Ephesians 2:11-22 | "God's Household" [ Identity Defined ]
[Ephesians] Identity Defined • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 98 viewsSunday, June 18, 2023. Ephesians 2:11-22 | "God's Household." Preached to Heritage Bible Chapel in Princeton, MA. This is the concluding sermon of an exposition through Chapters 1 & 2 of Ephesians, "Identity Defined."
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I. The Reading | Ephesians 2:11-22
I. The Reading | Ephesians 2:11-22
11 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—
12 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.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off 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 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,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
17 And 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 our 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 are of God’s household,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
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.
II. The Exhortation | “Remember...”
II. The Exhortation | “Remember...”
Verse 11 gives us the very first command in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 2:11 (NASB 95)
11 Therefore remember ...
Remember.
That is a good word.
It is a positive word. It is an action word.
This is the first thing God tells the saints at Ephesus to do with all of the information they have received, thus far.
It is something God wants the saints at Heritage to do too.
Remember.
Why this command?
Why is it given this far in to this letter?
Well, the Bible has been telling us who Jesus Christ is, and who we are in Him.
The Bible has been revealing to us our identity as Christians.
Before we do anything, it is important that we know first who God is, and what God has done, and what God is doing concerning His Son.
Ephesians makes this clear.
God has done something mysterious, something wonderful and beyond human comprehension or capability.
God prepared a plan according to His will, a plan that involves us, and He planned this before we existed - before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4).
God determined to carry out this plan and see it through to completion through His Son, Jesus.
It is a plan for His Church.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:18:
Matthew 16:18 (NASB 95)
18 ...I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
Before we act, or in any way partake in God’s plan, or attempt to misappropriate any measure of glory for ourselves, the Bible makes sure we know who God’s plan is about, and who makes this plan possible, and where this plan is heading.
God’s plan for the fullness of time is all about Jesus, is made possible by Jesus, and sums up all things in Jesus.
- Our identity, saints, belongs in Jesus. And we are nothing without Him.
Ephesians 1:9-10 —
9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him
10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him
CONTEXT: This is the chief theological concern of the letter’s first main section (1:3-3:21).
God is gathering together all things in the heavens and on the earth, summing up all things in Christ (Thielman, NTT, 395).
The Bible says that every knee will bow to Christ as Lord (Phil 2:10).
The Bible says that every tongue will confess Christ as Lord. (Phil 2:11).
Things in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth.
The Bible says God purchased with His blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (Rev 5:9) and they will stand as a multitude before the throne and before the Lamb and proclaim “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (who is Jesus Christ) - (Rev 7:9-10).
This salvation is God’s work in Christ alone.
The saints have not been instructed to do anything yet. They have only been told who God is, who they were, and what God has done to give them a new identity in Jesus.
Ephesians 2:10 summarizes this well and hints at what’s to come:
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
This is what it means to be a Christian —
To be raised from the dead, made alive, seated with Christ, and created as God’s workmanship for good works to walk in them...
So we expect to be told about those works, but instead we are told in verse 11 to remember.
“Therefore remember.”
Why this command?
There must be a reason - a God-glorying reason to remember.
It seems that God was not finished when he made those who were spiritually dead in transgressions and sins alive with Christ.
Reconciliation with God was essential, but it was not all.
Something more was required in God’s plan, another matter related to our identity remains to be defined.
And it has less to do about the saint’s relationship with God, and more to do with the saint’s relationship with one another.
How will God build His Church from every tribe and tongue and people and nation when all they do in the flesh is fight with one another?
Have you tried to get people together from different cultures, religious traditions and histories, to agree on anything?
Look around at the world! Look at the hostility between the nations.
Think about the dream of every beauty pageant contestant - What is it? World peace.
How will God build His Church from that? For if hostility exists in the world, it most certainly will make its way into the Church.
Verses 11-12 present something of this obstacle:
III. The Teaching
III. The Teaching
11 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—
12 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.
