Untitled Sermon (4)

Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV

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— 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 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. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Big Idea: Demonstrate the supernatural reconciliation that Christ provides between his people and God.

2:1-10 - Incorporation into the church from an individual perspective.

2:11-22 - Incorporation into the church from a national/global perspective.

3:1-13 - Incorporation into the church from a cosmic/heavenly perspective.

Three Keys to Supernatural Reconciliation -

1) Humble Remembrance: We were at irreconcilable odds with God and his people. (2:11-12)

Gentiles =

(At Odds with God's People)

--Uncircumcised (no external ordinance of the covenant... major point of contention between the Jews and Gentiles b/c Gentiles viewed it as a handicap and Jews viewed it as the essential sign of the favor of God... both were going to get corrected in Christ)

(At Odds with God)--Separated from Christ (the Messiah came through Israel, fulfilling their law)

--Alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel (we didn't have access to the physical land and nation where the temple resided)

--Strangers to the covenants of promise (we didn't understand, know, or live out the only way on earth for mankind to relate to God)

----- “He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 147:20, ESV)

--Having no hope and without God in the world (futility because we could not attain the purpose for which we were created... death was a hopeless unknown)

Apply: Reconciliation predicates on humility. We remember, we are humbled, and then we are ready to be reconciled. Realizing where we would be without God should humble us. We should expect that there will be some major differences between us and others in the church, and we come with all the right ideas hardwired into us. God had to do a massive work to bring reconciliation from this starting point.

2) Heart-level Redefinition: Christ reconciled us by his blood to God and his people.(2:13-18)

By his blood = his incarnate person and work.

--By his personhood.

--By his fulfillment of the law.

--By his crucifixion and resurrection, creating a new body in himself.

--By his preaching.

--By his sending of the Spirit.

Apply: The work of reconciliation only comes through embracing the person of Christ by faith and so coming into union with him.

3) Holistic Reorientation: God reconciled us to himself so that we would be his people together. (2:19-22)

We are part of a New Body - We are needed.

We are part of a New Kingdom - We are under authority.

The Glory of his Family = Love

The Glory of his Temple = Presence

Apply: This type of experience only happens when we embrace the reconciliation God has provided for in Christ.