3 responses because of God’s peacemaking work through Christ
I. Remember your past to be thankful for your present position (vv. 11-12)
Ephesians 2:11-12 - Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
A. Separated from Christ
B. Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel
C. Strangers to the covenants of promise
D. Without hope & without God
II. Celebrate your reconciliation with God and others in the church (v.13-18)
Ephesians 2:13-16 - But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
A. Be valuing Christ’s work in the church
B. By preaching the Gospel to one another
Ephesians 2:17 - And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.
C. By using your common access to pray for one another
Ephesians 2:18 - …for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
III. Live for our common unity in Christ (vv. 19-22)
A. As a citizen
Ephesians 2:19 - So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints.
B. As a family member
Ephesians 2:19 - …and are of God’s household…
C. As God’s dwelling place
Ephesians 2:20-22 - …having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
We are back on our theme, walking through Ephesians because we are Building Upon our Heritage here at Faith Church, with an emphasis on the fact that You Are Reconciled in the Body.
3 responses because of God’s peacemaking work through Christ
I. Remember your past to be thankful for your present position (vv. 11-12)
Ephesians 2:11-12 “Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
In verse 12, Paul is calling for remembrance – that is to say, Church – I want you to call to mind your life prior to God breathing into your nostrils the breath of salvation.
Paul is calling for remembrance – that is to say, Church – I want you to call to mind your life prior to God breathing into your nostrils the breath of salvation.
Call to mind, Church, your life before you were robed in Christ’s righteousness – recall what you were before your union with him – before you were included in his body…
To put it simply - call to mind your status.
A. Separated from Christ
Paul is talking to a largely Gentile congregation – Faith Church is, by and large, a Gentile congregation! There was a time when all of us Gentiles were "far off" – meaning, we were separated from God.
When? Before Christ. Before Christ there was a great gulf, a great distance that separated you and I from the Yahweh – the God of the Bible!
You had no share in God’s promises. Those promises were given exclusively to the Jewish people to send the Messiah to save as God promised he would.
B. Excluded from the common wealth of Israel
What does that mean? It means that prior to our being included in God’s family, we had no right to be citizens of heaven, let alone a people of God for his own possession!
We were excluded from the “common wealth of Israel” – we’re going to need to flesh this out.
It essentially means that at one point we were…
C. Strangers to the covenants of promise
We were strangers and foreigners. The word stranger (xenoi) means an outsider, an unknown person, a person who does not belong. The word foreigner (paroikoi) means sojourner, alien, a migrant, an exile. There was a time when we...
• were outside God and His kingdom.
• were unknown to God and His kingdom.
• did not belong to God and His kingdom.
• were sojourners, living outside God and outside His kingdom.
• were alien to God and to His kingdom.
• were migrants, not belonging to God nor to His kingdom.
• were exiles to God and to His kingdom.
There was a time when we were as a stranger and a foreigner to God, when we were not citizens of God's kingdom. We had no relationship and no fellowship with God and no home and no rights to citizenship in His kingdom.
D. Without hope & without God
Man was estranged from God: he had rejected and rebelled against God, committing high treason against Him. Man was working all kinds of evil and injustice in the world-all against the will and law of God. And, even as the case is among men, the penalty for high treason and insurrection is exile and separation or death.
Now note: there was only one way man could ever be brought back to God-if God loved him enough to forgive his transgression and rebellion.
The glorious gospel is that God did love man that much. God was willing to forgive man. However, there was one problem. The judgment of exile or death had already been pronounced, and the Lord's Word could not be revoked. What could God do?
Only one thing: God had to provide a Perfect, Ideal Man for men, a Man who could stand as the Pattern for all men. If He could provide the Ideal Man, then He could die for man and His death would stand for the death of all men.
This God has done. God has loved man with a perfect love-a love so strong that He was willing to substitute His Son for man. Only God and God's Son could love that much. This is the first reason Christ had to die, to shed His blood for man.
Man was estranged from God: he had rejected and rebelled against God, committing high treason against Him. Man was working all kinds of evil and injustice in the world-all against the will and law of God. And, even as the case is among men, the penalty for high treason and insurrection is exile and separation or death.
Now note: there was only one way man could ever be brought back to God-if God loved him enough to forgive his transgression and rebellion. The glorious gospel is that God did love man that much. God was willing to forgive man. However, there was one problem. The judgment of exile or death had already been pronounced, and the Lord's Word could not be revoked. What could God do? Only one thing: God had to provide a Perfect, Ideal Man for men, a Man who could stand as the Pattern for all men. If He could provide the Ideal Man, then He could die for man and His death would stand for the death of all men.
This God has done. God has loved man with a perfect love-a love so strong that He was willing to substitute His Son for sinners. Only God and God's Son could love that much. This is the first reason Christ had to die, to shed His blood for man.
You had no rights of heavenly citizenship in God’s kingdom – no spiritual heritage.
Think of that in light of what you now have in Christ and amongst fellow believers here at faith church.
