April 3 2022 - Ephesians 2:14-18 - He is our Peace

Intro:

Good morning GracePointe. I love the opportunity to dive into God’s word with you today as we look at how the church is reimagined here in Ephesians. That is, that the church is God’s main vehicle for demonstrating God’s transformative power. Do you want to see how God changes people? Look at the church! Do you want to see how God makes the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, the prisoners set free....LOOK AT THE CHURCH.

In the chapters so far, Paul is helping shed light on our position in Christ and the life that thrives out of being in Christ. We were once far away but now, we are in Christ. God brought us near to Him through Christ. God is powerful! He overcame through His son Jesus that great chasm of sin and death....This section in Ephesians is all about the power of God and our identity of being in Christ. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul uses the terms “In Christ,” “In Him,” and “In Whom” (all referring to Jesus) 30 times. The apostle Paul wants us to know that it is about our identity In Christ.

Just to Ephesians 2 with me.

Ephesians 2:14–18 NIV

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 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, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Just before this…You see in verses 11-13, Paul is reminding us....Do not forget who you used to be in relation to who you are now! As humans, we love to focus on one or the other. The past or the present state.

Stuck in the Present

This happens occasionally as I talk to people. It can be people that I am close to or people that I have just met. They are stuck.

Sometimes they are stuck in the present and sometimes they are stuck as versions of themselves from 20 or 30 years ago.

We can sometimes be stuck in the present only. You see this prevailing in our culture today. Live for today. Forget the past. Live with no regrets. Friends, remembering the lessons of the past…using regret to make positive changes in your life is how we grow.

If we don’t take the regret of…wow that was not good. I don’t want to do that, feel that, experience that again…next time I am in that situation or one like it, I am going to do something different. That is the power of regret. It is a sorrow that God uses to help us grow. If you don’t have regret for burning your finger on the stove, you could quite possibly keep burning your hand! We need to remember who we were.

On the other hand…we don’t just remember to be stuck there. Paul tells us in Phil 3:13-14

Philippians 3:13–14 NIV

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God helps us to grow from our foolishness and sin as He is faithful. But sometimes....We stay back there in the past and forget to strain toward what is ahead! Your Past does not define you…God defines you. We forget that and let our past be our present.

Stuck in the Past

My family and I enjoy a weekly routine of watching America’s Funniest Home Videos. There is always a video of a man or a woman who goes to do some physical activity…ride a skateboard....ride a horse....take a step on the stairs…and they do it with such confidence like they used to feel long ago....when steps were not hazards out to take you down. Reality hits as they go to kickflip on the skateboard....or jump the horse....and 20-30 years of weight gain, lack of physical and mental activity....non use of the all the things that helped you do what you used to do.....that reality hits you and it hurts. Can I get an amen! We need to live in a reality. We need both the past and the present.

Paul is pointing out that we were....in the past…strangers to God. We did not know Him. We lived our lives without Him. It was not a reality that is good for anyone. We were orphans without Him as our Father. We remember that because it makes who we ARE IN CHRIST THAT MUCH MORE RICH.

Last week, Pastor Paul touched on this and reminded us that we as a people of God in Christ are a unified people of difference. It is not our seeming oneness that makes us unified…that is our same likes, preferences but our belief in the ONE, the risen Lord.

We were separate from God and from one another....but now we are brought near God and united to one another.

He is our peace

Today we want to shed light on how Jesus is our peace. Peace to our neighbor and Peace with God. Ephesians 2:14

Ephesians 2:14 NIV

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

Paul says here that Jesus is our Peace. When you hear the word peace, what immediately comes to mind? What fills your mind? Is it a day off from work? Is it cancelled plans? I know many of you might not admit it but you love cancelled plans. When the people you were going to have over for dinner…call and say we are so sorry but we have to cancel. You put on a good show on the phone but deep down…unplanned free time! For others…you think of peace as moment when someone watches your kids. We love our children but sometimes you want to have just a moment of peace.

Generation after generation people have been longing for peace. We see cries for peace in the Old Testament. We see cries for peace in the New Testament. We see cries for peace through out history and on this very day we pray for peace in places like Ukraine, Myanmar in Portland, in homes, in relationships, in churches.

The problem is that we try and look for peace everyone else but in the one who is our peace…that is Jesus Christ. We look for it in compliance in just finding agreement on all things. We try and find peace in commiseration. Misery loves company…and we all know or have been in times of misery where it felt seemingly peaceful to be with others who were miserable.

Peace is found in Christ. He is our peace. Jesus is not talking about the kind of peace we feel when a debt is finally paid. It's not the kind of peace we experience when we can purchase that big house we've always wanted. That's gratification. When the kids are with grandma or grandpa or possibly someone you found on craigslist. That's relief. Paul is not talking about just relief. He is not talking about relief. It is so much more satisfying.

