Ephesians 2:11-22

Three years ago, I received a call from a former student who’s dad needed some help.

This student was an immigrant. His family moved from another country. They had relatives who lived in the area.

I am not sure if they came with work visas or were simply coming to visit family.

Regardless, the dad found himself in a bit of trouble.

One day, driving without a license of any sort, he was pulled over for excessive speeding.

This didn’t pair well.

I was asked by the family to attend court with him.

As one of his pastors, I figured it was to keep him comfort. Understandably so, he was nervous and wasn’t sure to what extent the consequences would be.

My presence wasn’t also requested for comfort, but to advocate for him when/if needed…

I have never been in a more complex situation.

My convictions were at war.

I am a man who lives to uphold the law. I recognize the purpose of them. I believed in them.

However, I am also a brother to this man in Christ. He loves Jesus. He loves his church. The last thing I would have wanted to see was for him to receive a consequence that would have been detrimental to their livelihood- whether that be financially or any other way…

So what did I do? How did I handle this?

Well, I can share with you the rest of that story over coffee…

Regardless, my attempt to maintain unity between everyone involved including myself was difficult.

This is why maintaining unity isn’t easy.

And the reality is, what I chose to do isn’t a one size fits all solution.

The complexities you face as you seek to maintain unity in the midst of division calls for it’s own discernment.

In a culture that divides and distinguishes, unity is a rarity.

We like our opinions and preferences a lot more than unity. Unity requires sacrifice.

But the truth is, conflict and division is navigable- especially among those who have been born again Christians.

Our inherited sin nature- our rebellion against God’s order and design produces a society filled with people who want it their way.

This quickly proves that self-centeredness leads to self-destruction.

Self-centeredness leads to self-destruction.

And we wonder why our culture can’t seem to land on the same place?

Have you ever noticed how…

Dysfunction feeds out of the hand of disunity.

But it is in and through Jesus we are enabled to experience unity even in the midst of dysfunction and division.

Why?

Unity is built on truth and sustained by grace.

You and I both know there are things happening across the country that should not be tolerated.

You have your opinions, I have mine.

You have your experiences, I have my own.

But today, in the midst of divisive opinions and a society drenched in dysfunction…

A society marked by disunity…

…there is a unifying message that not only unifies us in this room, but has the power to bring unity to the world.

Would you stand in honor of God’s Word together?

Ephesians 2:11–22 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. 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.

Paul begins by reminding his readers of the obvious division that was once between them and the Jewish people.

He is referring to the ceremony of circumcision of Jewish baby boys.

This was a symbol of being cut free from sin.

It was also a sign that reminded them of the promise God made to Abraham- that his descendants would be a blessed kingdom.

This reminder to the gentile people, those whom have been grafted into their family of God on the basis of their faith,

reopened a wound for them.

The Jewish people had lost site of the true symbol of circumcision. This symbol was to represent what was actually supposed to be happening in their heart-

To live as a people free and fleeing from sin.

But unfortunately, the symbol became a point of pride. This pride led to the scorning of gentiles.

Remember, Gentiles couldn’t even offer sacrifices in the same place as the jews.

On the wall at the temple that separated them from the jews was a sign that said death would be the consequence of passing through….

They were distinguished by a physical marking.- as a result, they didn’t receive all of the privileges that that Jewish men did.

I want to remind you of the lens that Paul is writing with…

God had chosen multiple people and ultimately through the designation of a nation to be the recipients of His covenant promise- to redeem them from their broken fellowship.

Therefore, initially, the coming messiah was interpreted to be a blessing for them- not the gentiles.

So Paul’s reminder is a reminder of their condition-

“separated from Christ” vs 12

“alienated from the commonwealth of Israel” vs 12

“strangers to the covenant of promise”

“having no hope” vs 13

“without God” vs 13

This is not just the former circumstance of the gentiles who are receiving this letter- this is yours too.

Your condition, one marked by sin, also had you separated, alienated, strangers to the promise, hopeless, and alone!

Think about what separation does? Think about what hopelessness produces…

Yesterday, Caroline and I were on the way to a birthday party for a 1 year old.

We swung by Walmart on the way so that we could snag her a gift.

I parked the car and began walking with a quick pace into the store-

As I was walking toward the entrance, a lady quickly stepped in front of me after getting out of her car.

