Amazing Grace A people of power Ephesians 2

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! Ephesians 2: 11 -22

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! w what we were – 5 big Ds w what we are – 3 big As w how did we get from where we were to where we now are? w God and grace made the difference w don’t forget what you were / and are

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 11 -12 w ‘remember’ – how could we forget? w we didn’t know the Lord w we were living on another planet w we were outside the covenant w we had no hope in our hearts w we were without God

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 13 w ‘far away … brought near’ w Jesus made the difference! Near, so very near to God, Nearer I cannot be; For in the person of his Son, I am as near as he.

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 14 -18 w he procured peace for us w he proclaimed peace to us w he personified peace w in Christ alone we have peace w the greatest peace mission in history

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 19 -22 w ‘Consequently …’ w we belong to God’s people (19 a) w we’re members of God’s family (19 b) w we are the building of God (20), and w the temple of the living God (21 -22)

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w the identity of the church w the church as a building w the church as a body (4) w the church as a bride (5) w figures of the fellowship

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w a building – uniqueness – Christ is the foundation / cornerstone w a body – unity – Christ is the head w a bride – union – Christ is the groom

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w a body – thought of manifestation – to reveal the personality of Christ w a bride – thought of glorification – a special moment in heaven w a building – thought of habitation – the place where God dwells

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w its prominence … w 1 Corinthians 3: 11 -15 w 1 Corinthians 6: 19 -20 w 1 Timothy 3: 15 w 1 Peter 2: 5

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w its performance … w only one foundation w ‘apostles’ – special God-sent people w ‘prophets’ – foretelling / forth-telling w ‘Jesus Christ’ – rest / rely on him

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w its perfection … w walk around the building – what should be our main impression? w holiness should be the hallmark – the landmark – and the benchmark

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w its preciousness … w it is ‘joined together’ w it ‘rises’ w THEN ‘. . . in him you too …’ w the church under construction w it will go on until the work is finished

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w its preciousness … w we are ‘living stones’ w related to the foundation stone w related to the cornerstone w related to all the other stones

Amazing Grace. . . A people of power! 2: 20 -22 w how does it all happen? w by choice – he selects us w no two stones are the same w there is preparation and shaping w don’t forget what you were … and don’t forget what you now are

Amazing Grace. . . We are labourers on God’s global building site!