Sunday, November 29, 2015

Sermon Notes for Sunday November 29th 2015



2015.11.29                            Ephesians 3: 1-21                     
                             First Advent
                       Privilege and Prayer
Good morning everyone……. We´re glad you´re here!
Today is First Advent…. More than 2000 years ago…. The most important event in World History occurred….. It was the “Advent”…. The Coming of the Lord Jesus into the world… It was and is potentially anyway… A time of great joy… One of my favorite Christmas songs is Joy to the World… The Savoir is come… God incarnate…. Jesus is the source of Everlasting joy… He came to save us from our sin and rebellion….
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus was filled with compassion for the lost… Matthew records that Jesus said… The people were like sheep without a shepherd… Matthew 9:36… Lost and helpless… 
Jesus was …. As always… moved with compassion for the lost and dying sinners… He sent us out too… Go and preach the GOOD News…
Advent is the perfect time of year to reach out to our friends and neighbors…. It is a time of celebrating and giving… What greater gift could we give than the Good news of the Gospel... Jesus said… there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents… Luke 15: 10.. As we also saw last week from Ephesians 2:8-10... We have been saved to serve...
We have been given a great Privilege as believers… We have the blessing of being able to Proclaim the Good News… There is mercy and grace for all who will confess their sins and cry out to the Lord Jesus…
Many years ago…. My mother’s pastor challenged the congregation to tell at least one person about Jesus every day during Advent….. My mother was really upset about this command…. She was stuck at home and couldn´t get out of the house without help…. Well she landed in the Hospital…. She had a captive audience… She was able to tell someone about Jesus every day…. She was so happy!... It gave her great joy to tell others about Jesus… That is exactly the way it should be…
The salvation of lost sinners is the source of the Fathers joy… and as believers it should be the source of our joy too!  We saw that great truth as we studied the Gospel of Luke together… There 2 sermons on the Fathers joy in the Archives of Luke on the website…
Many of us have also celebrated Thanksgiving this week... My mom loved this time of year….. Having her family together for the holidays was so important….
We have so much to be Thankful for…. Family…. Friends….. health…… When things are good it´s pretty easy to be thankful….. Today we´ve gathered here to worship and thank the LORD for his goodness to us….
In the last few weeks…. As we studied Ephesians we took a good look at the Lord's Unfailing love and mercy…. We were reminded again that we were saved by Grace through faith…  Grace is such a big word.… Unmerited and undeserved favor… Grace is God´s love that says... even though you don´t deserve it…. I am never going to stop loving you… Two weeks ago we looked at the Miracle of Redemption and Reconciliation... as seen in the parable of the two prodigals
And although the Apostle Paul was speaking specifically to Gentiles at Ephesus… we saw how in the Miracle of Reconciliation… The cross has united us all into one body…   verse 19 says that we "are no longer strangers and foreigners… but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…
This morning… Paul continues that discussion by explaining the equality that all Gentiles have in Christ… I think that we are all Gentiles here today…
Paul is using the reality of the church as an example of the Miracle of Reconciliation…
Because we are in Christ... We have been given forgiveness and Mercy…. We have received grace...
Because we are in Christ... He has reconciled  enemies…
Ephesians 2: 11-22             One in Christ
1 peace… v14… peace between Jews and Gentiles…. Peace with God…  Peace with each other…
2 Reconciliation… v16 with mankind….
3 Access…v18
Let´s continue in the text…. And read the first few verses of Ephesians 3… v1-5…
Ephesians 3: 1-5                      NKJV
1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:
Ephesians 3: 1-5                    slt 2000
1 Deshalb [bin] ich, Paulus, der Gebundene Christi Jesu für euch, die Heiden.
2 Ihr habt ja gewiß von der Haushalterschaft der Gnade Gottes gehört, die mir für euch gegeben worden ist,
3 daß er mich das Geheimnis durch Offenbarung wissen ließ, wie ich zuvor kurz geschrieben habe.
4 Daran könnt ihr, wenn ihr es lest, meine Einsicht in das Geheimnis des Christus erkennen,
5 das in früheren Generationen den Menschenkindern nicht bekanntgemacht wurde, wie es jetzt seinen heiligen Aposteln und Propheten durch den Geist geoffenbart worden ist,
v1... I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles...  for you Gentiles... Just to remind us… The  reason he was under arrest was because of his missionary efforts on behalf of the Gentiles…
Paul suffered for the very truth he would explain to the Ephesians... He taught that it was not necessary for Gentiles to become Jewish before becoming a Christian…
v2… If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God…  This phrase IF Indeed… in the Greek reads… If and it is true… Paul knew his particular calling to the Gentile world was well known among Gentile Christians….
