Sermon REMEMBER Ephesians 2:11-12 Introduction

The simple act of REMEMBERING brings a change.

11 Therefore REMEMBER that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision" by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands--

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world

IF WE DON’T REMEMBER WHO WE WERE, WE WON’T APPRECIATE WHO WE ARE NOW.

Paul describes the man or woman without Christ as: Christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless and Godless.

Christless Stateless Friendless Hopeless

Leo Tolstoy “Is there any meaning in life that my inevitable death does not destroy? “

Our Inevitable death makes life meaningless unless you do one of two things: (1)don’t think about it; don’t think about the big question (2)you find a Living and Lasting Hope

“Without hope we can’t go on. Even misplaced hope is better than no hope.”

Godless “We today are far closer in religious temper to apostolic times than any period since the Reformation.” -- David Wells - No Place for Truth:

RO 1:18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who SUPPRESS the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

C-S-I COMMUNITY WITH BELIEVERS So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, (Ephesians 2:19 ESV)

SPIRITUAL INTIMACY WITH God - We are no longer separated from God, but are now at PEACE WITH God v

INFLUENCE WITH NON- BELIEVERS We are simply one beggar telling another where she can find bread.

Remember that Jesus was made stateless, friendless, hopeless, and godless so that we wouldn’t have to be.