Rooted In Your Wealth 9
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The Sacrifice For Unity
The Sacrifice For Unity
Text: Ephesians 2:11-22
Text: Ephesians 2:11-22
Introduction
Introduction
Exalting Jesus in Ephesians Our Corporate Identity (Ephesians 2:11–22)
We live in a world of rivalries: Republican vs. Democrat; North vs. South; PC vs. Mac; Coke vs. Pepsi; Gandalf vs. Saruman. For Auburn fans, it is Alabama. For Michigan, it is Ohio State. For Duke, it is North Carolina. For UK, it is Louisville. Rivalries are everywhere. Then there are violent rivals who kill each other due to cultural and racial hostilities.
Paul was writing here with effort to help these Gentile believers remember what Jesus accomplished regarding the relationship between them and the Jews. The rivalry was deep, complex and hostile! This rivalry was rooted both in a religious and racial sense.
The Apostle Paul did not want these believers to be mistaken when it came to the purpose of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. You see, the purpose of the cross was both VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL.
This passage is one of the key passages on the nature of the church. The cross of Jesus is at the very CENTER! What the church needs is to live with a much greater gratitude toward God and a greater love toward one another.
We will come to verse 13 where it says, “But now in Christ Jesus!”
1) Remember Your Alienation
1) Remember Your Alienation
Here is both the vertical and horizontal problem: We were alienated from God and His people.
Notice verse 11
This speaks of the physical difference.
Paul brings to the surface how the greater difference is that of the heart and not the skin.
The Jews looked upon the Gentiles as a people destined to be separate from God (regarding their uncircumcision; outside the covenant).
How is our alienation described here?
First — “without Christ”
What does this mean? ANS — On a personal level, it is a separation from His salvation; excluded from the life that only God can give.
There is nothing more terrible than this reality!!!
Ephesians 2:11–12 (BEC): Someone in that day said that it was easier to find a god than a man in Athens.
Second — “strangers” or foreigners
They were not part of the citizenship of Israel.
They had no connection to the covenants.
They were outside the theocracy God had set up with the Jewish people.
Third — “no hope, and without God”
Illustration: Have you ever been kept in the dark about something but later to find out it was for the purpose of benfitting you?
God had promised to bless all nations, but the Gentiles had no knowledge of it.
The opted for idols instead of God. — Romans 1:18-23 “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”
Actual history tells the story of man knowing the truth about God and deliberately turning away from it.
APPLICATION — you and I were in the same situation before we trusted Christ for salvation.
You and I were separated! NEVER FORGET!!!
Ephesians 2:12c (EJE): If we continue to remember where we came from, we will live with constant gratitude toward God and love toward His people
2) Remember Your Reconciliation
2) Remember Your Reconciliation
(The work Jesus has done)
(The work Jesus has done)
Ephesians 2:13–18 (BEC): The word reconcile means “to bring together again.” A distraught husband wants to be reconciled to his wife who has left him; a worried mother longs to be reconciled to a wayward daughter; and the lost sinner needs to be reconciled to God. Sin is the great separator in this world. It has been dividing people since the very beginning of human history.
We have come to another BUT statement!
The change mentioned here is nothing short of DRAMATIC.
Notice verse 13
The life’s blood brings those who have no life back near to God.
This is only a work the life’s blood of Jesus can accomplish!
Theologically — Jesus dies on behalf of sinners
He carried your punishment!
He declares you righteous!
You have been given the benefits of forgiveness, righteousness and new life!
Experientially — union with Christ brings the effects of the cross to you.
A past event experienced in the present.
Peace with God and others.
Notice what is central to all of this; THE CROSS.
Many have commented and even written about the appalling BLOOD LANGUAGE found in the Bible.
It speaks both of the gravity of your sin and the extent of God’s great love.
The hymn titled “How Deep” says, “It was my sin that held him there until it was accomplished.”
It would be good for us all to have moments of pause to reflect on the wretchedness of our sin and the amazing grace of our blood soaked and now risen Savior.
Many have written to state that the cross is too violent, irrelevant and the church is too atonement centered.
Notice the other blessings Paul adds regarding Jesus’ work of reconciliation:
Christ has done in order to reverse our condition: “made one,” “tore down,” “made of no effect,” “create,” “reconcile,” and “proclaimed.” What a Savior! — Exalting Jesus In Ephesians
Verses 14-16
Verses 14-16
First — Jesus has made us ONE (v15-16)
There was a literal wall standing in the temple that excluded the Gentiles.
Ephesians 2:14b–16 (EJE): Josephus tells us that attached to this barrier at intervals were messages in Greek and Latin, warning that the Gentiles must not proceed further lest they die.
The physical temple was destroyed in AD 70, but the spiritual happened AD 33.
“In His flesh”
Paul could have been focusing on the barrier that consisted of the commands and regulations in the ceremonial law.
Colossians 2:11 “In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:”
Paul could have also been saying Jesus abolished the law as a means of salvation.
Colossians 2:14 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;”
YOU READY FOR THIS???
Christ actually created for himself something completely new; individually and corporately
Christ created ONE NEW MAN
A Gentile was not transformed in to a Jew. Neither is the opposite true.
Quote: “It is as though one took a statue of silver and a statue of lead, put them into a forge and they came out a statue of gold” — Crysostom
What has been produced is something FAR BETTER than each party on their own.
Galatians 3:28 “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
From this we get the church.
The early church had a hard time grasping this:
They had a council about where to place the Gentiles.
Peter was fussed at for going to the Gentiles.
Having diversity in the church is speaks to the work Jesus accomplished.
This reconciliation has operated both VERTICALLY & HORIZONTALLY.
Any hostility has ended “in Christ.”
Quote: The best antidote to disunity and hostility between believers is a fresh comprehension of the cross of Christ. — Exalting Jesus In Ephesians
Verses 17-18
Verses 17-18
Jesus proclaimed peace before the cross, while on the cross and after the cross.
Jesus is still proclaiming it through those whom have received His peace; YOU AND ME!
The world wants peace, but is doing everything but finding it.
3) Remember Your Identification
3) Remember Your Identification
Verses 19-22
Verses 19-22
You are a citizen of God’s kingdom
There are no second class citizens, only full members of God’s kingdom.
No papers or passports needed!
Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:”