Christ Our House

Ephesians 2:14–22

Ephesians 2:14-22 talks about the unity in the church, which goes beyond our family, race, culture, and social class. Worship is part of this unity. Our Christian life is mainly about our connection to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit. This connection is a gift from God himself.

1. To the Father

Many of our actions are driven by our need to be accepted and our fear of being left out. This passage highlights how knowing God deeply – having access to His wisdom and trust – can change our lives. It also reminds us of the importance of knowing about God and knowing God on a personal level in our faith journeys.

2. Bought by the Son

Jesus is our link to God the Father, kind of like a friend who can introduce us to someone important. Trying to approach God on our own is both arrogant and disrespectful. We can either try to introduce ourselves or humbly accept the access that Jesus gives us through his sacrifice and prayers for us.

3. By the Spirit

Jesus secures our connection to God, and the Holy Spirit makes this connection real, softening our hearts to accept God’s truth. The Holy Spirit helps us grow in courage, peace, generosity, mercy, and humility, and deepens our understanding of sin. Without Jesus’s sacrifice and the Holy Spirit’s work, we can’t truly know God.

1. There are those of you who know about this access because you’ve experienced it, but you don’t experience it that much

Knowing God brings a sense of relief in prayer, confidence in approaching Him, joy in discovering His truths, and a life-changing transformation. But we need to keep this connection alive by living guided by the Holy Spirit, avoiding sin, and understanding that our disobedience or indifference can block it, although God wants us to keep it.

2. The people who are trying to start a new church here

A lively church is one that stays connected to God, promoting faith and truth. It embraces the unexpected and thrives on possibilities provided by God, showing creativity and flexibility. However, this subject is deeper and needs further exploration.

3. There are those of you who are here who have never experienced access, and you know it

Being part of exclusive circles in a city like New York might seem appealing, but true satisfaction comes only from being in God’s circle. We all have a deep desire for God’s presence, and we’re invited to approach Him through Jesus, guided by the Holy Spirit. Those who feel they lack this connection are encouraged to accept Jesus as their Savior, knowing that only through Him can we join God’s circle.