 The Bible uses a lot of imagery to explain different concepts. In Ephesians 2:20-21, Paul describes God's people as a building. A building is built on a foundation. The foundation that the church is built on is the teaching of the apostles and prophets. Jesus is the cornerstone, which is the first stone that is laid. The building is made of stones and each stone has an important role to play, otherwise there would be gaps and holes in the wall. The stones are made into one building, not one building for pentecostals and another for baptists. When we are united, we glorify God by becoming a holy temple for the Lord. You are connected to believers around the world from different cultural backgrounds and denominations like stones in a building. You are not alone.
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 We've been having a really tough week in our house, so I thought I would make these encouraging Bible verse cards to carry around and remind me of God's goodness. You can download the PDF below. 
 Ephesians 2:14 says, Christ has made peace between Jews and Gentiles, and he has united us by breaking down the wall of hatred that separated us. The peace Paul is talking about isn't inner peace, but peace between two nationalities - the Jews and non-Jews. God wants us to live at peace with one another. The reality is that most nations are plagued by racial division and unrest. What do you think you can do to promote peace between racial groups? It starts with your attitude to other cultures. Pray that God would use you to bring peace to your community.
The purpose of Jesus (his coming to earth, his death and resurrection) was to bring us close to God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites couldn't come near to God because his presence was so powerful that it would kill them. Moses had to cover his face when he approached God to collect the Ten Commandments, the High Priests had to purify and cleanse themselves when they came into the Holy of Holies in the temple, where God's presence resided. But, because the blood of Jesus has wiped away every sin, we can come into the presence of God without fear or shame. We were once far away, but Jesus has brought us near to God. How amazing is that!
 Ephesians 2:10 says, God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.
God made us what we are - forgiven, cleansed, worthy to be in God's presence. He also prepared good things for us to do. Some versions say good works. These things don't have to be big things. He might have blessed you with great musical ability so that you can write songs and sing for him. He might have gifted you with great culinary skills so that you can be hospitable and cook for people. He might have gifted you with the gift of evangelism so that you are very good at explaining the good news about Jesus to people. He might have blessed you with an optimistic outlook so that you can encourage others. What good things do you think God has prepared for you to do?  THIS IS IMPORTANT! There is nothing you can do to earn salvation! No amount of being good and resisting temptation will ever be enough. One sin is enough to disqualify you from spending eternity with Jesus. I don't know about you, but I have sinned A LOT (and I consider myself a fairly 'good' person). The good news is that we're not saved by what we do, but what we believe, or rather, who we believe.
This isn't a license to sin. We don't do good works to be saved, but because we're saved. When you love someone, you do things to please them. It's the same with God. We don't do good works so that God will love us, he already does. We do good works because he loves us, and we love him.  God sacrificed his only son, Jesus, raised him to life, and seated us with him in the heavenly places, to show his kindness. This kindness is a testimony for everyone on the earth now, and for those to come. According to Barnes' Notes on the Bible:
How awesome that we sinners, are made clean, and get to live with Jesus in the heavenly places. I'm so grateful because I know that I don't deserve it. If my eternal home was based on what I deserved, it would be a dump. Praise God for his kindness! More on this in our next reading.  At the beginning of Ephesians 2 Paul talked about being spiritually dead. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)
Even though we didn't deserve it, God demonstrated his love, grace and mercy by sending Jesus so that we could be rescued from this spiritual death. If you follow Jesus, you want to obey him because you're so grateful. Your life should produce the fruit of the spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). This is in contrast to people who don't follow Jesus, who do whatever they want. Does his mercy motivate you to love and obey Jesus?  In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul talks about being spiritually dead.
In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God. Yes, in the past your lives were full of those sins. You lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth. That same spirit is now working in those who refuse to obey God. In the past all of us lived like that, trying to please our sinful selves. We did all the things our bodies and minds wanted. Like everyone else in the world, we deserved to suffer God’s anger just because of the way we were. According to this passage, being spiritually dead is:
Life is a bit like Star Wars, you're either on the good side, or the dark side. If you're not with Jesus, by default, you're on the dark side. Doing your own thing is what Satan wants, so you default to the dark side. Praise God, there is a cure for this spiritual deadness. Stay tuned for our next reading. |
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