New Society in Christ

Introduction

What number appears in your mind when you contemplate the idea of unity? Most of us are drawn towards the number one. Why? One is singular and unified in nature. Mathematically one cannot be divided either, so its normal to conclude one as a number that signifies unity.

Last week, in our sermon series, we spoke about the love of God and through his love for us, predestined us, redeemed us from sin and sealed us with the Holy Spirit.

Christians unity begins through the character of God’s oneness and his will to join us together in him. No longer are we orphans in a broken society, but we are reclaimed people who are purchased by God himself. Now after looking at what it looks like to be chosen, redeemed, and sealed with Christ. We look at Paul’s next statement of what it means to be “in Christ.” Our union with Christ not only involves new life, but also becoming part of a new society.

The Oneness of Christ's Church

The new society exist here on earth as it is in heaven by people be interconnect to Christ. Through God’s oneness, we his people become one, together.

Thinking about oneness, have you ever played with colored play-doh before? It’s really fun! Yet, the amazing part of play-doh is you can grab tons of play-doh from other color sets and squish them together become one new piece. This is the same kind of language Paul is going to use to argue we are untied together as new people.

Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV

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. 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. 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. 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 former people, the Jews were the elect people of God through Abraham and God’s promise with him. We non-Jews were excluded from the old covenant because we were not born in the right linage. But Christ offered us hope through God. It’s though the blood of Christ we have access to the new covenant.

What Christ established at the cross dividing the walls that prevented us from being his elect people. By the cross Jews and Gentiles who have faith in Jesus are know brought together as one family, society, and community. As when you bring color play-doh together, you can never separate the colors evenly because its been throughly been mix together, become one new thing.

Paul can proclaim there is only one church because everyone in this family has access to one Spirit and Father. Prior, we were separated, but now we are brought into the family. Paul describes us as fellow citizen of a new kingdom, members of Christ body, and the blocks of the temple founded on Christ the cornerstone.

The last part is significant. In ancient days, carpenters would create a building based of the dimensions of the cornerstone. This piece was measure perfectly so that when they construction workers were constructing the house it would be level and sturdy. Jesus is the first piece to the household of God, the rest of us by faith are stack on Jesus assembling one house, church, and society.

Then being said, we collectively as believers in Jesus come together and construct the new temple of God. Both individually and corporately we hold the Spirit of God where God’s spirit dwells, for this reason we are interconnect to each other because we share the same Spirit.

The church is in charge of maintain and preserving the unity within the family because its source come from God’s oneness, so therefore, we are one together no matter our politics, races, ethnicities, genders, social classes, and ages.

I like Moody’s quote, he says concerning church unity.

“I have never yet known the Spirit of God to work where the Lord's people were divided.”

- Dwight L. Moody

The unity within the church is something worth protecting and cherishing at every cost.

God's Divine Plan Revealed

In our connection with Christ church, we learn our union together with him and others was God’s intended plan from the beginning and Paul reveals the mystery to Gentiles.

Ephesians 3:1–13 ESV

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. 13 So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

It was always God’s divine plan that he would have one unified church functioning under the banner of his gospel message. Through out our union together we become the wisdom of reveal this knowledge to the world.

The church can only do this, when we remain together in harmony. The mystery that was hidden is now come to light and God’s purpose for his bride is to be one as he is in her.

This mystery is not something we keep to ourselves. God want the world to know that the gospel is given to all people and anyone through faith can become one with the family of God.

The question is, “Do we believe this mystery is worth sharing to others?”

Paul believed it was worth sharing, even doing so he suffered, that why he told the church to understand what is going through is for your benefit, which is our glory, he says.

As Christ said in his ministry, a house divided will not stand. Neither will a church congregation change the world if we are not united in all things.

When we do not feel connected then we must ask ourselves what is missing from me loving my Christian brother and sister? I would say, perhaps we need an extra dose of a spirit filled life.

Spiritual Strength of God's Power

Paul teaches us how to amplify the Spirit in our lives so we can be the united church of Christ.

Ephesians 3:14–21 ESV

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

When the Holy Spirit strengthens our inner being, then we can become the people who love each other unconditionally. God’s heart is for his church to understand his great love for us and then to reciprocate this same love to those who belong within the family of God.

Part of becoming a stronger church is willing to forgive, reconcile, and invest in other Christians we see throughout the week.

Stronger Bodies Work Together

That why I want to challenge everyone here at Ubly Christian to begin investing time, money, and energy to connecting growing deeper friendships.

Before the pandemic, Sarah and I were having weekly luncheon with people from our church and I know I grew closer to them at the dinner table more than an hour at church service.

If you ever read the book, the gospel comes with a house key. It’s about a real life story how a lesbian, leftist, atheistic woman was invited over to a Presbyterian minister home. Where eventually he revealed the mystery of Christ’s love to her and eventually she became a born-again Christian.

I would love for our fellowship to be deep and wide through weekly fellowship. Invite someone in this church to your home sometime in the next couple week. The body is only as strong as the relationships that are formed.

Be the Spirit filled church, be untied as one new community and lean on each other as we lean on Christ together.