S1: Today on Bold steps, Mark Jobe shows us what happens
S1: when the walls of division come down.
S2: The wall of hostility has been broken down. So that
S2: now we come together as one body, as one people
S2: from many backgrounds, many cultures. And he has created a
S2: new person or a new body in Jesus Christ. And
S2: we are the representation of that body.
S1: Welcome to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe. Mark is the
S1: president of Moody Bible Institute and the senior pastor of
S1: New Life Community Church in Chicago. And I'm Wayne Shepherd. Today,
S1: as we move forward in our brand new series, When
S1: You Believe Everything Changes, we'll continue our lesson from Ephesians
S1: chapter two. Mark will give us three points to consider
S1: about who you are and what happens when the walls
S1: of division come down around us. If you missed part one,
S1: you can hear the complete message online at Bold steps.org.
S1: Just look for the message titled Tearing Down Walls. Right now,
S1: let's get started with today's message. Here's pastor Mark Jobe
S1: and today's bold steps.
S2: There is not this color or that color, or this
S2: person or that person. We have been created into one
S2: person in Christ Jesus that form one body. The wall
S2: of hostility has been broken down so that now we
S2: come together as one body, as one people from many backgrounds,
S2: many cultures, many different educational backgrounds. But we come as
S2: one people forming the body of Christ. That wall of
S2: hostility has been torn down, and he has created a
S2: new person or a new body in Jesus Christ. And
S2: we are the representation of that body. For he Himself
S2: is our peace, who has made the two one and
S2: destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Verse 15.
S2: By abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments
S2: and regulations. You see, one of the things that kept
S2: the Jews and the Gentiles separated was the Mosaic Law.
S2: Many of you have decided to try to read through
S2: the Bible in a year, and you get to Genesis, Exodus,
S2: and then you start in Leviticus, and you just can't
S2: make it through Leviticus. Well, let me just read you
S2: some of the titles of Leviticus. Cleansing from mildew discharges
S2: causing uncleanliness. Day of atonement. Eating blood. Forbidden. Unlawful sexual relationships.
S2: Various laws. Punishment for sins. Rules for priests. Unacceptable sacrifices.
S2: The Sabbath. The Passover. Unleavened bread. First fruits. Feast of weeks.
S2: Feast of trumpets. Day of atonement. Feast of Tabernacles. Oil
S2: of bread set before the Lord. Blasphemer. Stones. Sabbath year.
S2: Year of Jubilee. Man. Not really the kind of reading
S2: that most of you like to do. What are all
S2: those rules about? I can't eat this. I can't eat that.
S2: I got to practice this. I can't just list rules
S2: after rules, after rules that were given to the Jewish
S2: people by God for them to practice. And when people
S2: started getting converted that weren't Jewish people, the Jewish Christians
S2: started saying, hey, you gotta practice all these rules if
S2: you're going to follow Christ. They were trying to make
S2: people Jewish that were trying to be Christian. And what
S2: Paul says is listen. But now in Christ Jesus, what
S2: he tells them is that Jesus abolished in his flesh,
S2: the law with its commandments and regulations. That's why there's
S2: an Old Testament and a New Testament. The Old Testament
S2: has a lot to do with the laws before Jesus.
S2: The New Testament is a new covenant in Jesus Christ.
S2: When Jesus Christ came, he came to be the fulfillment
S2: of the law. He was the ultimate sacrifice, so that
S2: you and I no longer are obligated to follow the
S2: Jewish and Mosaic laws that are given in the Old Testament,
S2: because we have been liberated from that law. He came
S2: to abolish the law and its regulations, because the law
S2: and its regulations could never save anybody. Only Jesus could.
S2: So never let anybody get trapped into the old law
S2: and say, well, hey, do you eat pork? And you're
S2: not supposed to eat? No. Never let anybody get you
S2: sucked into that because Jesus came to liberate us from
S2: that so that we would be under the law of grace.
S2: You understand that now, there are principles in the New
S2: Testament and laws in the New Testament, but they're different
S2: than the Old Testament laws. And Jesus came to set
S2: us free in that way. Number three, verse 15. The
S2: wall has come down to make room for a new creation.
S2: Notice what he says in the end of verse 15.
S2: He says his purpose, the reason he tore down the wall,
S2: the reason he abolished the law, the reason he's made
S2: us all into one. His purpose was to create in
S2: himself a new man out of the two. God is
S2: creating a new person, a new body out of the two,
S2: making his peace. Verse 16. And in this one body
S2: to reconcile both of them to God through the cross
S2: by which he put to death their hostility. He came,
S2: and he preached peace to you who were far away,
S2: and peace to those who were near. For through him
S2: we both have access to the father by one spirit.
