One Household - Built Together
Notes
Transcript
Think of a time you felt on the outside. Perhaps it was starting a new job, walking into a new class, your first club meeting, or walking into a new church. That is only a small feeling of what it is like for many in our world today. This feeling of being on the outside is not a new situation.
Today’s Scripture from Ephesians is speaking to this very idea. There are going to be two terms here that I want to speak to before we hear from God’s Word: “Circumcision” and “Uncircumcision”.
We have to go way back in the Old Testament to the book of Genesis where Circumcision becomes a sign of the covenant between God and Abraham, and Abraham’s offspring. Through Abraham’s lineage we get the Israelites. They were people of the circumcision, the Jews.
When we look at the term “uncircumcision” it is referring to everyone else, it was a Jewish term of derision, and signified that someone was outside the covenant people of God. They were Gentiles.
So, now with that cleared up, let’s listen to God’s Word.
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
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,
and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
May the Lord bless our understanding of this reading from God’s Word.
Amen
Once Separated
Once Separated
The letter to the Ephesians is a letter written to a church that is a mixed group. Gentiles and Jews who were believers in Christ both made up the church at Ephesus.
In verse 12 we read: you were at that time separated, alienated, having no hope.
And then we get to verse 13, with that word that contradicts everything that came before, “But!
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For clarity, note that it is nothing that they have done, it is what Christ has done. There were those who might try to enforce requirements, and Paul addresses that elsewhere.
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 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, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Reconciled
Reconciled
We see the Jews and the Gentiles have not only been reconciled to God, but to one another in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility that had risen between the two groups.
And it is important to note that neither group has higher footing than the other, because Jesus came and preached peace to both groups, and through Jesus both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
Paul closes with these words:
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
Citizenship was a big thing in the ancient Roman empire. Only citizens had full protections and rights in the city. To be given citizenship with the saints and members of the household of God, gave to both the Jew and Gentile believers all the protections and rights God had granted equally.
This passage speaks directly to many situations in our community today. There are many who do not feel equal and there are others who do not want others to be equal. Whether that is a class division, a political division, or a racial division - it goes against God’s word.
There is a challenge in Paul’s Words to the Ephesians, and in God’s Word to us.
In verse 19 Paul begins - “so then you are no longer strangers and aliens...” You are known, you belong. Think about that.
In our culture today it is so easy to speak of people as being a part of monolithic groups - public officials, government leaders, and our media too often speak of people in broad groups as if to know one is to know them all. They put people into broad categories of race, political party, classes, religion and more. Categorizing people makes it easier to “hate”. You don’t know any of them individually, so you only note actions that affirm your bias. And it feels accurate, right?
Perhaps that’s why the Lawyer, knowing the law to “Love thy neighbor,” asked Jesus in Luke 10, “Who’s my neighbor?” He was probably hoping to be justified in his discriminating palate for those he would voluntarily associate with in the name of “being righteous”.
If we’re honest we can do the same thing. We want to be able to justify what we do as “right”. And Jesus answers the Lawyer’s question with another question. In fact he uses the Lawyers own bias of righteousness in his question.
A priest was going down the road - now a priest was a descendant of Aaron who had priestly responsibilities in the Jerusalem temple. That would be a mark of holiness, right? Yet he doesn’t keep the law of loving his neighbor because he passed on the other side.
A Levite was also going down the road - another person we would expect holiness and righteousness from. A Levite is of the tribe of Levi but not a descendant of Aaron and therefore not a priest. The Levites assisted the priests. Still, he too neglects the man by the side of the road - thus refusing to love his neighbor.
Then Jesus introduced a third person of another group. This person is a Samaritan. It’s hard for us to imagine now culturally unthinkable it would be for a Samaritan to help a Jew or for that matter a Jew to help a Samaritan. This is the one who not only stops and bandages his wounds, but transports the man to an Inn where he continued to care for him. And upon leaving gave the inn-keeper two day’s salary to continue to care for the injured man.
Jesus then asks the lawyer, “which of these proved to be a neighbor?” The lawyer answers correctly, “the one who showed him mercy.”
remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14–16 (ESV)
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down … the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might … reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.
Our nature is to make everything about right and wrong. We want to be able to justify ourselves much like the lawyer. When we realize its not about the Law, it IS about our relationship with God through Jesus, it changes us.
No longer do we need to judge.
No longer do we need to divide.
No longer do we need to justify ourselves.
We can affirm our peace in Christ.
We can affirm our brothers and sisters in Christ (no matter their race, political affiliation, class, etc.) as family
We can affirm reconciliation in Christ’s blood.
Church, it’s not about the law. It’s about grace.
It’s not about what we do; it’s about what God’s done.
It’s not about us; it’s all about God.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
To the praise of His glorious grace! AMEN.