She was so angry. She was talking on the phone to someone she was incredibly upset with. She gave me a look that was like “You want some of this too?”

I thought to myself, “Oh, she must be going to a 1 year old bday party too!

Any ways, as I was right behind her walking in, a sweet older lady, parked in the handicap spot, begin slowly backing out of her space, just as the lady was passing behind her.

The lady screamed HEEEEEYYYY!!! She walked around to the lady’s side door and screamed “YOU ALMOST HIT ME!”

And then she started walking backwards slowly, starring with the hopes of having an aggresive interaction based on the ladies response.

As this all was playing out, I was praying, “Holy Spirit, please not today. Please don’t use me to intervene and advocate on behalf of this precious soul. That lady is crazy. I have a wife, a kid, and another on the way… I promise I will be more happy about this bday party… please!

After I got back from the store, I was telling Caroline the whole story.

Caroline said, “That’s why we shop at Publix!” Ok, ok, I get it…

But since that moment, I just can’t stop thinking about that lady.

I don’t know what is going on in her life… But I will say this- and anger like that doesn’t reside in the life of one who has been changed by Jesus.

And usually an anger like that is rooted in fear.

And that type of fear is produced when there seems like there is no hope.

I was once there… You were too…

All I could think about was what I had and she didn’t… Jesus.

Ephesians 2:13–14 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

If you remember, our first message in the book of Ephesians was centered around this point…

You will never look past your condition until you accept your current position.

In Chapter 2, Paul has outlined your position in Christ…

Ephesians 2:13 ESV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

You are no longer far off… You have been brought near…

Ephesians 2:14 ESV

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

Think about the the gentiles as they received this assurance!

“Dividing wall of hostility”

No wall that couldn’t be climbed or passed through… it has crumbled!

Ephesians 2:15–18 ESV

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.

What shifted out position? What brought us near? What settles every single ounce of fear?

Jesus.

It is in the sacrifice of Christ we are given access to Christ.

The creator, our Savior, the King of kings!

Look what this access does!

We are born again- created new!

We have peace in the place of fear!

We are reconciled to God.

Sins are forgiven, they are justified once and for all.

And through Jesus, we have the Spirit of God in us!

SEC Tournament in Tampa-

Access Pass.

Walk with confidence

Hebrews 10:19–23 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

We have joined the undefeated team…

Our recognition of access should shape our hearts with confidence!

Confidence in our new way of living, in the truth that we have been forgiven, sealed with the Spirit, made clean, and in an ever enduring purpose with an unshakable identity.

Ephesians 2:18–22 ESV

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.

Paul references the temple language again.. but notice what he is doing with it now…

He has grafted them into the chosen family…

He has made the temple composed, not of brick and morter, but of you!

Built on the apostles and prophets, established and dependent upon Jesus as the cornerstone!

Gentiles, remember the temple you didn’t have access into?

You know how those pagan temples allow you close to the inner sections but no access into them?

Well, in Christ, you now have COMPLETE access and the temple that His spirit now dwells in is in YOU.

That word “access” that Paul uses is purposeful.

The greek word Paul uses was used when one was given a right of free approach into the presence of a king.

Prosagoge (prosagohey)

In a persian royal court, there was an official who was called the prosagogeus.

Their role was to introduce people who desired to spend time with the King.

You and I, we have been granted access to the King by way of His son, Jesus…

This is what unifies us together…

Remember…

Unity is built on truth and sustained by grace.

Here is the truth.

You and I… in our inherited condition were sinful, separated from God. Because of our rebellion against His design for us, we suffer in a broken world that ultimately ends in death- our consequence for our sin.

But because God loved us, He sent His son, Jesus, to die in our place.

Because Jesus defeated death by being raise from the grave.

Afterwards, ascending to heaven and sitting at the right hand of God-

We now have access to the King of Kings and Lord of lords.

Received and sustained by God’s grace, based on our faith in what I just shared, we can be saved from our sins and experience confidence in our identity, confidence in our position- that we have been brought near- and confidence in our position before God as members of His household.

And church, this is the baseline for our unity.

Not our secondary beliefs… not our preferences… not our giftings… but the gospel.

Invitation

In front of you is a card for your response this morning.

*Take time to write your prayer request.