S2: I want you to hear me. Well, what Paul is
S2: saying is that there's different types of people spiritually. Some
S2: people are. He calls them people that are near and
S2: others he calls them people that are far. Now, who
S2: are the people that are near? The people that are
S2: near are people that grew up in the church and
S2: grew up knowing Scripture. And maybe, you know, all the
S2: four stanzas of How Great Thou Art and you can
S2: quote all of amazing Grace, and you, you knew that
S2: John 316 was a verse in the Bible, and not
S2: just some sign that people put up at football games,
S2: and you knew that the Bible had a New Testament
S2: in the Old Testament, and you knew how to pray,
S2: and you grew up in the things of the church,
S2: and you always had this sense that God was around.
S2: Those are people that are near. Then there's a people
S2: that are far. That's those of you that grew up
S2: as basically die hard pagans, don't go to church, don't
S2: really think much about church. Parents didn't take you grew up,
S2: you're drinking, carousing, sleeping with girls. It's, you know, 14, 15,
S2: 16 party life, no consciousness of right and wrong, not
S2: even a desire to think about God. Don't really pray.
S2: I mean, you're just out there living life to its craziest.
S2: No conscience of God. Not even trying to do right.
S2: Don't talk to me about God. I don't believe in
S2: that stuff. Just an agnostic pagan Megan. Living your life. Well,
S2: there's those that are near and those that are far.
S2: But here's what the Bible teaches. Whether you are near
S2: or whether you are far, you still need the same thing.
S2: You still need the sacrifice of Christ. You still need
S2: peace with God through Jesus Christ. Going to church and
S2: learning the culture of Christianity does not make you a Christian.
S2: You may have been raised in the church and know
S2: the verses and know the hymns and not be a Christian.
S2: Oh hello, this is huge. The thing that I like
S2: about die hard pagans is they know they need God.
S2: I am way out there. I know I'm need God.
S2: The thing that I don't like about people that are
S2: near is sometimes they don't think they need God. They
S2: think they already have God. Oh no. I pray before
S2: I go to bed, I pray. I try to do good.
S2: Try to follow the laws. Listen, it's not about how
S2: good you try to be. It's about do you have
S2: a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Is the Holy
S2: Spirit inside of you? Have you been washed? Have you
S2: been transformed by the power of God? Because whether you're
S2: religious or not, you still need a conversion that changes
S2: your life.
S1: You're listening to Bold Steps with Mark Jobe, and we'll
S1: return to our message shortly. Mark, do you know what
S1: I've been reflecting on lately? The incredible privilege we have
S1: as believers living in this particular moment in history. I
S1: love to study history, but never before have we had
S1: such powerful tools for sharing the gospel globally, instantly reaching
S1: people in remote villages. That happens through bold steps, doesn't it?
S1: Or in close countries, in crowded cities alike. But we
S1: have this unprecedented opportunity, and it comes with a tremendous responsibility,
S1: doesn't it?
S3: You know, I heard recently that moody radio programming is, um,
S3: heard in 190 countries is what someone said. And, um,
S3: technology has allowed us to do that. And I'm amazed
S3: when suddenly we get a email from Eastern Europe of
S3: someone saying, hey, I haven't found a church yet, but
S3: I listened to Bold Steps recently. Someone told me that
S3: a doctor in Mexico had joined their church, and they
S3: got saved through bold steps. And I'm like, wow, this
S3: is amazing how seeds are just being shot throughout all
S3: the world. We know specifically that there are people in
S3: closed countries right now that listen in secret, because it's
S3: dangerous for them to be caught listening to Christian Radio.
S3: This is an amazing time to get the gospel out there.
S3: There are close to 9 billion people in the world,
S3: and there are millions and millions of people that have
S3: very little gospel presence in their world. They are saturated
S3: with false religion, with heresies, with a lot of different
S3: ideology that does not allow Jesus Christ to come to
S3: the forefront. And so radio, podcasting, our technology as people
S3: can live stream, this is one of the ways that
S3: we get past the guards at the borders and we
S3: through the airwaves. God has given us a beautiful gift
S3: to go past the guards, into the houses, into the homes,
S3: and right to into the bedrooms and kitchens of where
S3: people live, so that they are hearing the good message
S3: of Jesus like never before. And we are passionate about this.
S3: We know that there's a lot of other believers that
S3: are passionate as well. And we're saying, join us, please.
S3: This is a powerful moment for us to proclaim the
S3: gospel of Jesus Christ, especially as the world is being
S3: shaken in so many ways.
S1: I believe there are some listening right now who are
S1: not just hearers of the word, but want to be
S1: active participants in spreading that word. So today could be
S1: your day to step into that calling by giving to
S1: bold steps. Just go to Bold Steps to make a
S1: gift or call 800 D.L. Moody. That's (800) 356-6639. Remember, your
S1: gift of any amount helps share God's Word with those
S1: who need it most. Really, around the world, when you
S1: give any amount, we'll send you a special gift as
S1: our thanks and we'll take time to tell you about
S1: that just a little bit later here in the program today.
