Ephesians Chapter 2

“Amazing Peace”

In this lesson, I look forward to speaking with you about God’s Amazing Peace. A Peace that transcends all understanding. Last week we spoke of God’s Amazing Grace, and this week we will see that because of God’s Amazing Grace, we have access to this Amazing Peace found in the person of Jesus Christ.

Last week we sought to:

· encourage and challenge us to move out of our comfort zone in our walk with Jesus.

· see the greatness and goodness of God as demonstrated by His love for us and His grace and mercy in Christ Jesus.

Only one objective in this lesson:

· make it a priority to Seek Jesus, Pursue Jesus, and find His Peace

Here are couple of questions we’ll look at today:

· What Does It Mean To Be “In Christ.”

· What Is A “Peace That Transcends All Understanding,” And How Do We Get It?

When we think of a ‘Peace That Transcends All Understanding’ it seems hard to understand. It does not seem possible for our finite minds to grasp the infinite. On the other hand, how many of you have experienced this peace that transcends all understanding? If I were to characterize my walk with Christ and what he has done for me, it would be summed up in one word: Peace. We’ll talk more about that in a couple of minutes.

I’m sure most of you recall the homework assignment from the last lesson – to memorize and meditate on the most famous verses of Ephesians…verses 8-10 of Chapter 2. Hopefully, you have done this and had some time for meditation and prayer for these powerful words have much to say. It reminds me of Peter’s words:

· 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV) But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared (be ready) to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

But do this with gentleness and respect. Our hope, our only hope, is in Jesus…because of God’s hand and his grace and mercy, we have access to this hope.

One in Christ

· Ephesians 2:11-13 (NIV) 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.

· Ephesians 2:14-18 (NIV) For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

· Ephesians 2:19-22 (NIV) Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

· 1 Corinthians 3:4 For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men

· 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames

In man’s wisdom, we have created Baptist, Methodist, Episcopal, Presbyterian EPC, USA, etc….man’s inventions. Of course the day is near that we will all be united under one God by the blood of Jesus and His work on the cross…there will be only one church, with Christ as the head, all to the Glory of God....our faith does not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

· 1 Cor. 2:1-5 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone that holds the church together, and the capstone…the beginning and the end.

In Christ

· John 15:5-12 (NIV) 5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. 8This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. 9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

· Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Peace

· Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

· Psalm 37:37-39 (NIV) 37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace. 38 But all sinners will be destroyed; the future of the wicked will be cut off. 39 The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.

· Psalm 85:8-10 (NIV) 8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. 10 Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.

· Proverbs 14:30 (NIV) 30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.

This ‘heart of peace’ reminds me of David’s cry to ‘create in me a pure heart, O Lord.’ (Ps. 51:10) When you have the peace of Jesus in your heart, you have life…life eternal.

· Isaiah 9:6 (NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

· Isaiah 9:7 (NIV) 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

Ever increasing peace …infinite….and we have access to it by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ.

· Isaiah 26:3-4 (NIV) You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

· Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Trust & Obey... Trust in Jesus, Find His Peace.

· Isaiah 48:22 (NIV) 22 "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked."

· Isaiah 53:5 (NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Because of the sacrifice of Jesus and His work on the cross, we can have peace…a real peace only found in Jesus….by his wounds we have been healed….because of what he has done, we can be credited with righteousness, our sins can be washed away, from scarlet to white as snow.

· Isaiah 57:2 (NIV) Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

A friend who died recently shared with his friends in his last few days before he went to meet with Jesus…he truly was a picture of the peace that transcends all understanding…and he gave that peace to us.

· Matthew 10:11-13 (NIV) "Whatever town or village you enter, search for some worthy person there and stay at his house until you leave. 12As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you

· John 14:27 (NIV) Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid

· John 16:33 (NIV) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

· 1 Peter 3:11 (NIV) He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

Simple formula: do good, seek peace (Jesus), pursue peace (Jesus)…seek and you shall find.

Two important points to remember:

· Always be ready to give an account

· Seek Jesus, Pursue Jesus, find His Peace

Ephesians 2 – Recap - Saved by Grace

The big takeaways from Chapter 2 of Ephesians:

· unmerited favor – receiving something we don’t deserve – which God freely does for us and we are unable to do for ourselves - we can not work or earn our way to heaven

· created In Christ Jesus to do good works…prepared in advance

· be about looking for opportunities to do good works for the kingdom…be available

· we are united in Jesus

· Jesus is the foundation of everything we do…he is the cornerstone that holds the body together…he is the capstone…the beginning and the end…it is only in Jesus that the church will find unity and be unified.

· seek Jesus, pursue Jesus, find His Peace

Our only objective for today…when we leave here today, that we would be a people who seek Jesus and we will find his peace