all right well hello everybody hope your<\/p>\n
weeks have been well<\/p>\n
we are now in August<\/p>\n
which for many people means that it is<\/p>\n
back to school season<\/p>\n
we're approaching the end of summer and<\/p>\n
a lot of us<\/p>\n
teachers professors students a lot of us<\/p>\n
are returning to school or to University<\/p>\n
and actually<\/p>\n
here with our sermon series as well<\/p>\n
we're going to be returning to something<\/p>\n
that we begin<\/p>\n
at around this time last year<\/p>\n
so for the next three weeks we're going<\/p>\n
to be continuing our series that we<\/p>\n
began last year I'm looking at the book<\/p>\n
of Ephesians<\/p>\n
which means for the next three weeks<\/p>\n
you're stuck with me<\/p>\n
we've been going through it very slowly<\/p>\n
last year we looked at chapter one and a<\/p>\n
little bit of chapter two<\/p>\n
who remembers what we've covered so far<\/p>\n
ends up<\/p>\n
it's only been a year so let's all right<\/p>\n
let's let's recap this together<\/p>\n
most of us myself included don't<\/p>\n
remember what we had for breakfast the<\/p>\n
day before so it's completely<\/p>\n
understandable<\/p>\n
so let's summarize briefly<\/p>\n
we said last year that Ephesians is the<\/p>\n
Mahana Khan Tower<\/p>\n
of Paul's letters<\/p>\n
the Mahana Khan Tower is one of the<\/p>\n
largest buildings in Thailand<\/p>\n
it's a place where you can get<\/p>\n
one of the most breathtaking views of<\/p>\n
the city<\/p>\n
it Towers above every other building in<\/p>\n
Bangkok<\/p>\n
and if you look out<\/p>\n
you'll see the vast array of Office<\/p>\n
Buildings<\/p>\n
highways and trains<\/p>\n
in the background you'll see the<\/p>\n
Japanese River<\/p>\n
and so from the Mahana Khan Tower you<\/p>\n
basically see it all it's a bird's eye<\/p>\n
view of Bangkok<\/p>\n
similarly<\/p>\n
Ephesians is the Mahana Khan Tower of<\/p>\n
Paul's litters<\/p>\n
because it offers us a breathtaking View<\/p>\n
of the entire landscape<\/p>\n
it touches on many of the Great themes<\/p>\n
of the Bible<\/p>\n
God the Father<\/p>\n
the world Jesus the church salvation<\/p>\n
Behavior<\/p>\n
marriage and family spiritual warfare<\/p>\n
it's all there it's all there in<\/p>\n
Ephesians<\/p>\n
and what Ephesians is doing is it's<\/p>\n
refusing to let us look at things only<\/p>\n
from the human point of view<\/p>\n
so as humans we have all sorts of<\/p>\n
assumptions that make us the center of<\/p>\n
the universe<\/p>\n
which is why when we travel and interact<\/p>\n
with people who are different to us<\/p>\n
people from different cultures people<\/p>\n
from different backgrounds when we do<\/p>\n
this we become more thoughtful<\/p>\n
because we realize that our way of doing<\/p>\n
things is not the only way it's just one<\/p>\n
way<\/p>\n
but until we interact with people who<\/p>\n
aren't like us we assume that our way of<\/p>\n
doing things is the right way that it's<\/p>\n
the only way<\/p>\n
and we do the same thing with God as<\/p>\n
well<\/p>\n
we struggle oftentimes because we insist<\/p>\n
on understanding things from our point<\/p>\n
of view<\/p>\n
that's why our lives are falling apart<\/p>\n
or if we feel like God is being cruel to<\/p>\n
us or unfair to us or if our lives<\/p>\n
aren't making any sense<\/p>\n
we're ready to say God you don't know<\/p>\n
what you're doing<\/p>\n
it's our human centeredness<\/p>\n
and so Ephesians continually challenges<\/p>\n
our human centered way of looking at<\/p>\n
things<\/p>\n
Ephesians gives us the big picture gives<\/p>\n
us God's point of view<\/p>\n
and so far in chapters one and two<\/p>\n
we've seen that one to be a Christian<\/p>\n
means to be United with Christ<\/p>\n
and that in Christ we've been given<\/p>\n
every spiritual blessing<\/p>\n
we've also seen that<\/p>\n
being a Christian following Jesus means<\/p>\n
to know and experience the incomparable<\/p>\n
power God has given us to live<\/p>\n
we've seen that this power is a gift<\/p>\n
that's God's grace<\/p>\n
and that God's grace is a life-changing<\/p>\n
power that transforms us from the inside<\/p>\n
out<\/p>\n
in the end of chapter one<\/p>\n
Paul prays that the Ephesians would know<\/p>\n
the incomparably great power<\/p>\n
for us who believe<\/p>\n
