No Longer Strangers

Ephesians 2:13–22 NKJV

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 both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

But Now in Christ

The “once” “now” contrast

Once you were far off

Once you were lost

Once you were separated from God and From Christ

Once you were condemned

Once you were oblivious to what you did not know

But Now in Christ Jesus

What a wonderful though

No you have been “brought near”

The God who is perfect beyond measure

who will have no sin, or imperfection in His presence

The God Who is angry with the wicked every day

Now, through Christ we are brought into His very presence

We cry “Abba” “Father”

The wall of separation has been brought down:

Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary b. The Reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles (2:11–22)

In Jerusalem, between the temple proper and the Court of the Gentiles, there was a stone wall on which there was an inscription in Greek and Latin: ‘No one of another nation to enter within the fence and enclosure round the temple. And whoever is caught will have himself to blame that his death ensues

In Jerusalem, between the temple proper and the Court of the Gentiles, there was a stone wall on which there was an inscription in Greek and Latin: ‘No one of another nation to enter within the fence and enclosure round the temple. And whoever is caught will have himself to blame that his death ensues

Through Jesus, we are now allowed inside this temple

Much more, we can even go into the very Holy of Holies

For this wall to be brought down, people had to let go of their prejudices - hostility, and laws

God’s desire for you is an intimate and personal relationship

Fully reconciled

Reconciling people to God and to each other

Not only were people reconciled to God through the cross

and end to the wrath that was against us

But we were also reconciled to one another.

“in one Body”

He Himself is Our Peace

I everyone really were “In Christ” there would be no wars, or violence at all

If All who claim to be Christian really were “In Christ” there would be no divisions in the church

no such thing as a church split

now strife between brethren in Christ

Christ is not divided

He brings peace between these nations - Jews and Gentiles

What would that look like today?

Between the denominations

Between the religious, and the un-churched Christians

He is the cause of Peace between individuals

As a true Christian, you cannot truly hate anyone

Unless you are a hypocrite, you forgive every man his offenses

even to seventy times seven

we are commanded to lay aside all envy strife and malice

Blessed are the peacemakers

But of course, the greatest application of this statement is the peace between God and Man

Where there were “irreconcilable differences”, there is now reconciliation

He Himself

The text does not say that His work on the cross is our source of peace.

Although there is truth in that, Paul says here that Jesus Himself is that peace

He personally is our peace

In the world you may have tribulation

He has overcome the world

In Him you will have peace

Though the seas may rage around you, though the ship is tossed with tempest

In Jesus, you can “Be still and know that HE is God”

He, Himself.

You may not always be able to get to a church service

there may not be a priest or preacher available when you need them

You may not have a bible or a cross, when the storms of life are raging

But He is always presence, and you can always have peace in Him

Access to The Father

Imagine if you could talk to the President any time you wanted to?

What if the Governor was always available to take your calls?

Having “abolished the “enmity”

that is the “law of commandments” , “ordinances”

Created in Himself, one new man, making peace

These ordinances prevented the gentiles from ever coming near

He preached to those who were far off, and to those who were near

The message - to the Jew and to the Gentile

No other way to salvation - no shortcuts, or long cuts (Story about computing)

The same Jesus, the Same Father, the same access

You who were far off...

Whether you just became a Christian, or are continuing generations of faith

whether you have lived Holy so far, or were a criminal yesterday

You have access to The Father through Him

The same access!

if only more Christians realized this, and availed themselves of this.

We can go into the Holy of Holies

the place where even the High Priest could only go once a year, and then only if He was prepared

even more, we can go to the Spiritual Holy place - the presence of God

No Longer Strangers

Have you ever been somewhere and felt like an outsider?

I’m sure we all have

Many of us have felt that way around Christians at one time

Even though I didn’t feel like an enemy, I was still a foreigner - not part of the family

I walked into a church once and they all seemed so strange in their worship songs

In fact, their ways, the worship, the prayers, and their very nature seemed so much different

I was an outsider, a stranger. Polite, friendly, but not part of the family, or the click

I don’t want top ever forget what that was like

How very different it was than it is now

becasue that may well be how many people feel around us

Sometimes I think we are too quick to downplay this, or eliminate it

In the interest of trying to make everyone comfortable, we sometimes try to hide our differences, or eliminate them altogether

We try to look like the rest of the world

We try to sound like the rest of the world

We try to act like the rest of the world

Maybe we shouldn’t

We are supposed to be differnt

We are a “peculiar people”

I am glad I had some people in my life who stood out, who were “sanctified”

I am glad I was “brought near”

What good would it do to be “no longer a stranger”, if there wasn’t any difference

If you are someone who is still a stranger, you don’t have to be

Right now is your moment

This is Your time

Christ is Your Peace

He has broken down the wall of separation between us

He has made a way for you today

He is here right now, reconciling you to Himself

Ephesians 2:22 NKJV

22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20–22 NKJV

20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

eph2.

Not only do we have “access” to God, brought near to Him, Made a Citizen and a family member

Here Paul says that we are being “built together for a dwellingplace”

People often associate “places” with holiness, and with God

The temple in Jesus time, was once of the most magnificent buildings in the empire

Consider some of the magnificent historical church buildings

The Church of Notre Dame

St. Peter’s Basilica

Even here

Yet, God dwells not in temples made with hands

He does not dwell in the building

Jesus told the Woman at the Well...

Neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem...

The time was coming,. yes, is here now....

When true worshippers, worship God in Spirit

You are being built, God wants to dwell in You

Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

That is the good news for today

Not only are you no longer a stranger, but God Himself will live in you, and stay with you!