Citizens of God's City
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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.
When I lived in Chicago I did my internship for a ministry called by the hand in Cabrini Green
17-19
Cabrini Green used to be on of the worst neighborhoods in in the whole country.
It was notorious for gangs and violence, drugs and poverty.
Cabrini is right in the center of Chicago, yet it operated as its own little city.
There were different rules, different cultures, different way of living.
I remember talking with one lady who grew up there
Why has Jesus come?
she told me how they had their own
Jesus came to forgive us of our sins so we can go to heaven when we die. True, but not the ultimate purpose
stores, markets, laundry, and never had to leave…
In fact, there were kids there that i worked with that had never even been to the lake (11 min walk)
Jesus came to redeem us from the slavery of sin. True, but not the ultimate end in of itself
The reason these kids were unable to go to the lake was because there were very real walls of hostility, and if they crossed one of those walls they would be taking their life into their hands.
Jesus came to be our substitution, he died in our place so we can live. True...
When I lived in Mass i worked for a ministry called Straight Ahead Ministries
we would work with gang involved men seeking to help them break down the walls of hostility so they might live safe and productive lives.
Jesus came to reconcile us to God, to mend a relationship that has been broken by sin.
We wanted to unite those who were once opposed to each other by showing them the peace of God.
I have tried to convince you from Ephesians that the ultimate purpose of Jesus coming was to unite all things in heaven and earth in Christ.
This is the telos, this the plan, this is the goal. That in Christ God is reconciling all things, uniting all things to himself.
And the way in which he is doing this by destroying the walls of hostility and has done this by making peace by the blood of his cross.
He has come offering peace, for he himself is our peace. And as we saw last week this peace is not just a theoretical peace, or an internal peace, but this peace is a peace that is expressed and experienced in real life situations.
For the Ephesians were experiencing Jews and gentiles living at peace with one another after years and years of bitter hatred.
And this unity of Jews and gentiles was something that would have been impossible apart from Christ.
So this is what Jesus has done, he has come to unite all things to himself. And as the source of our peace, all that is united to him find peace with one another.
Example mixing something and it becomes one
Paul says in
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.
So Christ has come, preaching peace to those who are near, which speaks of the Jews. But also to those who were far off speaking of gentiles.
And now through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Both Jew and Gentile are brought near in Christ, we all have the same access to God in Christ, therefore there is no longer a distinction between Jew and gentile.
So Christ, upon the cross has reached to the ends of the earth a has taken hold of groups that hated each other and has brought them and us to himself
Upon the cross Jesus provided true peace, and after the resurrection he could preach that peace.
he justified us
he redeemed us
he reconciled us
he gave us peace
he has redeemed them,
So now, that he has broken down the walls of hostility, he has given us his Spirit, and he has given us his peace… Now, what is he doing with us?
The the people of God had been waiting for this Christ, Messiah, proclaimer of peace, to come.
Jesus has come not only to forgive our sins.
If we are no longer enemies
Isaiah wrote about the coming Messiah multiple times..
Preaching the Word: Ephesians—The Mystery of the Body of Christ Reconciliation — "Brought Near" (vv. 13-18)
Remember the fourth gift on God’s eternal Christmas list in Isaiah 9:6? — “Prince of Peace.” Through him Isaiah prophesied there would be preached “‘Peace, peace, to those far and near’” (57:19) — that is, to Gentiles and Jews. When Christ came to earth the angels sang, “‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests’” (Luke 2:14). On the eve of his death he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27). After his resurrection Jesus came to his disciples through locked doors and said, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19, 20). Paul says in our text of reconciliation, “For he himself is our peace” (v.14), and, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near” (v. 17). He is our peace.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isah 9 6
This anointed one, the prince of peace, would likewise
19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.
14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Upon the cross Jesus defeated
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
This is a peace the world had never seen. never before has there been peace like Jesus.
Post resurrection?
Post resurrection?
If we are no longer far away from him
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
john 14 1
If we are no longer alienated from him
If we are now one body
we have been saved by grace through faith
And we are at peace with God and one another
And we are at peace with God and one another
What is he now doing with us?
What are God’s purposes for the men, women, boys and girls, from all over the world that are being united to Christ?
It is really popular to think about God saving us as a rescue mission.
As if we were prisoners in a city like Cabrini Green and Jesus has come to take us out of that city.
We
We live in a sinful, broken, evil, corrupt world and Jesus has come to rescue us from that world and from the fires that await that world.
But this notion is only half true,
Indeed God did rescue us from the slavery of this world, but rescue is not the ultimate end of God’s mission.
God’s mission is not ultimately one of rescue but one of building, construction and creation.
You see, we are rescued and brought into Christ where he takes us apart, piece by piece and then puts us back together again. And as rebuilt people he sends us to join him in rebuilding the world.
The goal would not be to rescue people out of Cabrini Green, but to reform and recalibrate the people and send them back into the city to rebuild what sin had destoryed… and destroy what sin has built.
And what is it that we are building?
The bible speaks of this building project in many ways…
New creation
Kingdom
house
Temple
City
And this city is the city of God which stands in contrast to the city of man.