The word dispensation speaks of the fulfilled Plan of God  in the birth of the church…  
v3… How that by revelation … He made known to me the mystery… Paul is saying Listen… I'm not making this up…  God gave me this revelation… and I am only His messenger of this truth…  
Paul described himself as a Hebrew of the Hebrews… a Pharisee… and a persecutor of the church… Paul was  amazed that God would choose him to take this message of the Grace of God to the Gentiles… He used to hate them…
Now he is the one who demonstrates that the Good News of  the Gospel is also for the  Gentiles… They don´t need to become Jewish proselytes first… This was indeed an amazing mystery…
Now "In modern English a 'mystery' is something hard to see…  obscure and puzzling…. What is 'mysterious' is thought of as almost incomprehensible… The Greek word “mysterion” is different…   Simply put… A Mysterion is a truth that had been hidden from human understanding… but now has been disclosed by the revelation of God…
God used Paul to declare specifically how Jews and Gentiles would be joined together into one… Through the cross… all genuine believers become part of the  Body of Christ…  That is the Mystery that was not made known...
The union of Jews and Gentiles into the body of Christ… In the Old Testament… the salvation of Gentiles in the Messiah is prophesied… But the coming together of Jew and Gentile into the Church is not spoken of before now… Let´s continue in the text… Eph 3.. v6,7…
Ehpesians 3: 6,7                          NKJV   slt 2000
6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
6 daß nämlich die Heiden Miterben und mit zum Leib Gehörige und Mitteilhaber seiner Verheißung sind in Christus durch das Evangelium,
7 dessen Diener ich geworden bin gemäß der Gabe der Gnade Gottes, die mir gegeben ist nach der Wirkung seiner Kraft.
v6a… That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs of the same body... And Partakers of His promise in Christ… This describes the mystery itself - that believing Jews and believing Gentiles are joined together into one Church…
The truth of this mystery means that Gentiles are now full partakers of His promise… This privilege no longer reserved only for the believing Jewish person…
v6b… Through the gospel… This could only happen through the gospel… where all men are equal in the Lord Jesus… Paul says… What a gift…. That I should preach this good news… It is all because of the gift of grace given to him by the working of God's power... First in his own sin filled and rebellious heart… And then in the spread of the Gospel like wildfire through the Gentile World…. Paul sits in this prison and says… This is amazing… I can´t believe this has happened… What mercy and grace!...
Paul calls himself a minister here… but that is not a title of Honor… In classical literature of ancient Greece… the minister (diakonos)  is a Servant… In fact he is a table waiter who is always at the bidding of his master…
It is often translated Deacon today… All leaders are meant to be servants… and not lords over the church  He humbly describes himself in these next verses… v8,9…
Ephesians 3: 8,9                  NKJV
8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

Ephesians 3: 8,9                 slt 2000
8 Mir, dem allergeringsten unter allen Heiligen, ist diese Gnade gegeben worden, unter den Heiden den unausforschlichen Reichtum des Christus zu verkündigen,
9 und alle darüber zu erleuchten, welches die Gemeinschaft ist, die als Geheimnis von den Ewigkeiten her in Gott verborgen war, der alles erschaffen hat durch Jesus Christus,
v8… To me, who am less than the least of all the saints… Paul marveled at the grace given to him… He was humbled and amazed that was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles… He knew that he did not deserve the privilege to proclaim the Good News contained in this mystery…. Salvation to all who would repent and cry out to the Lord for forgiveness and mercy…  
v8b… That I should preach… The ancient Greek word translated "preach" euaggelizō yü-än-ge-lē'-zō… literally means "to proclaim good news…
v8c… The unsearchable riches of Christ… This mystery means great riches for the Gentiles… They…. We…  can now come before God as sons and daughters…
God's riches are unsearchable… Think about it… We have been forgiven our sins and set free…. Delivered and redeemed… All because we are in Christ… God Himself has poured Grace and mercy out upon us…. Even though we did not deserve it…  We will never know the greatness of these riches completely…
v9… To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery... Which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God…  In other words…. This part of God´s awesome plan was unknown… But now it is clearly  revealed to the World… Having been entrusted with such unsearchable riches… Paul's passion was to make this gospel known to everyone who would listen… He wants everybody to see and share in the fellowship of this mystery He wants everyone to discover the riches of the grace and mercy of God for themselves…
This great truth - the fellowship of the mystery - was hidden before it was revealed in the finished work of Jesus on the cross… This reinforces the idea that there is genuinely something new in the New Covenant…
Ephesians 3: 10-12              NKJV  slt 2000
10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.