and in that he's saying one of the main<\/p>\n
problems that we have is that we don't<\/p>\n
know the power of God we don't know we<\/p>\n
have<\/p>\n
and then in chapter 2<\/p>\n
Paul shows us evidence of that power<\/p>\n
in the first 10 verses that we covered<\/p>\n
last year<\/p>\n
we see how God's power is able to bring<\/p>\n
dead people people dead in sin bring<\/p>\n
them to life<\/p>\n
we've seen that God's spirit can come<\/p>\n
into our hearts and remake us from the<\/p>\n
bottom up<\/p>\n
and in our section for today verses 11<\/p>\n
to 22<\/p>\n
Paul shows us more of what God's power<\/p>\n
looks like in our lives<\/p>\n
so let's read Ephesians chapter 2 verses<\/p>\n
11 to 22.<\/p>\n
therefore remember that formerly you who<\/p>\n
are Gentiles by birth and called<\/p>\n
uncircumcised by those who call<\/p>\n
themselves The circumcision<\/p>\n
which is done in the body by human heads<\/p>\n
remember that at a time you were<\/p>\n
separate from Christ excluded from<\/p>\n
citizenship in Israel and foreigners to<\/p>\n
the covenants of the promise<\/p>\n
without hope and without God in the<\/p>\n
world<\/p>\n
but now in Christ Jesus you who were<\/p>\n
once far away have been brought nearby<\/p>\n
the blood of Christ<\/p>\n
for he himself is our peace who has made<\/p>\n
the two groups one and has destroyed the<\/p>\n
barrier the dividing wall of hostility<\/p>\n
by setting aside in his flesh the law<\/p>\n
with its commands and regulations<\/p>\n
his purpose was to create in himself one<\/p>\n
new Humanity out of the two<\/p>\n
thus making peace<\/p>\n
and in one body to reconcile both of<\/p>\n
them to God through the cross<\/p>\n
by which he put to death their hostility<\/p>\n
he came and preached peace to you who<\/p>\n
were far away and peace to those who<\/p>\n
were near<\/p>\n
for through him we both have access to<\/p>\n
the father by one spirit<\/p>\n
consequently you are no longer<\/p>\n
foreigners and strangers but fellow<\/p>\n
citizens with God's people and also<\/p>\n
members of his household<\/p>\n
built on the foundation of the Apostles<\/p>\n
and Prophets with Christ Jesus himself<\/p>\n
as the Chief Cornerstone<\/p>\n
in him the whole building is joined<\/p>\n
together and Rises to become a holy<\/p>\n
Temple in the Lord<\/p>\n
and in him you too are being built<\/p>\n
together to become a dwelling in which<\/p>\n
God Lives by his spirit<\/p>\n
this is God's word<\/p>\n
so in one word<\/p>\n
our section<\/p>\n
for today shows us<\/p>\n
let's add another sign of God's power is<\/p>\n
the church<\/p>\n
see it says he himself is our peace<\/p>\n
who has made the two groups one<\/p>\n
and create in himself one new Humanity<\/p>\n
out of the two thus making peace<\/p>\n
in other words<\/p>\n
God's power is able to take two groups<\/p>\n
two people who otherwise would never be<\/p>\n
able to live together<\/p>\n
and make them one in Christ<\/p>\n
this is what this section is about<\/p>\n
it's about the beauty of the church<\/p>\n
now<\/p>\n
this might not initially excite us as<\/p>\n
much<\/p>\n
because we might not feel like this is<\/p>\n
relevant<\/p>\n
we may read through this section and go<\/p>\n
ah yes yes the church this sounds very<\/p>\n
nice but I want to know more about how<\/p>\n
God can help me what God can do in my<\/p>\n
life I'm not as interested in the church<\/p>\n
in fact I believe you can be a Christian<\/p>\n
and not have to go to church<\/p>\n
and if we if we think like that we miss<\/p>\n
the beauty that's being communicated in<\/p>\n
this section<\/p>\n
if we grasp of what is being<\/p>\n
communicated here<\/p>\n
we might instead say yes I want that so<\/p>\n
much I want Jesus in my life I want to<\/p>\n
be part of a new community I want to be<\/p>\n
part of the church I want to bring it<\/p>\n
about<\/p>\n
we'll see in this passage that the<\/p>\n
church is not just a place to gather on<\/p>\n
Sundays to sing<\/p>\n
it is a place<\/p>\n
where God is recreating Not only new<\/p>\n
people<\/p>\n
but a new Society<\/p>\n
people who could never get along now get<\/p>\n
along in the church<\/p>\n
people who would never build each other<\/p>\n
up now do so in the church<\/p>\n
so in this section Paul is essentially<\/p>\n
saying<\/p>\n
if you understand the cross<\/p>\n
