One in Christ: From Separation to Reconciliation

Preliminary:

Invite to Ephesians 2.

Thanks

Will be reading Eph. 2:11-18 this morning

We have been studying this tremendous and life changing chapter for the past couple of weeks and the more I read and study and meditate on in the larger the impact, meaning, and scope.

The depth and richness of this chapter can only be unfolded and recognized through spiritual eyes and the help of the Holy Spirit.

I have just a short amount of time to share with you and so I have to skip over so much of what is here - but my prayer my aim is that we see the importance of what Paul is saying through God to us.

First we noted that the reality of spiritual death and that we have been raised from Death to Life: The Power of God’s Grace. Next we attempted to point out that we are Saved By Grace: The Gift of God.

I cannot remember if I had the opportunity to share with you one of the most important details of Ephesians 2:8 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

Again I am not an English major but this verse is telling us that the gift of God is salvation - the word “gift” does not modify grace or faith but rather “saved” or salvation

Salvation is a gift of God by grace through faith - faith is the conduit that we are able to receive the grace that is salvific or that brings salvation.

That is why we do not have anything to boast about - we didn’t do it and couldn’t do it.

This brings us up to our passage for this morning -

READ: Ephesians 2:11-18

Ephesians 2:11–18 KJV 1900

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye 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 ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

24 years ago then president Bill Clinton declared, from the East Wing of the White House...

“Nearly two centuries ago, in this room, on this floor, Thomas Jefferson and a trusted aide spread out a magnificent map -- a map Jefferson had long prayed he would get to see in his lifetime.  The aide was Meriwether Lewis and the map was the product of his courageous expedition across the American frontier, all the way to the Pacific.  It was a map that defined the contours and forever expanded the frontiers of our continent and our imagination.

Today, the world is joining us here in the East Room to behold a map of even greater significance.  We are here to celebrate the completion of the first survey of the entire human genome.  Without a doubt, this is the most important, most wondrous map ever produced by humankind.”

The Human Genome is without doubt one of the most remarkable recent discoveries and advances in science. It has impacted how we treat disease, test for medical conditions,

It helped guide in some of the treatment for my great niece Kendrali before her passing of her 1 p 36 deletion syndrome

The Human Genome Project (HGP), completed in 2003, (about three years after then President Clinton’s announcement. By that time George W. Bush was in office)

It was a monumental international effort to map the entire sequence of human DNA—over 3 billion base pairs.

But one of the most fascinating things this genome mapping discovered is that the human race, regardless of race or ethnicity, share 99.9% of the same DNA.

That 0.1% genetic difference accounts for various traits, such as skin color, height, predisposition to certain diseases, and other physical and physiological characteristics.

We may look at people and perceive stark contrasts in skin color or other physical traits, but these are governed by an exceedingly small portion of our overall genetic makeup.

Paul is telling us that as believers those who have been raised from spiritual death and are in Christ are made one with all others who have had the same experience.

That is what I want to talk to you about this morning in a little sermon I’ve titled: One in Christ: From Separation to Reconciliation

Paul begins this section with a word that sparks nostalgia - but he is looking for more of a historical look:

1. Remember The Past (Eph. 2:11-12)

Ephesians 2:11–12 “11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye 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:”

Remember - to bring back to mind -

Chuck Swindoll said, “We remember what we ought to forget and forget what we ought to remember”

Steven Wright: “Right now I’m having amnesia and déjà vu at the same time. I think I’ve forgotten this before.”

Not all remembering is precious and sweet, as Johnny learned - This is one of those stories I remember Bro. Baber telling - but it brings to mind the idea of remembering in a both positive and negative way:

REMEMBER THE DUCK

A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The boy panicked.

Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let’s wash the dishes."

But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?" And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.

Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, "I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally smiled and said, "That’s all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it." Again she whispered, "Remember the duck." Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.

After several days of doing both his chores and Sally’s, finally he couldn’t stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he’d killed the duck.

"I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."

(Richard Hoefler, Will Daylight Come?)

