Can't We all just get along?(3)

I would like to say thank you for allowing me to return to your church once more until tonight that is. It is my understanding that your church is traveling through the book of Ephesians. I listened to Pastor Don Malcom go over Ephesians 2:1-10 last week on the New life in Christ. This Week we will look at Ephesians 2:11-22 At this time please stand for the reading of our text.

Ephesians 2:11-22 “Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded 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 formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one …”

Ephesians A little history.

Eph is the 10th book of the New Testament written by the Apostle Paul. It was written around 60-62 AD.

Chapters 1-3 is written by Paul to encourage believers often calling them”adopted Sons” of God, and proclaiming that God picked believers to be the foundation of the world.

Chapters 4-5 he will go on and encourage the believers to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. Chapter 6 is where he tells the church how to do this, by putting on the full armor of God.

Was written to the people of Ephesus in what is today Turkey. It was considered the gateway to Asia.

Paul would spend several years in Ephesus and was not writing the letters to right wrongs but to teach. Acts 19 would describe one on Paul’s first works to re-baptise twelve disciples in the name of Jesus who had been baptised Jewish-Christian Apollos in the name of John.

What is it that brings us together?

Raise your hand if you are a christian.

Raise your hand if you are saved.

Raise your hand if you are in church today.

All three of theses are easy to answer.

What if I told you that if you had brown hair you could not attend church? The text starts by speaking of the uncircumcised and the circumcised. This is an example of the outward flesh and not the inner faith.

For many years the Berlin wall would be used to separate Eastern and Western Berlin. It was an attempt to block the atheistic Communist nations from the encroaching influence of Christianity. This was a physical barrier to divide the country just like we would see in the Temples such as Harrods temple.

Ephesians 2:11-16

Ephesians 2:11-16 “So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.”

Circumcision was an outward expression for the Jews to show their faith and following God. This started back with Abraham. This can be found in Gen. 17:1-14 “When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him, saying, “I am God Almighty. Live in My presence and be blameless. I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell facedown and God spoke with him: “As for Me, My covenant is with you: you will become the father of many nations. Your name will no longer be Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful and will make nations and kings come from you. I will keep My covenant between Me and you, and your future offspring throughout their generations, as an everlasting covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you. And to you and your future offspring I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession, and I will be their God.” God also said to Abraham, “As for you, you and your offspring after you throughout their generations are to keep My covenant. This …”

in Acts 15:1 “Some men came down from Judea and began to teach the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom prescribed by Moses, you cannot be saved!”” it is used as a requirement for salvation.

Circumcision of the Heart

Romans 2:28-29 “For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, and true circumcision is not something visible in the flesh. On the contrary, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is of the heart—by the Spirit, not the letter. That man’s praise is not from men but from God.”

Philippians 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh—”

Colossians 2:11 “You were also circumcised in Him with a circumcision not done with hands, by putting off the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Messiah.”

Circumcision was of the old Covenants and with the death and resurrection of Christ a new covenant changed the requirement for one.

Ephesians 2:11-13 “So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.”

Gentiles had no thought of the Messiah

Christ-less

Stateless

Friendless

Hopeless-without Savior , no home, and no promises

Godless- without living God of Isreal

We experience “but nows”

once Christless , but now we are “in Christ Jesus”

stateless, but now full citizens.

friendless, but now members of God’s family.

hopeless, now promised a glorious future

godless, but now we can call God our Father.

They were stateless because they had no right to be citizens of God’s chosen Commonwealth of Isreal.

According to Swindolls’s Living Insights gentiles were Aliens and alienated from the covenant of YHWH. and were not decedents of Adam

Vs 13 speaks of being far and brought near. Paul is referencing Isaiah 57:19 “creating words of praise.” The Lord says, “Peace, peace to the one who is far or near, and I will heal him.”

Ephesians 2:14-15 Ephesians 2:14-15 “For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.”

peace is used to mean to restore what is broken. (reconciliation)

Peace between God and Mankind John14:27 ““Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.”

Peace between Jew and Gentile Ephesians 14

Torn down is a representation of the vail being ripped from the top down when Christ was crucified.

The divide in Harrods's temple kept the people separate but Christ broke that divide.

There is a tablet that was found near the wall of separation that stated “No foreigner may enter within the barrier and enclosure round the temple. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.”

once the vale was torn versus 15 states he made one new man from two resulting in peace.

Jew and Gentile = Christian

Ephesians 2:17-22 “When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.”

We are called to a new dwelling together in one community of the spirit.

those far- gentiles

those near- Jews

We must both hear the word of salvation to be reconciled to God and one another.

With this we are sharing four new relationships with one another.

equal and unhindered access to the father by the Spirit.

peace we have in Christ confers on us a citizenship among the saints.

saints refers to all the true believers in Christ.

3. we now relate to each other as a family , fellow members of God’s household.

4. We now have a common faith.

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.

In the foundation the cornerstone is not just the corner that a building starts with but the most level and true stone of the foundation. It is sturdy and true.

Building upon Christ

Ephesians 2:21-22 “The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.”

The Old Testament prophesied the coming Kingdom of God, Jesus’ Sprit-led life, death, and resurrection accomplished it, and the Apostles preached its reality.

This is an example of the Trinity being reveled to the new one person in the eyes of Christ.

We are all living temples of God and inhabit it through the Sprit for all eternity.

Conclusion

before Christ there was a clear division in people. Jew and Gentiles

His sacrifice allowed us to become one family and one person /living temple.