Healthy Spiritual Community – The Rescue

Rescue me. Today’s text is a beautiful and classic example of what our relationship with Christ is all about. God in His kindness sent his Son to rescue us from the self-obsessed life that our world has duped us into believing is normal and acceptable. Once we realize the condition that we are in and our desperate need to be rescued, we can begin to experience all that God wants to give us as His rescued people. 

Before we look at the flow of this great rescue let me point out that the text shifts from Paul    addressing you in vs. 1 & 2 to us in vs. 3-7. To help clarify the “you” and the “us,” remember that he is addressing primarily a Gentile, non-Jewish audience – that’s the “you”. He then adds in the “us,” which is in reference to the Jewish believers, including himself. The theme of Ephesians is not just community, but living in unity as Christ’s church. You cannot take “unity” out of “community” and still have the concept. As we move through this epistle/letter, we’ll see Paul constantly helping them (Jewish and Gentile believers), to stop seeing themselves as different or separated from one another, and instead to see themselves as one. That is also our challenge. Where do we tend to separate ourselves from other believers? Consider the following as possible areas of separation - Do you/we separate yourself/ourselves from others because:

1. We are afraid of potential rejection?
2. We are not of the same economic class?
3. We are different in our ethnicity?
4. We are connected to different church denominations?

Find a few friends to wrestle with the question: “How can we (as believers) help to tear down walls or barriers to unity?”

Our text rides on three major points: what we have been 1) rescued from, 2) rescued by and 3) rescued for. The first is what we’ve been rescued from. Paul covers three things that Christ wants to rescue us from: death, deception, and sinful desires. As you review your notes, do one of these stand out to you as an issue that you are more vulnerable to? 

1. The description of being “dead” spiritually is being non-responsive. What stands out in Titus 3:3-7 that sounds like our Ephesians passage? Do you remember being “non-responsive” to God before coming to Christ? Do you know anyone you interact with who is non-responsive? How have you seen 2 Cor. 2:14 in your relationships?
2. Rescued from spiritual deception. This may be one of our most vulnerable areas. Even as committed believers, we can be deceived. If Eve, who could walk in paradise with God and her husband Adam could be deceived (2 Cor. 11:3), I think you and I could be as well. How do you see the two ways of deception (the “world” and “Satan”), at work to pull people off course? Share some of your thoughts with an accountability partner or your small group.
3. Rescued from sinful desires. We all have desires and we all have desires that are “sinful”. Our text describes them as “cravings”. Which of the desires in Gal. 5:19-21 might you be vulnerable to? Be as honest as you can. The sooner you can see clearly where you are vulnerable, the sooner you can begin to better understand how to stay clear of areas or temptations that peak your fragility. 

An interesting aspect of our passage in vs. 4 is the statement, “…it is by grace you have been saved.” The tense of the verb “have been” describes a present state that has resulted from a past action. Salvation, being saved, is therefore an accomplished fact that produces continuous effects. How is grace continuing to have a saving effect on you?

Look over your notes and discuss these questions with someone:

From Point II, why are “motivation,” “application” and “demonstration” all critical parts to being rescued?

From Point III, we were rescued for a reason. What do Ephesians 2:1-10 and the 2 Cor. 5:17-20 passages suggest as reasons for rescue? Have you ever wondered why you are here? How does this study impact your understanding as to why God rescued you?

In His Love,

Pastor Jeff

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