PT-2 Intro to Eph. 2:11-22

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12/28/2018 9:46 AM

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  PT-2 Intro to Eph. 2:11-22

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Eph. 2:11-22

            Message of the verses:  “11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands- 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20  having been built on the foundation of the apostles and

prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 2 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

            Here are the verses we will be looking at in our next few weeks as we try to understand together “The Unity of the Body.  John MacArthur writes that “Just as the physical body has a common principle of life flowing through it, so does the Body of Christ, His church.  The Spirit of God puts the life of God in the soul of every person who trusts in Jesus Christ and unites that person with every other believer in the same eternal realm.  In the kingdom of Jesus Christ all barriers come down.  In Him there are no walls, no classes, no castes, no races, no gender, no distinction of any sort.”  I suppose the question is why does it not seem that way in our churches around the world today?  I suppose the answer could be sin, the sin nature or flesh is what is causing problems in our churches along with Satan and his demons.

            Paul writes the following to the Corinthians “And, I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in Christ…for you are still fleshly.  For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? (1 Cor. 3:1, 3).”  11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? (1 Cor. 1:11-13).”  I have mentioned about a sermon that I listened to soon after I became a believer in Jesus Christ which was entitled “Becoming What You Are,” and although this sermon focused on individuals, it is also true of church families.  I know that none of us are perfect, but I also know that if we continue to study the Word of God that the Spirit of God can then use the Word of God to change our lives, after all it is living and active and it also is a sharp sword to help make us to become what we are in Jesus Christ. 

            The Spirit of God can use the Word of God to bring peoples together who in the past had been fighting against each other, spilling each other’s blood.  John MacArthur tells the story of how this happened in Africa as several tribes who were gathered together in order to participate in the Lord Supper were not spilling each other’s blood but were remember the blood that the Savior had shed for all of them, and that is what is called unity in the body of Christ.  The apostle James spoke of disunity in his letter stating that when a rich man came into the church that the people made a special place for him, and put the poor people in the back.

            In our next SD, Lord willing, we will begin to dig into these verses to see what the Lord has for us as we look at them.

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is my desire to have fellowship with all believers who come to our church no matter who they are.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trust that the Lord will give me wisdom to find out what He wants me to do about the physical problem that I have at this time.

Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”

Today’s Bible Question:  “Who said ‘I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question’?”

Answer in our next SD.

12/28/2018 10:17 AM