Life Lessons with Dr. Steve Schell

3 - The Body of Christ

No Christian is intended to live out their spiritual life in isolation. No Christian is intended to grow in maturity in isolation. No Christian is intended to carry out the ministry God has given them in isolation. Becoming a Christian is not just a private decision between each person and God, it involves being joined into a community of God's people.

In these verses we read today, Paul gives us a deep look into what it really means to be part of the Body of Christ. He originally wrote to a diverse church composed of Jews and Gentiles and he told them they had now been formed by God into one new family with God as their Father. God wanted them to love each other and work harmoniously with each other. Most of us today struggle with the busyness of our schedules; with fear of involvement based on past experiences; and with the almost universal, rugged individualism that pervades America. So, this passage holds a special call to Christians like us today. We need to understand why we need each other, and few places in the Bible answer this more clearly than this passage.

2 - Seeing the New Creation

The way we see ourselves and the way we see others must change. Even Christians often don't realize how much has changed when they receive Christ. We're not the same anymore. The way we think about things and the way we respond in situations become very different. And the way we see other people changes at least as much as the way we see ourselves. Paul goes so far as to say we are a new creation of God. Our old lives have passed away, and we now live new lives. Jesus didn't come just to help us try harder or patch us up. His Cross has actually destroyed the old things that controlled us, filled us with an enormous  new power, and lifted us to whole new relationships with God, with each other and with those who don't know Jesus yet. Not only is each of us new inside, but we are joined into a new corporate entity, His Church. Old human distinctions have fallen away and we have been made part of a new unified people, with a new mission, a new Leader, a new power at work among us and a new goal.

1 - In Him

While under house arrest in Rome, Paul writes to churches he had pastored in and around Ephesus (a city on the coast of Western Asia Minor). He wants to be sure that with the passing of time this group, made up largely of converted Gentiles, does not lose sight of the wonderful things God has done for them. He wanted them to keep focused on the fact that they were "in Christ." It's easy for Christians to grow discouraged with themselves and to lose the boldness of faith that makes them spiritually effective. The devil tends to chip away atour sense of being acceptable to God, and as that foundation crumbles, we lose confidence that there is any power in our prayers. By the time he is finished with us, any assurance that we are strong soldiers well-equipped to enter the battle has disappeared. Another of his tactics is to divide and scatter us from one another so that we no longer pull together as a fighting unit. So Paul, knowing how the devil will attack, writes this wonderful letter to keep these soldiers sure of who they are and pulling together against their true enemy, the devil.

Step 7 - His Strength in our Weakness

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross. 

 

Step 6 - Cleanse the Leaven

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross. 

 

Step 5 - Flee Don't Fight

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross. 

 

Step 4 - It's an Outside Battle

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross. 

 

Step 3 - The Power of Vision

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross. 

 

Step 2 - The Real Question

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross. 

 

Step 1 - A Changed Heart

As Christians we aren’t just forgiven of past sins. The Lord has set us free from the control of our flesh and the devil so we can live fruitful lives. So, how’s your freedom? Are there areas where you still feel some bondage to old ways, habits and temptations? If so, you are not alone.

The principles in this series Steps to Freedom are the key to getting free of all sorts of addictions and temptations using God’s resources and power instead of our own so we can obtain the freedom that Christ has won for us through the cross.