The Modern (Church) Family - Part B

You understand the significance when Jesus died on the cross the veil of the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. It was God saying y'all come in. Y'all come in June Gentile you believe in Jesus the separation you were out are now in numbers, integration, value, family, God is not a distant God. In fact, you give your life to Christ mission trip with God has his trial today on connect with Skip hides Skip shares about the significance of your new standing part of God's family first reading the stories of the Bible is a very good thing.

Walking working stories to place. Is that a whole another level Skip Heitzig is planning his next to her and you can be on the invitation from Skip urine for an incredible time as we travel throughout Israel and experience the culture that's so unique to that country. Now I've been to Israel in the number of times over the years that I can honestly say that visiting the places where the events of the Scriptures unfolded where Jesus lived taught and healed.

It just never gets old will start on the Mediterranean Sea and head north. Seeing places like Caesarea and Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River will spend several days in and around Jerusalem and see the temple mount Calvary, the Garden of Gethsemane amount of all much this remarkable like areas made richer with times of worship, Bible study, and lots of fellowship. The Bible come alive in a way never has joined Lenny and me on what is always in unforgettable trip. I can't wait to see you in his this dream can come true for you. Start planning and saving out to Israel with Skip hides information, inspiration, cruises.com/see ABQ. That's inspiration cruises.com/C8 were in Ephesians chapter 2 as we dive into her study with Skip Heitzig. Dear Christian, you are accepted in heaven. If you have lost your help for your feeling that loss of health. You are accepted in heaven. If you are excluded by a circle of friends.

So what you have been accepted in heaven. If you been cast out by your family are accepted in heaven.

You been demoted at work accepted and have you been pushed off social media scorned by your friends. You are accepted, and that you are in on the greatest plan ever hatched herein on we have some a song around this joint. The really good song. I am chosen not forsaken. I am who you say I am you are for me not against me. I am who you say I am, you need to wake up tomorrow and sing that song you are accepted, but now in Christ you were once a far off have been brought nearby the blood of Christ, so that's the first change we were out now were in the second change that is happened. We were separated but now were integrated with adverse 14 for he himself, that is Jesus Christ. He himself is our peace, who has made both one. Both mean Jew and Gentile is made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation having abolished in his flesh the enmity that is the law of commandments contained in ordinances so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity and he came and preached peace to you were far off and to those who were near for through him we both have access by one Spirit to the father.

Did you know that Judaism was all about separation and not inclusion me.

There were walls. There were courtyards and there were rooms and everybody sorta had their place to be in. So for example if you were to go to synagogue. You could not sit in the synagogue like you're seated here this morning. If you were sitting Garcia sitting in an ancient synagogue on one side would be the men on the other side would be the men's wives were the women they be separated by gender. Then there was a room a special room for converts to Judaism called proselytes proselytes of the gate.

Resident aliens who wanted to identify with Judaism. They could come but they had to be in their own kind of special penalty box. No special room then if you went to the temple. There were courts there was separation and there were walls so just for the sake of of of analogy, use this platform for the temple and it's it's it's a poor illustration because the temple was 35 acre site is over for a few feet appear. So let's let this article get the picture. The temple itself of the building were God was worshiped. It was a building built on a platform and on the same level of the platform that the temple proper stood there was a court right around the temple structure called the court of the priests and the only people who could go on that court were Jewish priests. Only the priest going or if you are Jewish male. You couldn't do it unless you are a priest around that court of the priest was called the court of Israel and only Jewish men could be in that court around the backcourt, but a little further out same level same level as the main platform was a court of the women Jewish women could be there and then you would just send several steps and you will get down to a low level and there was overall at that level. There was 4 1/2 feet tall and went around the whole outer courtyard, known as the court of the Gentiles. The court of the Gentiles was so far away from the temple activities proper.

It was like the nosebleed seats at the stadium.

It's like yeah you can get in and you can see the game but better bring binoculars. It was sort like that now. I said that there was a wall thorn happy tall on the wall. There were signs, basically like keep out signs or beware of dog signs, but this was like beware of death signs and by the way two of them have been discovered. One is in a museum in Istanbul Turkey.

The others in a examine Jerusalem and Israel, and it is known as the death inscription because this is exactly how the sign read and imagine your Gentile you want to get close to the temple you are stopped by a wall with this sign. No foreigner may enter with in the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and the enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death welcomed the church that was the sign Paul the apostle knew about this from personal experience in acts 21 Paul is in Jerusalem. He's a Jewish rabbi.

He can go in the court of the Gentiles and go to the court the women to go into the court of Israel. He was a Pharisee so he had access but he was in Jerusalem and the Orthodox Jews saw Paul talking to and hanging out with an Ephesian Gentile by the name of trophy mess and so they figured Paul must be bringing Gentiles into the temple. We are told in acts 21.

