He is Our Peace
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Questions:
How many were born here in Wichita?
How many were not born in Wichita?
How many of you have lived in another country?
How many of you grew up going to church?
How many of you grew up not going to church?
The church gathered here this morning is a microcosm of what God is going to do in all the world.
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
The church is in itself an illustration of this wonderful thing.
The ability to take something that is so different, so opposed, so wrong in the world and bring it together make it one, and make it right is God’s work in the world.
There were two obstacles that kept the Gentiles from coming to Christ. There were two obstacles that kept the nations of the world from coming together as one people in Christ.
First, it was there trespasses and sins which Paul discussed in 2.1-10
First Obstacle: Trespasses and Sins
First Obstacle: Trespasses and Sins
Trespasses, the debt of their sin was far to great for them to pay
Yet, Christ is rich in mercy and grace and paid that debt for them
Sins, They were far from God - they walked the path of cain, the son of disobedience, away from from the presence of God.
Yet, Christ came to them, brought them close by seating them with Christ in the heavenly places.
Second Obstacle: The Law
Second Obstacle: The Law
Second. The second obstacle that stood between the gentiles and membership in the covenant people of God was their position, or status, in the economy of God. Their relationship with the Law of God.
And this second obstacle is what we will address in our passage this morning
The OT Law is one of the most misunderstood topics in all the bible.
Christians constantly struggle to understand the law for what it says, we struggle to interpret the law, we struggle to understand its relationship to grace… if seems so foreign to us.
And, when we think about the law we think about:
Federal, State, and local laws
We think about criminal, civil, contract and tort laws
We take our legal system as our interpretive lens and hope to make sense of the bible.
However, this sort of perspective is really unhelpful, and actually distorts the law of God.
the law was not a rule book that God holds as he waits for you to mess up so he can condemn you.
The law was God’s revelation of himself to his people so they might live as his called out covenant people.
The Law instructed people on how to live faithfully before God.
Not only that, but The law was a preview to the gospel, a foreshadowing of what was to come.
The Law and the gospel are not at all to be seen in opposition to one another. Rather the Bible speaks of the law as that which prepares us for the gospel.
in the same way
an appetizer is not opposed to the main course
The sign that says, “Wichita 20 miles” is not opposed to the city of Wichita.
the smell or aroma of a turkey in the oven should prepare us for the feast that is to follow.
This is how we should understand the law, it was God’s way of preparing his people for the main course.
If we keep the law, if we follow its instructions we will be ready for the main course, we will be ready for Christ.
not only that, but by following the law the people of God were free, they enjoyed life, they loved the law of God for it was their delight. The law was never a burden.
David says,
The Law exists in the context of God’s covenant with Israel; covenant, not law-keeping, is the basis of this relationship. The role of law is to administrate the covenant. The Law provides instruction for things that ruin relationship with God (e.g., idolatry and injustice). It also shows what loving God and others looks like
103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
He also says,
167 My soul keeps your testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
Paul talks about the law a touter who leads us to Christ. The law was like a loving teacher who takes us by the hand and walks us to Jesus.
The law was loved by the people of God, for it was like food for their souls. And what of the things the law was designed for was to show Israel how to live faithfully before God.
God did not want his people to be like the nations who were trenched in demon worship and wickedness. For he wanted his people to be holy, to be different than the rest of the nations. Which is why God established the civil law, so the people of God would know how to live distinct from the rest of the nations. Which was an expressing of his grace.
Moses praises God for this grace in Deuteronomy 7
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
6 “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.
Now, he did not separate Israel from the other nations because he hated the other nations, rather he separated Israel so they would be his holy people and in turn would be a light to the nations.
The ultimate goal was for all the nations to be brought in and be part of God’s covenant people.
This goal is made clear all the way back when God called the Abraham
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
King David likewise knew that God would use Israel to be a light to the nations.
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.
However, for the nations to be saved, they had to join and become part of the Covenant people of God.
The Law exists in the context of God’s covenant with Israel; covenant, not law-keeping, is the basis of this relationship. The role of law is to administrate the covenant. The Law provides instruction for things that ruin relationship with God (e.g., idolatry and injustice). It also shows what loving God and others looks like
They had to forsake everything from their past and conform to the law, and follow God.
And Israel was supposed to help them do this....
But something happened, instead of Israel being a light to the nations, instead of them inviting the nations in, they became arrogant and prideful, and boasted of their relationship with the living God.
They wanted their relationship with God to be exclusive, they wanted to be able lord over the gentiles because they were the true covenant people of God… so they thought.
Jesus rebukes the leaders of the Jewish people for this very thing in
4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger.
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.
By the time we get to Jesus’ day (and Pauls day) the Jew Gentiles tension in jesus day was intense
It was pure hatred
Worse than
And the anomosity
Jew’s vs. Gentiles
study of the history of the ancient world tells us that none of today’s social distinctions — none of our racial barriers, our narrow nationalisms, our iron curtains — are more exclusive or unrelenting than the separation between Jews and Gentiles in Biblical times.
Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ Alienation to Reconciliation ( Ephesians 2:11-18 )
A study of the history of the ancient world tells us that none of today’s social distinctions — none of our racial barriers, our narrow nationalisms, our iron curtains — are more exclusive or unrelenting than the separation between Jews and Gentiles in Biblical times. The Jews believed the Gentiles were created to fuel the fires of Hell. A common motto was, “The best of the serpents crush … the best of the Gentiles kill.” It was not lawful to aid a Gentile woman in giving birth, for that would bring another heathen into the world.
The Gentiles, even apart from their animosity for Jews, had their own parochial hatreds for anyone not like them. Plato said that the barbarians (anyone non-Greek) were his enemies by nature. The Roman Livy confirmed this in his day, saying, “The Greeks wage a truceless war against people of other races, against barbarians.” And of course this was eminently true of the imperialistic Romans.
The collision of Gentile/Jewish exclusiveness was monumental. The Gentiles were dogs in Jewish parlance, and the Jews were homicidal enemies of the human race in Gentile terms. Verse 11 of our text calls this to remembrance: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men) …”
The Jews believed the Gentiles were created to fuel the fires of Hell.
A common motto was, “The best of the serpents crush … the best of the Gentiles kill.”
It was not lawful to aid a Gentile woman in giving birth, for that would bring another heathen into the world.
The Gentiles, even apart from their animosity for Jews, had their own narrow-minded hatreds for anyone not like them.
Plato said that the barbarians (anyone non-Greek) were his enemies by nature.
The Roman historian, Livy, confirmed this in his day, saying, “The Greeks wage a truceless war against people of other races, against barbarians.”
The collision of Gentile/Jewish exclusiveness was monumental.
The Gentiles were dogs in Jewish speech, and the Jews were homicidal enemies of the human race in Gentile terms.
And now these two people, the Jewish people and the gentiles people were to be made one in Christ
So in our passage this morning we will see that the gospel has broken down the walls of hostility, and has taken what was once two people (Jews and Gentiles) and have made them one in Christ. He has taken what was once hostility and has given them peace.
And before getting into how Jesus has removed the hostility, he wants the Ephesians to be reminded of how they were once far off… away from the people of God.
Verse 11 of our text calls this to remembrance: “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men) …”
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.
Remember
Paul wants these gentile believers to remember where they came from. Remember who they were before God sent Christ into the world to change everything.
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians 1. The Gentiles’ Former Plight and Now, 2:11–13
Paul wants to call these matters to their attention so that they will have a greater understanding and appreciation of the past and the mighty reversal Christ has effected on their behalf.
the course of human history has been changed because of Jesus Christ
Salvation was made available to the whole world through Christ.
For these gentile believers to remember where they came from was not to make them feel bad, as if to pull up sins from their past, but Paul wants them to remember who they were so they can praise God for who they now are.
Remember Who You Were
Remember Who You Were
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.
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.
Paul wants them to remember that they...
They were Christless
They were Christless
They were Christless
Separated from Christ
How could the gentiles have been separated from Christ if he had not even come into the world yet?
Now, we have to remember what Paul means when he says “Christ” he is speaking of the messiah, the coming King, the one who would rule and reign.
And
The promise of the messiah was given to Israel, they were the ones who awaited their coming king.
4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Israel had a promise and hope given to them by YHWH that the Christ would rule over all the nations.
The gentiles had no such hope. They did not receive any such promise, nor were they in any way connected to Christ in the OT.
They did not experience the faith, hope and love that Israel had.
They were throughout their history separated from Christ
They were Stateless
They were Stateless
Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel
the gentiles had no home nor identity with God.
The word commonwealth comes from the the greek word polis meaning city.
The gentiles were alienated from the city or citizenship of Israel, thus being alienated from the city or citizenship of God.
They were Friendless
They were Friendless
stranger to the covenants of promise
They were foreigners to the covenants of promise.
They had no relationship with the God of the covenant nor the people of the covenant.
The gentiles never had the promise of God’s protection
They never had the promise of God’s steadfast love
They never had the promise of God’s blessing
They were strangers to the covenants of promise.
And because of this they were hopeless
They were Hopeless
They were Hopeless
Having no hope
They were Godless
They were Godless
Without God in the world
The Ephesians apart from Christ were completely doomed, they had nothing. They were, as Paul says in verse 1 dead in the trespasses and sins.
They were far away, unable to come near.
They were alienated from God, disassociated from God
This is what Paul wants them to remember, he wants them to realize that apart from Christ, they were completely desperate.
But in Christ, all of that changed
Look with me at vv. 13-16
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.
They were lost, they were
Jesus is Our Peace
Jesus is Our Peace
Christless
cityless
friendless
hopeless
Godless
BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS… v. 13
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
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In the OT the people were only able to come near to God by the blood of a sacrifice… For anyone, including the priests, to draw near to God blood would have to be shed first and sprinkled.
And now in Christ, these gentiles, those who had been so far away from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Even for us here this morning, the reason we are hear, the reason God has called you into his presence this morning, the only reason your prayers are heard and answered, the only reason you are able to confess your sins and receive forgiveness is because you have been brought near by the blood of Christ!