any two people should be able to get<\/p>\n
along<\/p>\n
and if two people who believe aren't<\/p>\n
getting along<\/p>\n
you're not thinking about the cross<\/p>\n
and you aren't understanding it<\/p>\n
again if you understand the cross<\/p>\n
so Paul uses a case study<\/p>\n
he's talking about the Jews and the<\/p>\n
Gentiles here two different groups of<\/p>\n
Paul himself was a Jew<\/p>\n
and he is ministering to gentiles<\/p>\n
now I don't think any of us in this room<\/p>\n
are Jewish correct me if I'm wrong so<\/p>\n
that makes all of us in this room<\/p>\n
gentiles<\/p>\n
and so we see that<\/p>\n
the Jews and the Gentiles exist in a<\/p>\n
state of hostility<\/p>\n
it says in verse 14 the dividing wall of<\/p>\n
hostility<\/p>\n
hostility essentially means hate<\/p>\n
so in short the Jews and gentiles<\/p>\n
have a relationship characterized by<\/p>\n
hatred they hate each other<\/p>\n
so the question becomes okay why do the<\/p>\n
Jews and Gentiles hate each other<\/p>\n
what has caused this<\/p>\n
we see the answer in verse 15 it is what<\/p>\n
God has to deal with in order to bring<\/p>\n
peace it's the law with its commands and<\/p>\n
regulations<\/p>\n
that's the thing that<\/p>\n
has to be set aside by God<\/p>\n
in order to deal with the hatred<\/p>\n
so what's the law<\/p>\n
what does he mean here well the law is<\/p>\n
found in the Old Testament it's the<\/p>\n
Mosaic law<\/p>\n
all the rules and regulations Not Just<\/p>\n
the Ten Commandments but includes the<\/p>\n
regulations about how to live a holy<\/p>\n
life<\/p>\n
the Gentiles did not have the law<\/p>\n
but the Jews were given the law<\/p>\n
as a gift from God<\/p>\n
and the purpose of the law was for the<\/p>\n
Israelites to show the rest of the world<\/p>\n
what it meant to belong to God<\/p>\n
so ultimately the law was given to be a<\/p>\n
blessing to the world<\/p>\n
but here<\/p>\n
we see that it ironically becomes the<\/p>\n
reason for why there was hatred between<\/p>\n
the Jews and the Gentiles<\/p>\n
the Jews began to despise the Gentiles<\/p>\n
because they didn't have the law<\/p>\n
and so they lived like pagans they lived<\/p>\n
very immoral lives<\/p>\n
and so the Gentiles felt despised and so<\/p>\n
began to despise the Jews in return<\/p>\n
it's fairly straightforward to<\/p>\n
understand if somebody doesn't like us<\/p>\n
we tend to not like them as well<\/p>\n
so this is the context in which Paul is<\/p>\n
writing<\/p>\n
but what he's addressing is a<\/p>\n
fundamental human issue<\/p>\n
that issue is<\/p>\n
that when God gives us good gifts in<\/p>\n
Paul's case the law<\/p>\n
in our case talents strengths<\/p>\n
when God gives us good gifts<\/p>\n
the human heart takes these good gifts<\/p>\n
and looks at everyone who doesn't have<\/p>\n
what we have and we compare<\/p>\n
in the end it causes us to look down on<\/p>\n
people and despise them<\/p>\n
the good gift becomes the basis for<\/p>\n
now this is true for individuals<\/p>\n
it's true for groups of people<\/p>\n
different ethnicities different<\/p>\n
political ideologies different religions<\/p>\n
now Tim Keller observes that the way we<\/p>\n
construct our identity and self-worth is<\/p>\n
that we take what is good about us or<\/p>\n
unique about us we take that<\/p>\n
and we lift it up<\/p>\n
and then we use it as a lens through<\/p>\n
which we look at everyone else<\/p>\n
so in other words we judge people by<\/p>\n
what we value<\/p>\n
we use it to look down on others so<\/p>\n
example if you're a really good piano<\/p>\n
player<\/p>\n
you may walk into a room of musicians<\/p>\n
and feel pretty good about yourself<\/p>\n
you may feel confident<\/p>\n
but as soon as you meet another piano<\/p>\n
player or group of piano players who are<\/p>\n
better than you your confidence<\/p>\n
disappears you may even start to think<\/p>\n
who even am I I shouldn't be here<\/p>\n
see it's it's comparison or another<\/p>\n
example you may be a person of high<\/p>\n
status<\/p>\n
that is you may have a decent amount of<\/p>\n
money or have a high position in your<\/p>\n
workplace<\/p>\n
and that might mean that<\/p>\n
you have a certain expectation about how<\/p>\n
people should treat us treat yourself<\/p>\n
since high status<\/p>\n
so perhaps<\/p>\n
