Ephesians 2:8-22

MPS

Advent Candle: Joy

Peace is a Product of Heaven

God gifts us grace, peace and his presence in Jesus christ

problems then/now:

divided churches, Jew and gentile

Divided nation and threatening the church

Dem/Rep

CA/NV

New members/Old members of core team

Who is closer to God?

circumcision/no

intro:

shopping for the holidays, all the different stores. 1 place for make-up, 1 place for books, 1 place for chocolates, 1 place for clothes…

or you could just go to amazon. but then you have to wait for shipping, have all these boxes to tear down etc and you aren’t supporting a local business… I digress.

Where is peace in stock?

Peace is a product of heaven

If we want to have peace on Earth, heaven must come to Earth

P1: God’s gift is grace

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

mercy/grace:

Grace, God’s undeserved favor or unmerited reward

Mercy, within his grace, the undeserved forgiveness we receive and the deserved anger that was poured out on Jesus

mercy:

Forgiveness, atonement, propitiation

not a results of works

he is at peace with you

grace:

work because of christ

you are at peace with him

so worship him, love him, live for him

When you receive and open the gift of God, it looks like Jesus Christ

Peace is a product of Heaven

in stock, always. Surplus. giving it away. No purchase necessary, interest free

Peace is a product of Heaven

Transition:

P2: God’s grace gives peace

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. 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. 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. 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,

then/now contrast

(12/19) separated/alienated from God. Now (16) Peace

(13) Exclusion, now (15-16) unity

(16) hostility, now (17) Peace

Who is closer to God?

jew/gentile dispute in the church

gentile situation:

no circumcision

in the flesh

separated from Christ

alienated from God

strangers to his promises

without God, without Hope

had many gods and many hopes

unchurched

Jewish situation:

circumcision

by the flesh!

churched

peace with God

Peace with one another

1 man from the 2

1 nation from all nations

1 family from all families

Killing dividing wall of hostility

The New Bible Commentary 2:11–22 A Digression: The Church, Cosmic Reconciliation and Unity: The New Temple

Concerning these regulations the Letter of Aristeas (c. 100 BC) maintains, ‘the legislator [Moses] surrounded us with unbroken palisades and iron walls to prevent our mixing with any of the other peoples in any matter, being thus kept pure in body and soul … worshipping the one almighty God’ (139) or, again, ‘And therefore, so that we should be polluted by none nor be infected with perversions by associating with worthless persons, he has hedged us about on all sides with prescribed purifications in matters of food and drink and touch and hearing and sight’ (149). A literal barrier in the temple itself which prohibited Gentiles, on pain of death, from entering the inner courts where Israel worshipped, was merely the outward expression of the Mosaic requirements.

both jew and gentile need the cross

Reconcile both to God

new humanity

through same Spirit to same Father

Peace is a product of Heaven

He came

He preached

by word

by actions

friendships

healings

on the cross

He gave us his Spirit

P3: God’s Peace dwells with us on Earth

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.

old temple: architectural disunity

“Dividing wall” of hostility

holy of Holies

inner courts outer courts

the priests enter, the people stay outside

architectural unity

Peace among members

apostles, prophets (foundation)

Saints, members (bricks and walls)

Living Stones

Jesus Christ (Cornerstones)

dwelling place for the Spirit

heaven on Earth

today

that day (next advent)

Peace is a product of Heaven

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

One in Christ

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. 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. 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. 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.