Our text for this morning is found in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 and 12.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision which is made in the flesh by hands.

Remember that you are at that time separated from Christ,

alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel,

and strangers to the covenants of promise having no hope and without God in the world.

This is the word of God for us this morning and I pray that we will obey it and that we will

resist every temptation to resist it. Remember, remember that one time you Gentiles were without Christ

alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope,

and without God in the world.

It's a command. It's not a suggestion. Remember that you were

hopeless. It is not something that Paul found people doing and said to them, oh, don't do that, that's not good for you.

It's important. It's an essential part of the Christian walk. It is not to be leapfrogged over on the way from verse 10 to verse 13.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were a far off have been brought near.

That kind of leapfrogging has landed the church plop in the kettle of lukewarm Christianity, wondering

what's wrong?

What's wrong? Why do we pray with so little fervor and affection? Why do so many sing but scarcely

from the heart and with such blank expressions. Why are so few

hearts breaking for the lost people around us who don't know Christ and are on the way to perdition.

Why do not more people say spontaneously and repeatedly with Dr. Wyden, the greatest thing in the world is to be saved.

Why isn't the experience of salvation like the first day of vacation when the sun is just rising over the lake. The air is crystal clear and cool, and the fish are biting, and the bacon is sizzling on the fire, and the whole family is healthy and happy. Why isn't salvation

like that instead of like a gray drizzly day with a hole in the tent and the family grumbling and murmuring.

One of the reasons is this. You can't bring the burner up to white-hot affection if you try to short circuit God's heating element and jump the current

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