Text: Ephesians 2:11-13 (NIV) 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)– 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
Main Idea: Every present and future spiritual benefit that is ours was purchased by His blood.
“Remember” There was a time when we were separate from Christ.
“But now”
Instead of being separate from Christ we have been made one with Christ.
Instead of excluded from citizenship in Israel, we have become citizens of heaven.
Instead of foreigners to the Old Covenant promises, we have become heirs of the New Covenant which, according to Hebrews 8:6 has even better promises.
• Under the Old Covenant there were blessings for obeying and curses if you did not. Under the new we have received every spiritual blessing and have no threat of being cursed for our failures. Galatians 3:13 “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’”
“Brought near” Nearness has its benefits. We thank Him for His sacrifice, and we thank Him for the benefits we have received because of it. What are some of those benefits?
I. Truth.
1 John 2:27 “as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in Him.”
• If you want proof that there is life after death, just look in the mirror. Ephesians 2:4-5 says when we were dead, He made us alive in Christ.
• The new life is a life that the indwelling Spirit of God renews day by day and it is exactly the life we will have in the next one – minus this body, minus the flesh, minus the world, minus sin and the evil one’s influence.
II. Qualification.
Colossians 1:12 He has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.
• Our sin indictments were nailed to the cross and His blood washed away every “count” against me.
But he did more than forgive me for failing to keep His Law. He arranged it so I am regarded before God as having done all the Law required. (Matthew 5:17; Romans 8:4)
III. Fellowship of the Spirit.
John 17:23 – “that they may be one as we are one.”
• The fullest and purest expression of this prayer will be when we are with the Lord. But we have foretastes of it here.
IV. Adoption
Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
· New Living Translation “God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.”
· The saints we see daily and weekly are also Your work, Your miracles, Your majestic ones, Your beloved ones.
V. Everlasting and Unchanging Love
When my wife and I receive from each other a greeting card that just “says it all” and is especially touching, we say, “Oh, you’ve got to certify this one!” So, the person who gave the card will write “certified” on the card, meaning, “Yes! I meant exactly what it says.” If we come across the card in the future, we may ask each other if it still true and have it “recertified.”
Throughout the history of man, God has communicated His love for us through various means, but when Jesus was crucified, God wrote “certified” on the cross. The cross is God’s certification that He meant everything He has said about His love for us and His desire to be connected with each one of us eternally.
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