​Thru Ephesians
Ephesians 6:10-20; John 6:56-69

Friends, today Paul brings his letter to conclusion after he extensively talked about the plan of God when he adopted believers through Christ Jesus. Also, he talked about unity of the church and the reciprocal relationship between a husband and wife, children and parents and slaves and masters as something exemplified by Jesus. Paul's exposition was for Ephesians and every Christian to grasp how wide, how high, and how deep is the love of God toward them. Paul prays that Ephesians gained such wisdom so that they are filled with the fullness of God and in return they could come to the knowledge that surpasses all understanding of this world (Ephesians 3:18-19).
In conclusion, Paul instructs the believers to, finally, sink into God's armor.  He needed Ephesians clothed, and be clothed by God's might as they continue living their lives. He understands that when believers live in the presence of God, they will have strength and are able to make a stand against "μεθοδείας" the deceit of the devil that falsely accuses them. The Greek 'methedias' refers to a process where someone employs methods, craftiness, and schemes to deceive, or falsely accuse the other. This means, Christians must stand watchful and beware of the deceitful methods of the devil.
Paul used basic objects and customs familiar to Ephesians. Elsewhere, he highlighted the idea of Christian struggle using theatrical practice where giants wrestled with animals or compete in a sport. He pictures a Christian running a race as in the Olympic race. The Greco-Roman world is known for dangerous sports. During Paul's time, the sportsmen were highly celebrated and revered. Their sweat would be collected in small bottles and sold to the fans. Paul also brings to mind the custom of a Roman Soldier. Everyone was familiar with the Roman soldiers as the could be seen everywhere. When Paul wrote Ephesians and Colossians, he was chained in the Roman prison. So many people believed that Paul might have been looking at a Roman guard with his full armor when he described the spiritual armor for Christians.  
It is Paul's routine to interpret objects and add spiritual meaning to them. He had walked in their streets and was able to observe their various objects. In Corinth Paul saw an altar of an unknown god among the gods of Athens and declared that their unknown god, is Christ whom he was preaching (Acts 17:22-23).
Now Paul urged believers to sink-in and clothe themselves with the armor of God. He knew that wrestlers, guards, soldiers, and sportsmen, needed to equip themselves with the materials best for action and protection. The armor is used to protect, defend, and attack the challenger. The scripture encourages Christians to put on the armor and be clothed with it at all times, because we are WRESTLING with unseen forces. We are fighting against the competing forces of heaven and of this world.
Christian believers struggling against the forces of wickedness and the ideas that dare to darken our hearts. We wrestle to [ Πάλη]—sway away deceptions of Satan that use our weakness to create idols of our own. Israelites were tempted to create their own god, even if they were led by Yahweh in the desert. Satan doesn't sleep on tempting the people of God.
As Billy Graham said, "Our idols are not statues of gold and marble; our idols come from the things we love the most." For our struggle is not with objects that have physical appearances. Neither with humans, nor with animals, rather with spiritual forces.  We can defeat evil by faith and by the strength that God is giving us but not on our own (Zechariah 4:6).
"The cosmic purpose of God involves the believer with the spiritual hierarchy of the unseen world organized under the power of Satan" (George E. Harper). Therefore, arming Christians for spiritual war is the best means to stay fit. The schemes and wiles of the devil as NRSV translates, are the strategies designed by the devil on how to destroy the Christian faith. It is the tactics to fool and trap a Christian believer.
Originally, Paul was referring to Greek and Roman mythological gods and their theories of unseen power and creations of heaven. There were multiple classifications of demon and cosmic gods in that Roman world. Due to these beliefs, first century Christians were squeezed from every side between the Greek and Romans gods, philosophers, and Judaism. 
Paul was aware of many methods Satan utilizes to hinder the work of the gospel and Christian growth. He once said to the Thessalonians how he wanted to visit them, but Satan has blocked his way (1 Thessalonians 2:18). He understands that Satan can breakdown the most intimate relationships even by employing an idea that seems are for spiritual purposes (1 Corinthians 7:5). He believes that the devil could even take the form of an angel and lead believers away from the truth of God (2 Corinthians 11:3,14)."
