Bible Study - Why Church (1) - We Are Joined Together - Ephesians 1:20-23, 2:8-10, 11-22

Bible Study – Why Church (1) – We are Joined Together – July 26, 2020

This is lesson one (1) in our series entitled “Why Do I Need Church?”

Our focus scripture is Ephesians 1:20-23, 2:8-10, 11-22.

When we come to CHRIST by placing our faith in JESUS, we also become a part of the body of CHRIST. Thus, CHRIST in a person is what makes a person a Spirit born Christian. A Spiritual conversation takes place, which will never change. Once a person is Spiritually born, he or she will never become Spiritually unborn. If this is true then ------

I am sure many ask the question, “Why do I need church?” Some families may choose to do worship and Bible study at home. Certainly, during these times of the Covid-19 that is a good choice. I teach a class of senior adults and they receive this lesson via e-mail or the blog. We still long for and miss getting together for fellowship. We are a Spiritual family bonded in the love of JESUS through Spiritual rebirth. We are in unity with each other through the common bond of being a Spiritual family through faith in JESUS.

The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Ephesus. Ephesus was originally a Greek colony but in Paul’s day it had become the capital of the Roman province of Asia. Geographically, it is what we know today as Turkey. It was at the center of major trade routes and had a harbor.

Ephesus had another attraction. It was the headquarters for the religious cult Diana or Artemis. The temple built to Diana had become one of the seven wonders of the world. The Apostle Paul preaching the Gospel of JESUS threatened the cult of Diana. (Acts 19:23-41)

Satan is in competition with GOD for the souls of people. Although Satan is the defeated foe of Christians, he still is at work to get Christians to compromise their relationship with GOD. Do you think the pandemic is Satan’s attempt to compromise or destroy the Church?

The Bible is very clear as we read in Hebrews 10:19-25 that we are not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together as we read in verse 25.

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having boldness^[f] to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, ²¹ and having a High Priest over the house of God, ²² let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience (Shed Blood of JESUS) and our bodies washed with pure water (Holy Spirit). ²³ Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. ²⁴ And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, ²⁵ not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

So why Church? The Holy Spirit is our common connection with each other. As we use our Spiritual gifts, we minister to each other and to others in our community and world. We are to pray for one another and communicate with each other as the Holy Spirit leads. When we pray and we see the hand of GOD working, we know that we are making a difference in the lives of those for whom GOD has called us to pray or reach out to during these times. A lot of people are sheltered in their homes and they need to hear from us. Many have relocated to assisted living and now find themselves quarantined because of the virus. We need to maintain contact with them by sending cards, calling, facetime, etc.

It is the members of the church that reach out to others during these times because of their love and concern for each other. How does being a Christian result in his or her love for fellow Christians? Let’s Explore!

There is a saying by C.T. Studd, “Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”
― C.T. Studd

As GOD gives us opportunity, we need to be ready to present the Gospel to those with whom we come into their presence. Eternity is but one heartbeat away for all humans.

Let’s read Ephesians 1:15-19:

¹⁵ Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, ¹⁶ do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, ¹⁸ the eyes of your ^[f]understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power –

How powerful is HIS mighty power? Consider the power that it took to resurrect JESUS, GOD’S Only SON, from the physically dead. It was an eternity changing event. What does the Apostle Paul reveal to us in 1 Corinthians 2:4-16?  

⁴ And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of ^[b]human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom

⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^[c]ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

⁹ But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the ^[d]Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

The indwelling Holy Spirit sets aside all Spirit born Christians from everyone else. How? It is all about the power of GOD that dwells within, The Holy Spirit. Now, let’s continue to see what the Apostle Paul had to say to the Ephesian Christians ----

Let’s Read Ephesians 1:20-23:

God’s Power in Christ

²⁰ He (GOD) exercised this power in Christ by raising him from the dead and seating him at his right hand in the heavens— ²¹ far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given,^[i] not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he subjected everything under his feet^[j] and appointed him^[k] as head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way.

GOD is at work though CHRIST. How powerful is GOD? The spiritual forces of the universe were against GOD raising JESUS from the physically dead. GOD’S eternal plan was to show that the most powerful forces in the universe could not prevent the resurrection of the physically dead JESUS. 

Why? JESUS was and is the sinless sacrifice that GOD accepted as the perfect sacrifice to pay in full for all sin. JESUS gave HIS sinless life by the shedding of HIS sinless blood to atone for sin. The shed blood of JESUS paid the price for sin in full. How do we know that? GOD raised the physically dead JESUS from the physically dead to reveal to all humans and the Spirit forces that JESUS reigns supreme and GOD established JESUS as the only way to HIM, through faith. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life in the place of all who would place their faith and trust in JESUS and what HE did for them. Thus, Spiritual birth that is eternal.

It is free and just for you. Accept it and you will be Spiritually born into the family of GOD for eternity.

How can this be? We are all sinners saved by GOD’S Grace ---

Consider 2 Corinthians 5:20:

²¹ For He (GOD) made Him who knew no sin (JESUS) to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This is GOD’S plan of salvation for all people but every person must accept it. Do you accept it? It is free but it requires a decision from you personally. How do I accept it? How do you accept the most precious, eternal gift ever? 

In humility with thanksgiving.

Let’s read John 3:1-3:

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ² This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”

³ Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born ^[a]again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Let’s read Ephesians 2:8-10:

⁸ For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

GOD’S Grace cannot be earned. It is a free gift from GOD the instant a person places his or her faith in JESUS. A person cannot work hard enough, long enough to earn salvation.

I know, I wanted to give Christianity a test run before accepting JESUS as my Savior. Salvation does not work that way. It takes a step of faith. LORD JESUS, here I am as I am and I ask YOU make out of me what YOU want me to be. It is not the words you utter but it is the attitude of your heart. Are you tired of playing the search game to find JESUS on your own terms? If so, throw in the towel and be honest with JESUS. Here I am LORD forgive me for my sins and I ask YOU come into my life and help me live the Christian life as YOU desire. When you make that commitment, tell a Christian friend or your pastor that you have made this commitment. Then get into a Bible study so you can learn and put into practice what you learn as you study the Bible. (BF, you know what to do; do it.)

Let’s read Ephesians 2:11-22:

Unity in Christ

¹¹ So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. ¹² At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, ¹⁵ he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. ¹⁶ He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death.^[c] 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

JESUS unified the Jews and the Gentiles into one in GOD’S plan of salvation. The walls of separation have been removed and all people are the chosen people of GOD when they place their faith in JESUS. The message of salvation came first to the Jews through the covenant. After JESUS had reconciled the law and the prophets, GOD established Grace. Why grace?

Once we accept JESUS as our Savior, all of our sins are forgiven and blotted out. Our past, present and future sins. How can that be? It is GOD’S plan that all who have experienced Spiritual birth are sinless in HIS eyes and righteous. It is GOD’S love for us, those who have placed their faith in JESUS. We do not bounce into and out of Heaven. YES, once you are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family you are forever in HIS Family.

It is GOD’S desire for all of HIS Spiritually born Children to build the right relationship with HIM and learn to trust HIM in all matters. HE desires for us to be in unity with HIM and with each other as brothers and sisters in CHRIST.

So, why do I need church? GOD established the church. Acts 16:5:

⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

The church is where truth is taught, lived and put into action. The church is the beacon reaching out to those seeking truth in JESUS. The church is not a showcase for saints but a sanctuary for those hurting and seeking Spiritual healing, growth and truth.

Blessings!!!