Reading: Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11-18.
SERMON OUTLINE:
(A). Before They/We Became Christians:
• They were without Christ (vs 12a)
• They were without citizenship (vs 12b)
• They were without covenants (vs 12c)
• They were without hope (vs 12d)
• They were without God (vs 12e)
(B). After They/We Became Christians.
• He has brought the far-off near (vs 13)
• He brought peace to the divided (vs 14-16)
• He has made us one (vs 19-22)
SERMON BODY:
Question: What do these countries or people groups have in common?
• Bengali people / Korea / Inuit people
• Kurdish people / Malaysia / Irish people?
Answer: They are all divided countries or people gropups.
• e.g. Bengali people are divided amongst two countries.
• e.g. Korea is divided into two countries
• e.g. Inuit people are divided amongst three countries.
• e.g. Kurdish people are divided amongst four countries.
• e.g. Malaysia is divided between two regions,
• e.g. Irish people are divided amongst two countries
• You can Google and get the full list of countires and people groups;
• If you want, there are a lot of them!
Ill:
• It is not just war, colonialism that divides nations and people,
• e.g. In South Africa the division is or was black & white.
• e.g. In Sri Lanka the division is or was Tamil & Singhalese.
• e.g. In Northern Ireland the division is or was Catholic & Protestant.
• e.g. In North India the division is or was Muslim and Hindu.
• e.g. In Europe the division often seems to be Britain verse the rest.
• Even in Britain we boast:
• Four nationalities; English, Scottish, Welsh and Irish.
• Then there is local prejudice e.g. you find in places like Cornwall or Yorkshire.
• Declaring their independence from the rest of us!
People are divided over a number of issues:
• Here is my list of things that divide:
• Economy and politicians
• Healthcare
• Education
• Immigration
• Climate change
• Israeli–Palestinian conflict
• Abortion
• Gender (male & female or much. Much more?)
Ill:
• One of this weeks leading news stories has been Donald Trump;
• Whose actions have led him to shut down the government.
• In his determination to build his wall across America's southern border.
• I did come across this photo on FaceBook that made me laugh;
• So I will share it with you!
TRANSITION: We live in a divided world:
• Humanity is broken, fractured, divided. Deeply divided.
• Humanity is fractured along many lines;
• Language, geography, race, skin color, religion, ideology, politics, economic status.
• So we live in a divided world:
• And when people look at the Church they seem to also see a divided Church;
• According to the Center for the Study of Global Christianity (CSGC);
• At Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary,
• There are approximately 41,000 Christian denominations;
• And organizations in the world today.
• These groups may not always be fighting each other;
• In fact many of them often they work in harmomny together;
• But the fact that we have such diversion in Christianity,
• Speaks of disunity rather than harmony.
Quote: American author & humorist Mark Twain used to say:
• “He put a dog and a cat in a cage together as an experiment,
• Just to see if they could get along. They did,
• So he put in a bird, pig and goat.
• They, too, got along fine after a few adjustments.
• Then he put in a Baptist, Presbyterian, and Catholic;
• Soon there was not a living thing left”.
• Sadly Vhurch history bear record to Mark Twain’s observation;
• That so often Christians do not get along with each other!
Ill:
• Even the twelve disciples argued among themselves;
• And they even did it while Jesus was right there with them!
Ill:
• The apostle Paul had a falling out with Barnabas over John Mark,
• As to whether or not they should take him on the mission field.
Ill:
• And some of the New Testament churches;
• Broke the heart of the apostle Paul with their disputes and divisions.
WE LOOKED LAST WEEK AT THE FACT THERE IS ONLY ONE UNIVERSAL CHURCH:
• Local groups of believers may choose to worship in different styles,
• They may hold different views regarding Church leadership,
• They may hold different views regarding theology;
• e.g. Reformed, charismatic, Calvinist–Arminian etc.
• But if we hold onto and believe the basic Christian doctrines/beliefs;
• As summarised in the creeds i.e. Apostles Creed or Nicene Creed.
• Then we are all Christians part of the universal Church of Jesus Christ.
Note:
• The meassage of the Bible is one of reconciliation.
• I delibraly chose hymns & songs this morning that contained the word ‘Come’
• Come is an invitation to draw near and be involved.
• And God invites us to come:
Ill
Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18:
"Come now, let us settle the matter," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Ill
Matthew chapter 11 verse 28:
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Ill
James chapter 4 verse 8:
“Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
• TRANSITION: The meassage of the Bible is one of reconciliation.
• Bringing together opposites and bringing them together in harmony.
• And that is the theme of our study verses this week.
THESE VERSES DIVIDE NICELY INTO A BEFORE AND AFTER CONTRAST:
(A). Before They/We Became Christians:
• The apostle Paul will remind the Ephesians of what and how they were (vs 11-12).