Pease is not found only in :

A feeling of being happy because we all know how fleeting that can be.

he absence of trouble or war....because someone somewhere wants power and will take it with force.

A treaty with the enemy....because treaties are violated and that enemy is still an enemy even if you have a treaty.

A truce that is waiting to be broken because power is up for grabs again.

Happiness, absence of conflict, treaties and truces…they all can be symptoms of peace but they are not in and of themselves…peace. Why? Because they don’t last. If it doesn’t last, than it is not truly satisfying.

The peace Christ gives is fully satisfying. The origins of this word, Shalom, are good for us to hold onto because it is a word that can be thrown around without actually knowing if it is truly what we want. Early use of the Hebrew word for peace, Shalom is found in Genesis 43:27-28 when Joseph inquires to his brothers who do not recognize him as their brother. He asks if their father, how is he? and they replied that he is still alive and well....the word there is shalom. An overall sense of fullness and completeness in mind, body and spirit. It is a Hebrew word that also includes health, harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, and tranquility. When a Jewish person greets someone with the word, Shalom, they are actually saying, “May the fullness of God’s peace be upon you.”

One of the names we see of God is used once in Judges 6 as Gideon sees an angel of the Lord. He cries out and is in fear for his life. But God answers Gideon and says “Peace to you. Do not be afraid”. God is saying here to Gideon. Be fully well in all your mind, body, and spirit. Gideon goes on to make an alter to the Jehova Shalom. The God of Peace. The one who provides peace.

In the New Testament, we find a broader eternal significance to the word shalom or peace. shalom is revealed as the reconciliation of all things to God through the work of Christ. Remember in chapter 1 of Ephesians....all things united under Christ. Hebrews 13:8 says that, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” The power of Jehovah Shalom and the peace He offers are very much present and available to His children and church today.

It's peace of mind, heart, body and soul. It's contentment knowing that no matter what happens, you are in the care of the Almighty in Christ. It is referenced here in Phil 4:7

Philippians 4:7 NIV

7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Application for Peace

I want to stop here and ask a question. Do you have this peace? Do you see the fruit of peace in your life? , Honestly, my selfish nature that tries to obtain peace by my own efforts. Perhaps you're like me. We try to persuade God with promises. We even step up our effort in the things…the boxes....to try and work our way to peace. We think: If I follow all the rules and do the things that please God most, then maybe I'll find some peace. In the end, we're working at peace instead of resting in it. This reveals one thing: My trust is in myself instead of in God. In other words, I put my trust in what I can do, not what God is truly capable of doing.

Even if things look fine. Someone asks you how you are doing and you say great…but both of you know…that is a lie. You just don’t want to start crying. So you say....”great!”. Are you working at peace or are you resting in it.

Things may look good on the outside but on the inside, there is turmoil. Jeremiah 8:11 refers to this.

Jeremiah 8:11 NIV

11 They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. “Peace, peace,” they say, when there is no peace.

Peace can be said and talked about...but peace is found and experienced in and through Christ. He is our peace and what is he doing as the prince of peace. Ephesians 2:14

Ephesians 2:14 NIV

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

Bad Blood

It says here that He has made the two groups one....and broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility. He is talking about the Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were God’s chosen people and the Gentiles are anyone else. A Gentile is one belonging to any nation or people group other than the Jewish people group. Folks….that is most of us here. We are the anyone else.

Isaiah 42:6 points out how God desired for Israel to be a light for the gentiles....

Isaiah 42:6 NIV

6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,

A light for the gentiles. Elsewhere in Scripture, we see examples of God wanting to have gentiles come and worship Him at the Temple in 1 Kings 8, alongside Israel in Isa 55, in the rebuilding of the temple, there was accommodations made for the gentiles to worship God (Haggai 2:7) (HAG - EYE). The Jewish nation was to be a light to the other nations. Remember what God said to Abraham in Gen 12:1-3

…through your descendants, all nations will be....condemned…no....ridiculed…no God said blessed. All nations will be blessed by this nation that is set apart. A blessing.

As with all of us, we twist what God desires for us. Rather than be a light to others proclaiming the goodness of God, it is twisted into contempt for the ‘other’. Instead of a light, there was mocking, and ridicule and hatred that leads to darkness on all sides. . It is hard for many of us to understand the contempt that existed between these two groups at such a deep core level.

William Barclay wrote that ““The Jew had an immense contempt for the Gentile. The Gentiles, said the Jews, were created by God to be fuel for the fires of Hell. God, they said, loves only Israel. ... It was not even lawful to render Help to a Gentile mother in Her hour of sorest need, for that would simply be to bring another Gentile into the world.”