Stand firm, therefore, that you can foil all the secrets and the whole enterprise of the devil from succeeding among yourselves. Stand firm against the cunning manner of the system of this world. Be strong in the faith and understand secrets and plans behind the acts of many around you. In this world, there are many gods, as Paul says, and we are wrestling against them as we live our lives as Christians. If any Christian does not believe in the force of darkness, we can assume that person is wired with the deceit because scripture has proven the existence of forces of this world.
You can ask why someone would plot the killing of his fellow human. Or what is behind placing a bomb that would slay many innocent people? Why people die by suicide? Why would friends lure their best buddies to alcohol and substance abuse?  There are substances in the form of "bath salts," some called "K-2," and "spice." Why are such systems and business in place? They form deceptions and aim to destroy human lives. Friends know that the power of darkness has been put in place in different forms and methods to numb minds, to destroy and lead people from leading a normal life or from faith.
 Paul said, "Stand therefor."  This means we are not called on to attack, rather Christians are called to stay alert and pay attention, to foil every deceit and scheme of the devil when it hits hard—" in the days of crisis."  We do not know when it hits, when he deploys the attack, but we are reminded to be watchful yet sink in God's armor.
We remain watchful, and as KJV translates, "having your loins girt about with truth." First thing that braces and gives a warrior a good grip of weapons is the belt.  The Belt is part of the armor that holds together everything. Spiritually, is knowing the truth of God.  Jesus said, knowing the truth will set free a believing Christian (John 8:32). Truth is hard but when believers come to the full knowledge of God, they will disregard self-doubt and be honest in their Christian living. This will foil the deceit of the devil that falsifies everything about God and Christ.
"Cover your chest with the breastplate of Righteousness." Your upper body is the center of your living. It's where your heart, your lung, your liver and your kidneys are stationed. This encourages a believer to use the large portion of the armor and cover the most vulnerable place of your body with righteousness of Jesus Christ. Stay protected while continuing in journey of sanctification through the power of the Holy Spirit.
We cannot be righteous in our own doing, "all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6). But "Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor"(Proverbs 21:2); "For the righteous will never be moved; they will be remembered forever" (Psalm 112:6). Jesus encourages his followers to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given " (Matthew 6:33). Christ Jesus our source of "righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Righteousness is Tsedeq in Hebrew and means the right thing of God; the holiness that God has bestowed on his followers through the blood of Christ.  It’s the conformity toward the demands of believers. This calls on us to open ourselves to God as we are made right with the Lord. To be right with God is to submit to God's whole authority.
Put on Shoes for the Gospel of peace and be ready to proclaim the gospel of love and peace toward harmony. We are called to imitate Christ in his calling. "The possession of the good news of the gospel involves the obligation to share it. That which is divinely given must be humanly passed on. Jesus Christ needs us to be the hands and feet and lips which will bring his gospel to those who have never heard it." --William Barclay. Isaiah saw this a long time ago and said, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger who announces peace, who brings good news, who announces salvation" (Isaiah 52:7).  
Remember to shield yourself with faith to "quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one." Shield yourselves from the dividing languages, media schemes, and false theories as we try to bring back our unity and our dignity. Hold tight to your shield to dispel invisible deceits of the devil that come from all directions.
Take the helmet of salvation to protect our heads from flying objects.  Be knowledgeable about your redemption. You are rescued from destruction to a new life with God. Nothing can be added to secure our salvation, but only Christ's salvific work which we receive by faith alone. We need caution to protect from doubts and sinning as we are reminded of the salvation of God. Keep your mind free from evil thoughts and set your mind on the cross (Colossians 3:1)
Last, but not the least, hold on to the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Now you have the weapon, and your armor is complete.  Jesus defeated the devil and halt the cunning persuasion of the devil by quoting the Bible saying, "it is written" (Matthew 4).  This does not mean that you must read scripture from cover to cover or know the Bible entirely. However, scripture instructs us to be knowledgeable of the best tool to fight against the false schemes of the devil during your time of crisis.  “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
No wonder the book of Ephesians is the most theological among the epistles of Paul. The knowledge of God and the necessity of the outfit is described in a fashionable way. How can we resist this Brand name. World's renowned designers cannot design this armor in its detailed manner. We are all required to obtain it because lacking to have one, a Christian person is naked, walking barefoot, no belt, bare-headed and empty chest and helpless when attacked.