It is a city that is nestled, like Cabrini Green in Chicago, within all the nations of the world, and it is a city that shines with the light of the gospel which calls the nations of this world out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
it is a city that is built upon a foundation
It is a city that is unshakable
it is a city that cannot be destroyed
there are different cultures, different languages, different expressions of worship.
its a city with a cournerstone
Its the city where God dwells.
This city is diverse, it is made up of men and women, boys and girls from every tribe, tongue and nation.
there are different cultures, different languages, different expressions of worship.
Its a city with citizens, leadership, pastors, teachers, families, rituals, feasts, celebrations.
And this city is currently under construction, and we are the workers who are sent out with our tool belts to join Christ and his people in building this city of God.
The City of God is a city founded on the blood of Christ, sustained by the witness and blood of His disciples established in the world to be about the redeeming, renewing and restoring of all things to Christ.
When we share the gospel with an unbeliever we are inviting them into this city
Its the city where God dwells.
We have been taken out of the city of man, we have received all the spiritual blessings, and are sent back into the world to build the city of God.
When we baptize our children and new believers we are giving them the sign and seal of their citizenship
When we see marriages restored they are restored into faithful participation in the city of God
When Churches are planted they are new outposts, town centers in the city of God
And what we see in verses 19-22 is Paul telling us that the city of God is....
Its a city with citizens
Its a city with a foundation and cornerstone
Its the city where God dwells.
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.
The City of God has Citizens
The City of God has Citizens
Citizenship is a powerful thing.
Within citizenship there are rights and privledges
Paul in was about to get whipped in Jerusalem for saying that God told him to bring the gospel the gentiles, and stretched Paul out to receive his beating and he said, “is it lawful for you to flog a man who is a Roman citizen and uncondemned?”
The Jew were they very nervous because they were under the authority of Rome.
It was Paul’s citizenship that kept him from being whipped.
To be a citizen is to belong - and Paul is saying that now both Jews and Gentiles belong in God’s kingdom, in God’s city.
City-Dwellers
City-Dwellers
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,
We are no longer strangers and aliens in this city,
literally what it means here is that that you are no longer foreigners and those who dwell outside the house.
The gentiles used to dwell way outside the house of God
The Jews were closer, they dwelled right outside the house…
What Paul is saying is that neither Jew or gentile is a foreigner, nor do they dwell outside the house of God
For they are fellow citizens (city dwellers) with the saints (God’s holy people) and are members of the household of God…
We are citizens of God’s holy city, members of his household as adopted children.
And as citizens, we are to live faithfully before our God.
We live our lives of allegiance to King Jesus
As citizens of God’s city we are to be about the miss
The word faith in the New Testament can, and often times should be, defined as allegiance ( loyalty, faithfulness, fidelity, obedience, homage, devotion).
As citizens in God’s City we are to live our lives in full allegiance to the king.
When you go to work, you go a citizen of God’s city.
When you speak to your neighbors we speak as a citizen representing and speaking for the city of God.
whatever you do, you do as a citizen of God’s kingdom, and thus you are to do it faithfully before Christ -
This is why Paul says, And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
If our citizenship is in the city of God we must see to it that we live as faithful citizens.
This city not only has citizens, but this city was also built upon a foundation and a cornerstone.
The City of God was Built on a Foundation and a Cornerstone
The City of God was Built on a Foundation and a Cornerstone
I used to work construction before going into ministry
most of my work was residential, (framing, remodeling, doors & and windows, roofs and so on)
And no matter what the job was, if the foundation of the house was off or if it was a faulty foundation the job became far more difficult.
Windows and doors wouldn’t fit right, walls would be cracked, cabinets and flooring wouldn’t fit right… really everything in the house would be affected if the foundation was wrong.
it is crucial that the foundation is solid before building
You know, everyone builds their life on some sort of foundation, the question are you building on the rock or on the sand?
Are you building on a foundation that cannot be shaken, or on a foundation that will fail?
When the storms of life beat against your house, will it fall like the house that was built on the sand, or will it stay true because of the foundation it is built upon?
The writer of Hebrews tells us in 12:28 that we should be grateful...
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
And why is this kingdom unable to be shaken? because of the foundation upon which it was built.
14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
15 He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.
16 His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.
Paul talks about this foundation in verse 20, when he speaks about the household of of God being built....
This is what happens when you build upon a shaky foundation. The house will fall upon your head.
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
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,
The foundation upon which this city is built, is upon the teachings of the apostles and prophets.
There is nothing worth building in your life if it is not built upon the foundation of the apostles teaching.
There is no relationship worth pouring into, there is not job worth working, there is no hobby worth enjoying if you are going to build it on a foundation other than the scriptures.
For it is upon the teaching of scripture that the city of God is built, and it is upon the teaching of scripture that we build our lives.
However, as important as the foundation is, there is one part of the foundation that is most important.
The cornerstone
Paul says that the cornerstone of this house, of this city, is none other than Jesus himself
Jesus being the cornerstone is referenced in the OT and the NT
most notably Isaiah says,
16 therefore thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’
God is the master building, and he has laid a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation
For the foundation to be unshakable, to be sturdy, to be sure, the cornerstone had to be perfect.
