Vision of Ephesians || May 3, 2026 || Ephesians 2

And we haven't talked that much about the second pivotal point, but now. This is in the second half of the passage, but now but now, we were we who were far off, we who were not part of it, we have been brought near. We have been brought near. This other group, setting aside the commands and the regulations, setting aside the law that showed that the Jewish people couldn't even attain to the righteousness of God, that the world could never attain to that righteousness. Christ came in compassion and paid the penalty of sin and death. And now we are no longer foreigners and strangers. We are citizens of the kingdom of God, children of the most high, ransomed by his death by the payment of Jesus on the cross. That second but is for you and for me. [00:43:50] (60 seconds)  #BroughtNearByChrist

And remember, says Paul, it wasn't always that way. The Hebrew children were rescued from slavery, and we are rescued ultimately once and for all from the slavery of sin. Remember that you were brought near by Jesus, and you are never too far off and never too far gone for him not to break through and do it again. Jesus. Jesus rescues you into his identity. Jesus will knock down that idol that has taken root in your life. Jesus will drive out whatever is keeping you a slave, and he will do it again and again and again through his redeeming death on the cross, and we remember it when we come to the table. [00:57:31] (47 seconds)  #RescuedAndRemembered

The Jewish people had the holy law, which showed the world how far we fall short of the great standard of God, what his plan, his good plan really is for us. And those enslaved people who were brought free by Jesus, by God, the Hebrew slaves were freed by the blood of the lamb, it was made possible for them to take his name into the world. As the firstborn son of God as the firstborn children of God entered into the promised land, so he has promised that there will be a firstborn son. Jesus would come and take our sins once and for all. He gives us his perfect status in his resurrection and welcomes us as adopted brothers and sisters. God did not change the plan. [00:44:53] (50 seconds)  #GodsPlanThroughJesus

There's no plan b. From the beginning, God's covenant stands. No matter how often we break it on our end, God is not a covenant breaker. He will rescue, he will save, he will draw us back. We have only to yield to his grace. We see it from cover to cover of our bible. But God's plan was always to rescue the world. We have only to yield to his grace. So what does it mean for you and for me to carry his name this week, to carry his name wherever we go? It doesn't mean another task. It doesn't mean more work to do. You have to add it to your to do list. [00:58:17] (48 seconds)  #CovenantOfGrace