could, and they were going to pay God back for their sin on their own eventually. While they might appreciate the "free pass", people who believe this haven’t truly embraced Jesus as their substitute (Rom. 3:23-25).

You aren’t really alive until you have been saved by God’s grace. Paul is contrasting our deadness apart from Christ with the life that only comes to us in Christ. Being raised from the dead is all of grace. You have been saved (past tense), you are being saved (present tense), and you will be saved (future tense).

Paul says that believers have been made alive with Christ, raised with Christ, and are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Paul is emphasizing a believer's union with Christ. Believers are synced with Christ, and what God did for Jesus He does for those who believe.

Question: Why would God do such a remarkable thing for people who were His enemies?

Answer: We have been shown grace so that we might be a demonstration of God’s grace forever, to the praise of His glory!

**"But For Grace" by Matt Papa, (c) 2010 Centricity Music, CCLI#1741207

We are dead in our trespasses and sins, hopeless apart from Christ..."But God"... Those two words are the difference between death and life, between despair and hope, between hell and heaven.

In Christ, God has never-ending mercies for those who believe. When the Bible says “Christ died for you” it means that He died in your place. Too many people hear that Jesus died for them and believe that Jesus just got to it before they could, and they were going to pay God back for their sin on their own eventually. While they might appreciate the "free pass", people who believe this haven’t truly embraced Jesus as their substitute (Rom. 3:23-25).

You aren’t really alive until you have been saved by God’s grace. Paul is contrasting our deadness apart from Christ with the life that only comes to us in Christ. Being raised from the dead is all of grace. You have been saved (past tense), you are being saved (present tense), and you will be saved (future tense).

Paul says that believers have been made alive with Christ, raised with Christ, and are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Paul is emphasizing a believer's union with Christ. Believers are synced with Christ, and what God did for Jesus He does for those who believe.

Question: Why would God do such a remarkable thing for people who were His enemies?

Answer: We have been shown grace so that we might be a demonstration of God’s grace forever, to the praise of His glory!

**"But For Grace" by Matt Papa, (c) 2010 Centricity Music, CCLI#1741207