Scripture urges us to always pray in the Spirit in every form of prayer and supplications.  It is as if Paul is saying to you and myself today, that polish your armor with all kinds of prayers in all seasons. Pray when you persevere, when you are discouraged and when things and everyone around you seems to have gone away. Above all, remember everyone in your prayers, because your intercession helps strengthen your brothers and sisters in their struggle.
Let us draw near to Jesus the source of our lives because without him we are lost and powerless (John 6:56-69). Amen!

Ephesians 17- 32; Exodus 16:9-16

Welcome back to our sermon series thru Ephesians. We are left with one week to conclude our discovery theme.  Paul claims, as we heard last Sunday, that God has planned to make peace and create one new humanity in place of the two and would do this in the body of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:14-15). He managed to unify the dividing humanity by tearing down the wall of hostility among them and bring peace and harmony.  God fulfilled his promise through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.   
 
Now in chapters four through five, Paul encourages the Ephesians to be mindful of their calling and take the responsibility Christ has given them when he ascended to heaven. He called on the new converts to abandon the previous way of life and begin to exercise their newness. If the church wanted to survive and carry on the task of the gospel, it should remain united, pray for one another, and break from the past so that they bring about the needed reconciliation and unity with God and one another.
Regarding the gifts, Paul claimed that Christ did not leave the church emptyhanded. He believed that Ephesian are rich in gifts to maintain the unity and continue the work entrusted to them.
Paul said, “Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming.  Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Eph 4:11-15).
Few things remain true in this passage as we have been learning from this book of Ephesians. Many converts from Ephesus, Colossae and throughout the province of Asia minor, were saved from temples and handful of them were priests, priestess, and temple attendants. They used to worship other gods.
In Ephesus, many of them were followers of Artemis, goddess of fertility. It was a custom for Men and Women to go seek fertility from the goddess when they fail to bear children. They would go and lay with priestess and priests, believing that they would be made fertile after such encounter and able to bear children. There was no shame but was considered part of worship practice. Taking someone's belongings in public bathing places was widespread and people are known to fail to tell the truth. There was so much bragging as the society rallied around sports. As the church grows, as we have learned in many epistles, there was constant conflicts, disagreements and even quarrelling on how to deal with the matters of faith and the church.
As we can imagine, believers were filled with countless questions and looking for answers. We've left temple worship, now what? What shall we eat and not eat? What laws shall we keep? etc. The question remains how to live as Christians, how to worship, and how to maintain such changes. There were also more critical issues the new converts had to deal with. Sadly, there were no established church institutions, let alone denominations like in our time today.
The church, then and now remains thankful for the gift of Paul.  He remained a resourceful person in those hard times, and his letters had given better guidance for the new converts.
In his responses, Paul said new converts “must no longer live as the Gentiles live in the futility of their minds.” This is because, even if what there is to be known about God has been disclosed to them, Gentiles chose to darken their own understanding, harden their hearts and their ignorance had alienated them from God. As a result, they gave themselves over to dissolution and lost all sensitivity of life. Paul went on and warned the new converts to avoid bragging and deceptions to transitioned into the new way of living. They do so by getting rid themselves "of all such things because that is not the way you learned Christ! (Eph. 4:20; Colossians 3:7-10).
As William Barclay said, “Paul has dealt with the great and eternal truths of the Christian faith, and with the function of the Church in the plan of God. Now he begins to sketch what each member of the Church must be if the Church is to carry out her part in that plan.”   
