Human nature being what is, we tend to feel most comfortable with those who are most like us. The world in general expresses its racial intolerance and bigotry in conflicts at every level, from silent discrimination to outright war and apartheid. But God, in Christ, has torn down the racial wall that once divided us. The days of racial inequality are over. God showed Peter through this vision in Acts 10 and the conversion of Cornelius that He now accepted believing Gentiles into His fold just as much as He did believing Jews. There is no longer any distinction between Jew and Gentile. God’s people have one thing in common between them: they are related to one another through faith in Christ regardless of country, creed, culture, or color.
07 - United in Christ
Ephesians 2:11-22
March 26, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 2:11–22
More from
Ephesians
01 - Introduction: The Bride Body of Christ
February 5, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 1:1
The Book of Ephesians is written to Christians who have incredible spiritual riches available to them to survive and thrive but they fail to take advantage of it. They are in danger of suffering from spiritual malnutrition because they do not take advantage of the great storehouse of spiritual nourishment and resources that is at their disposal. Over the centuries, the Book of Ephesians has been given such titles as the “believer’s bank,” or the “Christian’s checkbook,” or the “treasure house of the Bible.” And that’s because it’s a letter, written by the apostle Paul, that informs Christians of their spiritual wealth; their great riches and their vast inheritance that is theirs in Christ.
02 - Predestined in Christ
February 12, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 1:1–6
Many people have a strong hostility to the doctrine of predestination. However, predestination is a biblical doctrine that must be understood biblically. It teaches that God predetermined in eternity past that certain individuals would be conformed to the likeness of His Son, be called, justified, and glorified. These individuals are referred to elsewhere in the Bible—in both the Old Testament and New Testament—as “the chosen” or “the elect.” Predestination, then, is the biblical doctrine that God in His sovereignty chooses certain individuals to be saved while leaving others to the eternal consequences they deserve.
03 - Redeemed in Christ
February 19, 2023 • Pastor Ronald H. Gann • Ephesians 1:7–10
“Redeeming love” is the theme of the Old Testament Book of Ruth, which tells the story of Ruth and her kinsman-redeemer, Boaz. It is also the theme of Ephesians 1:7-10. As if to reemphasize the greatness of all the spiritual blessings that he’s been expounding upon in Ephesians 1:1-6, not the least of which is that Christians have been predestined and called, the apostle Paul turns his attention to the theology of redemption and forgiveness, pointing to the blessing and work of the greatest Kinsman-Redeemer there is, Jesus Christ. The Lord is the greater Boaz who, by his law-keeping and sacrificial love, paid the price to redeem us; both Jews (such as Naomi) and Gentiles (like Ruth)—all who come to him for redemption.