Ephesians 2:11-22 ¹¹So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called "the uncircumcision" by those who are called "the circumcision"-- a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands-- ¹² remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. ¹⁵ He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. ¹⁷ So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, ²⁰ built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. ²¹ In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; ²² in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! So what? Paul does not waste time with random ideas. Every member of the body of Christ is a MEMBER - a part of the body, which must function if the body is healthy. One of the most disappointing days for me as a pastor is the 2nd Sunday of Easter. I yearn that everyone will be in worship - every week. We are HIS BODY. I pray every year that the Gospel of the empty tomb and Easter will touch every member to want to worship - Holy Week, Easter, the next Sunday, the fourth Sunday in August, the Sunday after Christmas. I am charged by you as a congregation to bring forth the Good News. It is to equip you and strengthen you as a functioning member of this body.

At one time we were all without Christ, having no hope. Our only hope now is an eternal one, in Christ who will remove us from our graves and bring us back into the Garden of Eden relationship we call Heaven. Christians yearn to hear the Good News. At least our new heart yearns. We yearn to be rid of the barriers that keep us from loving others. At least our new heart does. To your old heart, whether living foolishly or arrogantly, I can only point to the sin of separation from God. To your new heart, yearning for peace, I can point to grace in the Risen Lord and how the Lord yearns for us to lay aside every weight of sin.

Membership in the body of Christ is a season ticket. We are not to give away the tickets to another. Stand face to face at the open tomb. Listen to the angels. He is not here. He is Risen. Come see. Go tell! Blessed Easter (24x7x365 - with your fellow members). Let us be grown-up in living this out - and proud of this eternal nature as we gather to praise and honor Him, now and forever.

In Christ our Lord and Savior,
Pastor Thomas Trapp