Woods In The Word Getting Coffee by Isaac Wood

November 25, 2024 Episode 116 - Who We Are In Jesus - Our Oneness In Christ

Episode 116 - Our Oneness In Christ

Who We Are In Jesus - A Study In Ephesians

Ephesians 2:11-22

Message summary – God’s Presence in God’s People brings us Together in God’s Peace

1. Before Christ, No Peace was found

a. Jesus came and brought the great salvation we celebrated in verses 1-10

b. Jews and Gentiles were separated by a chasm of hatred. 2:11-12

c. This was a misapplication of God’s Plan to unite the peoples of the world

i. Genesis 11 – At the tower of Babel - God scatters people and confuses languages because of disobedience

ii. In Genesis 12 - He immediately begins the reconciliation process by His Grace

d. God chose Abram and made his physical descendants, through Isaac, his chosen and special people

e. They had 2 assignments:

i. Live Holy Lives

ii. Bear witness to the rest of the World

f. The Jews quickly forgot their purpose and focused on the words special and chosen – misapplying them and forgetting their purpose – As in – We’re holy; you aren’t – We’re Special; You’re not – spiraling down into sin and unholiness – desiring to be like the world, instead of reaching the world with God’s love and purpose as His special envoys.

i. The result was 2 hopeless groups!

1. The Jews – disobedient and defiant toward their Holy God

2. The Gentiles – living apart from God, with no one to point them to God – making life up on their own.

g. But, Jesus changes everything!

i. HE came to realign the Jews back to God’s plan and open the door for the Gentiles to hear and receive the Gospel – bringing them together in one body – The Church.

ii. He now, and for the last 2,000 years, empowers the Church to accomplish the mission, the purpose of drawing people together in Christ.

2. God’s Peace is only possible through the Cross – v13-18

a. By the Blood – The Sacrificial Lamb of Offering

b. In His Flesh – Our Perfect Substitute to satisfy God’s Wrath

c. Through the Cross – Reconciling us to God – 16-18

d. No other way – No one else died for you, like that!

i. As the fulfillment of God’s Plan to reconcile the world to Himself