Paul shifts from the individual to the community in Christ. Don’t forget what Christ has saved you from—from how far you’ve come. We are brought near to God but the blood of Christ. God has welcomed us in Christ, so we are to welcome all brothers and sisters. Allow the grace of God to bring you near to one another. Christ is our peace with God, and with one another. In Christ we are all new creations and all fellow citizens of Heaven.

Paul contrasts this new life in Christ to what we were before Christ. This should influence how we live now. Paul explains what we can be through grace. By nature, we are dead in the trespasses and sins. But God makes us alive together with Christ. He reverses the consequences of sin and dead.

Paul wanted the Christians in Ephesus to know the benefits that are provided to those in Christ and how to effectively use those benefits. Paul prays that the believers would be filled with and walk in the Spirit. Do you know Christ? Are you growing in your knowledge of Christ? Paul prays that the believer’s eyes would be opened more to know the hope, riches, and power of Christ. This is only available to those who have placed their faith in Christ. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to believers. Do you have the hope that Christ will eventually put all things under His feet?

Who am I? What gives me worth? We're told to be who we are, but this can lead to identity confusion. It creates a crushing burden because God did not create us to find out our own identity. He has given us an identity, in Christ. We come to be in Christ through faith. We are chosen, forgiven, and given the Holy Spirit. Are you in Christ? Have you experienced the abundant love and grace that God lavishes on us through Christ? Our sin separates is from God, so it’s only in Christ that we can be forgiven and redeemed and be brought into a right relationship with God. Through a union with Christ, we become heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Nothing outside of Christ will give any satisfying identity or give you worth.

The resurrection is a controversial topic because if Christ is not risen, then we are of all men most miserable. The resurrection demands a response. We can’t be indifferent. Do you believe the claims of Jesus to be true? The resurrection means we can be free from death and sin. Wrestle in your own heart with this truth. The resurrection is for your eternal joy. Don’t be so disappointed and jaded from expectations you place on God not being met that you miss the truth of the resurrection. It is an invitation to be freed from sin and forgiven! It reminds us of hope today! It is for you today!

How will you react when you know that Christ, the King, is coming? The disciples had to submit to the authority of Jesus in order for the triumphal entry of Christ to occur. If you are faithful in the small things, like the disciples were in getting the donkey for Jesus to sit upon, then God will give you larger things to be faithful with. No task is too small in the Kingdom of God. The most important question to ask yourself is, “Who do you say that Jesus is?” Christ came to save us. Do you see your own need to be saved? Once we repent and believe, Christ will forgive us our sins, enter into our lives, and cleanse us from sin. How will you respond to the grace of God? Will you humble yourself and receive the Christ?

In this passage, Paul reminds the church about the Gospel. We could use daily reminders of the Good News too. The Gospel saves us initially and then continues to save us. We must repent and believe in the Gospel that is preached. We are unworthy of the grace of God--but don't be led to despair because of your unworthiness. Where sin increases, grace abounds more. The Gospel is the deliverance from darkness into light--from bondage to freedom. Only in Christ can we be made new creations.

Lean into the truths about the power of the Gospel seen in the stories of Acts. The same power is for us too. Consider the claims of the Gospel. The Gospel reminds us that God is good, even in opposition. His way is the best way. I can trust Him in my opposition. Respond to the grace of God given to you.  Come to Christ through repentance. Then come to the sheepfold of the community of Christ.

We can allow our prejudices, efforts or religion to stand in the way of God and His work. The Lord must break down our wrong beliefs before we can be used by God to lead others to Christ. Our prejudices will get in the way of us reaching out to others. We can’t clean ourselves up before we come to Christ. The Gospel is the only way to transform us and make us right before God. Every time we tell someone that they need to externally change themselves instead of pointing them to Christ, we stand in God’s way. We need to trust in the Holy Spirit and the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Remain faithful to God and He will complete the work He has begun in you.

We live in a world that is divided and often these divisions lead to hostility, hatred, and even violence. The human race is divided according to ethnicity, culture, political views, religion, personality, etc. But in the midst of all of this God has provided the only way for humans to be reconciled to one another, and that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this sermon we will see how the gospel breaks down the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles and how the gospel offers us hope that all dividing walls of hostility in our time can be broken down as well. This is illustrated in the story of Cornelius and Peter found in Acts 10.