In our text Paul is stirring up their memory by calling them to…remember the past. This included two great truths to remember that not only enslaved them but was darkness and spiritual death.

First - Remember the division between Jews and Gentiles

Paul uses the terms “Uncircumcision” and “Circumcision” These were terms of identity and separation. Often used in a derogatory manner by the Jews during the time of Paul’s writing.

It was a reference to Gentiles - those who were not part of the community of Jews - who were marked by circumcision.

Circumcision was a significant symbol of Jewish identity

It was a physical sign of their covenant with God hearkening back to Abraham in Genesis 17:10-14.

One who was “uncircumcised” symbolized someone who was outside of the covenant community

They were distant from God, his promises, and were considered spiritually unclean.

It carried negative connotations, signifying not just a lack of physical circumcision but also a lack of spiritual status, privilege, and purity.

Being separated from the Jewish covenant community meant they were also in a state of separation from Christ and the community of God

Remember Paul says: “remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” NIV

Look at the end of verse 12 Ephesians 2:12 “... without God...”

John Wesley preached a sermon on this clause and in it he pictures living without God is like.

He uses a story that he says is true at least it was supposed to have been witnessed by many people - but an old or his word was “ancient” oak tree was being cut down. After it was felled it was split in two and according to the story, “out of the very heart of the tree crept a large toad, and walked away with all the speed he could.”

Wesley goes on to surmise how long the creature could have lived there years, maybe hundreds, maybe somehow the frog was somehow enclosed by the tree as it was growing...

Then he changes abruptly while he’s talking about how long the toad lived there with the statement, “We say, it had lived; But what manner of life!”

He points out “This poor animal had organs of sense; yet it had not any sensation.”

It had eyes but no ray of light ever entered its black abode

No air could penetrate where it was so he couldn’t hear anything as sound is the vibration of air - ears perhaps but couldn’t hear

Couldn’t smell or taste

Wesley then goes on to compare this creature (hardly to be called an animal) to a man that is “without God in the world!”

Then Wesley in remarking about what happened when the toad was set free from its prison the freedom and life it was given says,

Sermons, on Several Occasions Sermon 125: On Living without God

But the moment the Spirit of the Almighty strikes the heart of him that was till then without God in the world, it breaks the hardness of his heart, and creates all things new. The Sun of Righteousness appears, and shines upon his soul, showing him the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He is in a new world. All things round him are become new, such as it never before entered into his heart to conceive.

I did a little research but did not spend much time on this story - but I think the lesson is invaluable we have to have life outside of our self and this life was made possible by the Blood of Christ

Paul here in Ephesians is obviously writing to a group of people who were primarily made up of Gentiles - who were at one time without God , without Christ, without the promises

and Paul calls them to remember is a call to keep this in mind for a moment -

But I’m thankful we don’t live in the past - we remember at times - but we can’t stay there and the very next word in the next section brings us up to date - up to now!!!!

Yes REMEMBER THE PAST BUT also note...

2. Christ is Our Peace!!! Eph. 2:13-14

Ephesians 2:13–14 “13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

Christ is our peace because

The Blood Bridged the Divide

The Blood of Christ brings us nigh - the songwriter put it “it gives us access to God on high”

Verse 13 encapsulates the transformative power of Christ’s sacrificial death to overcome the separation between humanity and God - especially the inclusion of Gentiles into the people of God

Nearness to God was reserved for the Children of Abraham from the line of Isaac and Jacob.

God had established his covenant with the Children of Israel after they left Egypt and it was exclusive to them.

The only way to get near to God was to follow their way - as we understand the Bible.

Christ is our peace because the He Broke the Wall

Speculation of the wall

Some think it is referring to the The Temple balustrade, which was a physical barrier erected in Herod's Temple in Jerusalem. This wall served as a stark visual and spatial representation of the separation between Jews and Gentiles.

It was a low wall about four and a half feet between the Court of the Gentiles and the inner courts which were reserved for Jewish worship only.

It restricted Gentiles or Uncircumcised from accessing the aread where Jews were engaged in prayer, sacrifices, and worship.

