One in Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22

This section of Ephesians is broken out into 3 parts:

Therefore: Ephesians 2:11

But Now: Ephesians 2:13

So Then: Ephesians 2:19

Ephesians 2:11 “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”

When you see the word “therefore” you have to ask what’s it there for?

The word “Therefore” stands on a past truth that was presented. So what’s Paul presented thus far?

Blessed in Christ, Holy and Blameless, Chosen by God, Forgiven, Unified, and Sealed by the blood of Jesus on the cross.

But we didn’t start there. We were dead in our sin that we used to walk in. But that’s not what identifies you or I any longer.

Therefore…

Ephesians 2:12 “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.”

To be saved by Christ you have to know what you’re being saved from.

If I don’t know that I’m separated from Christ

If I don’t know that I was alienated

If I don’t know that I have no hope without God

If I don’t know that truth. I won’t understand this truth:

Ephesians 2:13–14 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

If I don’t know I’m dying from cancer I’m not seeking out a physician.

If I don’t know I’m lost I’m not seeking out a guide.

If I have false hope I’m not looking for a new hope.

If I preach a seeker sensitive gospel that doesn’t confront the evil of this world and only pleases the itching ears of the listeners, they will never know they need to be brought near to God by the blood of Christ.

They won’t know

My identity is Forgiven

Ephesians 1:7 “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

When preaching the gospel from the pulpit, on the streets, to your friends, in the coffeeshop the uncomfortable truth is you can’t leave out where a person is now and where they’re going if things don’t change.

But here’s the key. Present the facts of hell and eternal separation from God by showing the love you have for the person you’re speaking to. The love God has for that person.

That Jesus is the great hope. Jesus is the great unifier.

How does God give me hope?

Ephesians 2:15–16 “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, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

The law of commandments expressed in ordinances are abolished

But which law? All of them?

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

Isn’t this a contradiction in the Bible?

Alright we gonna Bible nerd out for a second because it’s very important to understanding the theme of this section.

The theme is that we are one in Christ. This section is all about how Jews and Gentiles are not different.

The Jew vs. the non-Jew the circumcised vs. the uncircumcised

The one inside and outside the covenant

Every single verse in this section has mentioned Jew vs. Gentile. Therefore, when verse 15 says “abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.”

It specifically refers to an ordinance that Jews and Gentiles are separate.

It’s not a contradiction, it’s an incredibly revolutionary expositorial teaching on how Jesus fulfilled the law. And it completely condemns a primary identification by race, class, or status. Your primary identity is not what you look like. It’s who you serve, and that’s Jesus Christ.

God created 1 unified body of Christ. in place of the Jewish Christian and the non Jewish Christian.

That’s how God makes peace.

And the result of that peace is:

We are reconciled to to God in unity as a church. In one body.

Now that we understand this verse in context. What is the theological implication it teaches? Jewish Christians and non-Jewish Christians are no longer separated. Ok duh, I guess I’ll just skip over this… no!

Whenever we read the Bible, first contextualize it in it’s literal and historical interpretation. Which is what we just did. Now, be led by the Holy Spirit to understand how what you just studied applies to today.

God abolished division so that we can be unified in him… it’s a message of peace.

You know, this world is in need of peace. This world is in need of a clear and strong mind.

People are sick of the chaos. People are sick of seeing socialist leaders like Don Lemon marching into a church during a Sunday morning church service in Minnesota with protestors screaming at the top of their lungs in protest against ICE. During a service where a pastor is attempting to preach the word of God.

People are sick of the hostility, chaos and conflict.

But Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”

Want to be a good evangelist for Christ? Preach the full gospel.

Preach the reality that all have done wrong and are on the path to hell. But the good news is God sent his son to save you from death. I racked up a huge bill during my life of sin that I cannot pay but Jesus is covering the tab.

The chaos you see on TV is the sad internal state of humanity that is being externally expressed in their hateful words and actions. That’s the death Satan is pulling us into.

But Jesus, he’s the prince of peace. AND he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”

He GAVE me peace. He REMOVES my hostility I naturally have. He REMOVES the death that naturally comes out of the mouth of one far from Christ.

God doesn’t separate Jewish Christians from non-Jewish Christians

#1. To be unified, you must be equally yoked. A non-Christian & a Christian cannot be in unity

#2. To be unified, you must be in 1 Spirit. Not just “claiming Christ” you have to be “in Christ.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Matthew 7:16 “You will recognize them by their fruits.”

In Acts 20 as Paul was leaving from his ministry to the church in Ephesus his #1 warning for the church was about "savage wolves" who would come in after he left, not sparing anyone, some will even come up from their own ranks, just as Judas had to Jesus, to distort the truth and lead disciples away.

#3. We must not divide that which creates unifies.

God is building a big structure. A massive temple.

Imagine you are in charge of plumbing for the building.

You see an electrician come in to start doing work and tell him. Bro what are you doing?? Get out of here you aren’t doing it right. Why do you have all that electrical wiring?

The electrician is gonna look at you like you’re crazy. Bro… I’m not plumbing I’m doing the electrical.

But in your arrogance and pride you take it upon yourself to kick the guy out of constructing the building. Because you didn’t want him to mess it up.

Good intentions don’t excuse bad theology.

The builder of the temple, God, hired the electrician to do his role, but since it looks different than the plumber’s role, the plumber is defensive and chews out the ones different than him. That have a different job.

God, the builder, is gonna be pretty upset if one of his subcontractors went ballistic and took it upon himself to kick another out.

Even if you are the best plumber in the world, the builder is gonna eventually fire you. Because your skillset isn’t as important as working in biblical unity.

You could be the best Bible teacher in the world but if you don’t leave any room for the other gifts of the Holy Spirit, you are restricting the development of the building.

How do I know if they are led by the Lord?

Matthew 7:16 “You will recognize them by their fruits.”

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

There will be evidence. There will be fruit.

Ephesians 2:17–18 “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”

Because God is the Prince of peace. We kill hostility in the body. And preach peace to those who were far from peace.

Because it isn’t our birthright that gives us access to God.

It isn’t the fact the Jew was born a Jew that gave him access.

It isn’t the fact that you are one of the most prolific Bible teachers on the planet that gives you access to God.

It isn’t for anything except for through Jesus Christ that both Jew and Gentile. Both Baptist and Pentecostal. Both pastor and administrator have access in 1 Spirit to God.

Ephesians 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

SO THEN:

My identity is Unified

And when my identity changes from consumer to builder. From consumer to priest I no longer come to the house of God from a mindset of judgement but one of service.

We are no longer strangers. We are all members of God’s household. We are all trying to build the building together.

Ephesians 2:20 “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”

This building must not compromise. We are built on a foundation of those who were before us. There’s no compromise in the core doctrine. There’s no unity with woke theology. There should be correction when the full gospel, sin, hell, sexuality, the full thing is not preached.

Because to remain in unity we must be built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ being the cornerstone. The main piece of stone when laying the foundation that everything else is built off of.

Ephesians 2:21–22 “in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

And this massive building we are building in unity which the apostles and prophets laid. It’s being built into the holy temple in the Lord.

Who are we to divide the holy temple?

No. We are built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

God is indwelt with you. God is in you and if you are a Christian there’s no taking that back.

Because of Jesus you are:

Blessed in Christ, Holy and Blameless, Chosen by God, Forgiven, Unified, and Sealed by the blood of Jesus on the cross.