Know Your Roots

Intro

Where Christianity comes from

(CSB)

14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Body

1) At peace with Israel (Covenant people, circumcised, with YHWH [temple]) (14-18)

The confusion of the Old Testament

It’s clear in the stories how we get from Adam to Israel.

What about Israel to the church?

1) At peace with Israel (Covenant people, circumcised, with YHWH [temple]) (14-18)

Body

What is the church? (14-15)

a. made both groups one

Ephesians 2:14–15 CSB

For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.

‘who made both groups one’

One Kingdom/People of God

‘he made of no effect the law...’

It’s not that there is no purpose or value to the law.

The law no longer identifies you as Israel.

Faith in Jesus now identifies you with Israel.

b. settled hostility

How can the church be Israel if Israel is Israel? (16-17)

Ephesians 2:16–17 CSB

He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

‘Dividing line of hostility’

The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news of peace.

— Salvation comes from the Jews

Peace with Israel means peace with God and entrance into God’s Kingdom.

What are the benefits of being Israel? — Why not just be the church? (18)

c. nullified the commands and regulations of the law

Ephesians 2:18 CSB

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

d. made two men into one (as in a.)

:!8

OT Israel had access to God

In the OT, Jacob called God, “The God who answers me.” —

NT, if the church is Israel, then we have access to God.

The entire point of insisting on oneness with Israel is that Israel has access to God—otherwise the NT is some loosely connected but completely different book from the OT.

What does it mean to have access to the Father?

Prayer (Because our root is in Israel we can pray to God).

Romans 8:26 CSB

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings.

Romans 8:28 CSB

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

The Spirit of God delivers our prayers to God.

Even when we don’t know what or how to pray, when we pray anyway, the Spirit interprets for us.

You must make a daily and regular habit of prayer even you don’t think you know how or you aren’t sure what to say.

Power (Because our root is in Israel we have God’s power)

2 Timothy 1:10 CSB

This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

2 Timothy 1:7 CSB

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.

fear/power

God has called us to live radically different than the world around us — fearful

Be bold and do what you know God is calling you to do

Purpose (Because our root is in Israel we have God’s purpose)

Ephesians 6:6 CSB

Don’t work only while being watched, as people-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, do God’s will from your heart.

Pleasing the self doesn’t have real purpose—we crave something bigger.

Self-pleasure never lasts

‘From the heart’ — When you have the Spirit of God in you, your heart can lead you to God’s purpose

the most fulfilling purpose

PRAY

e. Christ reconciles both to God

i. Requires one body (as Christ has one body)

Thanks for inviting us into His covenant community, Israel

Prayer

ii. Through the cross which is the means by which the hostility was put to death and the kingdoms reconciled into one.

Power

2) Not a foreigner or stranger to God

3) Fellow citizens with Israel in God’s Kingdom

Purpose