• And then he will focus on what they have become! (vs 13-22).
Most of the Church at Epheses were Gentiles (non-Jews):
• And the Jews refered to theem or caled them “the uuncircumsision”
• This name was a true description of a Gentile;
• But it was also a derogatory remark!
• e.g. You might say someone is fat and bold;
• But as well as telling the truth you have been derogatory by using those words.
Ill:
• In the Old Testament we read about the very first Jew – Abraham.
• God spoke to him and made promises to him.
• That from his family would come a great nation.
• As a sign of the promise/covenant all Jewish men (Abraham’s decedents);
• Were to be circumcised.
• i.e. They had a physical operation, minor surgery;
• When the foreskins on their penis is cut off,
• A Jewish male had no choice in the matter,
• It was not an optional extra;
• It was an essential qualification;
• If they wanted to be included in this promise/covenant, agreement.
• Even today all Jewish boys when they are eight days old are circumcised.
• Unfortunately, at Ephuses, the Jews who were circumcised;
• Looked down on the Gentiles who were uncircumcised
• And sadly this happened not just in Ephesian society but also in the Church.
• The Jews who had become believers in Jesus,
• Regarded non-Jews as a kind of second class believer,
• And looked down on them.
• Now in these verses Paul will show that God has not only
• Made man and God to be at one, but has made both Jew & Gentile one!
• To help everyone understand that we are all the same in Christ Jesus;
• Whatever our racial or social or religious backgrounds.
• The apostle Paul reminds the Gentile believers at Ephesus 4 things:
FIRST: They were without Christ (vs 12a).
“…remember that at that time you were separate from Christ…”
• Before they had become Christians;
• Most of these Ephesians worshiped the goddess, Diana,
• When we were in Ephesus in the summer we saw the ruins of the ancient city;
• (today called ‘Selçuk’ in modern Turkey).
• The Temple of Artemis/Diana dominated ancient Ephesus,
• It was regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world.
• So these Ephesians grew up with no idea concerning the Gospel,
• They had never heard the name or the good news of Jesus Christ.
• Untiul the4 apostle Paul came to their city,
• You can read about it in Acts chapter 19.
• Their conversion to Jesus Christ set them free from idolatry;
• They found a living saviour not one made from stone or wood.
We today live in an age of syncretism (syn-cret-ism):
• People say, especially on the TV e.g. BBC and in places of education our schools etc.
• “That it does not matter which religion you believe as long as you are sincere”
• But that really is nonsemse, can you imagine if a doctor said:
• “It does not matter which medicine you take as long as you are sincere”
• TRANSITION:
• Good medicine will cure an ailment and the wrong medicine will often cause harm.
• The truth will set you free and a lie will bring you into bondage!
Quote William Visser’t Hoof:
• Was the first General Secretary of the World Council of Churches:
• He was once asked;
• What he thought would be the greatest peril facing churches in the near future.
• He replied;
“Syncretism. It is a far more dangerous challenge to the Christian church than atheism is ever likely to be”
• The Bible refutes that idea of synchroism again and again and again!
• And so did Jesus Christ.
Quote John chapter 14 verse 6:
“I am the way, the truth and the life.
No-one comes to the Father except by me”.
• Before their conversion the Ephesians were ‘without Christ’
• And don’t forget that every unsaved person, Jew or Gentile, religious or atheist.
• Is “outside Christ” and lost and under condemnation.
• That’s why Paul had earlier categorised people in only one of two groups;
• Verse 1&5: You are either dead or alive!
• Dead in your sins or alive in Jesus Christ!
SECOND: They were without citizenship (vs 12b).
“…excluded from citizenship in Israel...,”
Ill:
Every citizen of the United Kingdom has certain rights and privileges:
• The right to live permanently in the UK
• The right to free speech
• The right to freedom of religion
• The right to free medical care (NHS)
• The right to free education (up to 18)
• The right to a fair trial
• The right to own property
• The right to no work restrictions
• The right to stable society and economy
• The right to vote (or not to vote)
• The right to join a political party
• The right to stand for election
• TRANSITION: Every country will vary in its citizens rights and privileges,
• And the apostle Paul reminds the Ephesians what they have missed out on!
ill:
• He was a ctizen of Israel but they were not,
• That meant for example if you went to Herod’s temple you had a problem.
• It was built to keep the foriener out!
• It was built in sections or courtyards.
• The Jewish priests had the closest access to God.
• Their courtyard was built nearest the heart of the temple.
• Before them was another courtyard where only the Israelite men were allowed.
• And before them in another courtyard the Jewish women worshipped God.
• Before them spearated by two walls and a number of steps down,
• You reached the court of the Gentiles.