Ephesians 3: 10-12              NKJV  slt 2000
10 damit jetzt den Fürstentümern und Gewalten in den himmlischen [Regionen] durch die Gemeinde die mannigfaltige Weisheit Gottes bekanntgemacht werde,
11 nach dem Vorsatz der Ewigkeiten, den er gefaßt hat in Christus Jesus, unserem Herrn,
12 in dem wir die Freimütigkeit und den Zugang haben in Zuversicht durch den Glauben an ihn.
v10… now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known… God is infinite wisdom and glory… He wants His creatures to know something of His great and manifold wisdom…  
This word manifold…. In the  Greek is polupoikilos… It  has the ideas of intricacy, complexity, and great beauty...
v11… according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord… here again we see the fact that everything is being done according to God´s great plan and purpose….  Its fulfillment in Christ is absolutely  certain… And so… Paul can speak of it as already finished… We are already in Christ…
v12… in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him… Ephesians 2: v8,9… saved by grace through faith… Now we have boldness and confidence before God… We have full access…
All because it has nothing to do with us at all… It is only our faith in Him…
The word for boldness has the idea of freedom to express ourselves before God… without fear or shame…  Now Paul has an encouraging word for them… And for us…
Ephesians 3: 13    NKJv  slt 2000
13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
13 Darum bitte ich, daß ihr nicht mutlos werdet wegen meiner Bedrängnisse um euretwillen, die euch eine Ehre sind.
v13a… Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart… Though Paul is under arrest for the sake of the gospel… Paul didn't want them to be discouraged for his sake… Paul asks his readers to not lose heart... Because Paul knew that he was in God´s will and perfect plan…. He was still being used by the lord to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel…
v13b… My tribulations for you… Paul wrote the Letter to the Ephesians from prison… Let´s remember why Paul was in prison... He lived his whole life with the passion to bring salvation to his own people… He wanted his own people to receive the long promised and long awaited Messiah…  the Jews Romans 9:1-3...
On his last visit to Jerusalem he had the opportunity to preach to a huge crowd on or near the temple mount Acts 21:39-22:22… Unfortunately   the Jewish crowd could not stand the idea of the good news of the Messiah being extended to the Gentiles Acts 22:21-22… The result was that Paul was imprisoned in Rome… He knew God wanted Gentiles to share in the good news of the Messiah… and he wasn't afraid to preach that truth… No matter what the cost… He was determined to finish his race… That´s exactly what Paul said…  Remember he called the Elders from Ephesus to come to him as he was on his way to Jerusalem… That was just before he was taken prisoner to Rome… Turn with me to Acts 20… v21…
Acts 20: 17-24                           NKJV 
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 18 And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20 how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24 But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20: 17-24                             slt 2000
17 Von Milet aber sandte er nach Ephesus und ließ die Ältesten der Gemeinde herüberrufen.
18 Und als sie zu ihm gekommen waren, sprach er zu ihnen: Ihr wißt, wie ich mich vom ersten Tag an, als ich Asia betrat, die ganze Zeit unter euch verhalten habe,
19 daß ich dem Herrn diente mit aller Demut, unter vielen Tränen und Anfechtungen, die mir widerfuhren durch die Nachstellungen der Juden;
20 und wie ich nichts verschwiegen habe von dem, was nützlich ist, sondern es euch verkündigt und euch gelehrt habe, öffentlich und in den Häusern,
21 indem ich Juden und Griechen die Buße zu Gott und den Glauben an unseren Herrn Jesus Christus bezeugt habe.
22 Und siehe, jetzt reise ich gebunden im Geist nach Jerusalem, ohne zu wissen, was mir dort begegnen wird,
23 außer daß der Heilige Geist von Stadt zu Stadt Zeugnis gibt und sagt, daß Fesseln und Bedrängnisse auf mich warten.
24 Aber auf das alles nehme ich keine Rücksicht; mein Leben ist mir auch selbst nicht teuer, wenn es gilt, meinen Lauf mit Freuden zu vollenden und den Dienst, den ich von dem Herrn Jesus empfangen habe, nämlich das Evangelium der Gnade Gottes zu bezeugen.
Through all of the hard times in Paul´s life…. He was being used tremendously… Probably in a greater way than he ever imagined… This Roman imprisonment produced the letters of Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians and Philemon… These letters have ministered to uncounted millions over the centuries…
In the same way… Each of us has a special place in the service of God's eternal plan… Knowing this and working towards it… is a great protection against losing heart in the midst of hard times and tribulation…
Ephesians 3: 14,15    NKJV   slt 2000
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
14 Deshalb beuge ich meine Knie vor dem Vater unseres Herrn Jesus Christus,
15 von dem jedes Geschlecht4 im Himmel und auf Erden den Namen erhält,
v14… For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… The basis of Paul's prayer was his knowledge of God's purpose… Paul was a man of prayer and a man of Action…. Just like Nehemiah that we are studying on Tuesday nights…This means that Paul confidently prayed according to God's will… 
Paul prayed and bowed his knees… This demonstrated Paul´s humility…
v14b… To the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… Paul directed his prayer to the Father…  Prayer is usually directed to the Father… through the Son… According to the   direction of the Holy Spirit in our hearts…
v15… From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named… In remembering that all God's family is called after His name… Paul showed that God is Father of both Jew and Gentile…. Let´s look at his short powerful prayer… v16-19…
Ephesians 3: 16-19                 NKJV   
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3: 16-19                 slt 2000
16 daß er euch nach dem Reichtum seiner Herrlichkeit gebe, durch seinen Geist mit Kraft gestärkt zu werden an dem inneren Menschen,
17 daß der Christus durch den Glauben in euren Herzen wohne, damit ihr, in Liebe gewurzelt und gegründet,
18 dazu fähig seid, mit allen Heiligen zu begreifen, was die Breite, die Länge, die Tiefe und die Höhe sei,
19 und die Liebe des Christus zu erkennen, die doch alle Erkenntnis übersteigt, damit ihr erfüllt werdet bis zur ganzen Fülle Gottes.
