ES007. Ephesians 2:11-22
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Ephesians 2:11-22
Ephesians 2:11-22
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)—12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
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.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
11-13
This letter is written to Ephesians who are Gentiles like us. Again, Gentiles are those who are not Jews. The Bible has three groups of people within it: The non-Jews, who are called Gentiles, which means nations or ethnic groups, for the word Gentiles in Greek is εθνοσ, then there are Jews and then, also, the Church. The Gentiles are contrasted with the Jews very clearly as those who are without hope and without God. Now that is a very dire, desperate situation for them.
I’m not sure what non-Christian has purpose in their life. It has to be centred only on the here and now: it is to make money; it is to keep fit and healthy; it is to get a house; it is to get sufficient money to help their family; it is, or maybe it is concentrating on the future of their kids; maybe, for many, their purpose is in their work or business; maybe some find a purpose in proving religion to be wrong; maybe others drown out the lack of hope in drink or drugs or some other entertainment. In fact, if God does not exist Richard Dawkins, the famous new atheist darwinian evolutionist is right - there is no purpose, though he seems to have made it his purpose to convince others there is no purpose! He is like an apostle to make more like him - but why bother if life has no purpose, surely you’d be better off putting our effort into enjoying the brief moments you have on earth - why be so bothered that others have hope even if you think that it is misplacedif you cannot replace it with some other kind of hope.
The Apostle Paul, on the other hand, became minister to the Gentiles, for God did not want them to be outside of the His purposes. For those who received the Gospel, we, too, as God’s people, have been brought near to God to share in the commonwealth and the promises of Israel. We have not, as some have proposed, taken the Jews place, but instead have had their spiritual wealth apportioned to us without taking anything away from them.
The only way the Jews could come to God before was through circumcision though they, also, were called to a life of faith. Circumcision was just meant to be the sign of that faith but it was misconstrued. They thought circumcision was a way to become one of God’s people but unless it was mixed with faith this was not true. Faith in God has always been a requirement.
But, now, we, through Jesus, have the same chance to come to God as the Jews. We are now co-heirs with the Jews who have put their faith in Jesus. But only through the blood of Jesus was this made possible - this was very costly - a price that only He could pay because our sins stood in the way.
14-18
Because of that price, it says here in verse 14 that He is our peace. Isaiah had already declared that this would be the case in:
For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We are now part of the same body; the Church. It is not that we have been given the same status as the Jew but God has raised us together to a higher plane. Chrysostom said: “ Let us imagine that there are two statues, one of silver and the other of lead, and then that both shall be melted down, and the two shall come out gold. So thus He has made the two one.” Not sure about his alchemy but the illustrated shows how we have been brought together in Christ.
All the previous ritual is now longer required for Jesus fulfilled the law in his body doing away with the ordinances for us. What does this mean? Does this mean that the ten commandments are no longer relevant for us? Well, Paul says that these commandments were a teacher telling us that we cannot fulfil the law - remember there was not just ten but 613 commandments! Only one has been able to fulfil them all and that is Jesus. So, as Christians it is hard to see how any of the law that went before is now for us…the law has been done away with for it can only lead to death and in Christ it has lost its power. Instead we have been given His Holy Spirit, on Pentecost, who has put His law within our hearts which can only lead to life. This does not leave us free to do as we please but it does leave us free to follow Christ without the oppression of the law. We are still called to the highest part of the law which is to love God and love our neighbour and especially to love those who are of the Church, our brothers and sisters.
The flesh of one, that is circumcision, is exchanged for the flesh of Jesus crucified. There are always exchanges going on in and through Jesus: He gave His life so we could live. He became sin so that sin and its consequences could no longer control us. He became sin so we could be righteous. He died so that we would live. And so on. It is through His flesh that we are brought near to God rather than through any ceremony of circumcision or, as practised by certain churches today, christening.
We are no longer those without hope or without God for we have been brought to the foot of Calvary by the blood shed for us there. There is no separation of Jew and Gentile for we have been made one in Christ, if we are in Christ. No matter where we are on the planet the invitation to join in this venture that God has created and provided is open to all. This venture is the Church. Of course, there is only one way and that is though Jesus by the Holy Spirit to the Father. And that’s what we find in Eph 2.18: whilst the Trinity is not named the Trinity right here we have the whole Godhead at work; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
19-22
In this day of multiculturalism and pluralism and syncretism the world wants to create its own version of the Church and of unity but it is an impossible task. You might be surprised to hear me say this but being a national or patriot and nationhood are God-made for it was part of the purpose of the separation of languages which we read in Genesis 11. God has arranged for nations to have their own borders. Though there are times when God allows the removal of nations and others take their place but this is not the norm. Let us be careful, though, that our national feeling does not exclude people of other nationalities coming to our shores fleeing conflict.
