You Can't Teach a Sneech

Recap last 3 weeks with tree

Recap last 3 weeks with tree

God’s purpose is the tree

It was cut down and purified

New branch has grown

Now God’s purpose is restored, but different..

HOW? US!

Then Isaiah dies… remember how? Chopped in tree

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.

Ephesians 2:1–2 ESV

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—

God’s plan is to reconcile

God’s work starts between God and man

God also seeks to reconcile GROUPS

Name some groups that need to be reconciled...

Jews and gentiles

Republicans and Democrats

US and Russia

Duke and UNC

How about the cliques in here?

Looking at the tree, what changed to make us a part of this?

CHRIST!

eph 2:13-14

Ephesians 2:14–16 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 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.

What does it mean that He “is our peace”?

Matthew 10:34–36 ESV

34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

He didn’t come to stop tension

He came to make us okay with it

But that’s not the peace he’s talking about here

He’s talking about peace between Jew and gentile

Because Jew and gentile were once divided by the Law

NOW, Jesus is their common ground

RETURN

Ephesians 2:14–16 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 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.

Draw the Temple

Jesus tore down several dividing walls

Wall between Jews and gentiles

Wall between men and women

Wall between priest and common Jew

Wall between man and God

That wall was essentially the Law - Gentiles didn’t keep it

So Jesus BECAME the Law for all of us, so now we’re all the same

Early Christians were called a “third race”

WATCH VIDEO!

eph 2:17

Ephesians 2:17–22 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. 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.

Jews felt better than gentiles because they didn’t have the Law

Jews felt better than gentiles because they didn’t have the Law

But gentiles laughed at Jews who couldn’t keep the Law anyway!

Christ has removed the stars from our bellies

But what can we learn from the Sneetches?

If we focus on our differences that don’t matter, WE LOSE!

Let’s make sure we don’t end up like the Sneeches

Because Christ dies for ALL of us!

That’s all that matters

Let’s learn to love all, and love like the churches