Our church is preparing to celebrate their 60 year spiritual heritage here at Faith. I have not been here that long at Faith, but I know that a number of you have deep roots here and there’s a sense in which you have a far greater gratitude than I do because you have shared in the common wealth of your spiritual heritage here.
But I can tell you after 4 years of being here how blessed my family is for all of you saints of light! You have been a spiritual blessing to us – and I can only hope that we have been a spiritual blessing to you.
What we share now is but a small portrait of the glory that is to follow.
So then consider your new spiritual heritage and not take our heritage for granted. Consider how blessed you are now being included in the body and under your spiritual head, that is Christ.
II. Celebrate your reconciliation with God and others in the church (v.13-18)
A. Be valuing Christ’s work in the church
Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace; 16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.
note the glorious news: we are no longer strangers and foreigners to God. Jesus Christ has brought us to God.
We are now fellow citizens with all of God's people. We now have a home and all the rights of citizenship in God's kingdom. And one of the ways we value Christ’s work in our lives is doing a 60 year anniversary, celebrating what God has brought together.
One of the ways we demonstrate this is…
B. By preaching the Gospel to one another
Ephesians 2:17 “And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near.”
In other words, you were brought near not because of who you are. It was as one hymn said
The precious blood of Christ!
To God it brings us near;
And to our hearts assurance gives,
That Jesus holds us dear.
That is why you and I have been granted access to God. The blood of Christ is why we are no longer separated from God. The blood of Christ is why we are no longer excluded from God’s promises. The blood of Christ is why we now have hope!
Again, we are celebrating what God has done for the past 60 years at this church of what Christ has brought put together by whom he has brought near!
Therefore,
C. By using your common access to pray for one another
Ephesians 2:18 “for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.”
What God has spiritually united, no man can tear asunder!
Christ brings us access to God. The word access (prosagōgē) means to bring to, to move to, to introduce, to present. The thought is that of being in a royal court and being presented and introduced to the King of kings. Jesus Christ is the One who throws open the door into God's presence. He is the One who presents us to God, the Sovereign Majesty of the universe.
Note that it is the Holy Spirit who escorts us into God's presence. The idea is that of daily access-hour by hour, moment by moment. The Holy Spirit keeps us in the presence of God.
⇒ The Holy Spirit is the Divine Nature of God within us that gives us permanent access into God's presence. (Jn. 3:5;Ro. 8:11;2 Pe. 1:4).
⇒ The Holy Spirit is the One who works in us and stirs us to move more and more into God's presence (Ro. 8:14;Ga. 4:6-7).
⇒ The Holy Spirit is the constant companion with us, teaching us to live in God's presence (Jn. 14:26;1 Co. 2:12-13).
⇒ The Holy Spirit is the One within us who bears witness that we are children of God and should approach God continually (Ro. 8:15-16;Ga. 4:4-6).
III. Live for our common unity in Christ (vv. 19-22)
Ephesians 2:19-22 “So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”
The church is pictured as a new nation or society. Note the word " ." We, the Gentiles, are no longer strangers and foreigners to God; we are now fellow citizens with all the saints of God.
We are to act…
As a citizen
As a family member
As God’s dwelling place
Note the word saints." It means those who are set apart or separated to God. The picture is that of a people who are fellow citizens in a nation being created by God. The people are called...
Saints: a people set apart to God.
Fellow citizens: a people being built into a new nation under God.
Jesus Christ Himself is the chief cornerstone. The symbolism of the chief cornerstone says three significant things to us.
1) The cornerstone is the first stone laid.
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All other stones are placed after it. It is the preeminent stone in time. So it is with Christ. He is the first of God's new movement.
⇒ Christ is the captain of our salvation. All others are crew members who follow Him.
“For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.” (He. 2:10)
⇒ Christ is the author of eternal salvation and of our faith. All others are the readers of the story.
So then, the church must grow. Christ is our cornerstone, and we must be about the work of bringing new stones (believers) and fitting them into the building of God. The church must be adding on to the building. Its structure is not yet finished.
2) Every believer within the building is a part of the building and expected to fulfill its function within the building; that is, every believer is a laborer, a laborer who is expected to be busy adding on to the building of the church. We are all to be bringing new stones and fitting them into the great building of God, the church.
3) The cornerstone is the directional stone.
It is used to line up the whole building and all the other stones. It can be called the instructional stone-upon it all the lines and instructions of the building are based. So it is with Christ. He is the Person who gave and gives the directions and instructions to God's people. We-the church-are to build our lives upon His instructions and His instructions only. If we follow any other instructions or directions, we will be out of line; and when we are noticed, we will have to be removed, cast aside and replaced with a stone that can be set in line. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. God used Him to give direction to all the other stones.
“For it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame. So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense. They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.” (1 Pe. 2:6-8)
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Pe. 2:4-5)
Note that it is all of God; it is all due to God's work. He is the One who raises up the Savior. Our Savior is our object of marvel and wonder.
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