 Paul reminds Ephesians the purpose of their calling and now must discover their new way of life in their new selves " created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:23-24).
Paul took a universal norm where, when a person is initiated into certain group, or decides to join a different society, such a person is mandated to oblige with the way of life such a society requires of them. Otherwise, as William Barclay says, if such a person fails that obligation and hinders the aim, such failure brings discredit on the name of the group. Paul tells the Ephesians the kind of life they must follow when they become Christians and experience the new life in the church of Christ.
I am reminded of the initiation ceremony of the tradition of the Anuak people and other African tribes. Among the Nuer tribes in Ethiopia and South Sudan, when a young man's face is cut with six marks both sides (twelve in total), that young man becomes a full man, earning "manhood" as soon as the initiation is completed. This practice was/is done without any anesthesia. The boy would be expected not to cry, shed tears, and even move his body during the procedure. It's hurting and blood keep pouring as the tip of the knife goes deep to the skin.
Also, when a group of the Anyuwaa young men are sprinkled with oil, they would be required to obtain a new name, vowed to achieve a goal. For example, the group would commit to catch a young lion by hand, or a tiger, or an elephant etc. and bring the young animal home alive. They would abide by certain terms. Failure to achieve such goal would discredit the family and was a disgrace to the village.  
All these remind us of how people leave a form of life and commit to lead a new way of living. Paul calls on Christians then and now to “put on the new self (Colossians 3:10). This new life is not easy to tend to. It requires leaving behind something dear to us in our previous life. It's painful and hard to follow but we're encouraged to attain to, like the Nuer boys and the Anuak young groups strive to fulfill the demand of initiation. Yes, Christ has accomplished the salvific act on the cross. The new living requirement does not add to our salvation, rather fulfils the purpose of unity as we imitate Christ Jesus.
As a new group seeking to build up itself, Paul encourages Ephesians to put forth Christian virtues to avoid separation and dissension in the church of Christ. That the Christian church must cloth itself with the newness and get rid of their old humanity, which was subject to rage, falsehood, anger, theft, etc. 
For Paul, what is required of Christians and the Christian church, first, is the virtue of humility. Humility is the most important aspect of faith, that they obtain from Jesus himself. It's about giving way to God to work through us, in us and with us. It is the virtue by which we are made conscious and acknowledge our calling.  It describes a course of action where a person looks to oneself see where one has fallen short and needs to give way to progress. "True humility comes when we ace ourselves and see our weakness, our selfishness, our failure in work and in personal relationship and in achievement," William Barclay. Humility also is echoing our dependency on God in whom we now have hope (Ephesians 2:12).
 Paul added on saying, a Christian person must be gentle. The Greek term for "gentle” is being domesticated. This refers to an animal that has been trained and comes under control of the owner. Americans would understand Paul's intention in using their verb because Americans are good at this. They train their dogs to sit, dance, roll and even jump. Paul says a person in a Christian church must not only be self-controlled but be domesticated by God and listen to the instructions of the Lord. Christians must exercise patience as we continue to explore and learn from and about one another. We learn patience from Christ himself as we are called to faith (1 Timothy 1:16. For the church to survive and continue in the work of gospel, such virtues are important to keep for the sake of the unity. Paul said because Christians are called to "one hope, one body, one faith, one baptism and one God" (4:4).
Lastly, Ephesians and the Christian Church must exercise agape—a love that does not depend on anything less than putting others before us. "Agape, is that quality of mind and heart which compels a Christian never to feel any bitterness, never to feel any desire for revenge, but always to seek the highest good of every [person] no matter what he may be." William Barclay
Friends, Paul encourages us today as he urged the Ephesians to clothe ourselves with truth, speak tenderly to our neighbors and put away falsehood. That everyone should strive to work to have something to share with the needy.
Paul addressed theft, immorality, falsehood, etc. in this passage because they were practiced in the Greco-Roman world, and Paul knew that such way of life was not healthy for the new body.  For example, stealing was a major problem in the Roman bathing places. Clothes and sandals were grabbed without any excuses. 
