Intimate Series

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Possible Intro:

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The pandemic and our nation’s value of rugged individualism have wreaked havoc in our lives - more than we realize.

?I was listening to a podcast this week that contained a conversation between Russel Moore and Sam Alberry. Both are believers and apologists. Both attend church in the Nashville. Among the many things they discussed, the effects of the pandemic came into the conversation. They noted that the isolation, the comfort with being alone, the seclusion of the pandemic has both forced us into our own echo chambers where we only hear the voices that agree with us - and has created divisions in our culture that seem to only be expanding.

Some people have faced mental and emotional breakdowns and turmoil. Others have turned to unhealthy outlets.

Our society seems to only be able to promote solutions that cater to one side of a debate, but don’t allow for healthy conversations.

Contempt and Cancelation have become key words.

And yet, I believe that God has given us, in the beautiful design of the community that we call church, an environment in which we can flourish - if we’ll only make space to do things God’s way.

As we continue our look at biblical community and a cursory glance through the book of Ephesians - we’re reflecting on what Biblical community is and how it operates. I think one value of biblical community that was hindered by the pandemic (I know that’s been over for a while - but I believe it’s affects are lingering) and our individualistic society is intimacy. There is a nearness into which we’ve been called - if we will embrace it.

Before we dive into the intimacy that should mark us, I want us to briefly consider the foundation upon which our community is based.

In the first several chapters of the book of Ephesians, Paul communicates several “indicatives” or things that are true about God’s people. As I read through the first three chapters, I came across these 27 indicatives of believers - things that are true about us because of what Christ has done for us:

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blessed (Eph. 1:3)

chosen (Eph. 1:4)

be(come) holy and blameless (Eph. 1:4)

Predestined (Eph. 1:5, 11

Adopted (Eph. 1:5)

redemption/forgiveness (Eph. 1:7)

inheritance (Eph. 1:11)

sealed (Eph. 1:13)

enlightened (Eph. 1:18)

recipients of God’s kindness (Eph. 1:19-20)

formerly dead (Eph. 2:1-3)

alive with Christ (Eph. 2:5)

raised (resurrected?) (Eph. 2:6)

Seated with Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6)

saved by grace through faith (Eph. 1:8-9)

handiwork/workmanship of God (Eph. 1:10)

brought near (Eph. 2:13)

one with other believers (Eph. 2:14)

one new humanity (Eph. 2:15)

hearers of peace (Eph. 2:17)

formerly aliens - now citizens (Eph. 2:19)

formerly aliens - now family/household (Eph. 2:19)

holy temple - with other believers (Eph. 2:20-21)

progressive realization of tabernacle/dwelling (Eph. 2:22)

fellow heirs (Eph. 3:6)

boldness (Eph. 3:12)

access (Eph. 2:12)

I admit that I may have missed some, but there are a lot of things that are true about God’s people - because of God’s grace through Jesus Christ.

I pray that we are encouraged by what Scripture reveals.

But then, as we come to the text that we’re looking at today, Paul makes a turn from indicatives to imperatives. In other words, since these things are true about us, we get to do the following.

Ephesians 4:1–3 ESV

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Because of all that we have in Christ, we are called to...

Walk worthily

Now Paul is not talking about our gait or strut, but our way of life. Now there are a couple of things to recognize.

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First of all

We can’t do anything to earn our salvation

Eph. 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

For those who’ve been a part of the church for a long time, this is nothing new - but for those who may be new to the idea of church and salvation - you can’t earn your salvation by doing anything, except...

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Recognize your sinful condition

- being fully separated from God because of our sin

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Acknowledge that the only way to fully pay for your sin is through death

Your death - which results in eternal punishment, (Hebrews 9:22 “Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”) or...