Jesus Died to Make Peace

Jesus didn't only die to reconcile us to God; he also died to make peace between people, even in the face of long-standing hostilities. God's plan is to unite people of all kinds together into one new humanity in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:11-18

11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; 18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

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God Rescued Us! | A Reflective Walk through Ephesians 2:4-10

Ephesians 2:4-10 describes how God rescued us from the desperate plight of sin and death. And it tells us why he did it: because he's rich in mercy, full of great love, surpassing in grace, and genuinely kind.

Ephesians 2:4-10

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the boundless riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

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The Desperate Plight of Life Without Christ | A Reflective Walk Through Ephesians 2:1-3

Ephesians 2:1-3 provides a diagnosis of our human condition outside of Christ, and the situation is dire. Sin is not just a few bad deeds in an otherwise decent life. It is a disease that infects us to the core. It also infects cultures so that the entire human way of life is corrupt. Looking at ourselves honestly like this leads to greater gratitude and humility in our relationship with God.

Ephesians 2:1-3

2:1 And you were dead in your offenses and sins, 2 in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all previously lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the rest.

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Life and Ministry Update - July 2026

The King Arrives - Sermon, Stonehill Church

https://www.stonehill.church/media/hgfw2xb/the-king-arrives-john-12-12-19

Holy Spirit Lessons - Antioch Collective, St Louis

https://antiochcollective.churchcenter.com/channels/29603/series/93306

Why Does the Bible Say Not to Eat Pork? (Food Laws article)

https://renew.org/why-does-the-bible-say-not-to-eat-pork/

Article: What Is Penal Substitutionary Atonement?

https://renew.org/what-is-penal-substitutionary-atonement/

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The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself:

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Everything Your Heart Desires | A Reflective Walk through Ephesians 1:15-22

Meaning. Purpose. True riches. Power. These are the things that every person longs for. In Ephesians 1:15-22, the apostle Paul prays that we would see that we have these very things in Christ.

Ephesians 1:15-22

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the boundless greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

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A Blessed Life Now, with More to Come | A Reflective Walk Through Ephesians, pt. 3

Ephesians 1:3-14 contains Paul's prayer of thanksgiving and praise for all the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. By listening to it, we learn what Paul's idea of a blessed life is. We also see that what God has given us in Christ speaks deeply to our human longing for meaning and value and we learn that as blessed as we already are in Christ, there's still more to come. Praise God for all he has done for us and will do for us in the world to come.

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How to Grow in Faith

A regular listener to The Listener's Commentary asked me this question: do you have any resources to help me grow in faith? Or have you discussed it on the Bible in Life podcast? This is such an important question, so I wanted to offer a few thoughts on this episode.

Faith is confidence in and loyalty to God. It is based on who God is, what he has said, and what he has promised.

Faith is also developmental. That is, growing in faith goes through stages just like physical growth does: from infancy, to childhood, to adolescence, to adulthood. We need to recognize this. And in this episode I share a few general things we can do in order to grow in faith through these seasons.

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Living In Christ | A Reflective Walk Through Ephesians, pt. 2

Ephesians 1:3-14

In Ephesians 1:3-14, Paul praises God for all that He has done for us in Christ. He refers to it as "every spiritual blessing." In doing so, he highlights that our life as Christians is lived "in Christ." In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, we reflect what it means to live an in Christ life and offer three suggestions for cultivating ongoing union with Jesus.

Book Recommendation: How to Live an 'In Christ' Life: 100 Devotional Readings on Union with Christ, by Kenneth Berding.

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