Now even if we do not exercise the 1st century practices, scripture reminds us of our weaknesses and be mindful of such flaws as might lead us astray and not attain our Christian living. Paul encourages his readers to change such habits and live as they were taught. He urged Ephesians to make Christ's love and Christian virtues spring from their hearts to prefect the church of Christ.  
We are encouraged to listen and be patient with one another and maintain right anger, because the anger of a Christian person does not produce the righteousness of God (James 1:20 ESV). Let this be clear. Paul does not deny anger. It is something we are born with.
However, anger must not define us, and we should not be overflowed with it. Rather, we must get rid of bitterness and resentment and clothe ourselves with patience, gentleness, humility and choose to discuss and not let the anger last forever.
In doing so, we discover our Christian living in our mutual understanding.  As one body, we are encouraged to take care of the body as we take care of ourselves. The love of Christ to the church is compared to a love between a husband and wife. That Christians should love one another dearly; “For no one ever hates his own body, but he nourishes and tenderly cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, because we are members of his body (Eph. 5:29-30)
We can only succeed in our Christian living by committing to prayer, and we are asked to keep praying. I also leave you with Paul's prayer when he tells them in his letter saying, "I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19
Friends, Christ has left us a great gift to sustain our unity and enrich our Christian living. Let us utilize such virtues as we continue to live our lives in the Church of Christ. Let us "BE kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven us" (Eph4: 32). Amen!
​

Thru Ephesians: a sermon series
Ephesians 2:11-22; Jeremiah 23:1-6
We are now in our third week into our sermon series through the book of Ephesians. So far, we talked about discovering God's Plan and Purpose in our redemption, our union in Christ; and finding life through dying to self, as Christ exemplified by his death and resurrection.  
   Last Sunday, we concluded our sermon with Scripture exhortation to live our new life as we are called; a life filled with conscious understanding of the love of God. The life that discerns the love of God as his fullness fills in us.  We were reminded of our secret co-existent nature with Christ. In that, through God's unyielding love, believers have constant fillings and never run out of hope, strength, and gratitude even in their state of fragility. We are called to experience and exercise "True love" like those in the Kingdom of Arendelle where everyone was giving space to exercise their true selves including Olaf the Snowman (Frozen).
   Picking up from where we left off last Sunday, we will now move on to the last passage of chapter two and the beginning of chapter three. In this chapter, Paul makes a dramatic turn of discourse. In chapter one and half of chapter two, Paul's emphasis has been to layout the relationship between God and humankind. He spoke of redemption and God's love that is beyond comprehension. He states that believers have received the immense blessings and God's gracious richness of heaven (1:3, 17). Paul maintains a better description of the vertical actions of God and expectations of believers to praise and glorify him. 
   Now Paul turns the table to the horizontal trend as the outcome and the fruits of the vertical actions of God. It is to say that after God had finished the first chapter and created relationship through adoption, he has now come to express the purpose of such actions.  Paul reminded Ephesians once again; that they were dead and were far away from the knowledge of God's promise. However, through Christ, they were brought near and called children of God. “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 3:6
  The promise of the physical sign of covenant through circumcision has now ceased and been replaced. And in this later day, God makes universal Covenant through the Cross, fulfilled in Christ, and effective only through faith. The work of the cross was accomplished in the blood of Jesus Christ and has brought oneness and formed a new humanity in Christ. This was the divine plan! God's eternal purpose was to "create in himself one new humanity" through the blood of Christ (v.14-15)
   God's initiative has brought down the wall of hostility. In this new assembly, the old humanity has no place. God himself has desired to create a renewed assembly in the body of Jesus Christ. Thus, "it is Jesus' death that brings down the "dividing wall, that is, the hostility between Jew and Gentile" and that enables the creation of "one new humanity."
