Breaking Down the Walls

Ephesians 1:1–2 (ESV)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Text: Ephesians 2:11-22

I. Introduction: "The Great Wall"

Last week, we explored how we were once dead in our trespasses and sins but made alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10). This new life in Christ brings transformation not only to individuals but also to our relationships and communities, breaking down walls of division.

This division we looked at last week and how this sort of played out in the Olympics, how they had made a mockery of the Lord’s supper, by displaying transgenders in place of Jesus and his disciples along with the false god Dionysis out front.

Then to make matters worse there were several people including some here in our own community trying to explain away saying that it wasn’t what it appeared to be and one comment said that we should stop clinging to our pearls. The irony of these statements was that the Olympic committee admitted to it with an apology and the person who wrote the program even stated that it was the intention and felt that there have been many times when the last supper depiction had been portrayed in art like this. As if a justification was that everyone else is doing it so its okay.

It almost appears as if there is a certain group which has determined who can be offended and who can’t and well if you are a Christian too bad you do not line with their worldview therefore you cannot be offended. Which in truth we should not be, nor should we be surprised at this from the world. For they are as I was making the case last week, dead, dead to truth, dead to light and therefore in opposition to truth.

Speaking of offense, I want to apologize for last week in my comment about being stupid, for it was pointed out that I could have offended someone, so if you are stupid and you were offended I am sorry.

II. The Former State: Separation and Alienation Ephesians 2:11-12

Ephesians 2:11–12 (ESV)

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.

Here is why I say as Christians we should not be offended, for we once walked where they are, we at one time were hostile to God, dead in your sin and trespasses. That at one point you and I did not have hope, as gentiles as unbelievers we did not know the truth, we were without God in the world and thereby did what was in our old nature, that is what was right in our own eyes.

As we look at this passage we can see there are five ways in which Paul says we were alienated.

1. Separated from Christ: No Messiah, no hope of salvation.

2. Alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel: No inclusion in God's chosen people.

3. Strangers to the Covenants of Promise: Unfamiliar with God's promises.

4. No Hope: Living without expectation of redemption.

5. Without God in the World: Spiritual isolation and ignorance.

All of these equate to death, being dead, being left out and a wall of separation that existed. That is until the good news came, until we were reconciled to Christ Jesus, until death reached its fullness and the gospel came in and made us alive.

III. The Reconciliation: Christ as Our Peace Ephesians 2:13-18

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

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

You have all of this ways in which we are painted a picture of the extreme-ness of our situation, of the situation that those who are deceived by the god of this world are in. They are dead, alienated, separated, strangers and without hope. Yet even though we were far off, God has pulled us in and brought us near by the blood of Christ.

It is like those who are mocking our faith, even those who are gas lighting, saying the isn’t really what it is, even though it is, we need to not argue with them, no need to respond of Facebook, trust I have done that before, I can tell you there is nothing more foolish that arguing with a fool. Instead we should pray for them, forgive them, and most of all preach the gospel. The words of eternal life.

For it is Christ who saves, as in Ephesians 2:14

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Only Christ can break down this dividing wall of hostility. Thus Jesus reminds us to turn the other cheek, to pray for those who persecute you, to forgive, and yet even in all of this, we have to not make ourselves into martyrs. No this will come, when you faithfully preach the truth, you will be hated for his name sake, there will be those who call you foolish, there will be those who accuse of clutching to our pearls, but do not fear for he has overcome the world, he tears down the walls of hostility, we only need to stay steadfast, to pray and to be bold in proclaiming the truth.

I can tell you from reading books on the martyrs of the early church the greatest testimony they offered was their very lives. The fact that they were unafraid to die for their faith, for what they believed, because they had hope, it spoke volumes to the very people who killed them. Even Paul the other of this book was once one of those people, and yet Jesus came to him, blinded him and then made him see.

Ephesians 2:15 ESV

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,

Tearing down this wall he removed the separation that existed between God and us. 1 Timothy 2:5

1 Timothy 2:5 ESV

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Ephesians 2:16–18 ESV

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.

Then through removing this wall of separation we are brought together in unity. Unity in a new identity, the church, the body of Christ. Citizens of a new kingdom, one not of this world, so then we are called to be in the world, but not of the world.

IV. The New Identity: Citizens and Members of God's Household (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Ephesians 2:19 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

We all know what is going on, on the boarder, and it doesn’t matter which side you fall on, whether for or against a wall, doesn’t matter it is a good illustration as to the reality of this new kingdom we are part of. On one hand there is the responsibility of the leaders to protect their country and people from those who would invade to destroy the kingdom.

At the same time there needs to be a way for those who desire a better life and are willing to be productive citizens, who are willing to be brought in.

The problem we have today is that with no wall, no separation, thieves will come in and steel away, thus why Jesus says he is the only way to God. It is exclusivity, yet this exclusive is available to everyone. Thus why it is salvation by grace through faith. Not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom, yet the least of these, the children, the unlikely, the lowest undeserving will get in become it isn’t on any merit of our own, by solely by the will of God.

How that will of God plays out is by the word, by the gospel, by the proclamation of what Jesus did for you.

Ephesians 2:20–21 ESV

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.

Again we only have to reflect for minute from where we once were dead in our trespasses, alienated from God, hostile to the truth, without hope and yet, and yet the firm foundation the apostles and prophets set forth, to Jesus Christ himself as the cornerstone, all of this is being brought together. Saints from of old, down to this very day, generation after generations of Christians, proclaiming the truth of the gospel, that it is all about Jesus and what he did on the cross dying for our sins and then three days alter rising again for our justification, grace given to us freely, solely by the mercy of God.

All of this for this purpose Ephesians 2:22

Ephesians 2:22 ESV

In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

You are now included in this kingdom for you have been washed clean, in the waters of baptism, a circumcision not made with hands for the flesh, but the cutting off of the whole body, having died with Christ you are raised to new life. This is not just a one time thing that had happened to you long ago when you were a baby, or even as an adult by some decision you made, but a continual process of dying to the self and being raised to new life. Your are not just baptized, but are in baptism daily living in it. No longer can you say you were baptized but that you are baptized.

In that you are a citizen of the kingdom with all the saints in glory now having hope and peace knowing you are saved in Christ Jesus for all eternity. Amen