The first action the saints are to take in Ephesians is to:
I. REMEMBER What YOU WERE…
(2:12-13)
I. REMEMBER What YOU WERE…
(2:12-13)
Not “who” you were, but “what” you were …
They were Gentiles in the flesh.
The original recipients of this letter were Gentile Christians.
This means that they did not belong to the Jewish faith tradition (LN).
They did not have the same advantages that Israelites had from birth, who were God’s chosen people.
Paul wrote of the Israelites in Romans 9:4-5 —
4 who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises,
5 whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.
The Gentiles did not have this history, and were considered to be religious outsiders.
With disdain, the Jews labeled the Gentiles as “uncircumcised.”
Circumcision was a physical act in the flesh of a male that signified that Jew was part of God’s covenant people.
But it was just an outward sign - it did not guarantee a spiritual reality.
Notice how the word “flesh” is repeated and “human hands” emphasized...
11 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—
The Bible draws attention to the fleshly nature of this separation, this division. It is not spiritual.
These are man-made distinctions and God wants the Gentiles to remember them.
12 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.
Remember what you were...
You Gentiles were at that time separate from Christ.
You had no relationship with Jesus. You were not looking for the Messiah to come.
You weren’t gathering around the tree at Christmastime singing “O Come O Come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel....”
That was foreign to you!
You were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel.
That means you were foreigners, aliens, not citizens. You had no rights of citizenship from birth. No claim to God’s history with Israel in the past.
You were strangers to the covenants of promise.
God’s promises were not made to your ancestors.
You had no hope.
You were without God in the world.
You Gentiles were far off, deprived of the access to God that was available and accessible to the Jews.
APPLICATION
This is not unlike how someone might feel who was raised outside of the church, but is now participating now in a church membership class.
Going over statements of faith, doctrinal positions, and thinking “What does this mean?”
I didn’t have Sunday School. I haven’t read the Bible. I don’t know how to dress. I wasn’t taught these things.
I’ve never heard of a “disciple-ship.” Evangelism sounds like a disease.
What are we talking about here!?
They’ve only experienced Ephesians 2:1-10.
If the first ten verses of chapter 2 answer the question “What does it mean to be a Christian,” verses 11-22 might answer the question: “What does it mean to be a member of Christ’s Church?”
Because that is what God is doing. He is building His Church from all peoples in the world.
It is worth giving thought to how labels can create divisions.
The Jews labeled the Gentiles “Uncircumcised.”
It was what David called Goliath who dishonored the name of the Living God.
And in response the Bible implies that what the Jews themselves were doing was of the flesh, without understanding to the spiritual work of God.
Labels are a poor way to identify the Church of Jesus Christ.
Do we really need to put anything before the word “Christian”? Do we need to erect any obstacle?
Must a person be a “Reformed” Christian, an “Arminian” Christian, a “Conservative” Christian, a “Liberal” Christian, a “Cessationist” Christian, a “Continuationist” Christian, a “Complimentarian” Christian, an “Egalitarian” Christian, a “Baptist” Christian, a “Pentecostal” Christian, a “Pre-Trib” Christian, an “Amil” Christian…to be in the Church?
I think we will get to glory one day and be quite surprised at how many more people are there than we thought this side of glory.
(I hope I’ve given enough examples to offend us all just a little bit).
Now that we are united in our discomfort, hear this —
It’s not that labels are necessarily bad, or unhelpful in communicating doctrinal positions or alignment.
We need good doctrine and there is wisdom in alignment. But if and when we make secondary and tertiary doctrines primary, we form labels and run into error.
When man-made labels grow into doctrines (which eventually they will if not kept in check) — When man-made labels grow into doctrines that divide, they dishonor Christ’s death and disgrace God’s Church.
When man-made labels become doctrines that divide, (talking about in the Church…) they dishonor Christ’s death and disgrace Christ’s Church.
The Jews were divided among themselves.
They had various sects - one was the Saduccees, they did not believe in a resurrection of the dead. There were also Pharisees.
History tells us that the Pharisees prayed every day “I thank you God that I am not a Gentile, a woman, or a slave.” (cite…)
Jesus said that the Pharisees “invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition” (Matthew 15:6).