When I was in seminary I worked for a concrete company pouring foundations, and the most important part was figuring out where that first corner had to be.
You see, a cornerstone is important for at least three reason
The Cornerstone Determines
The Location of the Building
The Size of the Building
The Direction of the Building
The Location of the Building
The location of a building really matters. If you build a building even a few inches off the mark it can be disastrous.
Jesus is the cornerstone which was laid, and the location really does matter.
You see, we often think that this city, this kingdom, as one that is not being built on earth, but in heaven.
However, the chief cornerstone that God has laid was laid on earth, not in heaven.
The city of God is not something that is being built in heaven awaiting our arrival after we die.
rather, the city of God is on earth and is being built on earth, and is growing on earth, because Jesus came to earth and was laid down as the cornerstone on earth.
Not only does the cornerstone determine the location of the building but it also determine the size of the building.
Size of the Building
Now, how do we determine the size of the city of God?
Again, this final picture given to us in is that all things in heaven and earth will be united in Christ.
Now, how do we determine the size of the city of God? can we measure
So the city of God, when its completely finished will be as massive as creation itself (heaven and earth)
This is why Jesus in , “Behold, I’m making all things news.”
So the cornerstone determines the location, size, and also the direction of the building.
Direction of the Building
If you lay the cornerstone just slightly off the foundation will not be square.
You see Jesus being the cornerstone of the church determines the direction we go as the people of God.
Everything we build in our lives must be built and directed according to Christ.
Example Building the Garden
A few weeks ago I built a garden in the back yard for Mandee
And its interesting, before I could do anything I had to determine these three things
location (where in the yard)
size (how big will it be)
Direction (we wanted it to be square with the house)
Once location, size, and direction were determined I could then put together the material list of what i needed to build the garden and the fence around the garden
screws, lumber, cement, dirt, mulch, fencing, etc.
So I wrote down my supply list and went to home depot and picked up everything i thought i needed and got started.
I thought… :)
And after 37 more trips to Home Depot i finally had everything I needed to finish the project.
I can see the plan, i can know the location size and direction, but if I don’t have the materials there is no garden or fence being built.
In our lives God has given us all the material we need to build this city, to advance this kingdom.
And what are the materials?
God’s word, Church, baptism, communion, our physical Bodies, emotions, wills, affections, relationships, minds, skills, gifts, possessions, influence, money, hobbies, and everything else in your life…
Your life, and everything you have been given is the material God has given you to build this city.
And are you building in the direction determined by Christ, the chief cornerstone?
As Image Bearers of God we are builders we are creators, for God is the ultimate builder and creator. But are we imaging him faithfully?
are building according to the plan, are we building for the advancement of God’s kingdom?
We are faithful to build rightly when we build as men and women who are united to Christ and submits our entire lives to him.
Paul talks about how this house, this city, the temple grows
Paul emphasizes this point in vv.21-22
The Growing Temple
The Growing Temple
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.
You are the material used to build this city, to build this temple
Peter says says this explicitly in .4-6
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
1 peter 2 4
You are the living stones God uses to build his city on earth. To build his kingdom.
Thus your lives, as living stones, must be built upon the foundation and cornerstone of Christ and his word.
For any other foundation will fail, only Christ is the unshakable rock upon which this city is built.
I love how Paul uses the Temple imagery in verse 21-22
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.
God Dwell’s in Temples
Throughout the bible we see 5 temples
Garden Temple - prototype for the rest
Tabernacle
Solomon’s Temple
Herod’s Temple
If you look at the material list you’ll find something very interesting
Tabernacle
The tabernacle was made from the spoils of egypt
it was the gold, dyes, fabric, and wood taken with them out of Egypt
Temple
Solomon asked Hiram the king of Tyre for cedars and cypress timbers from lebanon to build the temple
2nd Temple
Likewise after the exile the 2nd temple was built from the materials from lebanon and Babylon and Persia
each of these three temples were built with material from the nations…
And now in Christ, God has taken men women boys and girls from the nations to be his material, his living stones, to build the new temple which is the people of God.
Church, this is who we are, we are the city of God that exists in the city of man.
You are the living stones, you are the builders, you are the raw materials Christ is using through his spirit to build and populate this new city.
Everything you have, and everything you are is for the advancement of this kingdom.
And yes, right now the city we are building is still under construction.
at times it seems like it is about to be destroyed,
but know the foundation upon which it is built is strong, unshakable, and ever lasting.
And as we faithfully follow Christ, as we faithfully build for his glory, we will see the kingdom of God advance and grow.
We see a final picture of this in when the seventh trumpet is blown… John says,
The goals
15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.”
The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of the Lord and of his Christ.
This is our mission, this is when everything in heaven and on earth are united to Christ, this is when the city of God is completed.
The kingdom of this world HAS BECOME the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
The kingdom of this world did not go away and a new kingdom come… rather the kingdom of this world has been transformed into the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.
May we go this week seeking to build, transform, our city so that at the end of the day it looks more like the city of God.
Lets Pray