GateWay Church of Visalia
One Kingdom
January 4 & 7, 2024 Jim Pitkin
Locations & Times
GateWay Church
1100 S Sowell St, Visalia, CA 93277, USA
Thursday 6:45 PM
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Ephesians 2:1-10
`”And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
`”And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
Kingdom is one metaphor for the church.
Earthly or demonic kingdom
v.2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
v.2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.
Heavenly or Godly kingdom
v. 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
v. 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
We all live in one of these kingdoms. If it is the true goal of Gateway Church to invite, connect, develop, and serve and by doing these things advance the Kingdom of God, how do we get there?
1. We need to experience REBIRTH. vv 1-3
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
· We were dead.
· We enjoyed it.
· We require spiritual CPR.
· We formerly were….but not now
· The answer to Nicodemus’ question
· What does it mean to be born again?
· We can no longer live indulgent lives.
James 4:17 “Therefore to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it to him it is sin.”
2. Once reborn we are given a NEW NATURE. vv 4-5
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)
· We are made alive together with Christ.
· We should live in gratitude to embrace our new nature.
· God uses our new nature to bring others to faith in His Son and glory to His name.
· Ephesians 4:1 ‘ “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which we have been called.
· Cheap vs. Costly Grace
· Are we living in our new nature?
3. Our residence is in HEAVENLY PLACES. vv 6-9
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
· The Kingdom of God is wherever God reigns and since He reigns everywhere, His kingdom is everywhere.
· You are right now seated n a Heavenly Place, as part of Gateway Church, in the Kingdom of God.
· We have been invited into the Kingdom by Grace through faith.
· We did not earn nor buy our spot in the Kingdom
· We live in God’s Kingdom for a purpose greater than our own growth and that is to glorify God and love Him forever.
· Remember where you are. Remember who you are in Christ.
4. We exist to DO HIS WORK in His Kingdom v 10
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
· We are God’s work of art and special design.
· We are God’s unique creation.
· We were created to work collectively and individually.
· God is creating capacity within us on “this side of the threshold”.
· Equally important work continues on “The other side of the threshold.”
As you leave…
· Let’s work together to make the invisible kingdom visible.
· Let us together bear witness to the Kingship of Christ in our lives.
· Let us live as citizens of Heaven and subjects of the King.
“If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
· Let’s work together to make the invisible kingdom visible.
· Let us together bear witness to the Kingship of Christ in our lives.
· Let us live as citizens of Heaven and subjects of the King.
“If you want to go fast go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
One Series – “Kingdom” January 4 and 7, 2024
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Ephesians 2:1-10
Talk about the contrast of who we were compared to who we are in Christ. Be vulnerable. Be accountable. Can you think of other scriptures that underscore this idea?
Discuss Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s idea of “Cheap Grace”. What does that look like in our church? What does that look like in your life?
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” His point was that following Jesus meant being changed—being someone new. Paul says we have been raised from death to life by the grace of God (grace that cost God His Son). Are we new? Does our life reflect this change? Is God’s grace cheap or costly to us?
Look at verse 6. What does being “raised up” mean?
What are the works you are called to do? Think both spiritually and practically.
What are the benefits of being invited into God’s Kingdom?
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 each day this week. Then consider Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Pray for one another.
Prayer Requests:
Group Discussion: Ephesians 2:1-10
Talk about the contrast of who we were compared to who we are in Christ. Be vulnerable. Be accountable. Can you think of other scriptures that underscore this idea?
Discuss Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s idea of “Cheap Grace”. What does that look like in our church? What does that look like in your life?
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline. Communion without confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ. Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and the contrite heart. It is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: ‘My yoke is easy and my burden is light.’” His point was that following Jesus meant being changed—being someone new. Paul says we have been raised from death to life by the grace of God (grace that cost God His Son). Are we new? Does our life reflect this change? Is God’s grace cheap or costly to us?
Look at verse 6. What does being “raised up” mean?
What are the works you are called to do? Think both spiritually and practically.
What are the benefits of being invited into God’s Kingdom?
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 each day this week. Then consider Romans 12:2
“And do not be conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Pray for one another.