God's Family
Internos Ephesians Series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 6 viewsGod's plan from the beginning is to bring all people from every tribe and race into his family. We are the church--we are gentiles who are now heirs. We share this same good news to all nations so that all may hear of God's invitation to be adopted into his family!
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Over the past year, a group of CRC pastors read and studied Eugene Petersen’s book, “Practice Ressurection: A Conversation on Growing Up in Christ” which is a study of Ephesians. We decided, at the conclusion of our study, to do a pulpit exchange, each of us taking on one part of the letter to the church in Ephesus.
Today I’m here, Henry is in Nobleford, Frank is in Taber, and Ken is in Lethbridge. Actually, I think there’s a baptism in Taber, so I’m not sure what they’ve worked out.
In Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, we learn about God’s plan, from the beginning to bring all people from every tribe and race into his family. Not only do we see this boldly stated in chapter 3:6, but it appears in several places in chapters 1 and 2. We read phrases such as, “adopted as sons, planned to chose to bring us into his family, chosen, predestined, sealed by the Holy Spirit—a guarantee, body of Christ, the church, made alive in Christ—though we were dead in our trespasses—Gentiles were once separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, foreigners, without hope, without God in the world.
But Jesus broke down the dividing wall of hostility. No longer foreigners and aliens, now fellow citizens with God’s people, members of God’s household. In Christ, you too, all y’all are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Historically, everyone believed that the Gentiles were out and the Israelites, the Jewish people were in. But now, the two Jews and Gentiles are one in Chirst. Being built together by the Holy Spirit to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
Let’s establish a few things right quick. Most people insert themselves into the Biblical narrative. Where would you stick yourself in this narrative? Do you consider yourself as being of Jewish descent? You shouldn’t, unless you really do have Jewish ancestors. No, honestly, most, if not all of us would have been classified as Gentiles.
The word Gentile means foreigner, non-Jewish, of any other nation.
In Christ, such distinctions disappear. It matters not one bit if you are Canadian, Dutch, First Nation, any nation, in Christ. In Christ, all are one. All belong to Him. We are a new nation, a holy nation, a royal priesthood, in Christ. We are built into one body by the Spirit, and God lives in us by the Spirit.
Prior to Pentecost, God’s name resided in the temple. The temple was divided into various places, the most holy place, the holy place, the place for the men, the place for the women, and the place for the gentiles. All those distinctions are gone, God resides now in people, not a place. God resides in men, women, people from every tribe and tongue. Those distinctions don’t exist.
In verse 6, this is very clearly explained: “through the gospel, the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus.”
Okay, let’s unpack that for a second. All of a sudden, Gentiles, who, most Jews considered as having the very grievous unfortune of not being born a Jew, now Gentiles are given the very same, very equal status that the Jews had enjoyed for millenia. This was very, very hard for them to accept.
Even Paul says it is a mystery that was revealed. Paul grew up as a Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee, of great pedigree. But Jesus revealed to him that the good news is for all people, not only the Jews. Jesus also gave him the task of preaching to the Gentiles, which was the reason he was in prison. Many Jewish people totally disagreed with his preaching. Many totally believed him, and were saved.
Paul wasn’t the only one who struggled. Peter did. He was given the vision that showed him that Gentiles are now members of God’s family. And yet, after that, he sinned by giving preference to Jews and ignoring Gentiles. Paul called him out on that. The book of Acts is full of the struggles converts to Christ had with Jewish exclusivism.
The Old Testament clearly explains that the message of God, the truth of God, the ability to belong to God is for all. Through Abraham all nations are blessed. And yet, the Jews kept the truth of God to themselves.
But the New Testament writers were able to understand all the Old Testament prophecies and explain them, through the Holy Spirit. They were able to show that through the Messiah and the Holy Spirit, the old theocracy that existed under the old covenant, was abolished by Christ and in its place is a new organisim—the church.
The result is a complete fusion of Jew and Gentile, a perfect spiriutal union, a new thing, no more hostility, no more segregation, one. All God’s children reside in His house. All are fellow members of the body, all have equal standing. That’s the meaning of heirs together—they belong, they get the same reward as everyone else. They are also members together of one body.
All this is done by the power of the gospel. The gospel is this: From the beginning, through, creation, the fall into sin—which, incidentally is how we end up with snow in September—the redemption in Christ, and the coming restoration, when Jesus returns and makes all things new, from the beginning, God has been making his recue plan known.
God would take sinful, independent, unlawful, harmful people, people who were spiritually dead, he would make them alive, save them from their sins, and begin a good work, a new work, a new creation in them.
Yes this must be believed by individuals, but it is worked out in community, namely the church.
One of two things happens in individuals and in churches alike. Some individuals, some church, nay, many churches, take the gospel, receive it, and keep it to themeslves. I’ve got mine! I’m going to bury this treasure, that way I can’t possibly lose it.
Churches too, they take the great news, and they keep it to themselves. They hoard it. They turn inward. They focus on themselves, their programs, their own needs.
The second, and the right thing that can happen is that individuals and churches look outward. They take what they have received, they are amazed, and humbled, and so overcome by God’s love that they can’t keep it to themselves! They have to share it! They have to give it away.
Now, consider this. God has placed you here, built you together into this congregation for a purpose. To share Jesus good news with everyone. Where you are as a neighbour, an employee, a customer, an employer, a farmer, a student, a homemaker, whatever it is you do, wherever it is you go, God has placed you right where he wants you to be, to share Jesus.
If you are not excited to share Jesus, then and I honestly have to add myself to this list, then you need to study the gospel more. Search out what the Gospel means. Know God’s love for you. Be amazed by it! And then see if you can keep it contained!
We are one in Christ. We are one in body, we are adopted by God and we belong to Him. Let us offer ourselves as living sacrifices so that the gospel will be shared with everyone! The Church’s one foundation is indeed Jesus. But the Holy Spirit is building and growing the church wherever it exists! Amen.