Dividing Wall
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By The Will of God, A Study Through Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:42
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Memorial Day is a day of remembrance of prices and lives paid for us to enjoy the freedoms we live in. The last few weeks and months, those freedoms have needed to be compromised.
In each of the times past where differences arose and required sacrifice, there has been a time of reconciliation and bridging gulfs that followed it.
I want us to take a look at these scriptures and see if we cannot learn something from Paul about how to knock down the dividing wall.
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.
Not like each other
Not like each other
The greatest import of Paul’s message was not that Jews become Gentiles, or that gentiles become jews.
His message was that of our reconciliation to our God
His message was that of our reconciliation to our God
In that reconciliation, dividing walls cease to exist.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
One in Christ
One in Christ
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.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Who becomes more visible in your life?
Paul is saying that for the gentiles and the jews of his day, the dividing walls had been broken down. The two men would now become one because they would be growing in Christ. Growing to be like Christ.
They could be united because the mission was united.
The destination was the same now.
It was no longer the Gentile way or the Jewish way.
It was no longer the Gentile way or the Jewish way.
Now it is just Christ’s way.
Now it is just Christ’s way.
So, how does this apply to us today?
We see plenty of division in our day.
Politically
Socially
Medically
Cautiously
We have more division than we know what to do with.
The opinions of experts pull us this way and then that.
Our tradition pulls us this way and that.
so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.
Our soul waits for the Lord;
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.
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.
Our answer is still the same as it was for the Jews and Gentiles of Paul’s day.
We need to celebrate the fact that the dividing wall is knocked down in Christ.
Hostility is replaced by Peace
How?
In Christ
Let’s give ourselves over to being made into His image. If we do that,
THE DIVIDING WALL WILL COME DOWN
THE DIVIDING WALL WILL COME DOWN
But only in Christ. If I think you have to be like me to be reconciled, we will both be lost. But, if I believe that in Christ, our differences can be laid down, the walls can be broken down, well, then we can truly be brought near.
Let us pray together for that level of peace and forgiveness in our day that the Gentiles and Jews were experiencing in their day to characterize us in our day.
May the Dividing Wall of hostility truly be broken down by the blood of Christ and the Grace of our God.