we're less polite to people who we<\/p>\n
perceive to be a lower status<\/p>\n
and then when we meet people who outrank<\/p>\n
us we're extremely polite trying to get<\/p>\n
on their good side see that's that's<\/p>\n
also comparison<\/p>\n
and that's how we get our identity<\/p>\n
so the perfect place where<\/p>\n
the Bible expresses this is the<\/p>\n
Pharisees Prayer in Luke 18. the<\/p>\n
Pharisee stands by himself and praise<\/p>\n
God I thank you I'm not like other<\/p>\n
thank you Lord I'm not a robber not an<\/p>\n
evil doer adulterer or even like this<\/p>\n
tax collector over here I fast twice a<\/p>\n
week and give a tenth of all I get<\/p>\n
did you hear the story about a man<\/p>\n
Shipwrecked on an island<\/p>\n
he was the only one on that island<\/p>\n
he was Shipwrecked for about a year<\/p>\n
when they finally found him they found<\/p>\n
that he built two little churches<\/p>\n
they asked him why do you have two<\/p>\n
little churches you're the only one here<\/p>\n
he responded oh yes<\/p>\n
you always have to have two churches One<\/p>\n
Church to go to the other one to stay<\/p>\n
away from<\/p>\n
the point here is that<\/p>\n
there is something in our hearts that<\/p>\n
takes what is good about us we lift it<\/p>\n
up<\/p>\n
so that we can feel good about ourselves<\/p>\n
and then we compare ourselves to other<\/p>\n
people and that's how we get ourselves<\/p>\n
worth and our identity<\/p>\n
and the Bible calls this<\/p>\n
self-righteousness<\/p>\n
and this is the basis for all the<\/p>\n
fighting that we have in the world<\/p>\n
there is no bigger problem in the world<\/p>\n
than a lack of peace<\/p>\n
we're always fighting<\/p>\n
always there's ethnic hostility<\/p>\n
we see racism and Prejudice in our own<\/p>\n
country against Lao against Myanmar<\/p>\n
against Indians against refugees<\/p>\n
there's gender hostility there's<\/p>\n
hostility between the generations<\/p>\n
there's political hostility where each<\/p>\n
side is severely criticizing the other<\/p>\n
not in terms of the ideas but insulting<\/p>\n
people who don't agree with us<\/p>\n
all we're doing when we do this is we're<\/p>\n
killing ourselves<\/p>\n
why why do we do this<\/p>\n
well the Bible says that<\/p>\n
it is because of Pride that causes us to<\/p>\n
look down on people<\/p>\n
who don't have what we have<\/p>\n
Jeremiah 9 says let not the wise boast<\/p>\n
of their wisdom<\/p>\n
or the strong boast of their strength or<\/p>\n
the rich boast of their riches what does<\/p>\n
that mean<\/p>\n
when we're boasting in something<\/p>\n
we're saying that's what makes me count<\/p>\n
that is what gives me significance<\/p>\n
that's what makes me madder<\/p>\n
the natural tendency of our hearts is to<\/p>\n
rejoice in those things that make us<\/p>\n
better than other people and when we do<\/p>\n
that<\/p>\n
the peace is gone<\/p>\n
the more capable we are<\/p>\n
the more self-worth that we have apart<\/p>\n
from Jesus Christ the harder it is for<\/p>\n
us to get along with people<\/p>\n
because we boast in what we have<\/p>\n
and you know what we can do this about<\/p>\n
anything and everything<\/p>\n
we can be prideful in our Theology and<\/p>\n
look down on people who don't have<\/p>\n
correct theology<\/p>\n
plenty of people look down at our<\/p>\n
charismatic brothers and sisters<\/p>\n
plenty of people in all sorts of<\/p>\n
denominations think we have it right we<\/p>\n
have the correct Theology and you don't<\/p>\n
and we're so glad we're not like you<\/p>\n
and you know what<\/p>\n
if we've ever had the thought while<\/p>\n
talking to our non-Christian friends<\/p>\n
if we've ever been frustrated with them<\/p>\n
and had the thought well why don't you<\/p>\n
just believe<\/p>\n
how can you not see that the Bible is<\/p>\n
true why are you not getting it<\/p>\n
when we think that we're actually being<\/p>\n
prideful in what we've been given<\/p>\n
because the Bible is a gift but when we<\/p>\n
use it to look down on people who don't<\/p>\n
believe what we believe we're taking<\/p>\n
God's good gift and using it as a basis<\/p>\n
to despise other people<\/p>\n
and this is the problem this is the<\/p>\n
problem Paul is pointing out we despise<\/p>\n
one another through our pride<\/p>\n
and we can do nothing about it<\/p>\n
