CHRISTIAN'S PARDON PT 2

Last week – we looked at, as believers, our past – dead to trespasses, walked according to the way of the world, following after satan, and allowing others to lead us away from God.

We also talked about the power that raises us raised us to new life. Then we concluded with starting to talk about the Pardon – to be absolved from the consequences of a crime, to pass without punishment – it is nothing that ca be earned, bought nor achieved – it is a gift of love

Let’s Pray

The Christian’s Pardon

Ephesians 2:11–22

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 were 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

3. Salvation—vv. 11–13 – 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 were 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Before salvation, separated from God. Only through His blood are we saved.

It is not by works of hands that save –

Paul tells us in Romans 2:29 – But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.

Colossians 2:11 – In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

Have you cut away the excess desires of your heart to be fully focused on God –

Sin separated you – as Paul says here and in Colossians 1:21 – And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,

Having no hope without God in the world – the Greek word Paul uses here is atheoi – meaning no knowledge – so not forsaken by God, not seaparted from God by sin – you were at one time without knowledge of God

v13 – But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

The pardon – brings you in Christ Jesus – brings you into the fold, the herd, the family

Not just brought in – brought NEAR! Near to God – no longer far off – no longer separated – you are brought near to God through the blood of Christ

IV. THE PEACE—vv. 14–18

1. Redemption—vv. 14–15 – For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

Through redemption we have the peace of God. The Jewish laws could not do this.

He and He alone should be our source of Peace

He broke down the physical and spiritual walls of division

Physical – in the temple – the court of Gentiles

Spiritual – all people – all men can be saved, redeemed through the blood of Christ – no ethnicity, no income, no gender, can separate you from the salvation – the Pardon that God is wanting to grant

He broke down the law of commandments and ordinances – regulating clean and unclean – removing the barriers between the Jews and Gentiles – no barriers no obstacles to the Pardon – to being a child of the living God

He fulfilled the law – thus being the final sacrifice – opening the door to all who would believe to be adopted into the family of God – receiving His Pardon for their sins

Finally bringing peace between the Jew and the Gentile – there is one in Christ – no Jew no Gentile

Paul writes in Galatians 3:28 – There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

We are all one!

2. Reconciliation—v. 16 - and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Joined back to God – reconciled to each other and to God – no more barrier between us and God –

Colossians 1:22 – he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

We are one – one body – one church – no division – we cannot let man made rules and religion separate us

3. Reception—vv. 17–18 – And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Able to enter His presence through the blood of Christ.

He came to bring those who were His chosen People into right relationship with Him and those of us who were not part of the chosen to have access to the One Spirit and the One Father

Notice the words For Through Him – it is only through Him that we have access to the Father

Jesus said Himself – John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

V. THE PICTURE—vv. 19–22

1. Conversion—v. 19 – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

Born into God’s family.

The One Spirit – One Father –

Not Stranger

Not Aliens

Not Citizens

Members of the Family of God – grafted into the vine – into the family

Galatians 6:10 – So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith

No division – no denominational superiority – no denomination segration – we are all the household of faith

Tell Catholic/Baptist Joke – first two rooms in heaven

2. Cornerstone—v. 20 – built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

Christ the chief cornerstone, and we the small stones in the building.

Isaiah 28:16 – therefore thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’

1 Corinthians 3:11 – For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Psalm 118:22 – The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

3. Construction—vv. 21–22 – in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

We are part of the family of God, as well as the kingdom of God. This comes through the new birth.

1 Peter 2:5 – you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

We are to grow in our relationship – grow our spiritual building – make it more secure and

1 Corinthians 6:19 – Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,

The Heading for Ephesians 2:11-22 is one in Christ – unity is extremely important to God –

One structure – one building – one family – one family – let no division come between members of the family

We are all one family – regardless of the tile hanging outside our doors – we should be more unified as the body of Christ to do His work – we are all family – imagine what the family reunion picture in heaven will look like –