Other nations, Gentiles, represented those not of God, Samaritans, Assyrians, Egyptians, Barbarians, Scythians Romans....who did ungodly things and enslaved the Jewish people and the cycle continued. Generations of sin wreaked havoc on God’s intended desire for God’s people to bless all the nations.

This is the context in which Paul states…Jesus is our peace. He has made these two groups one.....He broke down the middle wall of division. What does he mean by middle wall…?

Alive in Christ: Ephesians Simply Explained 1. One Nation (2:13–18)

Paul is thinking about the temple at Jerusalem. It was a structure that emphasized the difference between Jews and Gentiles. The Gentiles were allowed into the outer courtyard of the temple, but no further. They could admire the Jews’ privileges from outside, but could not enter into them. A small wall marked the limit. Warning notices on it told all Gentiles that they went any further on pain of death. Jews passed freely by, but Gentiles had to stop. The small wall announced to all that some were welcome and others were excluded.

SEE PICTURE:

In the tabernacle and temple, there were various divisions. The outermost area was the court, which led into the Holy Place, which led into the Most Holy Place. How far in you were able to go was determined by who you were. Jewish men were allowed into the court. Levites were allowed into the Holy Place. But only the high priest was allowed into the Most Holy Place, and then only on the Day of Atonement. Not everyone had equal access to God. In the time of the New Testament, this gradation of access was expanded in the Herodian temple. Herod enlarged the temple of Ezra by adding a court for Jewish women and a court for gentiles. Depending on who you were, you could come so far, but no farther.

This should be of interest to us here today as most of us would be considered in the Gentile category. We are of other nations. Without Christ, we would not be part of the family of God. If you jump over to Matthew or Luke and read the genealogies, almost every single person in that list is a Jew. These are literally Abraham’s offspring.

And you know who’s names would have never been on those lists: ours (if you’re not a Jewish, which is most of us). It was never going to read Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, on and on, and Scott Brockett. I was on the other side of the dividing wall. No way to get in.

But Christ broke down that dividing wall.

Dividing wall is gone

You could say that under the old covenant, there were two kinds of people: Jews and gentiles. In Christ, there is only one kind of people. There is no Jew and no gentile, Thedivisioms for access to God are. Gone. HYou are first and foremost…a follower of Christ…you are in Christ.

That wall no longer exists. This is what Paul is teaching. The division of the world into Jews and Gentiles has ended at the cross. There is no place to which a Jew can go to which a Gentile cannot also go. It is the Lord Jesus Christ who has made the difference. All the privileges which were previously reserved for the Jews alone, are now available to the Gentiles, through Christ. Paul goes on to outline how he tore that wall down in verse 15.

Ephesians 2:15 NIV

15 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,

Put Aside the Ceremonial Law

He set aside the commands and regulations. He is our peace and destroyed that barrier by setting aside the commands and regulations. Other translations say abolish, to put an end to it. What is Paul referring to here?

The idea is, that the ceremonial law of the Jews, on which they so much prided themselves, was the cause of the hostility existing between them. That made them different people, and laid the foundation for the alienation which existed between them. They had different laws; different institutions; a different religion. The Jews looked upon themselves as the favorites of heaven, and as in possession of the only way of salvation; the Gentiles regarded their laws with contempt, and looked upon the unique institutions with scorn. Other nations went out of their way to hurt Jews because of that scorn.

This does not refer to the "moral" law, which was not the cause of the alienation, and which was not abolished by the death of Christ, but to the laws commanding sacrifices, festivals, fasts, etc., which constituted the uniqueness of the Jewish system.

One New Humanity

And here....we see that Jesus put an end to that division In his flesh. By his death, Jesus Christ has destroyed the cause of hostility between Jew and Gentile. How?

The ancient way of being made right with God involved this ceremonial law. Now, Salvation, that is being made right in the eyes of God, is done for both Jew and Gentile alike on the basis of Jesus - His sacrifice cleanses. When Jews and gentiles regard each other in Christ, they are to see members of a new nation, a new kingdom on earth composed of believing Jews and Gentiles.

Galatians 3:28 NIV

28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 NIV

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

The separation between Jew and Gentile is no more. It is finished as Christ said on the cross. There is still division but it is now a division between those who believe in Christ…those who put their hope in Christ…and those who do not. But the aim of God’s nation, set apart, is still the same. To be a light to those who do not yet know Him.

