Christ’s salvation for ALL - Ephesians 2:11-22

Introduction

Recap previous weeks in series

Chapter 1 God’s rich eternal blessings and the first part of chapter 2, God’s grace toward humanity and our need for revival.

What is Christian salvation?

Salvation - Deliverance from the power of sin.

Jewish/Gentile relationship

Explain who each people group is:

Jews typically referred to Gentiles as dogs.

R. T. France

Circumcision was a source of Jewish pride.

It was used to show that they were set apart from the world, similarly to baptism in the Christian life.

It was a religious slur for them to call the Gentiles uncircumcised.

They were saying that you don’t have a relationship with God.

They were saying we’re better than you.

The story is told of two ducks and a frog who lived happily together in a farm pond. The best of friends, the three would amuse themselves and play together in their waterhole. When the hot summer days came, however, the pond began to dry up, and soon it was evident they would have to move. This was no problem for the ducks, who could easily fly to another pond. But the frog was stuck. So it was decided that they would put a stick in the bill of each duck that the frog could hang onto with his mouth as they flew to another pond. The plan worked well--so well, in fact, that as they were flying along a farmer looked up in admiration and mused, "Well, isn't that a clever idea! I wonder who thought of it?" The frog said, "I did..."

Pride comes before the fall.

Do you have a pride issue today? Maybe thinking you’re better than others?

Maybe you’re on the opposite end of that and you’ve been burned so many times by others pride in your past that you won’t open up to anyone now!

Transition:

As we read this passage in Ephesians today, I want you to see the unity that Christ is calling all people to under him. I want you to see that Christ’s love extends to all of humanity, regardless of your past.

I’ll echo the term used last week, and say you are saved by Grace through faith! It’s nothing that we do that earns us salvation, but everything that Christ did for us.

read with me:

Body

Ephesians 2:11–22 CSB

11 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. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 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. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away 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 foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

#1 In Christ we have Unity

As there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in sin, so there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile in salvation.

David Arthur

See Paul wanted the Jewish and Gentile listeners to realize that we are all broken and eternally separated from God from birth. We are born with the same brokeness and we have the same hope for salvation in Christ.

God wants horizontal and vertical peace

He wanted the new creation of one party now united horizontally to find vertical union with God.

Max Anders

Christ is the physical embodiment of peace between man and God.

Thus to have true unity, we need to have true peace between us and God.

We need to have Jesus as our Lord.

Is Jesus your Lord tonight?

We have a lot of “lords”

Does anyone know what that word “lord” means?

lord - someone or something having power, authority, or influence; a master or ruler.

Often, we let worldly things become our lord, having power and influence over our lives.

When we seek worldly things as our lord, we fail to have unity amongst ourselves.

#2 Jesus healing the ten men with leprosy

Luke B. Dedication across Boundaries: Overcoming Contagion and Prejudice (17:11–19)

Samaria, the land populated by people whom Jews considered half-breeds who were unworthy of God’s blessings or their friendship. Entering Samaria and encountering Samaritans made Jesus unclean under the Jewish law

Samaritans were part Jewish by race and part gentile, there was a period of time in the old testament where King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon moved the Jewish people around to prevent them rising up against him and he moved them away from the area we know as Samaria in this story.

Not all of the Jews left when King Nebuchadnezzar tried to move them and so they inter married with nonJewish people who moved in and settled Samaria, thus becoming unclean half breeds to the Jews.

Show image of travel

The Jews disliked the samaritans so much that they would cross the Jordan river while traveling from Judea to Galilee just to avoid being around Samaritans.

This would make the journey much further, but their judgment and hatred pushed them to not even caring.

But notice Jesus path, straight through Samaria.

Why do you think Jesus went straight through Samaria?

Likewise, Jesus was compelled to go through Samaria because of love.

Richard D. Phillips

Let our love guide us in reaching those who society deems as unreachable.

We serve a God who’s love and grace has no limits!

Does anyone know anything about leprosy?

Leprosy - A terrible skin condition

Luke 17:11–19 CSB

11 While traveling to Jerusalem, he passed between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men with leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he told them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And while they were going, they were cleansed. 15 But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God. 16 He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he told him, “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.”

Your faith has saved you.

Jesus not only healed a man who was an unclean leper, but also an unclean samaritan.

He was doubly unclean according to Jewish law!

Why would Jesus heal someone so filthy, so broken, so lost?

Is that really the nature of God?

Yes, Jesus through his great love for us offers the free gift of salvation to all who would believe.

Mark 2:17 CSB

17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Jesus came to save those who know they needed saving.

God is calling us to a horizontal peace with other people on earth, but also to a vertical peace with Him

Conclusion

How do we get that?

Seek the Lord, we can’t understand how to love like him if we don’t know him.

Be different than society wants you to be.

Start a relationship with Jesus.