This accusation he has brought Greeks into the temple and is the file of this holy place and they call for his death. So Paul knew all about enmity. Paul knew all about separation.

By the way, do you know what the word Pharisee means means separated one were not only separated from the world by being Jewish. We are separated from the Jews by being Pharisee.

He knew that world was like what he says. Here's this one event changed all that called the cross is why Jesus said do this communion often in remembrance of me.

Never forget this event because this one event made one group of people took two different separated groups and brought them into an integrated unit. So now there's no longer Gentile and Jew only saved it saved people no matter the background so look at verse 15 so as to create in himself one new man from the two. The tubing Jew and Gentile. One new man now would say about the word new man knew the word in Greek is the word kind us for news, not necessarily the typical word used for new let's say let's just say you had a Ford escort you been driving for a few years you like it does okay for you gets good gas mileage to contend with it but as the years go on.

You say I'd like a new Ford escort because there's some new features in the new car so I want the same car just newer in chronology you would use the Greek word and they are us. I want new in time new car, but a newer car in terms of of of time. But let's say you decide now I'm kinda done with the Ford Escort. I'd like to kinda get a Ford F1 50 Pickup Is Pickup Cir. and I want to haul stuff so I want a new car you would use the word kind us, which means I want a completely new model that sort. Paul uses the key he takes and removes the separation and makes one new one kind us one new person, not you, not Gentile, but Christian Christian.

So, understand this was God's plan all along. This was Jesus plan all along, he announced a reminder of the passage in John chapter 10 Jesus said this, I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep and am known by my own as the father knows me. Even so, I know the father and lay down my life for the sheep and other sheep I have notices which are not of this fold. What is this fold Jews. Judaism that are not of this fold them. Also I must bring, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock and one shepherd. See Jesus never wanted to keep this a Jewish thing he always had in mind anybody and everybody he even said in a parable go to highways and byways bring anybody who will listen, bring them into my father's house may be filled. So Jesus is for Jewish people. He is for Gentile people. He is for adjournment people is for Spanish people. He is for African people. He is for American people. South North America he is for Europeans is for Australians. He is for vaccinated people and unvaccinated people we divide Jesus as our y'all say not care for you to get vaccinated or unvaccinated to get into heaven and you not to show your political card to get into heaven. You just have to trust in Jesus Christ. So I say what a difference it would be if we started looking at people through the lens of potential sheep potential sheep so that secretary at the bank potential sheep of the good Shepherd that guy who badger groceries at the store if they can hire anybody who still does a potential sheep regarding the golf course to the business deal potential sheep.

The officer who wrote you a ticket for going too fast on the way to church this morning. Potential sheep, so there's no special proximity anymore near or far, there's no separation with courts and walls and rooms now.

No matter who you are and what background you have all of us can have access to God.

That's verse 18 for through him we both have access by one Spirit to the father so we were out now wherein we were separated.

Now were integrated. I give you 1/3 and final change we were foreigners, but now her family and I love this verse 19 says now therefore in Paul so often has a therefore, in his teachings.

He's leading you somewhere.

Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.

Verse 19 is a summary verse. Actually it's the first summary verse of the whole last paragraph was all the way down to the end of the chapter he's summarizing the first two chapters what is written so far. But verse 19 verse in the discounted camp on that enclose with that you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, so you're not out herein you're not separated your integrated you're not foreigners, your family, this new kingdom is your home you belong here, God is building his forever family and he has you in mind. That's why it says in Hebrews chapter 2 verse 11. Jesus is not ashamed to call them. That is us. His brother, I just love that Jesus had to go.

Oh yeah and Skip to another scene to call Skip Heitzig sake. My brother, he is not ashamed to call us. His brother, my mind goes back to when I first gave my life to Christ.

I was 18 years of age and I went home to tell my parents what I've done. I figure there can be so excited. I tell him I give my life to Jesus and I'm file I believe in God and following Jesus.

I'm so excited that my Bible and they were too excited. I figured they were because I did have a little bit of problem. Before that, I mean I I was in and out of I was arrested. II didn't I did drugs experimentally and would like an addiction. But I do a lot of and I got into trouble. So I'm thinking there thinking anything that will help Skip is a good thing and I guess it was. Except for this thing is I said I love Jesus and I'm safe that's nice nice so it wasn't met warmly and to be honest, I felt like my spiritual family was more accepting of my spiritual family was more satisfying than even my own physical family. I started identifying with the body of Christ. The church of God and realizing this is family. This is my family now to help you understand as we bring this to a close. Just how profound this whole idea of being out. And then in separated and integrated foreigners in the family was let me take you back 3400 years in your minds eye with me, let's go back to the time when the children of Israel first built that tabernacle out in the desert so let's just say up in the rocks looking down as a Moabite Moabite sees the children of Israel. They built this tabernacle or smoke going up sacrifices going up, and there's the tent enclosure in the middle of this courtyard. So the Moabite man comes down goes up to the gate and says to a man standing at the gate of the tabernacle and Israelite taken. I go in there that looks really cool. The man would say well, sure, any Israelite can go in there or not.

