The Race and The Cross

Galatians 3:28 Ephesians 2:16

So today is a day that we bring glory and honor to our heavenly Father. As they say “To God be the Glory for ever and ever Amen” We are truly honored and elated to see all those with us this morning. Today is the finale of Black History Month. Our assignment was to wear some African attire and I made sure to follow those specific guidelines this morning. After service, we have prepared a soul food meal and pray that you will stay and fellowship with us.

We are continuing our series on True stories by shaping our minds through scripture. In our text this morning we read from the book of Ephesians. Turn your Bibles to Ephesians 2:11-22

Our Purpose and focus this morning comes from Verse 16 and that He (Christ), might reconcile them both (Jew and Gentiles) to God in one body (How) through the cross,

Our title today is “Race and the Cross” We gather under the shadow of the cross. a symbol of redemption, reconciliation, and renewal. And not only that but a symbol of Jesus and of Us.

Oswald Chambers said it best

2108 The cross of Jesus Christ is a revelation; our cross is an experience.

Oswald Chambers

As followers of Christ, we are called to experience the transformative power of the cross in addressing the deep-rooted issues of race and prejudice that plague our world. Let us delve into God's Word and reflect on how the cross calls us to confront racial divisions and strive for unity in Christ Jesus. The revelation of Jesus means we see the truth of the cross in a way that we did not know or see before. So that through our experiences we may have the necessary knowledge to make change.

Every time we read the word of God it should add knowledge that was not there before. Every time we come to this place. We should receive the transformative power to make changes in our lives, In our Home at our jobs, in other people’s lives and surely the world. Hatred, bigotry and racism is not new, but here is where we come and renew, reload and replace our anger with a transformative power from the cross. The power that is able to save our lives. Before we dig deeper into the cross

Let's first go back to the beginning for a History lesson. So get your note paper out, As we conclude Black History Month. It's befitting to show how our race connects with the cross. Let’s look at Noah’s son Ham.

The line of Ham has four branches: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan. Genesis 10:6

Genesis 10:6 (NKJV)

6 The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

Now Mizraim is a source word for the land known as Egypt. Cush (also translated as Ethiopia) - This term refers to the African kingdom of Nubia. Ham’s curse was used by several to justify slavery among people of color.

Noah pronounces a curse on Ham’s son Canaan and his descendants for exposing his nakedness in Genesis 9:25-26 Then he said “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall He be to his brothers.” 26 He also said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem; and let Canaan be his servant.)

This curse or revelation becomes truth in Judges 1:28(NLT)

28 When the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as slaves, but they never did drive them completely out of the land (NLT)

Their land is the promised land of Abraham and his offspring. This curse already happened during the allotment of land taken from the Canaanites.

The line of Ham’s son Cush which means black are people located in the southernmost part of Africa where Americans are descendants. LET ME SAY THIS We ARE NOT FROM THE CURSED LINE OF THE CANAANITES.

There are different types of slavery in the Bible such as:

Indentured Servitude - entered voluntarily to pay off debt. Like a credit system.

Involuntary Servitude - (for punishment) to pay off a debt. captured in war

Proverbs 22:7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.

But race-based slavery, there is no such thing in the Bible as an inferior race because of your skin color.

Kidnapping people from their homeland and slave trading them for profit was condemned in the Bible.

Exodus 21:16 (NLT) 16 “Kidnappers must be put to death, whether they are caught in possession of their victims or have already sold them as slaves.

Both parties shall be put to death. Joseph’s brothers broke this law by selling him to the Midianites Traders and then they sold him to Potiphar in Egypt.

This leads them to be put into HARSH slavery by the Egyptians. OVER 400 YEARS IN SLAVERY, In which God delivers them out of this cruel bondage. Now I know we are sharing text from the Old Testament but let me also give you a word from God in the New Testament 1 Timothy 1:9-11 (NLT)

For the law was not intended for people who do what is right. It is for people who are lawless and rebellious, who are ungodly and sinful, who consider nothing sacred and defile what is holy, who kill their father or mother or commit other murders., 10 The law is for people who are sexually immoral, or who practice homosexuality, or are slave traders, liars, promise breakers, or who do anything else that contradicts the wholesome teaching

11 that comes from the glorious Good News entrusted to me by our blessed God.

Shaping our minds on scripture in regards to the myths we hear or see. Transformative power through the cross. Now History class is over lets now direct our attention to the Race and The cross.

Ephesians 2:11-13 ( Read) Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you 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 you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Lets look at some points of the transformative power of the cross

1. The Universality of the Cross:

- The message of the cross transcends cultural, social, and racial boundaries. It speaks to the shared human condition and offers hope and salvation to all people, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Paul transitions from his discussion of salvation by grace through faith to an explanation of our unity in Christ. Writing to Gentile Christians, he begins by stating that these people are still uncircumcised. This stood in strong contrast to circumcised Jews, who saw that ritual as a necessary sign of membership among God's chosen people. In addition, these non-Jewish believers were often dismissed as "the uncircumcision" by those who held to traditional Judaism. Traditional Judaism, were people who did not belong to God's family. So what changed? First, is separation; the relationship and love they now knew in their hearts did not previously exist. Second, they had no connection with the people of God and were considered foreigners by the Jewish people. Third, they were not part of God's promises. God's Old Testament covenants were made with the Jewish people, not the Gentiles. They were left out of these previous arrangements. Fourth, they had "no hope" prior to knowing Christ. Paul uses this phrase in one other place, describing how when believers die the surviving believers do "not grieve as others who have no hope"

2. Confronting Racial Prejudice: Ephesians 2:14-15 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace

- The cross challenges us to confront the sin of racial prejudice and discrimination within ourselves and society. It calls us to examine our attitudes, biases, and actions toward those who are different from us racially or ethnically.

