One in Jesus Christ

Scripture

Ephesians 2:11–22 KJV 1900

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

A Christian man was out hunting one day when he was approached by a large and hungry bear. He took off running and the bear gave chase. He finally came to a tree and climbed it as high as he could and was holding on to a limb. The man began praying, “Oh Lord help me, get me out of this!” By this time the bear was shaking the tree and the limb started to break. The man knew he was going to fall and as he fell in the air he prayed , “Lord, I just pray that this is a Christian bear. Please let this be a Christian bear.” He landed in the bears arms. The bear looked down on him and then lifted his eyes up and said, “Lord, please bless this food in Jesus’ name, Amen!” What a surprise… the bear was a Christian after all!

Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus contains three wonderful strands of teaching; firstly God’s view of the believers’ exalted position in His presence, secondly, his divinely revealed understanding of the church as Christ’s body and thirdly, how the believer should live here on earth in the light of these sublime truths.

The Salvation We Don’t Deserve that Come by Grace (Ephesians 2:1-10)

Paul explains how we were once dead in sin (vv. 1-4) but have now come alive in the Son (vv. 5-7) by grace from the Savior (vv. 8-10). This applies to everyone, Jews and Gentiles alike. What do we do now that we have received this amazing grace? How are we to treat one another, even those who are different from us?

Paul now expands the concept of the Body of Christ put forward in 1:23:

He brings us near (vv. 11-13)

He gives us peace (vv. 14-17)

He gives us access (v. 18)

He gives us a new family (vv. 19-22)

Corporate Reconciliation and Oneness in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-22)

The Gentiles Apart from God’s Covenant (Ephesians 2:11-12)

God is a covenant maker to His people. God entered into a covenant with Isreal through His patriarchs and prophets. But the Gentiles were ejected by the circumcised (v. 11) and excluded from citizenship in Israel (v. 12a), leaving them empty of hope and God (v. 12b). That is, until God’s covenant extends to us in His promised Son.

The Gentiles Accepted in God’s New Covenant (Ephesians 2:13-14)

We have been given hope through the Gospel. We have no hindrances in the Gospel to being a united body. We have a new head, Jesus Christ, who is in charge of the Church. This is what it means to be “Brought near through the blood of Christ” (v. 13). Because Jesus “is our peace” (v. 14), barriers are removed (v. 14).

The Gentiles are One Body (Ephesians 2:15-22)

The Church should have a diversity of people and unity in God’s will. The Church should grieve division over nonessentials and bring unity in Christ. The Church should defend the oppressed and invite all people into the promises of God. Death to the flesh brings “one new man out of the two” (v. 15). Divisive hostility has ended and peace has come (vv. 16-17). Dwelling within Gentiles and Jews, God has a new temple (vv. 18-22).

This passage discusses people of different cultures coming together, united by their faith in Christ. The simultaneous diversity and unity has always been part of God’s plan for God’s people. Remember at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:1-9), the people were given different languages, the start of the linguistic diversity we see in our world today. Such diversity was again reflected when the Holy Spirit descended on the Early Church (Acts 2). Remember the Gentile women included in Jesus genealogy (Matthew 1:2-16), those who might have expected to be excluded because of their gender and national origin but played integral roles in story of our Savior. God has consistently shown us that the Body of Christ is diverse and purposely so.

Closing

KNOW: Salvation reveals God’s plan of redeeming the nations through Israel by the work of Christ in fulfilling the law of Moses and bringing the New Covenant His atoning life, death, and resurrection.

FEEL: Salvation reconciles unworthy sinners to God and brings them into a reconciled community that is the very family of God through the gracious work of the Son.

DO: Salvation releases joy in us as we are freed from hatred, discrimination, ethnocentrism, and an oppressive society. Christ’s power breaks down all dividing walls and brings His people as one diverse family to display the work of the one true and living God.

In the figure of the church as a temple, Christ is the chief corner stone, the apostles and New Testament prophets are the foundation, and each Christian is a stone in the building 1 Peter 2:4-8

1 Peter 2:4–8 KJV 1900

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. 7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

In 1 Cor 3:11

1 Corinthians 3:11 KJV 1900

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Paul speaks of Christ as the sole foundation.

But you see, you have to believe to become a part of the family.

· As Jesus told Nicodemus, you must be born again…