Ephesians 2:11-22 - God Gives Peace

On December 23, 1914 the world was five months into the first world war.

This conflict was unlike any other.

Men were in 3x3 wet trenches, filled with fear and sleeplessness.

Bodies were stacking up left and right.

On Christmas Eve at about 10PM, a British machine gunner’s attention gets caught by some noise from the enemy side of no man’s land.

He heard the German’s singing Christmas carols.

The British joined in the song.

Then the singing stopped when they heard a voice from the other side call for them to come over there.

A British sergeant answered, “You come half way, I come half way.”

Slowly, soldiers began to crawl from the trenches and they met together in the middle of no man’s land, where normally bullets are flying.

They sang songs together, played some games, traded tobacco and wine.

Both the Germans and the British enjoyed a one-night ceasefire…together.

24 hours ago, they were seeking blood. 24 hours from that moment, the conflict would continue.

After months of shooting, bombing, stabbing, blood, guts, and terror.

For just a brief moment, there was peace.

Today we’re going to be talking about peace.

Big Idea: God gives peace.

There’s a mischaracterization about Christians, that we do not deal in conflict because that would go against what we believe in.

Peace is not the absence of conflict, it’s the ability to walk through conflict while standing on a firm foundation.

The Allied powers/theCentral powers found peace in the Christmas season, but it was very temporary.

God has drawn us to Himself and drawn us together.

Stand to read

Ephesians 2:11–12 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.

Leader: This is God’s Word.

Everyone: Thanks be to God.

Context

Paul describes this deep hatred and rivalry between Jews/Gentiles.

The Jews had rituals, feasts, and ceremonies that separated them from other nations.

The Jews bragged that they had a physical circumcision that the Gentiles didn’t.

Circumcision to was a symbolic of being cut free from sin with Israel.

The Jews viewed themselves as purebreds.

They viewed the Gentiles as mutts.

There was a clear divide between the two.

Paul is calling them to remember who they were.

Separated from Christ (v. 12a)

Without a Savior/Messiah.

To be separated from Christ means that you were dead in sin and excluded from the life of God.

Strangers (v. 12b).

Outsiders.

They were excluded from the hope of a coming Savior.

They were lost, and did not know of anyone coming.

Hopeless and godless (v. 12c)

The Gentiles did not know that there was a plan to redeem them.

They did not know of a God who loved them and said He would saved them.

Transition—At one time you were separated. “But now”

Say “but now”

This sounds like v. 4

Paul is showing them that they have been reconciled to God through Christ.

Now they are reconciled to one another through Christ.

Ephesians 2:13–16 ESV

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.

The only way we can be brought near is through Jesus’s self-sacrifice for our sins.

This was the entire reason that Jesus came

To reconcile us with God and draw us together into His kingdom.

Jesus’s plan was to completely reinvent humanity.

He was going to take away the divides, and make something brand new.

When Jesus died on the cross, He didn’t just take the Jewish sins.

Jesus mission was to cross social, racial, religious, status barriers and unite humanity in Him.

He planned to take both Jews and Gentiles and unite them to God.

In Christ, there are no weight classes.

There aren’t super, varsity, or championship level Christians

Jesus’s blood gives us peace with God and with one another.Church, what does this mean for us?

Jesus’s peace changes how we relate with one another.

This is what Christ’s church is.

The church is made up of sinners reconciled to God.

There is no further explanation and no asterisks. There are no Jews/Gentiles.

The peace of Jesus enables those who use to hate one another get to draw near to the Lord and worship together.

This can be hard to receive. Is there someone that you would have a hard time being at peace with if they came to church here?

My friend Joe was having a hard time going to another church because he felt like the other person was going to judge him if he went to church there.

He went and spoke with the other man and the other guy received him just like Jesus would.

The other guy showed him that Jesus’s grace is far stronger than their conflict could ever be.

It’s easy for us to get this mindset that someone else doesn’t deserve grace.

When we recognize that we don’t deserve the grace of God, that empowers us to be reconciled with other people.

When Jesus is our peace, we can recognize our desperate need of God’s grace and that same grace is for other people too.

We’re sinners who get to approach God together as His Church.

Ephesians 2:17–18 ESV

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.

Jesus came and preached peace to us.

Say “peace”

Not because he went to church all his life (of course Jesus loves him).

Jesus came to us when we were sinners.

We all get the same message.

He called us to be reconciled to God and to one another.

Gospel Presentation

Jesus came to bring us peace by shedding His blood on the cross for our sins.

Jesus got rid of the religious subscriptions and membership

Now Jew/Gentile both get access to God together through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

We now enjoy constant access to our heavenly Father.

Jesus gives us access to the Father.

Jesus says, “They’re with me. That’s my church.”

Not our nationality, social status, race.

We get to approach God because we trust in Jesus for salvation.

The only requirement is “Do you have the peace of Jesus?”

If you’re not a Christian, you can have peace today.

You can be changed and given a new life today!

In a world of people trying to find their purpose and peace, we know that this deep inner peace can only be found in trusting in the crucified Jesus.

If you’re a Christian and you feel no peace, what are you functionally trusting in that isn’t Jesus?

Remember who you were so that you can remember what Jesus did!

Transition

Paul reminded them of who they were.

Then Paul pivots their attention to Jesus has made them to be.

“Since God has given you peace…”

Ephesians 2:19–22 ESV

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.

Citizens of God’s kingdom (v. 19a)

In the kingdom, you’re not a second class citizen.

Paul writes this during a time where Roman citizenship was prized because of its wonderful privileges.

A major concern in our country is the topic of immigration and deportation.

We’re drawing the lines to determine how to come here legally and obtain a citizenship.

To be foreign in this country is to feel very vulnerable and on notice right now. They have to keep their papers close at all times.

Paul gives them a sense of peace in saying, “You belong here. You have full citizenship in God’s kingdom. You won’t be removed.”

Members of God’s family (v. 19b)

Paul’s metaphor gets a little more personal and says that they’re not only neighbors, but family.

We have the same access to God the Father as His adopted children in Christ.

“We don’t only belong in the same city, we belong at the same table.

Stones in God’s temple (vv. 20-22)

Paul paints the most elaborate picture for his audience.

The temple was the focal point of Israel for a thousand years.

It was the center of worship.

Now in Christ, there’s a new temple—the Church.

Jesus’s peace changes how we relate to the world.

The world bases their understanding of Jesus on their interaction with the Church.

Most people who avoid Jesus had a bad interaction with church people.

Please don’t miss Jesus because of a bad interaction with a church person.

This Church is God’s plan to reveal Himself to the world.

You’d think God would use something more impressive.

It isn’t A-list celebrities and successful superstars that God uses to reveal Himself through.

God’s church is made ups of ordinary sinners, forgiven and gathered together by Jesus.

This is how God chose to display His power and peace to the world.

You’re now citizens of God’s kingdom.

The Lord welcomes you as His children.

You have a part to play in God’s plan of redemption for the world.

We get to be disciples who bring other people to Jesus.

We help people take their next step.

Take the Next Step

Identify who you need to make peace with.

Who do you need to seek forgiveness from?

“I know what I have done, and that’s not who I am anymore.”

Who do you need to forgive?

Share Christ’s peace with someone.

God gives us peace with Him, and changes how we relate to one another and to the world.