Although the Lord called the Jews to be a light to the Gentles, by the time Jesus showed up on the scene, there was great animosity between the two groups. In their religious piety, the Jews hated the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were without God in hopeless darkness. Pastor Terry explains through today’s message in Ephesians 2 that when we are in Christ, we are united in peace through His blood into One Body. There is no longer Jew or Gentile through Christ, but instead the Bible teaches that Jesus creates a new breed of people that are completely set apart for Himself.

There is quite a bit of confusion when it comes to defining “The Church”. What is The Church? Is it simply a brick and mortar building where Believers gathers to worship? Is The Church something more? Today Pastor Terry defines The Church according to the Biblical definition by examining Ephesians chapter 2. We will learn that The Church is a nation of born again Christians comprised of every nationality, tribe and tongue. This Body of Believers makes up Jesus’s Bride and are called out from the world to be holy and ambassadors for Christ.

At the fall of man, a great chasm between God and man arose. However, God worked throughout the ages to once again dwell with man. When Christ died and rose again, His victory made it possible for man to enjoy communion with God. Pastor Terry teaches us today that the Body of Christ is comprised of Believers from all over the world. This Body is called the Temple of God in Ephesians chapter two because God’s Holy Spirit dwells inside the Body of His people. Because of God’s finished work, we can have true fellowship with God and each other.

No one can deny that the Apostle Paul was a powerful man of God. The Holy Spirit used Paul to pen most of the New Testament. How did Paul get such revelation and power? Pastor Terry explains in his message from Ephesians 3 that Paul spent time in God’s Word. The Apostle was a student of the Scriptures. Therefore, we can only conclude that if we want the Lord to use us too, we like Paul must be students of the Bible. Pastor Terry admonishes us to know how to rightly divide the Word of truth. He also reminds us that the study of the Word is not just for the preacher, but it is for all of God’s children.

Pastor Terry’s message from Ephesians chapter 3 informs us that God has even bigger dreams and hopes for us that we have for ourselves. However, in order to make an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God, Jesus asks us to be brave. For example, before the Apostle Paul’s conversion, he was the strictest of Pharisees and would not associate with Gentiles. However, after Jesus gave Paul new sight and a new birth, Paul became the Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul’s life demonstrates how Jesus will ask us to get out of our comfort zones out of love and concern for all people.

Pastor Terry continues our study in Ephesians today by examining just what lengths our beautiful Savior went to save fallen man. Scripture says that the Lord Jesus emptied of Himself of glory in heaven, took on the likeness of mankind, and was born of a virgin. Our God, Who had never experienced hunger, thirst, or suffering, willingly chose to walk among us and to breathe our air. As incredible as these facts are, they weren’t end of Christ’s hard road. Jesus willingly died on the cross to pay the price for our sin. Finally, the Lord rose from the dead proving once and for all His total victory over sin and death.

Pastor Terry continues in chapter one of Ephesians today where we will follow Christ’s as He travels from heaven to earth and back to heaven again. After the Lord died on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead. Then Christ ascended into heaven where the Father has exalted Him high above all things. There is no greater Name in heaven, on the earth, or below the earth that is Greater than the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Christ is our Head and Master, and we, the Church, are His Body. The Church is the Body of Christ that accomplishes God’s will on earth.

Today Pastor Terry continues into chapter two of our study of the book of Ephesians. We will hear the Apostle Paul write a horrifyingly accurate depiction of what all humans look like apart from Christ. Without the Lord’s saving grace, we are all spiritually dead men and completely trapped in our sin. Unlike other philosophies or religions that teach that men can somehow find an awakening, enlightenment, or utopia in our own strength, the Bible teaches that without Jesus, we are without hope. Pastor Terry points out that it is only by the grace of God that we can escape our depraved state.

Christ taught that when we put our faith in Him and trust Him as Lord, we become new creatures. We literally move from spiritual death to spiritual life. In today’s message from Ephesians chapter 2, Pastor Terry points out that when Jesus changes our hearts, good works naturally pour out of our regenerated life. While doing good cannot and will never save us, good works naturally flow out of the lives of Believers because the Lord has changed us so radically. All of this amazing opportunity for new life is only available through the amazing grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Racism and cultural divides have embittered people against one another since the dawn of time. During the Biblical era, the Jewish people considered all Gentiles to be unclean and did not allow the uncircumcised into the inner courts of the temple. Pastor Terry teaches from Ephesians chapter two today where we will learn the glorious news that through Christ all racial boundaries have been destroyed. Jesus unites all people from all walks of life into One Body through His glorious grace. Religious or cultural barriers no longer divide brothers and sisters in the Lord.