v16… To be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man… Paul asked that they would be strengthened through the Holy spirit…
v17… That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… Paul prayed that Jesus would live in these believers… That´s exactly what Jesus promised in John 14:23…

John 14:23                            NKJV   slt 2000
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
23 Jesus antwortete und sprach zu ihm: Wenn jemand mich liebt, so wird er mein Wort befolgen, und mein Vater wird ihn lieben, und wir werden zu ihm kommen und Wohnung bei ihm machen.
The Greek phrase translated make Our home here… has the idea of settling down in a place to make it your permanent home… Jesus wants to settle down in your heart… And make it His permanent Home…
v17b… Through faith… This has the idea, "through your faith." This is how Christ dwells in our heart… it is the sovereign gift of God…  
v17c... Being rooted and grounded in love… Paul prayed that all this would take place as they were rooted and grounded in love…  rooted and grounded in their love for one another… And  in their love for God Himself…
v18… May be able to comprehend with all the saints… What is the width and length and depth and height… Paul asked that they might be able to understand together, in community every dimension of the love of Jesus… Paul wanted them to know it by experience and not just in words...
v19a… To know the love of Christ… Paul wanted us to truly know the love of Jesus in our lives… This isn't only emotions, or feelings…. This is something we can handle and understand in His Word and in our own life experiences…  
v19b… That you may be filled with all the fullness of God… Paul asked God to fill these Christians unto all the fullness of God… Paul wanted Christians to experience life in Jesus Christ… He wants us all to experience the fullness of God… Colossians 2:9… and to be filled to our maximum capacity with Jesus… v20,21…
Ephesians 3: 20,21                     NKJV   slt 2000
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
 Ephesians 3: 20,21                     NKJV   slt 2000
20 Dem aber, der weit über die Maßen mehr zu tun vermag, als wir bitten oder verstehen, gemäß der Kraft, die in uns wirkt,
21 ihm sei die Ehre in der Gemeinde in Christus Jesus, auf alle Geschlechter der Ewigkeit der Ewigkeiten! Amen.

As Paul closes His prayer…. He gives us this famous Doxology…. This proclamation of Worship and Blessing toward God… His is breaking out in Praise and Worship as he reflects on all of the things that he has written the church….
This Doxology belongs to every glorious privilege and blessing spoken of the first three chapters… We have a Great and Awesome God… And with the Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ… Circumstances have changed…. The eternal darkness has been obliterated… turn with me to Isaiah 9… v1…
Isaiah 9:1-2 ; 8:23 and 9: 1                     NLT
1 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.


23 Doch diese Zeit der Dunkelheit und Verzweiflung wird nicht für immer andauern. Wurden früher auch das Land Sebulon und das Land Naftali gedemütigt, so wird später das Gebiet der Völker, die Gott nicht kennen, die Straße am Meer jenseits des Jordan, zu Ehren kommen.
1 Denn das Volk, das in der Dunkelheit lebt, sieht ein helles Licht. Und über den Menschen in einem vom Tode überschatteten Land strahlt ein heller Schein.
The Light of the World is here! During this Advent season the church will be filled with candles…. Some little ones… Some big ones… We are being reminded that each of us is called to be salt and light… in this dark and dying world… One little candle can really pierce the darkness…
If the area is flat enough… On a dark night, you can even see a candle flame flickering up to 30 mi. (48 km) away….