It is a lot I'm a Moabite couple know you can go in there what what what I have to do to get in there.

I guess you got to go and be born and Israelite to go in there so the mansard hung his headset man I wish I was born and Israelite and then he was watching any, he noticed that there was a man who is a priest man taken animal sacrifice of smoke went up to heaven the man braces and sprinkle blood on the altar and washed his hands and then walked into a little tent and said wow that looks cool. Where did he go what's in that little room and the man would explain well in that little room. That's all the holy place, there's a golden lampstand in there and there's a table with Brad on it.

There's an altar of incense and the priest is trim the lamps and change the bread burn incense to God as the prayers of the congregation and the Moabites at all man I wish I would've been born and Israelite because I I'd love to go in that room 0 Israelites can go in that room. You have to be in Israelite, of the tribe of Levi of the family of Aaron to go in that room only priest going there. Well, what else is in that room Israelite would explain well I've been told there's a beautiful veil that separates that room. The holy place from another room called the holy of holies.

And in that room is a chest of box of the ark of the covenant.

That's where God lives. That's where God dwells.

That's the very presence of God in that room. The Moabites at all.

I wish I was born in Israelite, of the tribe of Levi of the family of Aaron. I'd love to go into that room and hang out with God. Israelite, you could go only the high priest, not just any priest can go in that room so the mansard off. I was out of been born Israelite of the tribe of Levi. The family of Aaron which I was a high priest, I'd love to go in that room because if I could I go in that room every single day. I do it three times a day just to get near to God. Mademoiselle you you couldn't do that. Only the high priest and going that room once a year for a very short period of time lest he die. Now you know that point the geysers and hang his head and walk away having no hope whatsoever of ever being able to get into the presence of God. Now do you understand the significance when Jesus died on the cross the veil of the temple was ripped in two from top to bottom. It was God saying y'all come in.

Y'all come in to Gentile. You believe in Jesus you can come in. There is no separation you were out are now in. Now there's integration now your family. Now you have some understanding of the kind of access.

We have not just as worshipers but as family separation is gone and the church needs to always remember that the church should always have its doors open and its arms open to all who are seeking to, regardless of race, regardless of age, regardless of culture, regardless if your hair is long or short or bald. Regardless if there's tattoos or just wrinkles the matter all those divisions don't matter always of the story about the guy in World War II who was on a battlefield three buddies were all fighting one of them died. Sadly, his friends said let's bury our buddy in a church yard so they found a church local church cemetery.

Sure enough, right outside and they wanted to bury their friend there they went to the caretaker was a priest and said we like to bury our friend inside the church are presented with a Catholic with the Roman Catholic well know he was Protestant wants are you can bury him inside the church art only Does the Catholic cemetery was of the rules so it was sad for them. They were disappointed but they buried him just outside the fence. They dug a hole they buried their friend. They went to their tents that I got up early the next day to pick the final respects find a graven go back to the battlefield, they can find great they look where they thought they buried in right outside the fence.

It was undisturbed earth so they went to the place they said you know this place better. We do we bury our friend.

Last night we can find his grave, the present well you know I couldn't sleep last night I I was so bummed out by what I had told you guys so I got up in the middle of the night and I move the fence to include your friend.

How many of you know that we serve a God who moves the fence. I wasn't I'm an outsider. I move the fence and separate all move the fence on a foreigner all move the fence you're welcome. You're welcome in your welcome.

You have access. All because of that one event, the death of Jesus on the cross separation that concludes Isaac's message from the series now Street right now want to share about a great resource to help you grow closer to the Lord and stay plugged into his work. 20/20 team is almost here now for your spiritual menu starting in January.

This month their offerings that devotional containing strong dots for each state the sample from January 1, Martin Luther, one that life speaks to me friends after reading stand stay and prepare for the greatest adventure of your life. That's an excerpt at the direction found in Skip Staley.doc receiving hardcover dollars or more today to help this Bible teaching industry growing 73 plaintext messages. Thanks, thanks Lisa is our thank you Kristen here in the playlist theories to spend energy in life and we all do make sure it's about people that you're building up not just projects the taking and receipt resource tickets.com or call 819 to 1880 11:52 tomorrow as Skip Hyson talks about how God chooses you and calls you to a new way of life that brings joy and fulfillment. Paul say later on in Ephesians 1, you were chosen for foundation before you were born or not planets and biosphere. Although we know God had in mind. So Skip Hyson presentation of connection communications to God's unchanging truth