9 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ ”
They elevated precepts of men to the place of doctrine and heaped ungodly obstacles to those who were on the same team...
This gives a sense of the environment that Ephesians is first written to.
An environment that has similarities to our own day, if we are honest.
And yet the Gospel proclaims the basis for unity among all Christians - Jew and Greek:
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
This verse is the summary statement of this passage.
Church denominations do not unite us, conformism does not unite us, education does not unite us. Give and take does not unite us.
The blood unites us.
This verse tells us of the power of Jesus’ sacrifice - His blood. And that is an identifying mark of every Christian.
We sing:
“Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling.”
The blood brings all who were far off, near —Near to God, and also near to God’s people.
The basis of membership in Christ’s Church is first — the blood of Christ.
God is glorified when the Gentiles remember what they were, because as this verse states — what they were is not what they are any more.
So:
I. Remember What You Were.
You were Gentiles in the flesh, separate from Christ.
But now you have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
II. REMEMBER What HE IS…
(2:14-18)
II. REMEMBER What HE IS…
(2:14-18)
He (speaking of Jesus) is our peace.
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 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,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
God acted in Christ to abolish something old, so that he might create something new, and thereby reconcile two opposing groups as one new man.
To illustrate this, the Bible speaks of the “barrier of the dividing wall.”
This barrier is more than an illustration - it was a reality that separated the Jews and Gentiles in the worship of God in the temple.
There was a wall in the Jewish temple that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the rest of the temple areas (Wiersbe, BR, 58). It surrounded the access to God...
Signs were posted on that wall with a warning.
Archaeologists discovered one from Herod’s temple and it reads like this:
“No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.”
(Wiersbe, BR, 58).
This wall was as visible as a division can be, and represented the distinctness required of the Jewish people who were God’s people.
This wall was a symbol of restrictions God placed over all areas of a Jew’s life to set them apart from the world.
The Jews, as God’s people, dressed differently, they ate according to a different set of rules, they worshiped differently, they related to one another differently.
To show how unique, and holy God is among all the nations. How there is no other like Him!
But this wall came to represent what the Bible calls “enmity.”
While it is true that we are enemies with God in our sin, when we have been made alive we are no longer enemies with one another.
But there the dividing wall stood - between Jews and Gentiles.
And God acts decisively for peace and unity among believers of all peoples:
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 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,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
This is the Gospel explained in this text.
When Jesus died on the cross, remember that the veil in the temple was torn in two! The barrier, the separation, was no more.
By fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law in His flesh, that is doing what no other human being was capable of doing, Jesus abolished the enmity of that Law through his death, and removed the barrier of commandments and ordinances that separated Jew from Gentile.
Jesus cuts off the labels associated with His name. His name is enough.
No longer is there a “Gentile Christian” or a “Jewish Christian” ...
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Just as Jesus is both God and man, Jesus makes in His flesh both Jew and Greek into “one new man” and establishes peace.
His blood ushers in a new covenant. The gospel proclaims: “You are not under the law but under grace” (Rom 6:14).
There is no longer two men to oppose one another!
There is only one man, a new man, the Church, with Christ as the head and His people as the body.
All who are in Christ are one.
( If you reverse the words “In Christ” you get “Christ-IN.” )
That is very close to Christian.
And that’s what it means to be a Christian - to be in Christ, one with His Church....for Christ to be in you.
Christ has removed the barrier between people and God - so there must never be a barrier between Christ’s people, purchased by His blood.
As John Stott writes: “Inequality before God is abolished. There is a new unity in Christ.” (Stott, BST, 101-102).
This fulfills what God spoke through His prophet Isaiah, quoted in verse 17:
17 And 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 our access in one Spirit to the Father.
What is telling in these verses is that both Jew and Gentile needed peace preached to them.
He preached peace to you were far away (Gentiles) and to those who were near (Jews).
The spiritual condition of the Jew was no different from the spiritual condition of the Gentile without Christ.
