March 8th, 2015Pastor David Kobelin

Part VIIIPart VIII

I. Living It! – How have you lived listening to

‘The Voice of Truth’?

II.II. In ChristIn Christa.a. In Christ, I am seated with Christ in the In Christ, I am seated with Christ in the

heavenly realm, and am a citizen of heaven. heavenly realm, and am a citizen of heaven.

Ephesians 2:6 Ephesians 2:6 (NIV)(NIV)

6 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us And God raised us up with Christ and seated us

with him in the heavenly realms in Christ with him in the heavenly realms in Christ

Jesus, Jesus,

Philippians 3:20 Philippians 3:20 (NIV)(NIV)

20 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly

await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus

Christ,Christ,

b. I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18 (NKJV)

18 For through Him we both have access by one

Spirit to the Father.

II. In Christ

c.c. In Christ, I cannot be separated from the love of In Christ, I cannot be separated from the love of God.God.

Romans 8:35-36 Romans 8:35-36 (NCV)(NCV)

35 35 Can anything separate us from the love Christ Can anything separate us from the love Christ

has for us? Can troubles or problems or has for us? Can troubles or problems or

sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or

violent death? violent death? 36 36 As it is written in the As it is written in the

Scriptures: “For you we are in danger of death Scriptures: “For you we are in danger of death

all the time. People think we are worth no more all the time. People think we are worth no more

than sheep to be killed.” than sheep to be killed.” Psalm 44:22Psalm 44:22

II.II. In ChristIn Christ

II.II. In ChristIn Christ

c.c. In Christ, I cannot be separated from the love of In Christ, I cannot be separated from the love of God.God.

Romans 8:37-39 Romans 8:37-39 (NCV)(NCV)

37 37 But in all these things we are completely victorious But in all these things we are completely victorious

through God who showed his love for us. through God who showed his love for us. 38 38 Yes, I am Yes, I am

sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling

spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers,

39 39 nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything

else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us

from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

What do you get a sense of as you listen to all of these concepts/scriptures together?

• In many ways, I’m already in heaven.

• My Dad wants me to come to Him.

• His love never fails.

a.In Christ, I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, and am a citizen of heaven.

Ephesians 2:1-5 (NIV)1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions

and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

a.a.In Christ, I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, and In Christ, I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, and am a citizen of heaven. am a citizen of heaven.

Ephesians 2:6-10 Ephesians 2:6-10 (NIV)(NIV)

6 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 7 in order that in in order that in

the coming ages he might show the incomparable the coming ages he might show the incomparable

riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in

Christ Jesus. Christ Jesus. 8 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, For it is by grace you have been saved,

through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the

gift of God— gift of God— 9 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. not by works, so that no one can boast.

10 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus

to do good works, which God prepared in advance for to do good works, which God prepared in advance for

us to do.us to do.

a.In Christ, I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm, and am a citizen of heaven.

Philippians 3:15-21 (NIV)15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. 16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained. 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. 18 For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

What might represent your citizenship in heaven the way a

passport represents your citizenship in the US?

The question this presents is, where is your focus?

b.b. In Christ, I have direct access to God through the Holy In Christ, I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.Spirit.

Ephesians 2:18 Ephesians 2:18 (NKJV)(NKJV)

18 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to

the Father.the Father.

Luke 11:5-8 (NIV)5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

b. In Christ, I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit.

What do you need, right now, to come to Godabout with ‘shameless audacity’?

c.In Christ, I cannot be separated from the love of God.

Romans 8:35-39 (NCV)35 Can anything separate us from the love Christ has for us?

Can troubles or problems or sufferings or hunger or nakedness or danger or violent death? 36 As it is written in the Scriptures: “For you we are in danger of death all the time.  People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.” Psalm 44:22

37 But in all these things we are completely victorious through God who showed his love for us. 38 Yes, I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor ruling spirits, nothing now, nothing in the future, no powers, 39 nothing above us, nothing below us, nor anything else in the whole world will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

III.III. Summary – So, knowing you are loved by God and cannot be Summary – So, knowing you are loved by God and cannot be

separated from that love; knowing that you have full and separated from that love; knowing that you have full and

complete access to your Father at any time and He wants you complete access to your Father at any time and He wants you

to come to Him with shameless audacity, and knowing that to come to Him with shameless audacity, and knowing that

you are a citizen of heaven seated together with Christ, you are a citizen of heaven seated together with Christ,

how is He calling you to love?how is He calling you to love?