Introduction
Series on biblical community in preparation for the launching of community groups next month we will look at a variety of passages, but most of our time together will be in the book of Ephesians
Background
Diversity
There were cultural, ethnic, and religious divisions in the city - not unlike what we experience today. Ephesus was a city of about 250,000 people. While they had a large Jewish population - there were also a great deal of “Lydians, Ionians, Greeks” and an indigenous people (LBD).
While Poolesville and the surrounding towns are a lot smaller - this is not unlike what we experience here.
There are people who have been here for generations - who have a sense of ownership/comfort. Some time ago, I was talking with Glenn Norris about the fact that in the 1800s, his family used to farm much of the land that now makes up the westerly neighborhood. He has told me where their family used to run an oil business as well - providing heating oil. Norris street is named for his family.
Then there are people who’ve been here for decades. I’ve heard about pictures in front of the old town hall.
There are also - unfortunately - people who trace their slave roots here. They call the Poolesville area home because this is the home they’ve grown up in, but it’s not necessarily the home they would have chosen.
And then there are many newer families - from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities - who have chosen to live here because of what Poolesville has to offer - small town life, family values, good schools, etc.
Ephesus was diverse
Commerce
coastal town - many opportunities and influences
located near the Mediterranean coast in what is Turkey today
Religious Beliefs
One of the seven wonders of the world - the Temple to Artemis (Diana) was in Ephesus - Artemis was knows as the goddess of fertility, magic and astrology. (LBD).
There was a variety of religious activities in which people would have engaged in their worship of Artemis/Diana
Much of it was superstitious
much of it was speculation - never knowing whether an act of worship would result in a desired outcome.
The Church
While the original Christians were Jewish background believers, this new church in Ephesus also included Gentiles - or non-jews. It seems like this new church may have been mostly Gentile. Paul notes that in the old way of things (under the law), these gentiles were
outsiders/alienated from communion/fellowship
hopeless - there was a general understanding in Jewish religious thought - something that Paul seemed to understand as well - that all Gentiles were “unsaved and without God.” (ESVSB) - which would provide reason for their hopelessness. Whatever resurrection or religious hope might have existed, the Gentiles did not get to participate in that.
In the previous section of Ephesians - Paul delineated a beautiful picture of the reconciliation that we have with God - bringing peace between us and Him through Jesus Christ.
(consider reading) Ephesians 2:1-10 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which god prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Now that there has been this beautiful union between us and God, Paul notes a second thing that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross does - uniting believers with one another. We have been brought so near to Christ together that we are one, we are UNITED (2:11-12)
Then, Paul elaborates on this more and helps us to understand what UNITY means - how that is worked out. So, for the remainder of our time, we’re going to briefly consider the 6 metaphors that Paul uses. For each of these, we’ll note a practical implication of that metaphor.
First of all, because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, we are united as...
One Humanity (15)
Eph. 2:15 “by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two...” (namely Jew and Gentile or non-Jew).
While we can all celebrate and appreciate our ethic and cultural distinctives, we no longer have to be divided by them.
Elsewhere, Paul notes - Gal. 3:28 “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.”
There is not northerner, southerner, Poolesville native, slave descendent, or immigrant or transplant - we are all one in Christ.
Application: As one new humanity, we get to celebrate what unites us rather than delineating what divides us.
Secondly...
One Body (16-17)
Eph. 2:16-17 “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.”
What makes up a body? It’s a collection of interdependent parts. Our bodies are so intertwined that if they didn’t work together - the body wouldn’t function properly.
Brain -
Stomach/G.I. system - extract nutrients to feed the body
hands
feet - move
eyes
heart - circulation
lungs
Spiritually speaking - we, as the Body of Christ, are all similarly intertwined - we have been gifted with different gifts and abilities that mutually benefit one another - and strengthen the body as a whole.
The “hostilities” that might naturally exist because of backgrounds or political leanings are set aside for the unity and health of the body.