• They were furthest away
• The Gentiles could look up at the temple, but that was as close as they were allowed.
• And if ever you decided to chance your arm and sneak into one of the other courtyards,
• Well you would see notices posted on the thick stone barriers separating the areas,
• The notices read; “Trespassers will be executed”.
• To say that the Gentiles were ‘excluded’ or ‘cut off’ is an enormous understatement!
• They enjoyed none of the rights and privileges that citizenship to Israel gave you.
THIRD: They were without covenants (vs 12c).
“…and foreigners to the covenants of the promise…”
Ill:
• Suppose I make my family a promise,
• I call them together and say next weekend we are off to Barcelona for a short break.
• Now, that promise is for them and them only, it is not for you.
• So don’t pack your bags because you are not coming!
• TRANSITION: Likewise in the Old Testament part of the Bible;
• God makes promises/covenants,
• But these were exclusivly to the nation of Israel.
• Various promises or covenants are recorded in the Old Testament;
• e.g. We have the Abrahamic covenant (Geneses chapter 12.
• e.g. The Palestinian covenant (Deuteronomy chapter 28-30).
• e.g. The Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7 verse 8 & Psalm 89).
But God did not make any covenants with the Gentile nations.
• The Gentiles were “aliens” and “strangers”
• And the Jews never let them forget it.
• These covenants reminded the Jews of their past and promised them a future.
• The Gentiles did not receive these promises, so they could not claim either.
FOURTH: They were without hope (vs 12d)
“…without hope…”
Quote Warren Wiersbe:
“Historians tell us that a great cloud of hopelessness covered the ancient world.
Philosophies were empty; traditions were disappearing;
religions were powerless to help men face either life or death.
People longed to pierce the veil and get some message of hope from the other side,
but there was none”
ill:
• A typical inscription on a grave in Paul's day read:
• "I was not, I became, I am not, I care not"
• (Warren Wiersbe, Be Ready, p. 83)
Ill:
• No where is that seen more clearly or felt than at a funeral.
• And as someone who takes funerals for beivers and unbelievers,
• The contrast between the two is immense, it is gigantic!
FIFTH: They were without God (vs 12e)
“…without hope and without God in the world…”
• These Ephesians had plenty of gods.
• The pagan world was full of them.
• ill: Do you remember how the apostle Paul was walking around Athens
• (Acts chapter 17 verses 16-23).
• He discovered “an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god.”
• Quote: Someone in that day said:
• “That it was easier to find a god than a man in Athens.”
• TRANSITION:
• But the pagan no matter how religious or moral he or she might have been,
• They did not know the true God.
ill:
• I love how David in the book of Psalms (Psalm 115),
• Contrasted the true God with the idols of religion.
“For our God is in the heavens,
and he does as he wishes.
4 Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,
shaped by human hands.
5 They cannot talk, though they have mouths,
or see, though they have eyes!
6 They cannot hear with their ears,
or smell with their noses,
7 or feel with their hands,
or walk with their feet,
or utter sounds with their throats!
8 And those who make them are just like them,
as are all who trust in them.”
• And when you see people bowing down or worshipping an idol, an icon, an image,
• It breaks your heart!
• Because these things cannot help but only distract you away from the true God.
(B). After They/we Became Christians.
• Now in enjoy those two small words in verse 13 “But now”.
• ill: Hinges on a door that opens up and lets the light flood into a dark room.
• Into the darkness that these Gentiles were in,
• Comes the dazzling light of God!
• And the picture, their situation is radically changed!
FIRST: He has brought the far-off near (vs 13).
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
• Thjis is the good news of the gospel:
• God has made it possible for Gentiles “the far-off” to be brought near!
Ill:
• Listen there is only one thing separates human beings from God.
• It is not age (young or old)
• It is not colour or race.
• It is not money (rich or poor)
• It is not intellect (wise & simple).
• It is not distance (that God is too far away)
• The Bible teaches that there is one thing and one thing only!
• Our SIN!
• Sin is a wrong attitude to God (live for self) that will lead on to wrong actions.
Note:
• Verse 13: Tells us how God has brought us near to himself:
• “By his blood”. - That was the cost of our salvation!
• Salvation maybe free but it was not cheap! It cost Christ everything!
Quote: The old hymn put it this way:
“What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow
That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon this I see--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
For my cleansing this my plea--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Nothing can my sin erase
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Naught of works, 'tis all of grace--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my hope and peace--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
This is all my righteousness--
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”
SECOND: He brought peace to the divided (vs 14-16).
“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.”
• Jesus Christ has not only brought peace between the creator and the creation,
• Restoring our
• But also between Jew and Gentile.
• Don’t miss verse 15: “In himself one new man out of the two”.
