We Are Family

Ephesians 2:11–22 CSB

11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away 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 foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

Remembering the before helps us appreciate the now even more.

Before we were separated from Jesus… Jesus, the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, the light of the world, the One who all life holds together through… the Savior

Before we were excluded from citizenship in Israel… at first one would think “big deal” but the reality is only citizens of Israel get to be citizens of heaven because Isreal is the chosen people of God… we are ingrafted in to Israel

Before we were foreigners to the covenants of the promise… think of all the covenants and promises God has given in the scriptures… the greatest promise would be that of a Messiah, a Savior

Before we were without hope… in this life and the next

Before we were without God in the world… in the beginning God walked with humanity but once sin entered there was a separation… remember Mary and Joseph were told to call Jesus Emmanuel… God with us.

But now…

Jesus brings a peace that is both horizontal and vertical.

Think about all that is in conflict in this world…

Jesus took the two sides or peoples, the Jews and the Gentiles

The Jews were the chosen of God and everyone else would be considered a Gentile

For most of history it has been the world against the Jews, there was a divide

But Jesus has unified the two into one… those who believe, the church

That is the horizontal but Jesus also fixed the vertical

Jesus fixed our relationship with God

The cross destroyed both the human hostility and the hostility between people and God.

Jesus has made what was separate and broken whole again.

God is building a dwelling place for Him in us.

The apostles are the foundation because of their faithfulness to the gospel

Jesus is the cornerstone of that foundation - without Jesus it could not stand

Through Jesus we become the dwelling place of God, a living temple

Jesus has made us family.