One nation / One house …  (3 things)

• 1^st – Jesus built us a bridge… vs.  11-13 (2 things)
  • 1^st – Do not forget you WERE Gentiles… vs. 11-12
    • Before we knew Jesus we were called the ‘uncircumcised’…
      • A name given to us by the Jews who called themselves the ‘circumcised’…
      • Referring to the promise God gave to Abraham and his descendents…
      • It was a symbol – meant to show an outward change reflecting the inward heart…
    • It showed Israel was the promised nation of God – His chosen people…
      • Israel was ‘adopted’ as the chosen nation of God – Deuteronomy 7:7
      • They saw the ‘glory’ of God at Mt. Sinai – Deuteronomy 5:24
      • They received the promises of God – Abraham and Circumcision – Genesis 15:18
      • They were given the ‘Law’ of God – definition of ‘good’ – Exodus 24:12
      • They were called into the ‘service’ of God – Exodus 23:25
    • We gentiles were not God’s nation – not chosen – we were not God’s people…
      • We were strangers to the promises of God – without any hope in this world…
      • The reason we had no hope was because we did not know God – atheists…

• We did not think about God’s commands or God’s promises…
• We likely made fun of anyone who took the time to go to church or read their Bible…
• We did not think about Jesus – how to live for Jesus – how to live a righteous life…
• We were far from Jesus – and had no hope of being saved from our sins!
• 2^nd – But Jesus built a bridge for us to get to God… vs. 13

• There was a great separation between God and us…
  • It was the result of sin – and nothing we could do would bring us close again…
  • There is a ‘narrow bridge’ in China called the ‘Si Du River’ bridge…
  • It is 1,222m long – and at the center over 500m above the ground!
  • The Empire State building could stand beneath it with 120m to spare!
  • It connects two mountains with a deep valley and rapids in-between…
  • If you tried to cross from one side to another without the bridge – impossible!
• Jesus created the bridge that allowed us to cross over…
  • He did it through His blood on the cross at Calvary…
  • Jesus did what was impossible for us to do – make a way to get to heaven…
  • But it is a narrow path – Jesus is the ONLY way anyone can be saved!
• The majority of people will not go to heaven – the majority will not be saved….
  • The reason is because most choose the broad way – rather than the narrow bridge…
  • Matthew 7:13 – “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.”
  • If you are doing what everyone else is doing – if you are with the majority…
  • If you are standing with the crowd – likely you are walking down the broad way…
  • And the end of that road is destruction – you might want to get off!
• The Narrow Bridge is Jesus…
  • God desires that all men be saved – He does not want any to perish – II Peter 3:9
  • He did all the work for us – Jesus died on the cross so that we could live…
  • If we reject the way God has provided – there is no second option…
  • The one and only way to get to heaven – Jew or Gentile – is through faith in Jesus!
    