   This passage describes ways in which the new life of believers differs from their old life (Richard Cousar):

1. Their identity has radically changed—to new self and new life in Christ.
2. Their alignments and loyalties are new—of God through Christ but not of the dividing world and worldly manners.
3. The destruction of the dividing wall has created a new era—where God becomes One and present in all and every one of us.
4. The death of Christ brought about a new situation for humankind—of peace, mutual understanding, and unity.

   We discover our unity and treasure our diversity as we reflect on what Christ has done on the cross. In his three years' ministry on earth, Christ preached peace, salvation, and unity as the essence and attributes of the Kingdom of God. Christ formed the church where he remains solely the head and the foundation. This also has been demonstrated in the Holy Communion where countless grains are made into one bread and many grapes are mingled into a cup. As Paul states, " though we are many, we’ve all been mingled into one body in Christ. This means that we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others" (Romans 12:15). The bread and grape juice represent our oneness and seamless unity as one body despite the color of our skins or geographical divides.
   What unites us is bigger and more real than whatever divides us. We are divided over who makes Good Pizza. Between the giant New York Pizza with no topping and Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. We are divided over how we call soft drinks whether it is Soda or popes (as BodoJwok would always refer to diet Pepsi as white Soda). We are divided between the coasts. We treat ourselves as the left and the right, republicans, and democrats or maybe those in between. But at the end of the day, we are all members of God's family. We all showed up on funerals and experience sympathy over indecent treatment of others.   
   Today as Presbyterians, we are observing this Sunday as Mathew 25 and Criminal Justice Sunday and in the Spirit of MLK's Birthday, the social justice icon. Today many Presbyterian pastors will be preaching on dismantling racism, encouraging Race Relations and justice to enhance our efforts toward a shared identity. The words of MLK are now alive and remain truthful to what he had preached and predicted many years past.  He believed that there will be a time in America where racial divides are no more and America will see "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of [Unity] brotherhood." Even if this is partially fulfilled in our lifetime, we are encouraged to work consciously until we see the church and human beings cherish their unity over diverse differences.   We are growing to the realization of our oneness and are exhorted to exercise such unity Now on earth. We find the meaning of life when we discover the deep meaning of our unity in Christ. Christians are encouraged to strive to do good work as the fruits of their faith and stay strong in faith. We are built in the house of the New Humanity whose cornerstone is Christ Jesus. "In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God" (vv. 21-22). 
   We are called to peace, to care for one another as it is preached by Christ (Matthew 25:35). That horizontally all of us can treat one another as ONE and vertically come to the Father in praises through the "same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us" (17-18)"
   As Paul urges the Ephesians, this message speaks to us today to remind us of our unity; "I urge you to behave with all humility, and gentleness, and patience. I urge you to bear with one another in love. I urge you eagerly to preserve that unity which the Holy Spirit can bring by binding things together in peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called with one hope of your calling. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all. " Eph 4:2-6
   I leave you with Paul's calling to the Romans when he exhorts them how to exercise their love and said, "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not rise. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud but be willing to associate with people of low position" (Romans 12:9-16) 
   As the humanitarian icon, Audrey Hepburn says, “The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.”  Therefore, friends let us hold on to what is "Good" as God continues to renew us unto eternal sanctification. We are one, voyaging to one destination and Christ is our best friend who springs strength in our weary paths. He promises, to keep us united until he comes again! Amen

Thru Ephesians: a sermon series
Ephesians 2:1-10; Luke3:10-18  

Today we are continuing with our exploration and discovery to learn the many important aspects of our reunion with Christ. We are not, however, on a "Bear Hunt" 😊 nor on an adventure to discovering a fairytale of the frozen girls when the gift of snow magic went wrong in the kingdom of Arendelle (Frozen Movie).  
Rather we are trying to understand and be reminded of the Divine plan in our redemption; the will of God to bring us to life from our dead-selves.  It is about God’s love and how privilege us with the gift of adoption makes us equal with Christ. Lastly, this sermon series reminds us of our spiritual endeavor to discern the transcendence power of God invested in the church and in the believers. How do we know? God himself has made known to us this mystery by the "wisdom and insight" that he "lavished" on us through Christ Jesus.