When we hear Facebook founder, Zucherberg, lament the death of globalisation as he did earlier this year, he believes this a blunder by the national groups arising in Countries around the world. Personally, I do not think globalism has died though it may have been put on hold to a point but it will rise again for it is necessary to fulfil biblical prophecy. Globalism may seem good on many levels and I cannot argue against it for who can say they don’t like bananas for they come from another part of the world travelling on ships, trains and lorries to be put in our supermarkets. Who doesn’t like the internet despite all its faults which connects the world and where you can speak to someone free of charge in Macedonia or Australia or to another part of the UK?
But globalism, when it is at full strength will be the downfall of the human race. With globalism comes the idea that it does not matter what you believe which is why we find different faiths meeting together to cojoin or as they name it: coexist. But this is not the gospel of Jesus Christ. He calls us to be separate from the world; He calls us to be one with Him and His people; He calls us to reject that there is any way other than through Him.
Globalism and the Church are competing entities. One created by Satan, the other created by God. And we are light into this world which is at enmity with God. The Gospel is unpopular, as it always has been, because it shines light upon darkness and the darkness hates it.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
We are light in this world and we should get involved in politics and the community but should not be surprised or frustrated to see that the ways of the world prevail for people prefer darkness. With the election this week we need to make the wisest choice for the sake of the Gospel, first and foremost. And to be honest, I am concerned about all the different political parties and their stance on many issues.
Let us not forget that with all that is going on we are citizens of yet another world;
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
Together we God’s people and of His household which means that our life is not based upon this world and its values but upon another foundation: Jesus Christ, the chief cornerstone. The apostle Peter puts to death the idea that he is the stone upon which the Church is built as a certain denomination teaches for his own letter says:
6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,
“Behold, I lay in Zion
A chief cornerstone, elect, precious,
And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,
“The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone,”
8 and
“A stone of stumbling
And a rock of offense.”
They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
It is upon Jesus that the Prophets’ and Apostles’ work and teaching was to bring about a Church that is holy, that is, separated to God, a place of worship and, amazingly, as a place where God Himself lives with us as Revelation says will happen in the end:
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We who were once separated from God have now we have been brought near to enjoy fellowship with Him, in Christ and with each other no matter whether you are a Jew or other nationality. We have been given access to God which under the law not even any Israelite could go in. In fact whilst most of Israel were not allowed in the tabernacle of old, even the Levites, a tribe separated by God, could not go right into the presence of God for they were separated by a thick, large curtain. And then the priests were not allowed either - only one of them, the High Priest, once a year could go behind the curtain with blood so he would not be struck dead.
Yet, when Jesus died the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, top to bottom, done by God and not man, and all are free to come into the presence of God, yet still with blood, the blood of the lamb, the blood of Jesus. We have been made part of the household of God. The temple which was still standing when Paul wrote this said that the Temple was no longer where God was but instead says that believers have now become the presence of God on earth, the place where He is glorified. All this by His Spirit who resides in us sealing us for salvation, giving us access to the Father and leads us in righteous living. This Gospel that brought us near to God is for everyone else to. Because God is among us they should sense His presence and some will be won over to join us as the household of God. The best way, says Jesus, is to obey His commandment:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Communion
Communion
In today’s sermon and bible passage we read that we have been given peace by the blood of Jesus. Peace is something that the world craves for but can only truly be found in Jesus. An horredous price was paid by Jesus at the cross of Calvary; something that is beyond comparison with anything else and it is because it could only be done through the body and blood of Jesus which satisfied the holiness of God and His love.
Like the hymnist wrote: ‘and heaven's peace and perfect justice kissed a guilty world in love.’
23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.
Prayer: Bread:
Lord, as we take this bread,
We remember that You are the bread of life.
You feed our souls, you nourish our hearts and You give us sustenance to run the race before us.
As we break the bread, we feel the softness of Your love for us.
We smell the fragrance of the grace You release afresh each day.
We thank you with all our hearts for the great price You paid when You were crucified on the cross for us.
Yet just as the yeast has caused this bread to rise, You rose again, triumphant over death as Lord of Lords and King of Kings forever, and our beloved Saviour. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Prayer: Wine:
Lord, as we drink this wine,
We remember that you are the giver of life.
You are forgiveness, You bring deep peace to our souls and Your love flows within us.
In the pouring out of this wine, we see Your sacrifice poured out for us.
We see the depth of Your goodness, and the pain You suffered for us.
The price You paid to set humanity free.
Yet just as the tombstone rolled away to unleash the Risen Lord, Your light shines in our hearts now, extinguishing all darkness to release Heavens blessings upon us. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
Bibliography
Bibliography
McGee, J. V. (1991), Thru the Bible commentary: The Epistles (Ephesians) (electronic ed., Vol. 47). Nashville: Thomas Nelson
http://www.prayerscapes.com/prayers/occasions/communion_prayers.html