We have received unsearchable gifts and Blessings…. Our forever is certain… We have nothing to fear… We have every reason to rejoice…. Even if at this moment we are in great sorrow and difficulty…
Everything that Paul is teaching us… All of this Theology is to teach us and equip us…. To help us to walk worthy of the great truth that we are in Christ… turn with me to the first verse of Eph 4…v1… to finish our time today and point us to the next chapter…
Ephesians 4: 1                    NKJV    slt 2000
1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
1 So ermahne ich euch nun, ich, der Gebundene im Herrn, daß ihr der Berufung würdig wandelt, zu der ihr berufen worden seid,
Let´s pray…

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Sermon for Sunday the 15th of November plus comments on the Paris terroist attacks



2015.11.15                         Ephesians 2: 11-22
                  The miracle of Reconciliation
Good morning everyone… It is wonderful to see you here this morning… I have good news… His name is  Jesus…
Here at CC Wiesbaden… We go through the Bible verse by verse... We want to see the big picture! We want to know and understand our Great God and Savior… At to moment… We are studying the Letter to the Ephesians
Last week we looked at Jesus wonderful Illustration of Grace in the parable of the 2 Prodigal sons… If you did not hear it… you can listen by going to the website or to The Calvary Chapel Wiesbaden Podcasts page on Facebook… To review the sermon from last week for a minute…
 We could summarize the sermon by understanding that The Lord is pleading with all of us… He wants us to come to Him in repentance…. It does not matter whether we are Wild sin filled rebels…. People who through sin and rebellion have destroyed our lives… Or whether we are very religious… People who are working hard to obey the rules and be good boys and girls… We all must come to the Lord Jesus… We need to repent of our pride and sin and rebellion… We need to come home to our loving God who delights to show mercy… Come to Him to receive the Grace and mercy that he offers… Today and every day… He is pleading with us to forgive each other from our hearts… The lesson from last week and for today…  Is for us forgive each other from our hearts… If we refuse to do that… Maybe we do not understand Grace… We will never earn the Fathers love and forgiveness…. Jesus has already done that for us… As we read in Ephesians 2: 8,9 … It is a gift… We can and really we must… rest in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ for us…. His death and resurrection has forever purchased our redemption… To think that we can improve on that finished work is totally wrong… The idea that I can do something for myself today that will add to what Jesus has already done… is unbiblical and can only produce in me pride and a judgmental attitude in my heart… Jesus paid it all…. That´s Good News...!
Well you may say… Then I will not do anything… I´m saved and set for heaven…
Well… It is true that our works will not improve our position in Christ… It doesn´t matter if we are talking about the Scribes and Pharisees or… whether we are talking about our own tendencies to be religious and to love rules… They were legalistic and strict and hard with each other… The law… The law… They judged and condemned everyone who did not live up to their standards… The crazy thing is they left no room to for the very Grace of God that saved them… If indeed they were saved at all… They accepted grace for themselves but had no grace for others…
The real problem is not in the law… Paul laid out the relationship between the law and grace wonderfully in the letter to the Romans… The real problem was their hearts… The problem is in our hearts… By the way the OT idea of Law means This Book… The whole Bible as they knew it… The law and the prophets referred to all of it… Not just the ten commandments or Leviticus… That´s why Jesus pointed to the Hypocrites and said… do what they say… But don´t do what they do…. They were not serving the Lord out of deeply forgiven and therefore thankful hearts… They were not loving the Lord their God with all of their hearts and their neighbors as themselves…. They were obeying the law out of religious duty… As Pflicht… Not from their hearts… They were like the older brother… They were like some of us… Just doing what we must… But inside critical and unthankful… Not willing to forgive and show grace and mercy to our own family sometimes…
Serving the Lord out of religious duty… will not help us to please God… It is hypocrisy…. That does not mean that we do nothing… That is not the meaning here…  It means that what the Lord wants… Is that we love and serve Him and each other from our hearts…. That we truly reflect the Lord Jesus Christ in everything that we do… Because He saved us to serve…. In Ephesians ch 2… v8,9… Paul just finished telling us that We are saved by grace through Faith as the freely given gift of God…
But Let´s remember that he also told us God´s purpose in it… That´s what we read in Eph 2:10… This Letter to the Ephesians is rich in solid teaching about the Lord our God… It is also full of practical advice… Paul is laying a solid foundation under our feet as he helps us to understand… He shows God´s awesome plan of redemption and forgiveness… He displays God´s grace and mercy to us so that it will affect everything and every one around us… He is teaching us how to walk out our Christian life…. Let´s look again at Eph 5..v1,2… Here Paul exhorts us to walk in love
Ephesians 5: 1,2                NLT   Neues Leben
1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
1 Folgt in allem Gottes Beispiel, denn ihr seid seine geliebten Kinder.
2 Euer Leben soll von Liebe geprägt sein, wie auch Christus uns geliebt hat, denn er hat sich selbst als Gabe und Opfer für unsere Sünden gegeben. Und Gott hatte Gefallen an diesem Opfer, das wie ein wohlriechender Duft zu ihm aufstieg.
Here is the point of the deep insights that Paul is giving us in his teachings… v1 and 2… 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. We learn to walk out our Christian life with this solid truth under our feet…
As we pick up the text today in Ephesians chapter 2… Paul is helping us to understand the unity of the body of Christ…
We saw in the first ten verses of Chapter 2 that The Lord brings people into the church… His body through salvation… And then we begin in verse 11 to see that as part of the church… we're one with each other… Now we don't always act like it… But in fact… because of all that Jesus has done… We are one… And that is the message of verses 11-22… Paul focuses here on the division between Jews and the Gentiles… Turn with me to Eph. 2.. Let´s read them… Beginning with v11…
Ephesians 2: 11-22       NKJV   slt 2000
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2: 11-22          slt 2000
11 Darum gedenkt daran, daß ihr, die ihr einst Heiden im Fleisch wart und Unbeschnittene genannt wurdet von der sogenannten Beschneidung, die am Fleisch mit der Hand geschieht
12 — daß ihr in jener Zeit ohne Christus wart, ausgeschlossen von der Bürgerschaft Israels und fremd den Bündnissen der Verheißung; ihr hattet keine Hoffnung und wart ohne Gott in der Welt.
