Dive deep into the Book of Ephesians with today’s episode as host Jeff Archie examines what it means to truly find spiritual fulfillment. Explore the critical elements of life, direction, and salvation that can only be found through Christ. Using biblical passages, Jeff draws a profound picture of living in faith and the void one feels in their absence. This episode encourages reflection on the vital aspects of spiritual life and how Christ bridges the gap of separation.
00:12:31 Conclusion and Encouragement to Continue Listening
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, are you missing anything? Spiritually speaking, that is. Well, let’s return to the book of Ephesians today and let’s do some searching and find what we might be missing. That’s today from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ.
SPEAKER 01 :
Here’s Jeff. Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. It is so good to have you with us for each and every broadcast here from the International Gospel Hour. You know, we love to hear from our listeners, and let me share with you some ways that you can contact us. I realize there are some who may not have the online accessibility. You’re listening to us through the radio, and that’s fine, but you can write us at pobox118.com. Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. Now, you’re probably reaching for that pen since I threw that out there quickly. And I want to give it to you two more times. Here’s the second one. P.O. Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. Our website is internationalgospelhour.com. You can go there, peruse it, hit the contact tab, leave us a message. Let us know where you’re listening to our broadcast from. Our toll-free number, available 24-7, 855-444-6988. That’s 855-444-6988. And you may just want to give us a call and let us know where you’re listening to our broadcast from. Here we go one more time. PO Box 118, Fayetteville, Tennessee, 37334. The website is internationalgospelhour.com and our toll-free number is 855-444-6988. Friends, I’m sure you would agree that there are a number of things of which we could really do without and still be happy people, successful and content. But you know there is one, and I state that in capital letters, one that we cannot have true happiness, successfulness and contentment without Him. And that is Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 2, verses 11-13, Paul reminds them, Remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision made in the flesh by hands, that at the time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Did you catch those phrases? Having no hope. There was none. You were without God. And you were far off. But that’s not the case. So friends, without Christ, what are we missing? Well, Ephesians 2 elaborates a little bit more and that will be our study today. We’ll be back in just a matter of seconds.
SPEAKER 02 :
Hey, Facebook friends, please follow us at our page, International Gospel Hour. Keep up to date with our daily broadcasts and special announcements along the way. That’s International Gospel Hour on Facebook. And feel free to share our material on your Facebook page.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now, friends, without Christ, what are we missing? Well, simply put, we’re missing life. You know, Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 1 teaches how one is dead in trespasses and sins. Verse 5 affirms dead in sins. There is no spiritual life in one who is dead and outside of Christ, separated from God. In Isaiah’s warning to Israel in Isaiah 59, 1 and 2, Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save, neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear, but your iniquities have separated between you and your God. and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear. Oh, friends, the blessing of those that are spiritually dead, those who can be made alive in Christ. You know, friends, Jesus taught us to believe in Him, John 8, 24. When we believe in Christ, we are going to embrace what He tells us to do to obey Him. That’s why he taught us of repentance in Luke 13, 3, and confession of our faith in Matthew 10, 32, as well as baptism based upon our faith in Mark 16 and verse 16. He promised to build his church, Matthew 16, 18. He did build it and purchased it, Acts 20 and verse 28, and people who will believe on him and will repent and confess their faith, and they are baptized into Christ, are added to His church, Acts 2.47. And friends, without Christ, we’re simply missing life, spiritual life. Number two, without Christ, what are we missing? Well, simply put, we’re missing direction. Now back to Ephesians 2 and verse 2. Here were individuals walking according to the world’s course. Walking according to the prince of the power of the air. Well, that being the old devil himself, the old deceiver, Revelation 12, 9. And the one who is walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, 1 Peter 5 and verse 8. So the world’s course and direction is leading you to a death. And it’s the wrong direction. But let’s think about the true direction. In Colossians 3, 1 and 2, Paul said, If you then were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. In Matthew 7, verses 13 through 14, Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Friend, choose the right way, the right direction. Without Christ, we are missing the right direction, and the world is just leading us every way and will chew us up and spit us out. Here’s a third one. Without Christ, what are we missing? Well, simply put, friends, we’re missing salvation. I mean, we are outside of Christ and we are lost. Now back to Ephesians 2 verse 8. Writing here to the Christians, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. So these souls, friends, as we have seen, they’re missing both life and direction. They truly needed the grace of God, as all of us do. God freely gave. One could not gain it on their own. One cannot be saved unless God is in the plans as we have seen. You know, I cannot shed enough blood to save my soul. God, through Jesus, paid the price. And here the Ephesians accepted that gift of God’s grace by their obedience. Just like Noah, friends, who found grace in the eyes of the Lord in Genesis 6 and verse 8. And through faith he obeyed God and built the ark to save his house, Hebrews 11 and verse 7 and Genesis 6 and verse 22. Now friends, obedience is not working to earn, but obedience is due to the grace of God, such a gift that one cannot decline it, and if so, how tragic it is. Listen to 1 Thessalonians 5 verses 9 and 10. For God did not appoint us to wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep, whether we live or die, we should live together with Him. We’ll live with Him here. We’ll live with Him in eternity. Notice, to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. You know, the question would rise here, how were these Ephesians saved by grace through faith? Well, we learn when we look in Ephesians 1 and verse 13, that they had heard the gospel and believed the gospel, believing in Christ. They knew the good news, they knew of Christ. Acts 20 and verse 21 reminds us how they were individuals who had repented of their sins. But I find interesting in Acts 19 and verse 5 how they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And originally these disciples, if you will, were baptized by the baptism of John. But the baptism of John was not for everyone. And when Paul taught them concerning John was the forerunner of Christ to lead those to Christ, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And friends, that’s what we do today. Are you missing salvation? Without Christ, friends, there are things we are missing. Are you missing true spiritual life, true direction, true salvation in Christ? Well, friends, maybe our study today has helped you to think on these things. Got a great Bible study for you. It’s an online study, and I think you will gain much from it. I’m going to defer to our J-Web with the online study. And if you say, well, wait a minute, I don’t have Internet. I’ve got something for you as well. But for now, our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
Where did we come from? Looking for a purpose in life? Your answer to these fundamental questions is greatly affected by whether you believe in God, believe the Bible is true, and believe Jesus to be divine. Our friend and evangelist Rob Whitaker conducts a great study called Believe the Bible. Please allow us to send you the link and check it out. Just call toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, email, and just say Believe the Bible. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, email, and type Believe the Bible in the message blank. We will send the link right away.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now, friends, that Bible course is available again on by email. We’ll send you the link, and that is called Believe the Bible. Now, I realize a lot of folks do not have internet. You know, my mother lived to be 89 years of age and did not have internet at all in her house. And so I realize there are a lot of folks that like to keep it simple. Well, how about a Bible study by mail? I mean, really, it’s a Bible correspondence course. We’ll send it by mail. You work on it at your own pace. How about that option? Here’s all you do. Call us at 855-444-6988 and leave us your name and address and just say Home Study. That’s all you’ve got to do. I love to hear calls when people will call and they’re very gracious. They spell out their name, their address, and they’ll say Home Study. And when I hear that, it just thrills my soul. Why don’t you give it a try? It’s free, and see what you think. And again, 855-444-6988, and leave us your name and address, and just say, Home Study. And if you don’t mind, throw in where you’re listening to our broadcast. We treasure each and every listener of the International Gospel Hour, for without you, well, we wouldn’t be here. But your interest in the things that be of God, we’ll study those together at another time. But thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today. To God be the glory. And we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.