we're trying but we can't do anything<\/p>\n
about it<\/p>\n
we're not close to peace at all<\/p>\n
on the surface it might look like we are<\/p>\n
we just restrain ourselves<\/p>\n
but we're not close to peace<\/p>\n
peace in the family<\/p>\n
peace between ethnicities<\/p>\n
peace between the genders<\/p>\n
peace between individuals peace between<\/p>\n
different political groups and<\/p>\n
ideologies<\/p>\n
the Bible tells us that<\/p>\n
the only way to get peace is through the<\/p>\n
cross<\/p>\n
it says<\/p>\n
in one body<\/p>\n
to reconcile them both of them to the<\/p>\n
Cross both of them two got through the<\/p>\n
Cross by which he put to death<\/p>\n
their hostility so the next question<\/p>\n
becomes well okay how does the cross do<\/p>\n
this<\/p>\n
well one of the things the cross does<\/p>\n
is that it shows us that we're all<\/p>\n
sinners<\/p>\n
see the attitude that causes War<\/p>\n
and murders every day<\/p>\n
the attitude that causes all sorts of<\/p>\n
conflicts<\/p>\n
between individuals that causes all<\/p>\n
sorts of hurt and lack of peace that<\/p>\n
attitude is expressed in the sentence<\/p>\n
it's not my fault<\/p>\n
I don't want this I want peace it's not<\/p>\n
my fault I am not the problem that<\/p>\n
person is the problem but I want peace<\/p>\n
as long as we say this as long as we<\/p>\n
believe this there's no peace<\/p>\n
there is no way that there will be any<\/p>\n
peace until we all see that we are to<\/p>\n
blame<\/p>\n
so the cross of Jesus Christ if we grasp<\/p>\n
what it means it's actually very very<\/p>\n
insulting<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ the son of God voluntarily<\/p>\n
willingly died on the cross so that we<\/p>\n
could be saved what does that mean<\/p>\n
well every other religion says that<\/p>\n
effort is enough<\/p>\n
if you follow all the teachings if you<\/p>\n
meditate if you do good works if you<\/p>\n
tambun<\/p>\n
if you be a good person and don't hurt<\/p>\n
other people<\/p>\n
that that's enough you can do it<\/p>\n
and what the Bible says is no you can't<\/p>\n
none of us can the Bible says we're so<\/p>\n
bad we failed so much in so many ways<\/p>\n
that only the death of God Will Save Us<\/p>\n
we're so bad off that only the death of<\/p>\n
God on the cross will save us how<\/p>\n
insulting is that<\/p>\n
that means that there is absolutely<\/p>\n
nothing that we can do to help ourselves<\/p>\n
nothing at all<\/p>\n
the message of the Cross if we<\/p>\n
understand it correctly is very<\/p>\n
there was an author<\/p>\n
his name was G.K Chesterton chesterson<\/p>\n
he was asked the question what is the<\/p>\n
main problem in the world today<\/p>\n
a lot of writers were asked this<\/p>\n
question<\/p>\n
and they were asked this question<\/p>\n
because they were all meant to publish a<\/p>\n
piece answering<\/p>\n
that question explaining the main<\/p>\n
problems of the world so they asked UK<\/p>\n
Chesterton Chesterton hard name to<\/p>\n
pronounce<\/p>\n
um he refused to write an article<\/p>\n
all he said was<\/p>\n
the main problem with the universe is me<\/p>\n
it's a radically Biblical answer it's<\/p>\n
the only way to peace<\/p>\n
he's absolutely right<\/p>\n
the main problem in this world is me<\/p>\n
the real problem is everyone is like me<\/p>\n
but I am the only one<\/p>\n
I have any control over I am selfish<\/p>\n
self-centered want things to revolve<\/p>\n
around me I control my selfishness so<\/p>\n
that we can get along but I am deeply<\/p>\n
selfish the problem is I don't love God<\/p>\n
with all my heart soul strength and mind<\/p>\n
and I don't love my neighbor as myself I<\/p>\n
don't even treat people how I'd like to<\/p>\n
be treated I'm a sinner<\/p>\n
this is what the cross tells us<\/p>\n
and this destroys all grounds for<\/p>\n
comparison that we have<\/p>\n
we can't construct our identity by<\/p>\n
comparing because in the end we're all<\/p>\n
equal we're all equal<\/p>\n
in verse 14 Paul says that there is a<\/p>\n
dividing wall between Jew and Gentile<\/p>\n
and he's right<\/p>\n
there was an actual literal wall in the<\/p>\n
temple<\/p>\n
because of all the clean laws and the<\/p>\n
ceremonies of the Jews they worship<\/p>\n
closer to God<\/p>\n