S1: But let's get back to the message now. Here again
S1: is Mark.
S4: He tells us.
S2: In verse 19, consequently, You are no longer foreigners and aliens,
S2: but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household. Listen,
S2: if you have the Spirit of God inside of you,
S2: you're no longer a foreigner or an alien. You are
S2: part of God's family. I love that you're part of
S2: God's family. Listen. Built on the foundation of the apostles
S2: and the prophets with Christ Jesus Himself the chief cornerstone.
S2: Verse 21. In him the whole building joined together, rises
S2: to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in
S2: him you too are being built together to become a
S2: dwelling place in which God lives by His Spirit. Listen,
S2: this is what he's saying. He's saying I destroyed the
S2: walls of partition. There's not black and white. There's not
S2: educated and uneducated. There's not rich or poor. You have. Now,
S2: if you've crossed the line into the body of Christ.
S2: You have become one people in God. Sons and daughters
S2: of God. And now what God says I'm doing. He says,
S2: I'm building a building, not a physical building, but a
S2: spiritual building. The chief cornerstone is Christ. We are being
S2: united together, building a building a temple. It calls it
S2: for God. What dwells in a temple? God. Why is
S2: God building the church, the body of Christ? Why is
S2: he building it? Because he wants his manifest presence to
S2: dwell there. That's what it says, doesn't it? Listen. And
S2: in him, you two being built together to become a
S2: dwelling in which God lives by his spirit. What is
S2: he building? He's building a people, a community. Why is
S2: he building that community? So that the manifest presence of
S2: God can live within that community and display his glory.
S2: Here's what I want you to understand. Look around for
S2: a second. What are you in? You're in a building.
S2: Look like a church. Traditional church? No. What's it look like? Factory.
S2: Why does it look like a factory? Because that's what
S2: it was. Oh, we've painted a little bit. Added a
S2: stage and some lights. See all these tubes and pipes
S2: going around their factory? This morning when you got up,
S2: you said, honey, let's get ready to go to church. Now,
S2: I understand what you said, but technically that's wrong. Terminology.
S2: This building is not. the church. I thought I was
S2: coming to church, and now you think I'll find somewhere
S2: else to go? It's not a church. No, this building
S2: is not the church. Technically, you and I and him
S2: and her. We are the church. We're the church. So
S2: when you say I'm going to church, you're not. This
S2: is not the church. What you should say is I'm
S2: gathering with the church because we are the church gathered
S2: this morning. But when we dismiss today, the church will
S2: continue to exist. We are simply the church Dispersed on
S2: Monday morning, the church will still exist. It'll exist in
S2: high rises downtown. It'll exist on the L and the universities.
S2: At high schools. The church will spread throughout the city. Well,
S2: how does it spread? You, us? We are the church.
S2: Where we go, we carry with us the presence of God,
S2: the glory of God. Why? Because the Spirit of God
S2: is inside of us. So when you get on, the
S2: L church has just come to the L. When you
S2: drive down the highway, church is on the highway. When
S2: you go to the office building, churches in the office building,
S2: when you go to the factory, church is in the factory.
S2: When you go to the grocery store, you just brought
S2: church to the grocery store. Why? You are the church.
S2: And what does the church hold? The church holds the
S2: presence of God, the holy temple of God. And so,
S2: wherever you go, you bring the essence and the presence
S2: and the blessing and the power of God Almighty, because
S2: you are the church. It's a powerful concept. The church
S2: is a movement. The church is a people. If this
S2: building were to be knocked down tomorrow, the church would
S2: still be around. If persecution would were to come and
S2: Christianity will would be illegal and every church door would
S2: have yellow tape on the front that says do not enter.
S2: The church would still be around. The church would do
S2: what it did in China went underground. People thought the
S2: church has been closed. Christianity is dead. Had China kicked
S2: all the missionaries out in the 1940s, they thought, we'll
S2: eliminate this. What we discovered is that when they kicked
S2: the missionaries out and closed the churches, there were only
S2: a couple million in the 80s. After 40 years or
S2: so of going underground, what they discovered is now there
S2: was tens of millions of believers because you can shut
S2: the buildings down, but you cannot stop the church of
S2: the Living God, housed by the power of the Spirit
S2: of God. Right now in China, conservative estimates believe that
S2: there's 140 million Christians in the in the country of China.
S2: Within the next ten years, there'll be more Christians in
S2: China than there are in the United States of America.
S2: Why the church cannot be stopped. We carry the seed
S2: of God inside of us via His Holy Spirit. And
S2: he says, I'm building up a I'm building a temple.
S2: The temple of God. And I've taken people from different
S2: backgrounds and colors. I've taken people from different races and ethnicities.
