Main Idea || Through Jesus, all rejected outsiders have been reconciled & reinvented into a new family. Our Backstory Ephesians 2:12 (NLT) 12…You lived in this world without God and without hope. God you. Ephesians 2:11–12 (NLT) 11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, … 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. Our Rescue Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. God you. He brought sinners near to God & all nations near to each other. How did God do this? 1. Fulfilled the demands of the Law by his life. 2. Absorbed condemnation for Law breakers by his death. Our Transformation Ephesians 2:15-18 (NLT) 15 He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. God you. How did God do this? 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us. We all share common dependence & equal access. Where does our “humble willingness” to be reconciled to each other come from? Recognition of my need for Jesus & Rejection of my exceptionalism beyond Jesus. So what? You’re free to reject & resist self-supremacy. You’re free to reject & resist self-righteousness. CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. Why do you think it is that despite all our social, medical, technological and scientific advances, our world hasn’t moved any closer to unity. Even worse, it seems to be suffering from such extreme disunity? 2. READ ALOUD: Ephesians 2:13 (NLT) 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. Before trusting Jesus we’re all “excluded” “outsiders” who are “without hope and without God”. Describe how it feels to be brought near with God through the work He’s done rather than through the work you’re doing. 3. God makes us “one new people” (v15). So reconciling with others from a different culture or race doesn’t force us to renounce our distinctions. Instead, it forces our “humble willingness” to Recognize our shared need for Jesus & Reject our own exceptionalism beyond Jesus. Explain in your own words what this means for you (or why it’s so important). 4. What seems to make it difficult for you to reject & resist self-supremacy & self-righteousness?