and the Gentiles were on the other side<\/p>\n
of the wall so they worshiped further<\/p>\n
away in the court of gentiles<\/p>\n
now the gospel the cross the gospel<\/p>\n
destroys the dividing wall look at verse<\/p>\n
17.<\/p>\n
are far away<\/p>\n
and peace to those who were near<\/p>\n
well question is who's far who's near<\/p>\n
well the Gentiles were far from God<\/p>\n
because they didn't have the Bible they<\/p>\n
didn't have the law they lived immoral<\/p>\n
lives their lives were a mess<\/p>\n
and so in verses here it is in verses 11<\/p>\n
to 13 Paul tells them and he tells us to<\/p>\n
to remember at a time remember because<\/p>\n
we are Gentiles we were separate from<\/p>\n
Christ excluded from citizenship in<\/p>\n
Israel foreigners to the covenants of<\/p>\n
Promise without hope without God in the<\/p>\n
if you're a Christian today in this room<\/p>\n
this is our former life this is<\/p>\n
who we once were<\/p>\n
without God<\/p>\n
without hope<\/p>\n
what does that mean<\/p>\n
God has brought us near we have hope now<\/p>\n
it's a it's an absolute miracle that<\/p>\n
there's so much hope in the fact that we<\/p>\n
have been reconciled to God let that<\/p>\n
sink in<\/p>\n
to be a Christian does not mean to<\/p>\n
follow religious rules<\/p>\n
to be a Christian means<\/p>\n
once you place your trust in Jesus<\/p>\n
now you have hope<\/p>\n
so the Gentiles which is most of us if<\/p>\n
not all of us here we're far off<\/p>\n
Gentiles or far off and now the Jews<\/p>\n
they were near<\/p>\n
they had the Bible<\/p>\n
they had the law of God they had prayer<\/p>\n
what's radical<\/p>\n
is that the Bible says both of them<\/p>\n
needed to be reconciled to God<\/p>\n
both of them needed peace both of them<\/p>\n
needed to be saved<\/p>\n
this is one of the most radical things<\/p>\n
the gospel can tell human beings<\/p>\n
until we hear the gospel<\/p>\n
we do divide the world<\/p>\n
We compare<\/p>\n
we see some people we immediately don't<\/p>\n
like them people of different political<\/p>\n
viewpoints people who have less money<\/p>\n
than us or more money than us people of<\/p>\n
different ethnicities people who have<\/p>\n
different behaviors attitudes even<\/p>\n
people from different schools will see<\/p>\n
someone who immediately don't like them<\/p>\n
the gospel destroys that the gospel<\/p>\n
absolutely destroys that because the<\/p>\n
gospel says look at those people living<\/p>\n
immoral lives they're far away from God<\/p>\n
they're rejecting God but look at the<\/p>\n
people who are close who are living good<\/p>\n
Lives who say because of this God you<\/p>\n
have to bless me I'm a really good<\/p>\n
person<\/p>\n
so two groups of people one disobeying<\/p>\n
God's law the other obeying God's law<\/p>\n
but both of them doing it<\/p>\n
self-centeredly and arrogantly both of<\/p>\n
them are being their own Savior and Lord<\/p>\n
ultimately both of them need to be saved<\/p>\n
listen to this this is really important<\/p>\n
everybody everybody from a mafia Hitman<\/p>\n
to a prostitute to someone who goes to<\/p>\n
church every week to the pastor of a<\/p>\n
church everybody we are all sinners<\/p>\n
we're all on the same level<\/p>\n
when we become a Christian we don't just<\/p>\n
repent of our sins we don't repent of<\/p>\n
our bad things only we also repent of<\/p>\n
our righteousness all the things that we<\/p>\n
thought made us good we repent of that<\/p>\n
as well have we<\/p>\n
we're all equal before God<\/p>\n
we all need to be saved<\/p>\n
we all stand equally before God as<\/p>\n
recipients of his grace if we ask for it<\/p>\n
as well<\/p>\n
see the gospel destroys all comparisons<\/p>\n
see both of those both those who are<\/p>\n
near to God and far from God both of<\/p>\n
them need to be reconciled both of them<\/p>\n
need to be rescued isn't this offensive<\/p>\n
if we believe we are wicked Sinners and<\/p>\n
the only hope we have is to rest in<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ who died for us does that<\/p>\n
offend any of us here<\/p>\n
when we believe the gospel<\/p>\n
we cannot look at anyone else who is<\/p>\n
different to us and say we're better<\/p>\n
than them absolutely not we can no<\/p>\n
longer compare we cannot look at people<\/p>\n
