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From Far to Near by the Blood (Ephesians 2:11-13 - Pt. 2)

October 21, 2018 Preacher: Bob DeWaay Series: Ephesians

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-13

We continue to explain why the powerful change God made in our lives must be remembered and appreciated. This message deals with what it meant to be without hope and without God. True hope is in the promises of God given in the OT and now applied to us through the person and work of Christ. As Israel was reminded of God’s mighty deeds so that they would not go back, we are to remember God’s mighty work of grace that changed us. We were strangers and aliens to the Messianic promises. God’s covenants were through Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and David and spoken of in the Prophets. Gentiles were “strangers” to these but by God’s grace through the gospel some have been brought into the benefits of a covenant relationship with God. Before we literally had no hope. Hope is not based on feelings and circumstances, but on the promises of God who cannot lie. This is objective hope and not based on feelings or circumstances.

We also discuss Paul’s use of the term from which we get the word “atheist.” We were without God. The Gentiles in Asia Minor had deities, but none had the essential attributes of God. This sermon discusses how “near” and “far” in passages like this are relational terms and not geographical. Any who call on the name of the Lord through Christ will be saved and brought “near.” God is omnipresent but those who do not serve Him are “far away” and lost. Believers have been rescued from this condition by the blood of Christ. We present the gospel and call people to believe on Him and be saved.

Sermon handout and slides are available under the Downloads tab.