How Far Have We Gone With Christ? Series

Ephesians 2:11-13 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)... 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (NIV)

What is your Past, Present and Future?

Our Past!

1. We were Separated from Christ.

For every Gentile there was no messianic hope of a Savior for there was no unity between Jews and Gentiles.

Romans 9:5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. (NIV)

2. We were excluded from citizenship in Israel.

There were many Spiritual advantages to being a Jew.

John 4:22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. (NIV)

3. We were without Hope!

True hope can be based only on a true promise: Hope is a profound blessing that gives meaning and security to life.

Psalm 146:5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God. (NIV)

Psalm 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord GOD; You are my trust from my youth. (NKJV)

4. We were without God!

The problem was not that the Gentiles had no god but that they did not have the true God.

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.(NIV)

John 14:6 I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (NIV)

Our Present and Future!

1. BUT NOW GOD!

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. (NIV)

Philippians 3:20-21 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (NIV)

REMEMBER! REMEMBER! REMEMBER!