Ephesians 2:11-22 - From Strangers to Family

Thanksgiving with grandma story

In 2016, Jamal Hinton received a text from an unusual number.

“Thanksgiving dinner is at my house on Nov. 24 at 3PM”

“Who dis?” “Your grandma.”

He asked for a picture of her

Picture of Wanda Dench

To which he replied a picture of himself saying, “You not my grandma.”

Picture of Jamal

“Can I still get a plate though?”

“Of course you can. That's what grandmas do...feed everyone.”

Thanksgiving 2016 was different for both of them

Picture of them both

They went from strangers to family.

Big Idea: From strangers to family

Context

Paul’s goal is to show us a greater picture of God.

The depth of our worship is determined by our love for Him.

Our love for Him only grows with what we know about Him.

Paul had just reminded them of the gospel.

At one time you were dead.

Then God showed His mercy and made you alive in Christ.

Now we get to live out His grace.

In order for their lives to be changed, they needed to remember who they were before Christ.

They were made right before God, but there’s even more to the story that simply having a relationship with God.

God saved us not just from our sins

God saved us to a family.

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

Historical disconnect between Jews/Gentiles.

The Jews were God’s chosen people.

Bloodline traces back to Abraham

Father of nations—they will be a blessing.

The Gentiles were everyone else.

They had no rights to the promises of God

They were idolatrous and strangers to God.

Spiritual disconnect between Gentiles and God.

There was a time in your life you didn’t know the mercy, love, and grace od God.

You didn’t know of the Redeemer.

Theology of remembrance

Remember your former situation—You were without God and without God’s people.

“At that time…when you were dead” (2:1)

Separated from Christ

Their main issue

Up to this point, Paul’s taught us that every spiritual blessing in heaven is given to those united with Christ (1:3-14) and the only way that we are saved is by being united with Christ in His resurrection (2:1-8).

This means that without Jesus we are without the blessing and are not God’s children.

Alienated from the people of God

They can’t claim Israel’s blessing

Strangers to the covenants

They were not included in the blessings and favor of God’s people.

No hope in a Savior.

No hope of a future resurrection.

They were dead (in their sins)—There is no hope for the dead.

Without Christ, we Gentiles were without hope for eternity and without God in this world.

But he explodes with excitement again.

Why? “But now, everything has changed.”

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.

Paul is building the climax for the first half of the letter.

Despite our hopeless state, we can be united to God by faith in His Son.

We who were dead and far off have been made alive and brought near by the blood of Christ.

Paul’s celebration is all about Jesus.

Jesus didn’t only mediate peace/give peace.

He Himself is the peace between us and God.

In Himself, He has brought two of the most separate categories of humanity together—Jews/Gentiles.

This is a call back to God’s plan to unite all things in Him (1:10)

This is why Jesus came

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.

He took those who were far off/near—two different types of people, and made real peace.

So that they both can be brought to God.

God the Father sent His Son on a mission—to kill hostility between God and sinners, but also to kill hostility between sinners and sinners

To bring peace to God’s people.

Now, regardless of your background, we find level ground at the cross.

No one is accepted because of their birthright or by law

No one is accepted based on how churchy they are.

The only way we are made acceptable to God is through the blood of Jesus.

Church, we were strangers but now…

Jesus’s blood invites us to come home (vv. 13-18)

When Jesus died on the cross, He died to forgive our sins.

Don’t let this get lost on you because you’ve heard it over and over.

Paul tells the Colossians that when He forgives our sins, He canceled our record of debt that stood against us with legal demands.

Your sins deserve punishment and justice.

When Jesus died on the cross, He died as a substitute.

That was not His punishment to take!

But when Jesus stepped up to the cross, He pushed you out of the way!

When Jesus died on the cross, He satisfied the wrath of God for your sins!

He took your hell and invites you to come home!

You can have a new citizenship in heaven!

You can have a new family in the Church!

The blood of Jesus invites you to come home!

Transition

The cross of Christ is the pivot point of human history.

It does two things.

The cross outs us all.

The cross shows us just how ungodly we are.

The cross makes us all reflect on our brokenness, sin, and guilt because it took the death of the Son of God to pay for what you’ve done.

There’s no one in the room that’s nose should be higher than anyone else.

No one should approach the cross with swagger—We all come with a limp.

The cross undoes our past.

Paul told them that don’t forget, you were strangers to the covenants and aliens to God’s people (separated from Christ)

You earned hell!

But because Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, you are no longer strangers and aliens.

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.

The cross has invited you home!

The cross has changed your story!

Now, you’re a fellow citizen among the saints

You belong with the people of God!

Jesus died for His people to be brought near to Him and to one another!

He is our cornerstone!

He is how we are joined together!

By the blood of Jesus, we have been made into a dwelling place for God by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Can you believe that?!

God uses a group of banged up and goofy sinners like us, and says, “That’s home.”

What does that mean for you?

We have a place in God’s family (vv. 19-22)

God takes the local church seriously.

So seriously that He laid down His life for it.

Jesus died so that His people can have a relationship with God and with God’s people as His family.

Family is the place where you can be yourself and be assured that you’re accepted.

I love formal events with my dad.

I never have to worry about what to wear.

I’ve seen my dad wear a suit 3 times in my life.

His wedding, my wedding, my uncle’s wedding.

He has one nice look.

Black button down shirt, blue jeans, black boots. WITHOUT FAIL.

I never have to wonder what I need to wear to an event with him.

Thanksgiving is so easy.

Dad will wear shorts and a tshirt, forgo shaving.

After dinner he’ll lay on the floor and the grandkids will crawl all over him.

Then, you know what? He’ll fall asleep!

No one is wondering “Where’s his tie? What’s he doing? Why is he asleep?”

We are a family and He is perfectly comfortable!

You have a place here at Harvest City.

The Church is the place of reconciliation and acceptance.

Where you can be your true, honest, and redeemed self.

Regardless of your background, everyone has a next step to take.

Every believer has been intrinsically gifted by God in a way to build the church and serve the family.

Your life is a gift from the Lord.

Your gifts, skills, and abilities are a gift from the Lord.

If you’ve ever felt that you don’t belong—You belong here.

Wanda Dench opened up her family’s Thanksgiving table to Jamal Hinton.

From the moment he stepped through the door, he had a place in the Dench Family.

They have celebrated Thanksgivings together every year since, even after the death of Wanda’s husband, the birth of babies.

His position in their family was secured by an accidental invitation.

Here, right now, you’re invitation is not accidental.

The Lord brought you here today to hear the gospel

Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died on the cross for your sins and rose again so you can have eternal life

He is intentionally giving you this invitation to come home and be part of the family.

All you need to do is to take a step toward Him in faith.

Not to be perfect…just come home.

Take the Next Step

Come home-repent and believe

Welcome someone else home.

Invite someone into the family by faith.

Send a text.