It excluded them

There were also thirteen stone inscriptions along this wall that explicitly warned Gentiles against trespassing. They declared that any Gentile caught going beyond the boundary would face the death penalty.

Some of these inscriptions have been unearthed by archaeologist.

This wall would definitely have been broken down in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem - but I think Paul may be thinking of something a little deeper

Some speculate and I beleive they are getting a little closer - that the Law was the dividing wall

Specifically the Mosaic Law - later Paul is going to talk about this in verse 15 Ephesians 2:15 “15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;”

Breaking the wall of separation that was in the Law - which was not to teach ethnicity division so much as the concept of purity and holiness

Christ is our peace because HE HAS BROUGHT ABOUT ONE NEW HUMANITY

"God’s peace is not a truce between enemies but the transformation of adversaries into brothers and sisters." — Alistair Begg

I appreciate how John Piper put it,

The dividing line between the era of bloody separation and the era of blood-bought reconciliation is the cross of Christ, and in this text that line is drawn between verses 12 and 13.

In verse 12 Paul says to the Gentiles—the ethnic peoples outside Israel—“Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ [the Messiah], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” That’s what it meant to be on the outside of the covenant people.

Christ Came to Overcome

Then we cross the dividing line between the two eras—from separation to reconciliation. Verse 13: “But now [since Jesus Christ has come and died for sinners] in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” This is where I get the idea of many bloodlines moving toward the one bloodline, the bloodline of Christ. Many nations, many ethnic groups, many bloodlines were separated and alienated from Israel and from the covenant and Christ and the promises. But then God did something to change that. He sent Jesus Christ into the world.

Piper, J. (2014). Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014). Desiring God.

Peace is not found in the absence of conflict but in the presence of Christ." — Oswald Chambers

Christ built not a new wall but a different foundation

Sermons from John Piper (2000–2014) From Bloodlines to Bloodline

What Paul is saying this this: As long as the Old Testament Law—specifically “the law [understood as] commandments expressed in ordinances” (verse 15)—was the foundation of how people are reconciled to God, the Gentiles would always be on the outside, and the Jews themselves would be alienated from God, because even for them by the works of the law no flesh will be justified (Romans 3:20).

So Paul says, Christ died to put reconciliation with God and people on a different foundation, namely, himself and his own blood. Verse 15: “He abolished the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.” And what did he put in their place as a way to be reconciled to God and to each other? Verse 16: “He reconciled us both to God in one body through the cross.”

The cross is the key. When Christ died, he covered the sins of Jew and Gentile—for all who would believe on him (Ephesians 2:8). He provided a righteousness for Jew and Gentile—for all who would believe on him. And he did this by making himself their substitute: his punishment was theirs; his righteousness is theirs—both coming to completion on the cross.

Think Elsberry Church built new church but on different foundation due to flooding...

5. **Access to the Father (v. 17-18)**

Ephesians 2:17–18 KJV 1900

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

- Proclaiming peace to those far and near.

- Unified access to the Father through the Spirit.

"Christ broke down the wall so that we might build bridges." — Warren Wiersbe

1 The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; she is His new creation, by water and the word. From heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; with His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.

2 Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth, her charter of salvation: one Lord, one faith, one birth. One holy name she blesses, partakes one holy food, and to one hope she presses, with every grace endued.

3 Though with a scornful wonder, men see her sore oppressed, by schisms rent asunder, by heresies distressed, yet saints their watch are keeping, their cry goes up, "How long?" and soon the night of weeping shall be the morn of song!

4 The church shall never perish! Her dear Lord to defend, to guide, sustain, and cherish, is with her to the end; though there be those that hate her, and false sons in her pale, against the foe or traitor she ever shall prevail.

5 'Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, she waits the consummation of peace forevermore; till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest, and the great church victorious shall be the church at rest.

6 Yet she on earth hath union with God the Three in One, and mystic sweet communion with those whose rest is won; O happy ones and holy! Lord give us grace that we, like them, the meek and lowly, on high may dwell with Thee.