S2: I've taken the poor and the rich, the executive and
S2: the barely almost homeless. I've taken the white, the black
S2: and the Asian. I've taken women and children and the elderly,
S2: and I'm forming in them one temple, a building that
S2: houses the presence of God, that when the church is
S2: who it's supposed to be, people will walk into a
S2: place like this and say, truly, God is alive, for
S2: I see it among them. I see it in the
S2: way they worship. I feel it in when I walk
S2: into this place. I see it in the way they live.
S2: They have been transformed by this God. They are the representation,
S2: the reflection of the living God. Oh, not perfect because whoa!
S2: Are we full of imperfections? But a temple. A people
S2: that houses the manifest presence of God. Formed into one,
S2: merged into one people for the glory of the mighty God.
S2: And you may sense that God has been pulling you,
S2: reaching out to you. Just this past Sunday, a woman
S2: that got baptized. She shared that the first time she
S2: walked into service, she started to cry. She didn't know
S2: why she was crying, but she realized that her soul
S2: had been longing for the presence of God. She couldn't
S2: explain it. She couldn't describe it, but she just would
S2: weep when she came to church.
S1: Amazing. Wow.
S2: And I think there's some people that have been living
S2: so long without God that your soul is awakened is
S2: deeply touched when you encounter the Word of God, the
S2: presence of God. And maybe, as you've been listening to
S2: this message, your soul was touched or awakened. I'd like
S2: to pray for you right now in your journey. Father,
S2: I pray for that man, that woman that's been listening,
S2: that longs for your presence, that knows that something is missing.
S2: That is, there's a vacuum inside that they can't quite describe.
S2: They can't quite put their finger on it. But it's you, Lord.
S2: And I pray, father, as they awaken to you, as
S2: this spiritual world starts coming alive to them, as they
S2: decide to get closer to you. I pray, Lord, that
S2: you would give them the courage to visit a church. Father,
S2: I pray that you would give them the promptings to
S2: reach out to a Christian that they may know, uh,
S2: the ability or the boldness to be able to go
S2: to a Bible study. Father, so that they can encounter
S2: your presence. Hear the gospel, understand your message in a fresh,
S2: new way. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.
S1: Amen. Thank you Mark. And if you just prayed with Mark,
S1: or if you'd like to learn more about taking your
S1: next step, we'd love for you to visit our website
S1: and explore how you can know Christ more boldly and
S1: passionately this year. Just visit boldsystems.org. Click on the tab
S1: that says connect and go to the My Next Step
S1: in Faith page. You'll find a personalized video message from
S1: Mark waiting for you there. And while you're on that page,
S1: be sure to sign up to learn more, because we'll
S1: also send you a New Testament Bible, the book An
S1: Anchor for My Soul, and the latest edition of our
S1: monthly newsletter, today in the Word, as well as a
S1: personalized letter from Mark. Recently I saw a comment on
S1: Facebook that said, thanks for your inspiration and loving words.
S1: God is awesome and powerful. Another said thanks for these
S1: inspirational messages. I enjoy hearing them on the radio. Well said.
S1: This program and the platforms we offer are made possible
S1: by the voluntary contributions from our monthly bold partners. All
S1: those listeners who give one time donations right now, as
S1: we near the end of our fiscal year, we're making
S1: an effort to add more members to the team because
S1: nothing will help us make a difference in the lives
S1: of other listeners than your continued support. When you commit
S1: to becoming a bold partner today by giving a financial
S1: gift each month, we'll also send you a signed copy
S1: of Mark's book, unstuck. Access to the Bold Partner post
S1: and a special video message from Mark. We've made signing
S1: up simple and easy online at Bold Steps org. And
S1: don't forget to sign up for Mark's weekly email devotional
S1: before Monday. It's the Bold Stepper weekly. You can join
S1: hundreds of listeners all across the country who are starting
S1: their week off right and getting the behind the scenes
S1: look at the things that are on Mark's heart and mind.
S1: Signing up is quick and easy online when you go
S1: to bold steps. Well, that's all the time we have today.
S1: I'm Wayne Shepherd, inviting you to join us again next week.
S1: When Mark talks about secrets. Don't miss our sister program,
S1: Bold Steps Weekend, where pastor Mark is currently in an
S1: exciting series of messages designed to show what really happens
S1: in the life of someone who truly and authentically believes
S1: in Jesus. Many Christians have no idea of the incredible
S1: riches they already have in Christ, but when we come
S1: to truly know him, accept him, and believe in him,
S1: the transformation begins. So you won't want to miss these
S1: powerful messages in our Bold Steps Weekend series. You'll find
S1: it at Bold steps.org under the program tab. The Apostle
S1: Paul used the term mystery when it came to the gospel,
S1: and Mark is going to help us discover what he meant.
S1: That's coming up Monday on the next edition of Bold
S1: Steps with Mark John. Bold steps is a production of
S1: Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.