In chapter one and in our introduction last Sunday, Paul talked about our union with Christ and the great blessings that come because of our adoption to God’s family. That, in his gracious love, God has chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world to make us holy and blameless. And God has fulfilled his own good plan during the right time (v.4) Today, in chapter two, Paul assures the Ephesians, that our union with Christ is perfected through dying to Sin and making conscience disjunction with self trespasses.
"You were dead through the trespasses and sins…" (NRSV), Paul said.  Paul used a Greek verb that literally means being dead, ("νεκροὺς— nekrous") when he compares the state Ephesians before they were believers. Paul's assertion and exhortation are inclusive by nature. When he talks about "You," he refers to the Ephesians (the Gentiles), and when he says "Us," he means his fellow Jews. For Paul, every ethnic group, and everyone etc., whether slave, the free, or the masters, the rich and the poor etc., were all dead spiritually and needed God's salvation. Everyone has sinned, has trespassed, has fallen short and does not meet the demands of God (Romans 3).
Paul reminded the Ephesians that they were spiritually dead before they were called and included into God's family. God has willed to rescue them from the state of destruction and disobedience. Now, Ephesians are alive through the power of God at work in them. The same power that has raised Christ from the dead, has resurrected them from their Spiritual death.
This Spiritual resurrection comes a result of conversion and believers are able to discover the new life in Christ apart from the past life. Paul said that now of conversion, a believer becomes a new creation, the old self is gone, and things becomes new (2 Cor. 5:16-17). Yet, the journey to perfection continues in Christian living unto sanctification.    
But what is sin and trespasses that Paul keeps mentioning in this chapter and in most of his letters?  Sin is missing the point, the mark, and the intended core of divine purpose. It is an offense against God. For Paul, Ephesians were living in the state of conformity to the worldly manner before they became Christians. They were against God, missing the intended divine law. They were slaves to Satan and sin of the world.
Trespasses in another hand, (Hebrew—"asham"), means willful debt by going beyond the required limit. This means willfully and consciously choosing "to pass beyond a limit or boundary. To go too far; to put any one to inconvenience by demand or importunity; to intrude; … to trespass upon the time or patience of another. " Easton's Bible Dictionary
In our corrupt state, scripture describes unbelieving soul as:

1. Blind— "the god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They can’t see the light of the good news that makes Christ’s glory clear. "(2 Corinthians 4: 3-4).
2. Slave to sin— You used to be slaves of sin. But now your obedience is heart deep, and your life is being molded by truth through the teaching you are devoted to! (Romans 6:17).
3. Lover of and under darkness—"But those who love the truth will come out into the Light and welcome its exposure, for the Light will reveal that their fruitful works were produced by God" (John 3: 19-20; Colossians 1:13).
4. Sick— "I have not come to call the ‘righteous,’ but to call those who are sinners and bring them to repentance.” (Mark 2:17).
5. Lost— the father says comes my child, you are home now, Let’s prepare and celebrate, it's being bound (Luke 15).
6. Alien and stranger— you are no longer strangers, foreigners, or guests, "but rather you are the children of the city of the holy ones, with all the rights as family members of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19)
7. Rebellious and children of Wrath— " But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy. Even when we were dead and doomed in our many sins, he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace!" (Ephesians 2: 3-5).

Scripture views human sinful nature as equal as physical death. My people of the Anyuwa have one saying, and "patha dhaanhnhø" when they refer to a person who, for any reason other than disability, fails to exercise self, knowledge, and ability. The Anyuwaa would say, Patha dhaanhnhø—meaning, he/she is not a person.  They are right. A person can be dead yet still living and that is the essential reference to our spiritual death--walking dead.    
Paul said Ephesians were once departed from God and went too far and beyond God's boundary to the worshiping of Artemis. They were lost and needed help. They were like all of us because we had gone too far in our disobedience and suppress the truth about God (Romans 1:18-19). Like them, we went out of God's presence and from God's circle and died of spiritual death like Adam and Eve (Genesis 2:17).
