Oceanside United Reformed Church Unknown

We continue through Paul's letter to the Ephesian churches this morning - Paul's exhortation section -chs. 4-6-. This morning he continues to speak to us in our world of anything goes that we don't live like the world -negatively- but live as the new creations-in Christ that God has made us -positively-. Be what you are- --WALK IN LOVE NOT IMMORALITY -VV. 1-6- --Walk in Love--But...not even be named among you, as is proper among saints...which are out of place --- sexual immorality...impurity...covetousness must not even be named among you--- filthiness...foolish talk...crude joking--For...everyone who is...has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God--Let no one deceive you with empty words- -WALK IN LIGHT NOT DARKNESS -VV. 7-14--At one time...but now - you were darkness...you are light in the Lord--Walk as children of light--Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

Jeremiah is the second of the -major- prophets who prophesied before Judah went into exile in Babylon. It's long and full of the sins of the people of God- but in it, we see the gospel of a Messiah to come to meet the needs of a sinful people.

We continue through Paul's letter to the Ephesian churches this morning with Paul's exhortation section. Contra our fragmented and hyper-politicized world, the church of Jesus is supposed to be a united body of believers in the gospel -last week on 4-1-16-.-This morning he continues to speak to us in our world of anything goes that we don't live like the world -negatively- but live as the new creations in Christ that God has made us -positively-. --DON'T LIVE LIKE THE OLD, FALLEN WORLD -VV. 17-19- Futility-Darkness-Alienated-Heard-Hearted-Callous-Sensuality-Impurity--BUT LIVE LIKE THE NEW CREATION -VV. 20-24--You learned, heard, - were taught -3 past tenses- the truth in Jesus--You put off -past tense- your old self --man- - Adam---You put on -past tense- your new self --man- - Christ---...-RE--CREATED AFTER THE LIKENESS OF GOD IN TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS -Gen. 1-26-27---Be renewed -present tense-

We continue through Paul's letter to the Ephesian churches this-morning with Paul's opening exhortation of the second half of the letter. Here is such a relevant word for us in our hyper-partisan, fragmented world. The church of Jesus is supposed to be a-united body of believers in the gospel. --WE ARE CALLED TO UNITY -VV. 1-3--THE CONFESSION OF OUR UNITY -VV. 4-6--THE DIVERSITY WITHIN OUR UNITY -VV. 7-13--WE ARE TO GROW IN UNITY -VV. 14-16-

We continue our survey of the Bible with the prophecy of Isaiah. He's sometimes called -the gospel of the Old Testament.- He's also the longest of the prophets, so we'll zero in on a couple prophesies this evening. looked at. His message is one of judgment and hope- two great themes of the Bible.