8_27_2023 - Ephesians 2:16-18 - Christ Is Our Peace

Rev. Joshua W. Seymour

Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted 9 months ago • Presented 9 months ago

Ephesians 2:16–18

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(Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we continue our “Ephesians” series.

(AG Reminder)

Central is an Assembly of God church. For more information on our AG beliefs and positions feel free to check out the “What We Believe” link on the Central App, visit the website, or stop by the office.

(Ephesians Context)

The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are what we call the “Prison Epistles.”

Paul is writing Ephesians during his first imprisonment in Rome around 60 AD (recorded in Acts 28).

Like Colossians, this letter was carried to the province of Asia by Tychicus (Eph. 6:20-21).

This explains the similarity of doctrinal content, the same ideas being fresh in the apostle’s mind as he wrote these letters.

On Paul’s second missionary journey he planted the church of Ephesus (Acts 18:19).

On his third missionary journey Paul pastored the church of Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31).

Paul finishes his third missionary journey and stops in Ephesus to say goodbye as he made his way to Jerusalem and ultimately to prison in Rome where he is writing this letter to them.

(Series Recap and Sermon Title)

In Ephesians 1 we focused on the calling of Paul and the nature of the gospel.

In Ephesians 2:1-3 we focused on how the world is:

Dead-Walking

Devil-Following

Flesh-Desiring

Wrath-Bound

In Ephesians 2:4-10 we focused on how God loved us and therefore showed His mercy and grace upon those who would believe in Him and what He has done in faith.

Last week, Pastor Robby spoke on Ephesians 2:11-13 and how God [Text]

Today we are in Ephesians 2:14-18 and Paul is talking about “CHRIST IS OUR PEACE.”

Ephesians 2:14–18 (ESV)

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

15 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,

16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

(Ephesians 2:14-18 Context)

The Scripture speaks often of the Jewish and Gentile divide, seen mostly in the Jewish/Gentile language of Scripture.

While Christ walked the earth there were times and instances where we saw Christ respond to the Gentiles.

Paul says here in this passage that Jesus Christ, “came and preached peace to you who were far off (Gentiles) and peace to those who were near (Jews)” (v. 17).

In Ephesus, we understand that the church was multiethnic, being comprised of Jews and Gentiles.

We understand how emotionally charged conversations about race can be.

Paul understood that as well.

Although we know that the gospel means spiritual “peace” between us and God because of what Christ has done, Paul says that the gospel of peace also brings physical peace within racial relationships.

Paul is telling the Ephesian believers that Christ is our peace and therefore racism, prejudice, and caste systems have no place in the lives of those who have received Christ, Who is our peace.

But what does that actually look like and why is it important?

SERMON TITLE: CHRIST IS OUR PEACE

(Peace Definition)

Peace / ĕirēnē / i-ray´-nay / εἰρήνη

G1515. prob. from a primary verb εἴρω ĕirō (to join); peace (lit. or fig.); by impl. prosperity:— one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

Peace / shalom / shaw-lome’/ שָׁלוֹם

H7965. well, happy, friendly; also (abstr.) welfare, i.e. health, prosperity, peace:— × do, familiar, × fare, favour, + friend, × great, (good) health, (× perfect, such as be at) peace (-able, -ably), prosper (-ity, -ous), rest, safe (-ty), salute, welfare, (× all is, be) well, × wholly.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

We see throughout Scripture that the gospel is connected to this understanding of peace.

Isaiah 52:7 (ESV)

7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

John 14:27 (ESV)

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

John 16:33 (NLT)

33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

John 20:21–22 (ESV)

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 10:11–13 (ESV) (Context: 12 Disciples sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel)

11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart.

12 As you enter the house, greet it.

13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

Luke 10:5–6 (ESV) (Context: 72 Disciples sent out by Jesus to preach the gospel)

5 Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’

6 And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.

As I was studying the connection between the gospel and peace in view of Ephesians 2:14 that declares, Christ “himself is our peace,” it caused me to see John 14:6 differently.

John 14:6 (ESV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If Christ is Peace, the “Prince of Peace,” then it would serve to reason that if Jesus is “the way, and the truth, and the life,” that this “Peace” plays out the same way as He does in our lives.

So today I want to reframe our way of thinking in regard to the gospel and peace, and how it applies to our relationships, especially our view of race as believers in Christ.

1. PEACE IS THE WAY

Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Christ Himself is the peace between Jewish and Gentile believers, having made the two groups one and having destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.

“Peace” is mentioned four times in three verses (vv. 14–15, 17).

Various interpretations have been given regarding this “dividing wall,” which is mentioned only here in the New Testament.

Some have thought it refers to the wall in the Jerusalem temple precincts that separated the Court of the Gentiles from the Court of the Jews.

