10/13/19- Crossing The Divide- Pastor Adrian Mills

http://bible.com/events/705427 “Crossing the Divide”

Ephesians 2:11-12  The Gentiles had no hope of a Messiah  Jewish people, even in their darkest moments, were promised a Messiah For the Jews, history was always going somewhere But for the Gentiles history was going nowhere

Ephesians 2:13-15

There was an insurmountable barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles and there was no hope of unity.

Christ destroyed the barrier and made peace with God possible. Ephesians 2:15 (cont) - 16 There are two words for “NEW” in Greek  1. Neos....new in “quantity” meaning it is new, but has existed before 2. Kainos....new in its quality, meaning something that did not exist before

Jesus destroyed the barrier, creating something new that had not existed before.  

Ephesians 2:17-18 Just as we are called to be ONE BODY (verse 16), we have been given ONE SPIRIT (verse 18).

Ephesians 2:19  There are no “outsiders” in the kingdom of God, but rather there is a seat at the table for each and every person. Ephesians 2:20-22‭‭ Our unity, within the body, does not come from rituals, status, preference....It comes from Christ

2 Power Implications for us: 

1. Jesus crossed the divide 

Because of sin we were separated from God, without any hope on our own.   Jesus bore our sin on the cross and made a way for us to be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:17-18

2. We must do the same 

2 Corinthians 5:18

God has entrusted us with His mission to cross the divide.   To bring hope to hopeless people.   To love the unloveable. To welcome the outcast.  

Jesus crossed the divide.  We must do the same.