• 2^nd – We are one nation… vs.  13-19 (3 things)
  • 1^st – By making ‘one bridge’ Jesus made two nations into one… vs. 13-16
    • Jesus Christ shattered the wall that separated Jews from Gentiles…
      • In Jesus there are no longer any categories – Jew or Gentile…
      • We have all been put on level ground through Grace in Christ…
      • Salvation is not based on who are – it is all about whom we know!
      • God does not care if we are Jew or gentile – there is just one bridge…
      • No matter who we are the only way we can be saved – is by faith in Jesus Christ!
      • Ultimately we are all equal under God – all sinners saved by the same grace!
    • The wall was shattered – by Jesus putting an end to the Law…
      • The Jews had the Word of God – so they knew the commandments of God…
      • They thought that separated them from the Gentiles – who did not know the Law…
      • But their knowledge did not keep them from breaking those commandments
      • In fact the Law did its job perfectly – it showed them how great a sinner they were!
      • The Law can only tell us what is right – is has not power to make us right…
      • The purpose of the Law was to show the perfect standard of God…
      • So we would see just how sinful we were – how much we desperately need Jesus!
      • Once we understand we are sinners – we see our need for Jesus as a savior…
      • Then we no longer have a need for the Law – Jesus fulfilled the Law!
    • God has made us into one body…
      • The church of God is now made up of both Jews and Gentiles…
      • All under the authority and direction of the head – who is Jesus Christ!
      • Colossians 2:18 – “Christ is the head of the body. For we are joined together in His body by His strong ties, and we grow only as we get our nourishment and strength from God.”
      • People in the world love to divide – they have their groups / barkada…
      • In the world it is all about who is your family / town / county…
      • Men have fight and kill each other just because they are rival sports teams…
      • But it should not be the same in the church – we are to be united by love!
      • We have been untied into one body – we are all under Jesus Christ!
  • 2^nd – One way to the Father… vs. 17-18
    • The same Gospel of peace Jesus preached saves both Jew and Gentile…
      • The Jews were closer to God – at least they knew who God was…
      • But close – is not saved – they still were going to end up in hell…
      • There is only one way to have access to the Father – by One Spirit…
      • I know a lot of people who think they are going to heaven because:
      • They know who Jesus is / they own a Bible / they know where the church the is…
    • There is a HUGE difference between knowing who Jesus is and being saved…
      • I might be able to point you to a bridge – but that does not mean I crossed over it!
      • It is not enough to own a Bible / pass by a church while making a cross sign…
      • We need to have a relationship with Jesus – we need to get on the bridge!
      • There is no other way to be able to approach God – than through Jesus Christ!
  • 3^rd – Citizens of the Kingdom… vs. 19
    • We used to be strangers to God – we were foreigners…
      • When Jen and I were in Israel in 2008 – we had to pass through the Netherlands…
      • We had a long layover – and thought it might be nice to get out of the airport…
      • Because my passport said I was from the ‘US’ – I was allowed go out…
      • But because Jen’s passport said she was from the ‘Philippines’ she was denied…
      • It had nothing to do with being a good or bad person – or our religion…
      • We were granted or denied solely based on our citizenship!
      • We can only be citizens of one of two kingdoms…
      • We either belong to the Kingdom of God – or the kingdom of this world…
      • Matthew 12:30 – “He who is not with Me is against Me…”
      • And if we try to get into heaven with the wrong ‘passport’…
      • We can argue all we want we were a ‘good person’ / attended church…
      • But we are going to find the door is closed to us – we have the wrong citizenship!
    • We are now citizens of the Household of God…
      • Once we are born again – saved – we are no longer foreigners…
      • We no longer belong to this world – we have changed our citizenship!
      • And when one day we stand at the entrance into heaven – Jesus will welcome us in!

No matter what name – no matter what traditions – we are all part of God’s church!

3^rd – We are the house of God… vs.  20-22 (3 things)

1^st – We are being built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets… vs. 20

Anytime you build a house – you need a set of blueprints to follow…

With so many pieces – so many different parts that have to fit perfectly together…

If you do not have a blueprint for a major project – it will end in disaster…

The blueprint God has given to the church – is the Word of God…

The church of God is built upon the foundation / instruction of the Bible!

Unfortunately many churches today look to the World rather than the Word…

They think in order to be used by God you need a college degree…

In order for a church to grow in size you need to entertain the people…

To get money – hold fundraisers to raise money for the church…

All ideas that come from the world – nowhere to be found in God’s Word…

As a result many churches are not looking to the Bible – so the churches are in chaos! 

2^nd – Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone…

Jesus called Himself – the Stone the builders rejected – Luke 20:17...

Quoted from Psalm 118:22 regarding a story from the first Temple of Solomon…

All of the stones of the Temple were finished in the quarry…

The first stone sent to the building site was the chief cornerstone…

In construction – the most important piece – sets the angles and location…

When the workers received the stone – they were not ready – set it aside – forgot

The stone the builders rejected – became the chief cornerstone!

The ‘Rock’ that is the supporting foundation of the church – is Jesus Christ!

Matthew 16:18 – “On this rock I will build My church…”

You can spot a church that is founded on Jesus – the people grow in the Lord…

Faith comes by hearing God’s Word – Romans 10:17 – getting to know Jesus…

In the same way you always spot a church that is not built on Christ…

There is no maturity in the believers – 20 years down the road – still babes…

3^rd – We are the building material for the Temple of God… vs. 21-22

When God builds a house He does not use wood and concrete….

I Peter 2:5 – “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house…”

God uses something far more precious – He uses us to build His house!

And God has a purpose and plan for each of us in His house!

We are all carefully joined together as the house of God…

I Kings 6:7 – “The temple, when it was being built, was built with stone finished at the quarry, so that no hammer or chisel [or] any iron tool was heard in the temple.”

All the stones were finished in the quarry – then just assembled at the site…

Each stone was a perfect fit – they did not even need mortar between the stones…

Did you ever wonder why God did not take us right to heaven when we got saved…

Why leave us here on earth where we got through trials and temptations…

The reason is because we have a lot of ‘rough edges’ that need to be polished off…

We are not going to be ‘chiseled’ and ‘shaped’ in heaven – the work takes place here

God put us through trials to mold/shape us into the men He wants us to be…

So that when we arrive in Heaven – we will already be a perfect fit!

The Holy Spirit  (who is God) dwells within us – within the Church of God…

The church of God is not a building – it is not a particular denomination…

There is only one church of God – we are all part of the Body of Christ…