- As followers of Christ, we are called to actively resist racism in all its forms and advocate for justice, equality, and reconciliation in our communities.

Verse 14, Paul continues to describe how a saving faith in Christ changes our spiritual status. Jesus does not simply give peace; He is peace. It is because of who He is and what He has done on the cross, through the outpouring of His blood (Ephesians 2:13) that we can be at peace with God (Romans 5:1). Through Jesus, both Paul and his readers, Jews and Gentiles, were unified. All people can now become family: equals through the salvation provided in Jesus The Christ. In addition, Paul makes an interesting reference to removing a "dividing wall of hostility." Much debate surrounds the meaning of this phrase. Some have suggested a connection with the wall of the Jewish temple. Others see a reference to the tearing of the temple veil at the crucifixion (Matthew 27:51). However, Paul does not appear to have a physical wall in mind, but rather a personal barrier which previously existed between Jews and Gentiles. the question I want pause and ask What personal Barriers are you holding on too?

Verse 15, The word translated as "abolish" here is the Greek word katargēsas. This literally means "to render inoperative," or "to remove all power from." Paul's intent is to say that the purpose of the Law had been completed. He calls the law good in other places (Romans 7:12; 1 Timothy 1:8), yet his emphasis here is that it no longer separated Jews and Gentiles from one another. Instead, the focus of a believer should be on common salvation, in Jesus, which makes us one family. WE HAVE TO SHUT IT DOWN!! Instead of the traditional conflict between Jews and Gentiles, God's intent with the gospel was a family based on Christ rather than law, rooted in salvation rather than circumcision. The result of this change was "peace." Paul would open his letter with peace (Ephesians 1:2), highlight it throughout his letter (Ephesians 2:14, 15, 17; 4:3; 6:15) and end with peace (Ephesians 6:23).

Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

He greatly emphasized peace, both as a Jew among Gentiles, and speaking to a city that had long known war and conflict. Peace was greatly desired by many yet found only in the one Lord Jesus Christ.

3. Embracing Diversity in Christ: Ephesians 2:15-16

- The cross creates a new humanity—a diverse and inclusive community united in Christ. It invites people of every race, ethnicity, and background to come together as equal members of the body of Christ.

Last Sunday we worshipped with our neighbors and they did not look like us. from the outside, but because of the cross we ARE UNITED and had a good time in the Lord. eagerly awaiting the next event.

Colossians 3:11: "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." This verse emphasizes that in Christ, all racial, cultural, and social distinctions are transcended, and believers are united in Him.

- In Christ, there is no room for racism or prejudice. Instead, we are called to celebrate and embrace the rich diversity of God's creation, recognizing that every person is fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God.

4. Pursuing Racial Reconciliation: Ephesians 2:16  and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

- The cross provides the foundation for racial reconciliation and healing. It offers the forgiveness and grace necessary to bridge the divides created by racism and injustice. The peace Christ brings to believers includes unity, as members of a single "body" of the church. This unity is interestingly exemplified using a symbol of death: the cross. Though Paul frequently mentions the sacrifice of Jesus in Ephesians, this is the only place the cross is specifically mentioned. He uses it to highlight his next phrase, where he notes that Jesus' crucifixion resulted in the end of the spiritual hostility between Jews and Gentiles. More importantly, it removed the spiritual obstruction between man and God. The connection of "cross" and "kill" is clear. Christ's cross—an instrument of execution to kill Spiritual Hostility Both Jews and Gentiles were responsible for sending Jesus to the cross. Through the cross, Jews and Gentiles had equal access to salvation through faith in Jesus, becoming part of one family of God. Paul would teach in 1 Corinthians 1:18, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." The cross does not make sense to unbelievers, but to the saved it represents God's power to change lives.

The Apostle Paul here in Ephesians emphasizes the idea that through Christ, barriers and divisions between different racial or ethnic groups are broken down, leading to reconciliation and unity.

- As ambassadors of Christ, we are called to actively pursue racial reconciliation by seeking to understand, empathize with, and advocate for those who have been marginalized or oppressed because of their race.

When race is brought up it is used to unify brothers and sisters in Christ.

Acts 2:17 Romans 3:22-24

Acts 2:17 (NLT)

‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

Romans 3:22–24 (NLT)

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

Conclusion:

Martin Luther King’s speech “I Have a Dream” coincides with Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

When all of God's children, Black men and white men, Jews, and Gentiles, Protestants, and Catholics, will be able to join hands. He’s preaching unity in Christ through the Cross and the Gospel.

As we reflect on the profound significance of the cross, let us be reminded of its transformative power to break down barriers of race and unite us as one body in Christ.

- Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross demonstrates God's unconditional love for humanity, breaking down the barriers of sin and division that separate us from God and one another.

This is my closing prayer for us all”

May we be agents of reconciliation and justice in a world marred by racial division, embodying the transformative love and grace of our Savior.

Let us go forth, empowered by the cross, to work towards a future where all God's children are treated with dignity, respect, and love, regardless of race or ethnicity. Amen.