12/1/02 In Christ
Pastor Paul Gmitter
Discussion Guide
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Eph 2 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of
this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit
who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once
conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as
the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love
with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us
alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us
up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of
His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you
have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift
of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them. 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 joined 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. NKJV Alive / Works / Power – 4/3 / Heavenly – 5 / Walk – 8 / Love – 19 / Lord – 28 / Christ – 46 Moving
from being Sprit filled to being Spirit formed is the goal of the NT
Church. For you to be
successfully formed in Christ you must embrace your position in Christ.
Consider the significance or our position in Christ according to
Ephesians. If you can believe
the promise of your position you will be more able to believe for the
grace to properly practice Christian living. Chapters 1-3 speak of your position to build your faith for
it, and provide a healthy doctrinal construct for applying your beliefs.
1.
Faithful in Christ … I am able to abide 3.
Blessed with spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ…
I have access to the Lord and His eternal Kingdom…3 4.
Chosen… I am desired by the Lord for the purpose of relationship 5.
Adopted… God has made me His child 6.
Accepted in the Beloved… I am in a love relationship as His child 7. In Him we have redemption… I am bought
out of sin and a corrupted destiny 10.
Joined with others in Christ… I have a Kingdom based family 11.
Inheritance… I have received the inheritance of His righteousness 13.
Sealed by the Holy Spirit… My position is durable and not subject to my
behavioral wavering 2.5
made alive together… I have received a new source of life, and it is the
same source of life as others… We have become brethren 2.6
raised and seated in Christ… The resurrection power of the Lord has
impacted my life and I have a position of rest in Him 2.7
Kindness… God has shown me the ultimate kindness by giving me a costly
salvation at no charge 2.10 Created… The work of regeneration in my life has remade me …the faithful in Christ… from my position in Christ I am able to abide…1 In
My Family
Visiting my Family
In Christ 1.
Identity
with us. We are Gmitter’s
Not a Gmitter
A son 2.
Unconditional
Love
Cared for
unconditional love 3.
Beneficial
Purpose
Ministered to
Eternal purpose 4.
Parents
to train and raise the children
Not parented
Discipled by men 5.
Intimate
relationship
Less relationship
Relationship w/ God & man 6.
Siblings
Not one of the sibs
A Brother 7.
Home
Not home
Home In the Store
Eph 2 And you
He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, …AP
presents the primary
problem for man as being dead in sin and that is what the Ephesians
were until Christ. He is
reminding them of their position in Christ as raised from the dead in the
inner man. The power of God is manifested in the inner man commonly
before it is seen worked out in the life of the believer. I was dead and now I am alive is a statement about the
miraculous power of the Lord that changed my life.
Living for the Lord as opposed to living for self is conduct that
reflects the embracing of the position provided in Christ, as well as
receiving the power to walk it out, or having Christ formed in me.
We were dead in intended and unintended offences and sins but in
Christ we are righteous sons and daughters.
The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us.
2 in which you once walked according to the
course of this world, according
to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in
the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted
ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh
and of the mind, and were
by nature children of wrath, just as the others. The prince of the power
of the air is the primary influencer of the lost. They are referred to as the sons of disobedience or sons of
unbelief. Gal 1:2-5 … and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave
Himself for our sins, that
He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the
will of our God and Father…NKJV Before
the foundation of the world God prepared a plan to redeem us to walk after
the purposes of God as stated in verse 10.
This verse indicates both the transforming effect of the Gospel and
also the progressive effect. Walking
in good works in this life is the plan of the Lord and it requires access
to the new nature, power to walk in the new nature, and guidance in the
exercise and development of the new nature to bring it to maturity
. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His
great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses,
made us alive together
with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly
places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show
the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of
works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them. His
intent is to show to all the principalities and powers, as well as mankind
His unconditional love. 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.
In
Christ is the operative philosophy in the First half of Ephesians. The things provided to us by virtue of being found in Christ
are: Alive with Christ 2/5; sitting together in the heavenly places in
Christ 2/6; Kindness toward us in Christ 2/7; Recreated in Christ Jesus
for good works for us to walk in 2/10; Brought near by the blood of Christ
2/13; reconciled with former enemies in the Body of Christ 2/16; Access to
the Father by the Spirit 2/18; Joined together with others to grow into a
Holy Temple 2/21; A dwelling place for God 2/22.
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 joined 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. NKJV 1.1
Faithful in Christ
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