Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
Through Christ, God has broken down the walls of division and brought us together as one family, emphasizing the importance of unity and reconciliation in our faith journey.
Good morning, family! Today, we're going to explore a scripture from Ephesians that unpacks God's plan to unite us all as one. This is truly a message of hope and unity, that shows God's unifying power through the Gospel and His desire for us to live as one in His family.
The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, emphasizes that reconciliation is not just a concept or an idea, but a divine plan orchestrated by God Himself. It is a plan that has been in motion since the beginning of time, a plan that was fulfilled through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Ephesians 2:11-21: Paul reminds the Gentiles of their previous state of alienation from God. They were once separated from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. They were without hope and without God in the world. This paints a bleak picture of a life without Christ, a life marked by division, hostility, and hopelessness. But God, in His infinite mercy and love, had a plan for reconciliation.
Not limited to a particular group of people: It is inclusive, encompassing all of humanity. Paul states that through Christ, those who were once far off have been brought near. This is a powerful image of God's reconciling power, breaking down barriers and uniting people from diverse backgrounds into one family.
Not just about bringing us back to Him: It’s also about reconciling us with each other. Paul writes that Christ is our peace, and in His flesh, He has made both groups into one, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility. This is a profound statement about the transformative power of the Gospel. Through Christ, God has not only reconciled us to Himself but also reconciled us to each other, breaking down the walls of division and hostility that separate us.
Not a passive process, but an active one: It requires us to actively participate in God's plan, to accept His offer of reconciliation, and to live out this reconciliation in our daily lives. It requires us to let go of our prejudices, our biases, and our hostility towards each other, and to embrace each other as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Implications for our identity: In Christ, we are no longer aliens or strangers, but members of God's family. This new identity transcends our earthly identities and unites us as one in Christ. It gives us a new perspective on our relationships with each other, a perspective marked by love, unity, and peace.
A message of hope: It is a message that assures us that no matter how far we have strayed, no matter how deep our divisions, God has a plan to bring us back to Him and to each other. It is a message that reminds us of the power of the Gospel to transform lives, to break down walls, and to unite us as one in Christ.
The unifying power of the Gospel is the idea that the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, has the power to bring together people from all walks of life, breaking down barriers of race, culture, and social status ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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