It is was on the cross that Jesus stretched out his arms and took hold of all the nations of the world, past, present and future, and brought them near to God.
Paul goes on in verse 14
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
He himself is our peace
Jesus is our peace, he is your peace.
There is nothing magical about this phrase, but the power of this phrase is overwhelming
Jesus is your peace
Each and every one of you in this room is longing, in some way, for peace.
Emotional peace, relational peace, psychological peace,
Everyone has storms that rage within your souls which you long for to be calmed.
Jesus is that peace.
We often think that circumstances are what wage war against peace.
I don’t have peace because
I don’t make enough money
yet money is not your peace
my marriage is suffering how can i have peace?
yet, your marriage is not your peace
I don’t have the job I desire
yet, a career does not bring peace
I don’t have the job I desire
I have estranged relationships
friendships and relationships do not bring peace
I am too busy, my life is chaos
The Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Letter to the Ephesians 2. Through Christ We Have Access to the Father by One Spirit, 2:14–18
The term ‘peace’ in both Old and New Testaments came to denote well-being in the widest sense, including salvation, the source and giver of which is God alone.
your schedule does not determine your peace
Jesus is your peace.
You will not attain the peace that is Christ by resoving these circumstances.
Jesus gives us peace that is real even in the midsts of trying circumstances. And his peace not only calms the storms of our souls, but his peace works through his people so we might be peacemakers.
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
4
Jesus is our peace, and he is the peace the mends all relational tension.
Our country right now is experiencing dividing walls of hostility
white vs black, old vs young, Christian vs LGBTQ, capitalist vs socialist, big gov’t vs small gov’t, pro-life vs pro-choice . . . and even rich vs poor
There are walls of hostility all around us, in our own lives, in our cultures in our country and in our world.
white vs black, old vs young, Christian vs LGBTQ, capitalist vs socialist, big gov’t vs small gov’t, pro-life vs pro-choice . . . and yes, rich vs poor
And how do these walls of hostility come down?
not by tolerance, not by affirmative action, not by legistlation
The walls of hostility come down when we cling to and follow King Jesus, who is the king of peace.
The walls come down when the message of peace and the source of peace is embodied by the people of God and we stand boldly calling all people to be reconciled, and come near to God.
The walls of hostility come down when both sides of the wall become one in Christ.
When both sides are brought into Christ there is peace and reconciliation.
Now speaking to to the Ephesians concerning the jew gentile wall of hostility,
Paul says that likewise they are being made into one in Christ… and how did Jesus do this?
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.
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,
This is the goal! this is what Christ is doing in all of humanity; he is creating in himself one new man.
again, an ongoing living fulfillment of his ultimate plan which is to unite all things in him, both in heaven and earth.
And we are united to Christ, thus to one another through the cross, thus killing the hostility.
you see, the future of mankind is not conflict, but unity
Its not hatred but love
Its not hostility but peace
It is not two people but one
And all of this is guaranteed through the cross of Christ.
And as Paul says in this is the ultimate plan of God that in the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
You have been brought near
He has made us one
how?
broken down the dividing wall
However, for this uniting together that which was divided, Paul says something had to be done away with, abolished....
embodies the law
When Jesus dies the law dies with him
Paul said that Christ broke down the wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances
When Jesus was raised the law was raised with him
Now this phrase “expressed in ordinances” is very important
Surely Jesus did not come to abolish the law, he said so himself; he says in matthew 5 that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law.
So what does Paul mean here?
Well, the law expressed in ordinances defines what Paul is talking about.
Ordinances comes from the greek word dogma…
which means a formal statement or decree concerning rules or regulations that are to be observed.
Dogma in your home with kids looks like this…
bed time is 9:00pm
No dessert before dinner
Do not play in the street
This sort of dogma is necessary with children, and the goal is that they will internalize these rules so they might grow up to be wise men and women.
However, the time comes when they no longer need bedtimes, they just need to know how to get enough rest.
Its ok to have a dessert before dinner, as long as your diet is balanced
its ok to play in the street, as long as you understand how to remain safe.
The rules of dogma must be abolished, they must be put to death in order for our kids to mature.
And this is what Jesus did, he embodied the entire law in himself, including those laws that separated the jews from the nations...
He brought the dogma of the law into the grave with him, and raised with a glorified law, the law of Christ, the law of the spirit.
And in this resurrected law the ordinances, dogmas, are gone, and now we live by the law of the Spirit.
And in this resurrected law there is no dividing wall, there is no jew and gentile division, for this law, this sacrifice, is for the nations, Jew and gentile alike.
There is nothing that is keeping any person, no matter where they come from, away from Christ.
For in Christ he is uniting all things, all people, all cultures, all backgrounds, all things in himself.
Church, this is what Christ has done for you.
He has abolished everything that would keep you from drawing near to God.
He was risen
He has taken your sin, your chaos, your hostility, and has nailed them to the cross.
And now, he gives you himself, for through his blood Christ has received you into his arms, and there you have peace. For Jesus is your peace.
Lets pray.