Christ the Chief Cornerstone

Introduction

Their Condition — (Vs. 11-12)

Vs. 11

John Phillips — The enmity between Jew and Gentile was deep, acrimonious, ancient, and enduring. Jews regarded Gentiles as unclean scavenger dogs. Gentiles despised Jews as grasping, canting, religious hypocrites.

Romans 2:28–29 KJV 1900

28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Vs. 12

Dr. Curtis Vaughan — There was a deep hunger on the part of many for spiritual deliverance. But mere desire is not hope. Hope is a blending of desire with expectation, and this the Gentile world did not have. The literature of the age and inscriptions on tombstones provide unimpeachable evidence that the Gentile world bade an eternal farewell to their loved ones when they laid their bodies in the grave. They had no hope that death should ever be “destroyed” or “swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor. 15:26, 54). “Their future,” writes Eadie, “was a night without a star” (p. 167).

Their Cure — (Vs. 13-18)

Vs. 14

John Phillips — Paul used that physical barrier as a type—a picture—of the great division in the ancient world between Jew and Gentile. Christ, Paul wrote, has broken down that barrier; in Him Jew and Gentile meet on common ground. We are all one in Christ. The cross has swept away the obstacles created by Jewish rituals and laws. Just as Jews and Gentiles united to crucify Christ, so Jews and Gentiles are now united in Christ and His church. The old barrier has been abolished.

Galatians 3:28 KJV 1900

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

Chuck Swindoll — Having broken down the wall that had separated Jews and Gentiles, God now calls members of both groups into the church, which is a new work, completely distinct from Israel. He describes the church, the body of Christ, as “one new man” (Eph. 2:15). Put another way, Jesus didn’t “Greekify” Jews or “Jewify” Greeks. Nor did He create a hybrid people called “Grews” or “Jeeks.” Rather, Paul explicitly states that God made “one new man” from the two groups, and that one new man is the church, the body of Christ. In this way, unity has been accomplished and peace has been established.

Vs. 17-18

John Phillips — The Gentiles were afar off; the Jews were nigh. Yet both were equally lost. They were at war not only with each other but also with God. Then peace through the blood of Christ was proclaimed to both, and all differences were gone. In Romans 3:22–23 Paul wrote, “There is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The smug and surly elder brother was just as lost as the profligate prodigal. One was afar off, the other was nigh, but both were equally estranged from the father and needed to be reconciled. The differences between them were in the outward expressions of their pride, self-will, and rebellion; they both had the same inner need of forgiveness and grace.

The gospel reduces all people to the same level. All people are brought into the great equation of salvation through the same common denominator: repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John Phillips — One day a little boy named Willie stood wistfully at the gates of Buckingham Palace. He longed to go in and see the king. Between him and the king, however, were iron gates, rigid protocol, armed soldiers, and watchful police. What he wanted was quite out of the question.

A policeman who was ordering the lad to leave suddenly stiffened and sprang to attention as a well-dressed, confident man approached. A brusque nod from the man and the policeman unlocked the gates and stood aside. “Come with me, sonny,” said the man, taking the little boy’s hand. “We’re going in to see the king.”

Into the palace they went. Inside were forty housemaids, fifty footmen (including one man who did nothing but wind clocks all day), and six hundred rooms. Willie and the man walked on and on—to the north wing, up stairs, along endless passages, to the king’s corridor on the main floor, and into the master suite. (They were a quarter of a mile away from the kitchens!)

The man seemed to know the way and chatted about the rooms they passed: the magnificent ballroom that contained two majestic thrones on a raised dais; the stamp rooms that housed the world’s most valuable collection; the Belgian suite with its forty-four rooms for the use of state visitors; the royal wardrobe; the music room; the dining room with a table as large as a skating rink; the dazzling green drawing room.

Finally they arrived in the king’s presence, and the man spoke. “Hello, Father. Here’s a little boy who wants to meet you. Meet my friend Willie. Willie, this is the king.” The little boy had taken the hand of Edward, prince of Wales, the king’s son. Through him, Willie gained access to the king.

We too have taken the hand—the nail-printed hand—of the King’s Son, the Prince of Peace. Through Him and Him alone, Jews and Gentiles alike have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Their Citizenship in Christ — (Vs. 19-22)