EPHESIANS OUTLINE #17 of 34

The Third Race

I. Introduction

A. Every nationality tends to divide the world into two parts - them and us.

1. The Jews looked upon the world as Jew and Gentile.

2. The Greeks considered themselves civilized; all others barbarians.

3. The word barbarian comes from barbar which means to stammer. All other

languages to the Creeks sounded to them like a stuttering child.

4. Rome did the same thing, everyone within the Roman Empire was Roman; all others

were barbarians.

5. The Chinese did the same thing - the word China means middle, they saw

themselves as the center of the earth.

B. But in our study we have seen that a new unity has been created, a third race, here

is something different than has ever existed before. (Eph 2:13-16)

II Three Beautiful Figures that Teach Us What It Means to be a Christian.

A. There is the figure of a kingdom, (fellow citizens) a family (members of the household

of God) and a building (a holy temple.

1. These figures give us some instruction as to the meaning of Paul's prayer in

Eph 1:18-19

2. Let's consider the first of the figures.

B. A Kingdom (3:19)

1. We are citizens of another kingdom. When we belong to Christ we move from the

kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God.

2. The first mark of citizenship is we except its authority over our life. We live by its rules and laws.

3. Jesus Christ is King over our Kingdom we come under the laws and charter of

His Kingdom - Those laws are in the Bible.

4. We have some wonderful privileges but we also have some responsibilities as

His subjects.

5. We share in a tremendous glory, we are fellow citizens with the saints.

6. We are going to sit down in the kingdom with people like David, Abraham, Moses

and Elijah.

7. We have an inheritance with them, we belong to the same kingdom (Matt 8:11)

8. Think of what a great reunion that's going to be.

9. To sit down and talk with Peter, Luther, Wesley, Moody and Billy Graham, what an

experience that will be.

B. My friend, this is the intimacy of the saints - that's what it means to be "fellow citizens with the saints"

1. Together we have access to the King Himself which is the most wonderful

privilege of all.

2. The apostle then goes on the second figure

III. Members of the Household of God

A. This is an advance on the first.

1. It means we are members of God's own intimate family.

2. The beloved Apostle John is thinking of this in I John 3:1.

3. Think of it, we are children of the living God.

B. A child always outranks an Ambassador or Senator.

l. Biography of Abraham Lincoln ~ related an incident which occurred during the Civil War when the President was involved with his Cabinet in a very crucial meeting. They were in the Cabinet room working out their grand strategy when there came a knock at the door. There stood little Willie, the President's ten-year-old son, wanting to see his father for a moment.

2. Abraham Lincoln laid aside all the duties of state and left the Cabinet members

cooling their heels, while he saw what Willie wanted. Willie outranked all the others. He had access to his father. This is the great truth that Paul is trying to bring home to our hearts - the fact that we have access to a Father, a Father who is the King, with tremendous authority and power in the affairs of the world.

3. The provision and protection of a father is always more intimate and personal than that of a king. A king is concerned about our general welfare, but a father wants to know all about our intimate problems, Is this not what Jesus teaches. He says again and again, "Don't you know that your heavenly Father knows that you have need of these

things?

4. He even knows the number of the hairs of your head." Your Father's concern is all around you, about every aspect of your life. He is not only concerned about getting justice for you. A king does that, but you are the object of his deepest, most intimate, personal concern. As Zechariah tells us about God that anyone "who touches you touches the apple of his eye" (Zech.2:8). Could anything be closer than that?

5. Paul goes on to the third figure.

IV. You are God's Building (2:21 - 22)

This may not seem to be a deeper and more intimate figure but it is. (Eph 3:3-5, 8-10)

1. It is possible to be members of a family and still not be close.

2. But in this figure of a building, every stone is joined together and that joining is to the chief cornerstone.

3. If the stones were separated, what would happen to the building.

4. Notice the Apostle immediately merges that figure into the figure of a body.

5. That building is not cold and uninhabited rather it is the very dwelling of God.

6. Do you now see why this is an even more intimate figure than that family.

B. This building is the residence of the Almighty.

1. Remember the tabernacle in the wilderness the eternal God made that tent his

dwelling place for a short time.

2. This building, this body of ours is the home of God for this entire generation.

3. What could be more intimate than our bodies.

C. What could be more personal and intimate to you than your body?

1. We reserve the word intimate for that which concerns our body.

2. An intimate relationship is one which touches you physically.

3. Paul is reminding us how close we are to God.

4. A God of Might, of Power, of Love has an intimate relationship to us.

5. He ties us all together, building us into a beautiful and glorious temple which He has ordained to make His abiding place. {Eph. 2:21-22)

6. Think of it - God has chosen to live in us. (I Cor. 6:19--II Cor :16--Gal. 2:20)

D. When the Apostle says Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, keep in mind this fact -

every building when it is built is measured from the cornerstone. (Eph. 2:20))

1. The whole building comes together because of the cornerstone.

2. The Bible clearly teaches that everything comes together to us in Christ.

3. If you don't have Christ there is no way you can have an intimate relationship with

God.

4. Jesus said, No one comes to the Father except by me.

E. It is a Silent but steady Development (I Kings 6:7)

1. Stones were shaped down in the quarry then brought up to be fitted into the

building without the sound of a hammer.

2. That is a beautiful picture of what God is doing with the church of Jesus Christ today.

3. God has quarried us out of the pit of this world and has placed us quietly but surely into the building of His beautiful temple