of lower classes or higher classes and<\/p>\n
say I'm better than them we can't look<\/p>\n
at people with different Theology and<\/p>\n
say I'm better than them<\/p>\n
we can look at people with different<\/p>\n
political views and say I'm better than<\/p>\n
them<\/p>\n
do we believe this<\/p>\n
the only reason we're able to enjoy<\/p>\n
anything today is by the mercy of God<\/p>\n
and this this is the only way to peace<\/p>\n
it's the cross<\/p>\n
so one thing that the cross shows us is<\/p>\n
that it is our fault<\/p>\n
but what's more the cross also shows us<\/p>\n
that everyone else everyone else that<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ has died so that everyone<\/p>\n
can come into Jesus's Church<\/p>\n
so the cross shows us God's love for<\/p>\n
people who are not like us at all<\/p>\n
the cross makes us all equal<\/p>\n
you know what else the cross shows you<\/p>\n
that you're loved<\/p>\n
cross shows us that we're all equal<\/p>\n
we're all Sinners and the cross shows us<\/p>\n
that we're loved so loved that God<\/p>\n
himself was willing to come down and die<\/p>\n
for us<\/p>\n
to die so that we could be reconciled to<\/p>\n
him what does that say about how<\/p>\n
valuable you are to him what does that<\/p>\n
say about how he sees you<\/p>\n
the cross shows us how deeply love we<\/p>\n
are that God himself was willing to die<\/p>\n
if we give our lives to Jesus we're now<\/p>\n
accepted in him the lord of the universe<\/p>\n
not only forgives us but Delights in US<\/p>\n
sees us as righteous and perfect in<\/p>\n
Christ<\/p>\n
and if we let it this Foundation is so<\/p>\n
powerful<\/p>\n
that it goes to the very heart of our<\/p>\n
lives and it completely changes the way<\/p>\n
we view ourselves<\/p>\n
our identity is changed it's<\/p>\n
restructured we cannot compare ourselves<\/p>\n
anymore<\/p>\n
we can we will be able to look at every<\/p>\n
person in the world and not look down on<\/p>\n
and we can also look at our Christian<\/p>\n
brothers and sisters regardless of who<\/p>\n
they are<\/p>\n
what they do regardless of what they<\/p>\n
believe about politics regardless of<\/p>\n
where they're from we can look at them<\/p>\n
and love them<\/p>\n
there's a bond now<\/p>\n
there's a bond that runs deeper than<\/p>\n
anything else and that bond is all of us<\/p>\n
have died in Jesus and all of us have<\/p>\n
been raised in Jesus as well<\/p>\n
God is recreating the human race as it<\/p>\n
ought to be and he's doing that inside<\/p>\n
the church amongst those who are in<\/p>\n
question is how does he do this<\/p>\n
that's where we go to verse 16 in one<\/p>\n
body to reconcile both of them through<\/p>\n
the Cross by which he put to death their<\/p>\n
on the cross and God slew the hatred<\/p>\n
God God slew the hostility<\/p>\n
what happened on the cross<\/p>\n
Jesus Christ voluntarily willingly took<\/p>\n
the place of sin of the inhumanity of<\/p>\n
human beings really we should be<\/p>\n
destroyed because of us because of our<\/p>\n
hostility we have ruined the world<\/p>\n
God should slay us for our hostility but<\/p>\n
instead God slew the hostility<\/p>\n
what does that mean it means on the<\/p>\n
cross Jesus Christ took the punishment<\/p>\n
we deserve he took it<\/p>\n
and he just and that destroyed the<\/p>\n
penalty for the hostility that we<\/p>\n
deserve<\/p>\n
it makes sense doesn't it because we've<\/p>\n
been hostile to each other God should be<\/p>\n
hostile to us<\/p>\n
because we've destroyed each other God<\/p>\n
should destroy us but Jesus took it and<\/p>\n
he did this this is what changes it he<\/p>\n
took it voluntarily he wasn't like oh<\/p>\n
man I gotta go forgive them I gotta go<\/p>\n
die for them no<\/p>\n
he did this voluntarily<\/p>\n
it was his joy to do this<\/p>\n
he went to the cross that we could be<\/p>\n
reconciled to God but not only that that<\/p>\n
we could be reconciled to one another as<\/p>\n
think about how much higher Jesus is<\/p>\n
than we are if we look at it in terms of<\/p>\n
the lens through the world Jesus much<\/p>\n
more higher status Jesus Is God we're<\/p>\n
just humans<\/p>\n
yet he willingly went to the Cross to<\/p>\n
Die For Humanity that you could say not<\/p>\n
on the same level as God<\/p>\n
and yet Jesus wasn't ashamed of us<\/p>\n
