Peace with God (2:16-18)

Introduction:

As we continue through this blessed book of Ephesians, we have been overwhelmed with the indicative realities of what God has done for a people he chose who deserved his wrath and eternal judgment. Instead of this judgment, he extended mercy. Instead of hell, he gave a seat in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Instead of the sinner in rebellion against him, he made saints who were set apart as his masterpieces to declare his glory. All this as a result of his immeasurable, covenantal love (which we learned about last week in Andrew John’s message), in which he bound himself to extend these graces to his chosen ones.

So, in essence, the God of wrath and judgment has become our loving Father. In other words, we now enjoy Peace with God. But how is this possible since God is holy and we are anything but holy. That is our topic this morning from Ephesians 2:16-18.

Text: Ephesians 2:16-18

Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV

11 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— 12 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 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, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 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, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Main Idea: Because peace with God is absolutely essential in both time and space, the access to this peace can be found in only one place, being positioned in Christ.

Note that we begin this morning with the conjunction and, which connects us back to our last message, looking at how God’s eternal purpose was to bring the Messiah, Jesus, through the Jews, and then include the Gentiles in the salvation that the messiah would bring along with the Jews, thus making one new man; one new human race. Let’s look again to the previous verse, to which verse 16, is connected.

Ephesians 2:15 ESV

15 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,

It is this phrase, so making peace, that connects us to this morning’s message.

But let’s look carefully at this phrase, because at first glance you might think that the context is showing peace between Jew and Gentile. Though this is partially true, this is not the whole story, because,

I. Peace Begins with Reconciliation (16)

(16) and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

might reconcile (apokatallasso [aor, act, sub: more possible then probable, creating the purpose of the action]) - the purpose was to make things right between opposing parties.

us both (Jew and Gentile) to God - our greatest fractured relationship is between all humanity and God. Until that is fixed, all other relationships will remain broken. For, all other relationship problems are symptomatic of this fractured relationship.

in one body - Shows the unity of God’s people, both Jew and Gentile, when, and only when, we are reconciled to God. How did this happen again…?

through (by means of) the cross - this unity, resulting from being reconciled to God, was done, and only could be done, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. How did the cross reconcile us to God?

Paid the sin debt we owed

Colossians 2:14 ESV

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Brought forgiveness of sins

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Appeased the wrath of God against our sin

Romans 1:18 ESV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

1 John 4:10 ESV

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Enabled adoption into God’s family, through the gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Ephesians 1:5 ESV

5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

Ultimately, the cross was the instrument used to bring reconciliation, and it...

thereby (preposition of means) killing (apokteino [aor, act, par] - to put to death) the hostility (echthra [noun] a state of deep seated ill-will, the opposite end of reconciliation) - Again, It was the cross that brought an end to our hostilities against God, and therefore our hostilities against one another. The unregenerate are still in hostility against God, and are therefore his enemies:

James 4:4 ESV

4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

We see next, that this peace brought about by reconciling God with man through the cross, is a peace that includes both Jews and Gentile...

II. Peace Includes Both Jews and Gentiles (17)

(17) And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

he (Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and His earthly message and through the commissioning of His disciples, Matt 28:18-20) came (erchomai [aor, act, par] - to move forward) and preached (evangelizo [aor, mid, ind] - to be a herald, to evangelize) peace - This cessation of hostilities was made known through preaching. God has chosen preaching to be the mode of transferring the good news of the gospel of peace to those who will hear.

Romans 10:14–15 ESV

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Christ proclaimed his peacemaking achievement in the cross, though he did not travel to Asia in the flesh, he traveled through heralds such as Paul, whose feet carried the Gospel of peace.

to you who were far off - The Jews who were scattered abroad, and therefore included the Gentiles in their hearing

to those who were near - The Jews

This is a reference from Isaiah 57, of the promise of peace that God would bring his people following his judgment, but note the inclusion of others in verse 57:19:

Isaiah 57:14–21 ESV

14 And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” 15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. 17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. 18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

This reconciled new humanity that now have peace with God also have, with this peace, been provided access to the Trinity.

III. Peace Provides Access to the Trinity (18)

(18) For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

For through him - through Jesus Christ and all he did on the cross to bring peace with God

we both - Again, Jew and Gentile

have (echo [pre, act, ind] - to be continually in possession of) [the] access (noun with the definite article the in the greek) - This means access into the presence of a superior by a subordinate, and with the definite article, this shows that the access is exclusively the only one.

through him (Jesus, the Son)...in one Spirit (Holy Spirit)...to the Father (God the Father) - Peace with God through Jesus Christ has provided access for both Jew and Gentile into the presence of the Trinity.

God, the Son - we are positioned in him

Ephesians 1:11 ESV

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,

God the Holy Spirit - he dwells (tabernacles) within us, seals us, and is our guarantee

1 Corinthians 6:19 ESV

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,

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

God the Father - we come into his throne room at any moment of any day

Hebrews 4:16 ESV

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So What?

Do we understand that the greatest human need in the 21st century is to be reconciled to God?

Without which, we are under God’s wrath, and governed by our own selfish, fleshly desires, which continues to create disharmony with God and spills over into disharmony with all mankind.

Do we understand that being reconciled to God is available to all human beings, Jews and all gentiles?

There is no superior race that earns the right to be made right with God.

All human beings are dead in sin and the gospel of Christ when preached to all peoples will quicken, or make alive all who hear and place their trust in Christ alone.

Do we understand that being reconciled to God, thus making peace with Him, gives us access to the Trinity?

There is no religion out there whereby its worshippers have an intimate relationship with the eternal God who dwells with them and in them.

This access also provides intimacy and peace with one another, since being in Christ causes us to take on the attributes of Christ. Thus we love like him, forgive like him, show mercy and grace like him, and become selfless like him.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.