13 Jetzt aber, in Christus Jesus, seid ihr, die ihr einst fern wart, nahe gebracht worden durch das Blut des Christus.
14 Denn Er ist unser Friede, der aus beiden eins gemacht und die Scheidewand des Zaunes abgebrochen hat,
15 indem er in seinem Fleisch die Feindschaft, das Gesetz der Gebote in Satzungen, hinwegtat, um die zwei in sich selbst zu einem neuen Menschen zu schaffen und Frieden zu stiften,
16 und um die beiden in einem Leib mit Gott zu versöhnen durch das Kreuz, nachdem er durch dasselbe die Feindschaft getötet hatte.
17 Und er kam und verkündigte Frieden euch, den Fernen, und den Nahen;
18 denn durch ihn haben wir beide den Zutritt zu dem Vater in einem Geist.
19 So seid ihr nun nicht mehr Fremdlinge ohne Bürgerrecht und Gäste, sondern Mitbürger der Heiligen und Gottes Hausgenossen,
20 auferbaut auf der Grundlage der Apostel und Propheten, während Jesus Christus selbst der Eckstein ist,
21 in dem der ganze Bau, zusammengefügt, wächst zu einem heiligen Tempel im Herrn,
22 in dem auch ihr miterbaut werdet zu einer Wohnung Gottes im Geist.
But God, who is so rich in mercy...On Friday night Paris and indeed the world was plunged into the darkness of Radical Islamic terrorism… Evil stood up and many died… And many more were shaken awake from the deadly idea that everything is ok… The lie that mankind is basically good was proven to be false… Once again the truth of the Word of God was illustrated for the world to see…
Jeremiah 17: 9 NKJV slt 2000
9“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
9 Überaus trügerisch ist das Herz und bösartig; wer kann es ergründen?
The desperate wickedness of humanity was on display in Paris…. This verse was illustrated for the world to see… We saw Not only the wickedness that hides in the heart of man…. But also the incredible way we are able to deceive ourselves… These radicals are killing innocent people… and thinking that they are doing “their god´s service”… There is only 1 answer for this lost sin filled world…. His Name is Jesus…. He is the only hope for mankind…
John 1: 4,5 NKJV slt 2000
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
4 In ihm war das Leben, und das Leben war das Licht der Menschen.
5 Und das Licht leuchtet in der Finsternis, und die Finsternis hat es nicht begriffen.
My friends we are living in very difficult times… Godless radicals are killing anyone who does not agree with them… No one is safe from their hatred…They spread murder and darkness everywhere…. There is only one chance for Humanity… The problem is deeply rooted… It is in the sin filled hearts of men and women who will not repent and cry out to God for mercy… The death and destruction is a symptom of the disease of sin… It has affected every person who has ever lived…. At one time we were also filled with sin and were children of darkness… look at verses 11 and 12…
Ephesians 2: 11,12 NKJV slt 2000
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
11 Darum gedenkt daran, daß ihr, die ihr einst Heiden im Fleisch wart und Unbeschnittene genannt wurdet von der sogenannten Beschneidung, die am Fleisch mit der Hand geschieht
12 — daß ihr in jener Zeit ohne Christus wart, ausgeschlossen von der Bürgerschaft Israels und fremd den Bündnissen der Verheißung; ihr hattet keine Hoffnung und wart ohne Gott in der Welt.

v11,12… once Gentiles… without Christ… having no hope and without God in the world…
We are reminded that we were also without Christ… We were also blind to the truth…. We were also blinded by sin and selfishness… Hatred and greed…
We were outside… Outside of the Family of God… Outside of the covenant… Outside of the promise of redemption that the Lord gave the Children of Israel… Hopeless and Godless… Outsiders with no chance to become part of the children of God… Then we see the wonderful phrase…. For the second time in this Chapter… Paul reminds us of the Good News…. God has intervened…. He has provided redemption and reconciliation for a lost and dying world… But God… v13… But Now… look at v13…
Ephesians 2:13 NKJV slt 2000
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
13 Jetzt aber, in Christus Jesus, seid ihr, die ihr einst fern wart, nahe gebracht worden durch das Blut des Christus.
v13… But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ…
But Now… He has brought us all near by the Blood of Christ…These Gentiles knew that they were far outside of the Chosen people of God…
Jews and Gentiles hated each other… They were totally against everything that the other accepted… You could not imagine a bigger separation and conflict than that…
As we think about the events in Paris… Islam is a demonic lie…. It destroys… It is pure darkness…. But…
We must be careful not to hate the people who did these horrible things… We need to be on our knees for the lost and hopeless people who are willing to let themselves be filled up with such hatred… Hopeless…! no… not hopeless at all… turn to Eph 2.. v4… But God…
Ephesians 2: 4,5 NLT Neues Leben
4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead.