he loved us and he loves us today<\/p>\n
when the cross comes into the middle of<\/p>\n
our lives<\/p>\n
there will be no one around us that we<\/p>\n
will be ashamed of either it doesn't<\/p>\n
matter who they are<\/p>\n
if we remember the cross this is the<\/p>\n
only way<\/p>\n
to live that peace with people<\/p>\n
if we can't get along with another<\/p>\n
Christian if we're staying bitter<\/p>\n
towards someone the only way we can stay<\/p>\n
bitter towards someone is if we feel<\/p>\n
that we're Superior to them<\/p>\n
if we feel like we're not capable of<\/p>\n
doing what they're doing I would never<\/p>\n
do that that's the root of bitterness<\/p>\n
we can be mad at someone<\/p>\n
but we don't stay bitter<\/p>\n
and if we do become bitter<\/p>\n
we're forgetting the gospel<\/p>\n
if we find ourselves looking down on<\/p>\n
someone and being bitter we're<\/p>\n
forgetting<\/p>\n
that what makes us who we are is the<\/p>\n
cross it's the gospel<\/p>\n
the Bible says if we remember the gospel<\/p>\n
that we're a sinner and and that we're<\/p>\n
deeply loved<\/p>\n
we don't have to be afraid of being<\/p>\n
rejected<\/p>\n
if we remember the gospel and if we live<\/p>\n
by the gospel we will become a new<\/p>\n
humanity and people who never ever ever<\/p>\n
could have gotten along otherwise will<\/p>\n
be able to get along in the church<\/p>\n
the community of God's redeemed people<\/p>\n
Paul says that this this is an Evidence<\/p>\n
of God's power at work<\/p>\n
and if we go up to people who don't<\/p>\n
believe and we try to share Jesus with<\/p>\n
but we can't show them this we can't<\/p>\n
show them unity in the church<\/p>\n
in the community of God's people<\/p>\n
if we can't show them this we might as<\/p>\n
well not share<\/p>\n
because this this the church is an<\/p>\n
Evidence of God's power<\/p>\n
God bringing people together<\/p>\n
destroying the dividing wall of<\/p>\n
creating a new Humanity<\/p>\n
making peace through the cross<\/p>\n
reconciling<\/p>\n
us all to one another<\/p>\n
and to himself if God can reconcile us<\/p>\n
to himself there is absolutely no<\/p>\n
relationship that cannot be reconciled<\/p>\n
it may take time it may take a lot of<\/p>\n
hard work<\/p>\n
but there is hope<\/p>\n
remember the gospel<\/p>\n
we'll see this happen more and more<\/p>\n
close with the words of Paul but now in<\/p>\n
Christ Jesus<\/p>\n
you who are once far away<\/p>\n
have been brought near by the blood of<\/p>\n
this is the gospel the blood of Christ<\/p>\n
has brought us near<\/p>\n
and through the gospel<\/p>\n
we can be agents of God's peace and<\/p>\n
Reconciliation<\/p>\n
let's pray<\/p>\n
Lord Jesus we thank you for your word<\/p>\n
Lord we thank you for the wonderful gift<\/p>\n
that we have we admit and confess that<\/p>\n
it's it's ridiculously hard to do a Lord<\/p>\n
and there's no way that we could do this<\/p>\n
or that we could have the humility to<\/p>\n
admit when we're wrong<\/p>\n
to have the security to reach out and be<\/p>\n
vulnerable not not afraid of being<\/p>\n
Lord these things are hard without you<\/p>\n
they're impossible but we thank you Lord<\/p>\n
that through the<\/p>\n
secure love that we have in you that we<\/p>\n
can do these things and not be afraid we<\/p>\n
pray that through you Holy Spirit you<\/p>\n
would meet us today<\/p>\n
Lord in the ways that we need to be met<\/p>\n
by you we thank you that you know us<\/p>\n
better than we know ourselves and we<\/p>\n
thank you that you will never give up on<\/p>\n
us Lord we thank you that<\/p>\n
Lord that you are using your church we<\/p>\n
pray that it would be so in Jesus name<\/p>\n
amen amen<\/p>","english_search_text":"","":"","original_publish_date":"20230815","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Cbtfe7oAxRw","video_id":"Cbtfe7oAxRw","video_duration":"35:42","channel_name":"Grace City Bangkok"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=586"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":587,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586\/revisions\/587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/585"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gracecity.machakosconsulting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}