Unified in Christ
Ephesians: A Letter to All the Saints • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:49
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Introduction
Introduction
Summarize:
There are two distinct peoples that are both in full error before God. Jews and Gentiles have been set against one another since the founding of Israel.
A significant part of our repentance of sin is the joining of the church family.
Exposition
Exposition
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
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,
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Author: Paul
Audience: All the Saints
Content: Peace is brought from God through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
Context: We are to be unified in our devotion to Christ.
Comparison: James 4:1-10
Explanation
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
He Himself is our peace
Transition from v11 “you Gentiles” to OUR and US
who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.
Jew and Gentile were as much at odds as the sinner toward God
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,
How has he removed the divisions?
By abolishing the former law (lit. “make inoperable”)
The law still exposes sin, but is completed in Jesus
One new man?
Previously the Jew held to the law
The Gentile was unconcerned with the law
This caused division
One new body is in Christ, united by salvation through the cross.
Also, obedient to Christ together, not as a following of the written law, but by work of the Spirit.
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Not only is hostility toward one another to be slain, but the hostility between man and God.
Consider Matt 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Our peace with one another is meant to be an evidence of our peace with God.
1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Application
Application
The cross makes us a people of unity
The cross makes us a people of unity
God stops our warring with a word:
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”
The cross makes us a people of holiness
The cross makes us a people of holiness
Jesus during the sermon on the mount addresses: anger, lust, divorce, oaths, retaliation, showing love to the undeserving, praying for your enemies. He exposes our carnal minds.
48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance,
15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
The cross makes us a people of prayer
The cross makes us a people of prayer
45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold,
46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.”
Our Response
Wednesday nights: “Set Apart for Christ” Bible study and a time of prayer