4 Doch Gott ist so barmherzig und liebte uns so sehr,5 dass er uns, die wir durch unsere Sünden tot waren, mit Christus neues Leben schenkte, als er ihn von den Toten auferweckte. Nur durch die Gnade Gottes seid ihr gerettet worden!

It is just like what Jesus prayed on the cross… Father forgive them…. They do not know what they do…
Now of Course… Our heavenly Father hates sin…. To be sure…. But He loves sinners… and he so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son… Forgiveness and mercy and reconciliation is possible even for the worst of sinners… Even for people like us…. If only we will cry out to Him for mercy and forgiveness…
We need to pray... We need to be the Salt and Light that Jesus has called us to be in this dark and sin filled world... May The Lord help us to live as Children of Light!
Paul is using the reality of the church as an example of the Miracle of Reconciliation… He has reconciled enemies…
One in Christ
1 peace… v14… peace between Jews and Gentiles…. Peace with God…  Peace with each other…
2 Reconciliation… v16 with mankind….
3 Access…v18
look at v 14…
v14…he himself is our peace… He has made both one… God has broken down the middle wall of separation… God has broken down the thing that separated us, the middle wall of partition…
There was an impossible wall between them… A wall of sin and rebellion… a wall of law that showed them their sin and it´s penalty… Now these enemies have been miraculously united into one in Christ… What was that thing?  look at verse 15,16…
v15a…  The system of commandments and ordinances…  All of the things that made up the unclimbable wall have been done away with in Christ… and then…
v15b… at the end have become one new man…. Thus making peace… The wonderful result is peace between former mortal enemies… v15… peace… and  look at v16…
v16… that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross… we see the possible reconciliation of everyone to God… there is one body through the Cross…. The Cross is that once for all sacrifice for sin… that is what all of the ancient sacrifices pointed to.… It is a Miracle of God´s Grace… we have been reconciled into one body….
This is basic to an understanding of the church…. We're one in Christ… We are all one in Him… We are all forgiven… We are all equal… Because we are all in Christ… We are no longer separated from each other… We are no longer separated from God…. We have all been reconciled to Him because of the Lord Jesus.… We are now expected to love and serve each other…
What was the cause of this separation in the first place…?
Sin… That one basic problem is expressed in the Old Testament as well as the new… As I said earlier…  Jeremiah said the "heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." And Isaiah said "There is no peace to the wicked… You see built into our sin filled wickedness… is separation and the impossibility of peace… Where you have sin, you have selfishness and discord… If I am always looking out for myself…. Making sure that I get what I want…. I can never have harmony with others…
And the only way to have peace is when somebody dies… When somebody dies there is no more conflict… That is why Jesus said that we must deny ourselves…. That´s why Paul said… I die daily…
The only place where self really dies is at the foot of the cross…
Galatians 2: 20,21     NKJV   slt2000
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
20 Ich bin mit Christus gekreuzigt; und nun lebe ich, aber nicht mehr ich [selbst], sondern Christus lebt in mir. Was ich aber jetzt im Fleisch lebe, das lebe ich im Glauben an den Sohn Gottes, der mich geliebt und sich selbst für mich hingegeben hat.
21 Ich verwerfe die Gnade Gottes nicht; denn wenn durch das Gesetz Gerechtigkeit [kommt], so ist Christus vergeblich gestorben.

In other words… I go to the cross with the Lord Jesus Christ… There by faith… I am crucified with and in Christ… Then self dies and I no longer live…. but Christ lives in me… When self dies… selfishness dies… and I have peace with God…. Peace with my fellow man also becomes a possibility... Now in terms of our position in Christ… We are at peace… As believers we are one family… The Church… Unfortunately… We may not always act like it… Our pride and selfishness can raise it´s ugly head and move us to put our wants and needs ahead of others…
When Jesus was crucified He removed the alienation that sin had caused… He removed the barrier… That´s what we saw in Verse 14…" Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
He broke it down...