SHALOM WITH GOD

Let’s look at the second half of our passage, because as important as it is that Christ secured peace between Jew and Gentiles this would be pretty meaningless if that peace stopped there. The problem would be that though they would have peace with each other, they would lack peace in the most important way—with God himself. We have seen in the first few verses that Christ created a new humanity. But that humanity, the nation that is free of hostility between one another....still needs to be reconciled. In Verse 16, Paul hits this home, Eph 2:16

Ephesians 2:16 NIV

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

Both are restored to fellowship with God in the same way—by the same cross, by the same broken body, by the same sacrifice. Their hostility is put to death because of His death and resurrection.

We, Jews and Gentiles, are made right with God through the accomplishment of Christ.

Every law of God that you broke, whether you knew it or not, Christ obeyed it on your behalf.

You no longer need to sacrifice bulls and goats to appease God. Christ took care of it. He is the once-and-for all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12).

You don’t have to keep track of special festivals or cleansing rituals. Christ completed it all for you (Colossians 2:11–23).

You don’t need to make a journey to a temple. Christ is the fullness of God incarnate (John 4:21–23).

You no longer live under food laws (Mark 7:18–19)

Every shortcoming you have, he fulfilled.

Every offense against God, he undid.

We are reconciled by God and in Him we have peace, full past, present and future peace. Our past no longer defines our position with God for we have been forgiven. Our present is near the Lord as He is our peace. Our future is with God in eternity where we have peace…forever.

God helps bring full holistic peace to our past as He brings together all who put their hope and trust in Him. He brings them together and restores them to Himself! Paul goes on to remind us that Christ was reaching out to all in verses 17 and 18.

Ephesians 2:17–18 NIV

17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

None should perish

From the old testament to today, God desires for none to perish…none. Right now, I want you to imagine the person you have had conflict with…I pray it isn’t a core hatred like the Jews and Gentiles.....but perhaps it is. Perhaps it is a feud....and if I asked you about it, you could outline all the ways you were wronged. Whatever level of hostility is between you and someone else....do you realize that God desires for them to be saved?

2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 NIV

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

God wants all, even those you feel have been in the wrong, if we are honest, this is the hard part of the gospel if we look through a lens of selfishness. I need the gospel but others....those who have wronged me....friends remember where you came from.

Remember who you were and are. Perhaps we have wronged others....God wants us all to be saved. Jesus came to be peace to those far away like the gentiles and those were near like the Jews. That Christ came not to be served but to serve…Christ serves us as we serve others because it is in His sacrifice that we find all that we need to serve others. That Christ is serving us as his Sacrifice makes us, the new humanity, reconciled with God. Without Christ…we are nothing as it talks about in John 15:5

John 15:5 NIV

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Our peace in Christ is real and is found in him.

Application

Today I want you to focus on next steps for you and your family and for us as a church. The first reminder out of this passage today is that

We are a new nation of people saved by Christ and reconciled by God

Jew and Gentile make a new nation for the divisions have been tossed away. Gentiles are no longer outside, strangers to the covenant. Jews and Gentiles are now the people of God. Live as that new nation. Remove the dividing walls and embrace the joy of a new humanity In Christ.

We are to be a blessing. God has desired from the very beginning for His people to be a blessing to others. As a new humanity, are we loving others as ourselves? Are you treating others with humility and the love and the grace God has given us? We need to remember....it is loving your neighbor as yourself (PERIOD). No exceptions. No loopholes. no fine print. Love your neighbor. Be a blessing to other nations.

If Jesus is our peace, than we should be people of peace.

Ask your self. Am I living as a member of the kingdom of God as a people of peace. Am I working for peace or resting in the one who is our peace?am I seeking after Christ our peace or my own prosperity.

With the grace of Christ, comes a peace that passes understanding. We all were once enemies of God as it says Romans 5:10

Romans 5:10 NIV

10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

No matter what our past....no matter what sin we have committed…Jesus can forgive and make it right. That is the joy of what Christ has done. Whatever made you an enemy of God.....Christ nullifies the spiritual damage of your past when you put your hope and trust in Him.

Jesus is also our peace today. Right now, whatever you are trying to do to get your peace, be encouraged and reminded that Jesus is our peace.

let us Pray. If needed.

Jesus reminds us how we continue to be reminded that God draws us near. Col 3:15

Colossians 3:15 NIV

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Let Christ rule in your hearts! Allow Him to do that. He won’t force it because He is good. Experience the peace that passes understanding…experience it with God and with others. Display that peace in all you do. Don’t look for peace anywhere else but Christ…not in pleasure, or power, or prestige. In is found in the person of Christ.

Finally, Christ promises an eternity where there will be no more tears. No more sorrow. No more funerals! All is made right. Jesus is our peace yesterday, today, and into life everlasting. Let us pray

Numbers 6:24–26 NIV

“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” ’