• He has not made Gentiles Jews,
• And he has not made Jews Gentiles.
• But he has made both NEW
• Verse 15: “In himself one new man out of the two”.
Quote: Galatians chapter 3 verse 28 (NLT):
“There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians—you are one in Christ Jesus.
Question: Does anyone know how many blood types there are for Humans?
Answer: Humans have four different blood types: A, B, AB and O.
• (Each of these blood types is also labeled positive or negative,
• Depending on whether the red blood cells carry the Rh factor on their surfaces).
• TRANSITION: Every Christian may physically be one of those four types mentioned;
• But spiritually every Christian has the same blood flowing through their spiritual veins!
• The blood of Jesus Christ.
Ill:
• If we were to cut our bodies we would all bleed red blood.
• No matter what our nationality or people group – all humans bleed red blood.
• Spiritually every Christian has the same blood type;
• We have life through the blood of Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul describes for us here the greatest peace mission in history:
• He reminds these Christians that their vertical relationship,
• Being made right with God.
• Has to determine their horizontal relationships
• Being reconciled to each other.
• The two go hand in glove;
• If we are right with God then we have to be right with other people,
• And if we are not right with other people;
• That is because we are not really right with God!
The word ‘reconcile’ means “to bring together again.”
• e.g. A distraught husband wants to be reconciled to his wife who has left him;
• e.g.A worried father wants to be reconciled to a wayward son;
• e.g. Two friends desire to restore a broken friendship
• e.g. And the lost sinner needs to be reconciled to God.
• The Bible teaches that sin is the great separator in this world.
• And that God is the great reconciler!
THIRD: He has made us one (vs 19-22).
“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.”
• To emphasize the unifying work of Jesus Christ,
• Note that the apostle Paul has repeated one word four times:
• Verse 14: “Made both ONE”.
• Verse 15: “ONE new man”.
• Verse 16: “ONE body”
• Verse 18: “ONE Spirit”.
• The apostle Paul teaches us that all spiritual distance and division;
• Have been overcome by Jesus Christ.
• Ephesian society was full of division and conflict;
• Conflict regarding class, political, gender and racial lines.
• That division had crept into this New Testament Church.
• Two groups had emerged believing Jews and believing Gentiles.
• So the apostle Paul reminds these Christians that this cannot be!
• Their vertical relationship, being made right with God.
• Has to determine their horizontal relationships, being reconciled to each other.
• The two go hand in glove;
• If we are right with God then we have to be right with other people,
• And if we are not right with other people, it is because we are not really right with God!
And the apostle Paul will go on to teach them 4 changes that God has made:
• FIRST: They have a common access to God.
• The Jews could only access God through the High Priest.
• The Gentiles had no access at all to God.
ill:
• But one Friday afternoon, about three o’clock;
• All that changed.
• When Jesus cried out “It is finished, and he gave up his spirit”,
• Immediately in the temple;
• A curtain that had divided men and woman from God for centuries,
• Was torn apart, from the top to the bottom,
• And a new and living way was opened up to God.
• And now in Christ every Christian has access to God.
• No more priests, no more sacrifices, no more dividing wall.
• SECOND: A common ciitizenship (vs 19a).
• The Gentiles were “foreigners and aliens”:
• People without any rights e.g. Asylum seekers / economic migrants,
• But through Christ, these Gentiles who have become Christians:
• Have been granted the same rights as Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah etc
• Not second class but first class, equal rights because of Jesus!
• THIRD: A common family (vs 19b).
• When these Gentiles became Christians (same for us today):
• We are not joining a club or society or organisation.
• We are born into a family.
• God wants our family ties to be strong;
• We are not to be individual Christians’ but a body, a team, a family!
• FOURTH: A common faith (vs 20-22).
• Paul uses the picture/example of a temple to teach us some simple truths.
• e.g. We are told that our foundations are the apostles and prophets.
• e.g. Our teaching is the New Testament scriptures.
• e.g. And Jesus Christ himself is the cornerstone.
Quote Hoehner:
“In ancient building practices “the chief cornerstone” was carefully placed.
It was crucial because the entire building was lined up with it.
The Church’s foundation, that is the apostles and prophets, needed to be correctly aligned with Christ. All other believers are built on that foundation, measuring their lives with Christ”.
And finally:
• If you are a Christian; then you are not an independent free spirit,
• But you are part of God’s family
• Whether you are Jew or Gentile, Male or Female, Young or Old,
• We are one in Christ.
• We might not see eye to eye with each other all the time,
• But we are required to accept and value and love one another.
• The way we find support and show our love to each other,
• Is when we fellowship and meet together as God’s people.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=HJVC335UQOZQdHjbYGZQ9IbJTR4xNZGJ