The thing that separates men is their sin and selfishness… The thing that separates us from God is our sin and selfishness… So when sin is removed then we can be one with each other and one with God… The Theological term is Reconciliation…  The wall of separation is destroyed… the biblical word is the word reconciliation…  In Christ we have been reconciled to God… We have been forgiven… Because of Jesus we are able to be reconciled to each other…. Even with our enemies… in Luke 6..v35,36…Jesus said that when we are kind to our enemies that we are being like our Heavenly Father…
God´s plan to forgive the sins of all who repent and believe the Gospel… Is founded on   Christ's atoning death…  For those of us who are in Christ…. We have been brought us to a place of unity with each other… Your sins are paid for… My sins are paid for... You've been crucified with Christ... I've been crucified with Christ... The Holy Spirit lives in you… The Holy Spirit lives in me…   We're one in Christ… We form the living expression of the Lord Jesus in this world…
Now, as we look at our text for today…  the main thought is that those who were alienated from God and man… We have all been reconciled in Christ.…
Reconciled in Christ…
1 we are reconciled to each other… v13-15… And we are
2 we are reconciled to God… v16-18
 This is just Great news… Our sins are forgiven… We have been reconciled to God…
We are called to be reconciled to each other… To forgive each other from our hearts…
God doesn't just save us… He Transforms our lives… He adopts us into His Family… He makes us one with Himself…
Go back to Ephesians 2… v18-22… We have been reconciled to each other and to God... And in being reconciled to God… we also have  access to the Father…
Ephesians 2: 18-22     NKJV
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Ephesians 2: 18-22               slt 2000
18 denn durch ihn haben wir beide den Zutritt zu dem Vater in einem Geist.
19 So seid ihr nun nicht mehr Fremdlinge ohne Bürgerrecht und Gäste, sondern Mitbürger der Heiligen und Gottes Hausgenossen,
20 auferbaut auf der Grundlage der Apostel und Propheten, während Jesus Christus selbst der Eckstein ist,
21 in dem der ganze Bau, zusammengefügt, wächst zu einem heiligen Tempel im Herrn,
22 in dem auch ihr miterbaut werdet zu einer Wohnung Gottes im Geist.
Because we are in Christ… We have access to the Father… Hebrews says "We come boldly into His presence in time of need… Hebrews 4…v16…
As we look at this last few verses of this chapter… Verses 19-22… Paul gives us three word pictures to illustrate the completeness of our redemption and reconciliation….
We aren't just guests in God's house, we're family…
Illustrations of our complete redemption and reconciliation
1 We are now citizens of Heaven… v19
2 We are members of the Household of God…
3 We are being built into a Holy Temple…
These are three great pictures… First we are now fellow citizens… look at v 19… "Now therefore or “since”  we've been made one in Christ…. And  because we have access and peace with God… we are no longer strangers…
As genuine believers… we're all fellow citizens… There are no strangers in the family of God… We're all members of the kingdom…
Philippians 3:20 says our citizenship is in heaven…
Look at the The Second illustration… we are now members of the  household of God… we are not only
Think about this for a minute…  if God can accept everyone of us into His own family…  Then we ought to accept each other… 
Now look at the Third Illustration…. he says we're built together as a Holy temple… Paul goes from telling us that we are  in the kingdom… to being in the family… to being parts of the Temple of God… And he says in v20… that Jesus is the  chief cornerstone
What a beautiful unity we have in The Lord Jesus… In theory… The Lord is not finished with us yet… Why is Paul telling us all of this? So that the truth of God´s Word and the truth of our position in Christ… Will affect the way we live and the way we treat each other… Paul will tell us to walk worthy of our calling in Eph 4… v1…
Close
1 John 1: 1-10         NKJV  
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— 2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
Fellowship with Him and One Another

5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 1: 1-10            slt 2000
1 Was von Anfang war, was wir gehört haben, was wir mit unseren Augen gesehen haben, was wir angeschaut und was unsere Hände betastet haben vom Wort des Lebens
2 — und das Leben ist erschienen1, und wir haben gesehen und bezeugen und verkündigen euch das ewige Leben, das bei dem Vater war und uns erschienen ist —,
3 was wir gesehen und gehört haben, das verkündigen wir euch, damit auch ihr Gemeinschaft mit uns habt; und unsere Gemeinschaft ist mit dem Vater und mit seinem Sohn Jesus Christus.
4 Und dies schreiben wir euch, damit eure Freude vollkommen sei.
Wandel im Licht und Sündenvergebung
5 Und das ist die Botschaft, die wir von ihm gehört haben und euch verkündigen, daß Gott Licht ist und in ihm gar keine Finsternis ist.
6 Wenn wir sagen, daß wir Gemeinschaft mit ihm haben, und doch in der Finsternis wandeln2, so lügen wir und tun nicht die Wahrheit;
7 wenn wir aber im Licht wandeln, wie er im Licht ist, so haben wir Gemeinschaft miteinander, und das Blut Jesu Christi, seines Sohnes, reinigt uns von aller Sünde.
8 Wenn wir sagen, daß wir keine Sünde haben, so verführen wir uns selbst, und die Wahrheit ist nicht in uns.
9 Wenn wir aber unsere Sünden bekennen, so ist er treu und gerecht, daß er uns die Sünden vergibt und uns reinigt von aller Ungerechtigkeit.
10 Wenn wir sagen, daß wir nicht gesündigt haben, so machen wir ihn zum Lügner, und sein Wort ist nicht in uns.

Let's pray.