But this view is invalid because Paul makes no reference to the temple in Jerusalem and because this wall was still standing when Paul wrote this epistle.

Some think it referred to the curtain in the Jerusalem temple between the holy place and the holy of holies.

But that was a curtain, not a wall.

Others have suggested it meant the “fence” around the Law mentioned by some Rabbis.

But that referred more to the protection of the Law than to the hostility mentioned in this context.

The structure of the Greek words suggests that the dividing wall describes not a physical barrier, but the hatred between Jews and Gentiles, which separated them.

Since Christ destroyed this hatred (v. 16), Jewish and Gentile believers should have no hostility.

Christ had two purposes in ending the hostility:

The first purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary (2:15–16)

The word “new” (kainon) means new or fresh in character or quality rather than new in the sense of recent in time (neos).

This “new man” (Eph. 2:15), or “new humanity,” is also called “this one body” (v. 16), the church.

In the church, Gentiles do not become Jews, nor do Jews become Gentiles.

Instead believing Jews and Gentiles become children of God, a whole new single entity.

Christ’s second purpose in destroying the hatred was to reconcile both Jewish and Gentile believers to Himself in … one body (3:6).

This reconciliation was accomplished through the cross, by which Christ killed (put to death) the hatred between people and God.

Though He was put to death, He in turn put to death the Jewish-Gentile hostility.

The Jerusalem Council in Acts 15 addressed this and confirmed that both Jews and Gentiles are saved in the same way, not by fulfilling all that the Old Testament law asked of them, but by grace alone (15:11).

What then is the way that we are to walk out our faith with one another?

1 John 2:9–11 (ESV)

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.

10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

2. PEACE IS THE TRUTH

Peace is supplied both to those who were far away (Eph. 2:13), that is, Gentiles (who were without Christ and alienated from Israel and her covenants, v. 12) and to those who were near, namely, Jews (who have “the covenants of the promise,” v. 12).

1 John 3:14–18 (ESV)

14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

1 John 3:23–24 (ESV)

23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.

3. PEACE IS THE LIFE

The wall that Paul is referring to here is most likely metaphorical, signifying the Mosaic law, which divided Jews and Gentiles.

Specifically, food laws, Sabbath restrictions, and circumcision would have separated the Jewish people from other cultures and religions around them.

Some have also suggested that Paul had a specific example of this “dividing wall” in mind, namely, the wall around the temple separating the Court of Gentiles from the inner courts and the sanctuary.

The Jewish historian Josephus described this wall as being about 4.5 feet (1.4 m) tall, with warning signs posted all around the wall in both Latin and Greek.

Two of the warning signs have been discovered and read as follows:

Josephus, Antiquities 15.11.5; Jewish Wars 5.5.2.

“No foreigner is to enter within the railing and enclosure around the temple. Whoever is caught shall have himself to blame for his consequent death.”

Author’s translation; see Josephus, Antiquities 15.11.5; Jewish Wars 5.5.2.

(Instrumental Music)

The dividing wall was torn down by means of Christ’s death on the cross (“in his flesh”; v. 14).

What does Paul mean in saying that the “law” was abolished?

He is not claiming that the law is completely useless or destroyed (Rom. 3:31).

Instead, the “ordinances” put in place to separate Jews and Gentiles are no longer in force.

The gospel message is a proclamation of peace—peace between God and fallen humanity.

In verse 17 Paul employs the term “peace” two more times (Eph. 2:14-15), again demonstrating that it is the key idea of this section.

“Peace” here most likely refers primarily to the peace between God and believers, which by consequence must lead to peace between Jews and Gentiles.

Christ is not merely the bringer of peace but is himself peace.

Colossians 3:15 (ESV)

15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 (ESV)

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Romans 15:13 (ESV)

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 16:17–20 (ESV)

17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.

18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.

19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

The phrases “you who were far off” and “those who were near” refer to “Gentiles” and “Jews,” respectively.

Isaiah 57:14–21 (ESV)

14 And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”

15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.

17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.

18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.

20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.

21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

(Sermon Recap)

CHRIST IS OUR PEACE

PEACE IS THE WAY

PEACE IS THE TRUTH

PEACE IS THE LIFE

(Closing Tension)

If we are going to be a missional church that Builds the Kingdom One Disciple At A Time we have to love ALL people.

The gospel removes any recourse of racism.

In Christ, racism must be removed.

The Scriptures are clear that we cannot hate people and love God.

We cannot devalue those around us.

Galatians 3:28 (ESV)

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

(Response Card)

(Closing Challenge)

Are you free of hate, prejudice, and racism?

Will you give your hate to Christ and let Him give you His love for ALL kinds of people?

(Response)

(Invite Prayer Team)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you.

25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

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