Isaiah said "All of us are like sheep. We have wandered away from God. All of us have turned to our own ways. And the Lord has placed on his servant, Christ the Messiah, the sins of all of us" (Isaiah 53:6) Peter echoed Isaiah and said all of us have trespassed like sheep that continually wandered away, but through Christ Jesus, now we have returned to the true Shepherd of our lives— to the “kind Guardian who lovingly watches over your souls” (1 Peter 2:25).
Paul exhorts Ephesians and all of us that, though we are now alive in Christ, we must therefore be dead to sin, to the need of the body, and to the will of trespassing. This is because you are no longer spiritually "Nekus", nor in the period of apnea, or have bradycardia, neither experiencing asphyxia (please allow me to use my medical terminology lesson😊). In Christ you are not unconscious, but dead to sin. Yet fully alive, with full heartbeat, sufficient of oxygen and breathing normally. God did this by grace through faith when we believed—"Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ!” (vv. 8-9)
Paul's message to the Ephesians and to us today is clear. He believes that through the saving power, God has expelled death that has occupied Christians before our conversion. Now God has instilled in us the undying life of Christ. Thus, Christians are alive because the fullness of God's grace is an unyielding stream of mercy flowing and keeps streaming in Christian's living daily.
Friends, it's true that the corruption was in us from birth and we expressed our disobedience through our actions and desires of our hearts. We have "lived by whatever natural cravings and thoughts our minds dictated, living as rebellious children subject to God’s wrath like everyone else."
However, God the father of love has shown us mercy despite of our degradation and deprivation, falling short of God demands. God did this through Christ, in Christ, by Christ and with Christ as he himself is filled with grace and mercy. You are made alive with Christ grace been saved through faith as a gift from and of God   and " not the result of works, so that no one may boast (v 9).
Some may ask how a renewed person continues living in the newness state with Christ. In another place, Paul presented his rhetorical question to the baptized Roman Christians how to exercise their Christian freedom. He asked, should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore, we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life"(Romans 6:1-4).  This is Paul's best answer to the question of our Christian freedom to all believes in centuries.  
Christians must never forget where we had come from, who we are, our present state and where we are going. The person who is in Christ is rightfully child of God and is dead to sin and are free from punishment because of the death of Christ (Romans 6:23). We discover life through death; dying spiritually to the desires of the world and obtains personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Therefore, in our new life in Christ, comes an extended lists of God's heavenly blessings to sustain us (Eph 1-2): 

1. The secret of the Adoption and the gift of redemption Jesus Christ
2. The power of knowledge—knowing the mystery of God and the uniting power in church—unity in Diversity. 
3. The privilege to obtain an inheritance in heavenly realms and obtaining the transcendence peace of God.
4. The filling with his fullness (grace) and
5. The gift of praises and glorify God.

The scripture exhorted us today to live new life as we are called; a life filled with conscious understanding of the love of God. The life that decerns the fullness of God and that his fullness fills in us.  Today we are reminded of our Christians life and the secret of our co-existence with Christ.  We live because of Christ, are filled with Strength, even in our state of fragility. This is the "True love" of Elsa, Anna and Olaf, where a Perpetual snow, keeps Olaf alive even in that tormenting summer in the Kingdom of Arendelle (Frozen).
Therefore, let us remain determined to our calling and committed to our journey to perfection. Let us be reminded that we have been raised with Christ and spiritually “ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ!" God's plan is to fill us with grace, because "He who descended is the same one who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might fill all things" (Ephesians 4:10).
We are all like Olaf the snowman, but with God's grace pouring from above, we are made strong and surviving. The snow/cloud of mercy is following and covering us our spiritual paths. The kingdom of Arendelle was a place for everyone and represents the Kingdom of God and the Church universal. We Christ raised on high, we will not runout of hopes, faith, joy, and strength, because the almighty Father, brings unyielding filling through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!