4 Spiritual Unity

Human nature is naturally inclined to look inwardly and divide or polarize to protect. All our systems are set up to keep us on opposite sides rather than finding commonality and unity.

Political – republican/democrat, conservative/liberal

Racial – white/black,brown,

Nationalism – America/everyone else

Religious – Evangelical “Christian”/everyone else who doesn’t agree

Gender – men/women, and now all other expressions. Division. Mistreatment. Belittling.

This is our culture. This is our way. Who of us is exempt?

Sadly, the one place where there should be unity is also plagued with division. Inside the church.

Points

Read

The Far Brought Near

Ephesians 2:11–13 NIV

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

talks of the unity we once had. It was unity with the world. Unity with the sons of disobedience. Unity with the heirs of judgment and wrath. Also from that passage – death, separation.

Here, you were far from God, excluded from His people, foreigners to law, not in Christ.

Ephesians 2:11

Ephesians 2:11 NIV

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—

but God made you alive. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus brought near

uncircumcised = unholy

physical act done by human hands to make physically set apart.

but God made you alive. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus brought near

Ephesians 2:12 NIV

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Separate from Christ = not in Christ

excluded = not a citizen, part of Israel so an outsider

foreigner to the covenants = not included in the promises of God to Israel through the law

Godless. Hopeless. Another grim description of our condition before Christ.

:13Eph 2:4 but God made you alive. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus brought near

Ephesians 2:13 NIV

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

but God made you alive. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus brought near

by the blood of Christ - His death on the cross, blood atonement

Eph 2:4 but God made you alive. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus brought near

In Christ the far is brought near and …

Two Become A New One

Read

Ephesians 2:14–18 NIV

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 2:14 NIV

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,

Just like in 2:4-7 rescued and made alive in Christ and seated with Him, blood of Christ brings near, peace with God and other believers, in Christ as a body all believers become united through His Spirit.

Jesus Himself is our peace

two groups = Jews and Gentiles

dividing wall of hostility = physical divider in temple Gentile court,

or spiritual wall - the far off now near

or legal wall… v.15

Ephesians 2:15 NIV

by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace,

setting aside = abolished = annulled = stripped of power

Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament Chapter 2

fulfilled the Law in Himself and ended the reign of the Mosaic law that separated Jews and Gentiles

fulfilled the Law in Himself and ended the reign of the law of Moses that separated Jews and Gentiles

Reference back to 1:10 purpose to make mystery known to bring all things together in unity under Christ.

Ephesians 2:16 NIV

and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Reference back to 1:10 purpose to make mystery known to bring all things together in unity under Christ.

The work of Jesus on the cross, putting to death the law, the division, the hostility,

reconciling Jews and Gentiles, and reconciling all to God

Ephesians 2:17 NIV

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

Ephesians 2:17

Preached peace = announced the peace had come - like announcing “The War Is Over”

Ephesians 2:18 NIV

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

niv

Amazing development - access to the Father - able to approach one who is much higher

Jesus received in Himself on the cross the hostility, killed it, fulfilled and removed the power of the law

brought together the Jews and Gentiles and brought them together with the Father

Ephesians 2:19 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,

Ephesians 2:

brought near, citizens, children of God.

and then built ...

The New Temple

Ephesians 2:20–22 NIV

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20-22

Read

Ephesians 2:19–22 NIV

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:20 NIV

built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

saved by grace to do good works as God’s handiwork. Citizens, children, built into temple where God lives.

Jesus as the first and orienting, apostles and prophets carrying on the work of building.

Read

Ephesians 2:20

EReinforces Christ as center and togetherness of focus. Not individual but all united together in Christ.

Ephesians 2:21 NIV

In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.

Reinforces Christ as center and togetherness of focus. Not individual but all united together in Christ.

Joined together = being fit into place

holy temple - from the unholy because in the Lord

Ephesians 2:22 NIV

And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Reinforces Christ as center and togetherness of focus. Not individual but all united together in Christ.

the holy temple, where the Spirit of God lives.

Reinforces Christ as center and togetherness of focus. Not individual but all united together in Christ.

v.14-16 dividing wall of hostility – Israel was meant to bless the world. The covenant and law separated Israel from the rest of the world, and Israel used the law to separate themselves from the world. What Jesus accomplished on the cross was to kill the hostility, remove the wall, and bring the opposing groups together as one group/body/temple/dwelling place for God.

Unholy/holy, separated-alienated-strangers/reconciled-access-fellow citizens-household-temple , far off/brought near, divided/made one, two/one,

Conclusion

Contrasts that tell us a lot about humanity, Jesus, and God.

In the text these are presented on opposite sides of the turning point in v.3 BUT NOW in Christ.

Man was far off But Now brought near by the blood Christ

humanity was Godless and had no hope – now we have peace with Christ, division destroyed

Gentiles were Foreigners to the covenant – recreated and united as one in Christ as He removed rules by His death.

they were Excluded from Israel – reconciled to God through the cross

We were Separated from Christ – access to the Father by His Spirit

We all were Unholy – being built into the holy temple where God lives by His Spirit

The unity here is a Spiritual Unity. United to God and each other by Christ through His Spirit.

No longer united with unbelievers,

But! In Christ, we are brothers and sisters, united as one body, all fit together to become the new Temple where the Spirit of God resides.

Big Idea: In Christ we are united together as one with the Father and other followers

If this is true, what does it say about how we are to treat each other?

How about the way we treat other brothers and sisters who are not like us?

(Jews and Gentiles many struggles coming together as one)

And what about how we treat those who are still seen as outsiders - who do not yet follow Jesus?

4 Spiritual Unity

Introduction

Points

The Far Brought Near

Two Become A New One

The New Temple

Conclusion

Big Idea: In Christ we are united together as one with the Father and other followers

What About You?