But Jesus changes our spiritual condition by giving access to the Father in ONE Spirit.
The Holy Spirit - dwelling in hearts through faith.
As Jesus gives us peace with God, through His blood, making atonement for our sins, Jesus also gives us peace with one another.
And as we live in peace toward one another, our brothers and sisters, we powerfully proclaim peace to the world…to the nations.
He is our peace.
So:
I. Remember What You Were.
You were Gentiles in the flesh, separate from Christ.
But now you have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
And:
II. Remember What He Is.
He is our peace.
Jesus is our peace.
Lastly,
III. REMEMBER What YOU ARE… (2:19-22)
III. REMEMBER What YOU ARE… (2:19-22)
Not what you were, but what YOU ARE …
This is the reason for remembering. This is how the Gentiles bring God glory in the remembering of their past, and this is how we too bring God glory in remembering our past condition.
This is why, when we we write our testimonies about how God saved us, as we prepare for baptism, or a church membership interview - we shouldn’t write them in pencil that can be erased later, but in permanent marker to be preserved — yes, even the bad and the ugly. Here is what my condition was without Christ....I remember that...
So that I can now declare my condition ONLY BECAUSE OF CHRIST....!
A diamond shines brightest when it is set against a dark background.
Don’t lose what you once wanted to forget. Remember it, and give God praise for what you are now as He has made you to be...
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,
You Gentiles in the flesh were separate from Christ, excluded, strangers, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ who is our peace, by His blood shed on the cross - you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household.
This is the climax of our identity.
Who are you Gentiles?
You are of God’s household.
Who are you Heritage?
You are of God’s household.
What is God’s household?
God’s household, God’s dwelling place, is this “one new man,” this “workmanship,” this new creation we call the Church.
Verse 20:
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
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.
This is not a fleshly distinction, it is spiritual. “in the Spirit.”
The Church is Christ’s bride, it is a body, and it is also a building. No one word can describe it perfectly.
The foundation of that building is Christ - there is no other foundation to be laid.
The apostles and prophets laid Christ as the foundation as they proclaimed Him in the Spirit-inspired Word.
Christ Jesus is Himself the cornerstone of His Church.
The corner stone sets the direction that a building will grow from and how it will fit together.
And it is strange to say that a building is growing…but the Church as a building is growing. God is adding and fitting together believers and Christ is building His building…the Church, until one day, one moment known only to God, it reaches completion.
And this building, this Church…is a holy temple in the Lord.
It is holy not because it keeps the Law. It is holy because Christ makes her holy....and her identity is in Christ.
Brothers and sisters, we are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
In Christ…in the Spirit…in God.
And God does not dwell in a building made by human hands. God dwells in the hearts of people through faith.
17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
The [Christ] Conclusion
The [Christ] Conclusion
And Christ will dwell in the hearts of all who hear His Word, and receive this gospel truth by faith.
9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
You will be changed. You will be raised with Him. You will be seated with Him in heavenly places. You will be united with Him and His Church.
God’s Word calls us to act today by remembering.
If our lives look more like what we were, than what we are, then have we truly experienced what He is?
If our lives look more like what we were, than what we are, then have we truly experienced what He is?
I. Remember What You Were.
You were Gentiles in the flesh, separate from Christ.
This is our Identity DEPRIVED.
But now you have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
And:
II. Remember What He Is.
He is our peace.
This is our IDENTITY ALIGNED.
Jesus destroys what separates us and makes us one, at peace with God and one another.
Also:
III. Remember What You Are.
You are of God’s household, being built into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
This is our IDENTITY DEFINED.
This is what Ephesians has been saying from the first verse.
This is what God has been acting to bring about. This is how we glorify God with our lives… as His Church.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
What does it mean to be Christ’s Church?
Answer these two questions, and you will know who Jesus is, and who you are in Him.
Sermonic Eschatonic
Sermonic Eschatonic
And by God’s promise, you will know who you will be be for eternity. . .
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea.
2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them,
4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.
8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
9 Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.”
PRAY