Application: As members of one body, we get to complement and strengthen one another with our gifts. We need each other like the heart needs the lungs and the G.I. system and the nervous system.
So, Christ not only saved us - bringing us life, but he created in us
one new humanity - that’s not defined by what divides - but what unites - Him
one body
Thirdly...
One Nationality (18-19)
Eph. 2:18-19 “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,”
I realize that in our midst, most of us are citizens of the USA. Some are naturalized, some are born as citizens. Some are visitors - because they are citizens of another nation. Some have the unique privilege of being citizens of multiple nations.
In Christ, we have become citizens of a heavenly Kingdom.
Think about this - you are a fellow citizen with the Apostle Paul, Peter, James, John. You are a fellow citizen with great saints of the faith - Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Wesley. You enjoy the same heritage as Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, and Billy Graham.
Beyond that, even today, you share a Kingdom Citizenship with people in Africa, Asia, South America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.
ILL: Meeting Christians in other contexts (India - poor, outcast from society, but brothers and sisters in Christ) - having more in common with them than I do with my neighbor - who looks like me, lives in a house like mine, etc.
Application: As Heavenly Citizens we get to rejoice and identify more with that citizenship than we do with the citizenship noted on our passports.
In the verses that we just read, Paul not only discusses the citizenship of our union with Christ, but
Fourthly that we are…
One Household (18-19)
Ephesians 2:18-19 “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,”
Whereas a citizenship has a broad tent, a vast number of people, a household is much smaller, more intimate. People know and are known more fully as members of a household.
Application: Just as a physical/familial household works together for the good of those family members (the common good) - so too, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we get to work together for each other’s common good.
One Temple (20-21)
Eph. 2:20-21 “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.”
Temple-
a place of worship
a place of worship
holy, set a part as
holy, set part
Paul’s metaphor here is a bit mixed. He refers to God’s people as a temple - holy and set a part - but also talks about us as growing into a holy temple. There is a progressive nature to our temple life together. As we individually grow in holiness, we collectively grow in holiness - resulting in lives that glorify God in the same way that a physical temple would.
ILL: The temple in Ephesus - at the time one of the 7 wonders - 450 feet long, 225 feet wide, surrounded by 120 columns - a massive monument to a false deity - and yet today that structure is in ruins - it’s been destroyed by wars and time.
Yet the church of God - the people - his holy temple - still remains - and is expanding.
Peter uses similar language when he talks about the church.
1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Application: As members of one temple, we get to pursue holiness/sanctification together - we get to “stir one another up to love and good works...” (Heb. 10:24)
So, we are united with Christ as
one humanity,
one body,
one nationality,
one household,
one temple,
Finally, Paul notes that together we get to be...
One Dwelling Place (or Tabernacle) (22)
Eph. 2:22 “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Each of us, individually, get are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. We are gifted and charged with fulfilling that gifting as we are each uniquely gifted. While we are each uniquely gifted, there is a togetherness about that expression. What we do individually affects us corporately.
This affects how we interact and represent God as a church, but it also affects how we represent him in the places that he has called us - our neighborhoods, our workplaces, our schools, etc.
Daniel Strange recently noted in his article on going deep in our faith...
Themelios: Volume 48, No. 1, April 2023 Strange Times: Going Deeper
To meet the challenge of complexity we need the wisdom of the church. And it starts by recognising that we need one another to serve the cultural contexts in which God has placed us
The fact that God’s spirit indwells us makes little difference if we can’t express that in community
church community
physical community
Application: As mutual dwelling places, we have equal access to Christ and get to reside with Him - as a result -we get to represent him to one another and the world around us (aka Poolesville, Dickerson, Rockville, Frederick, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Boyds, etc.)
Closing Thoughts
Uniting us in Reconciliation to God -
Jesus’ sacrifice - brings us to life - and restores that which God intended at creation
Have you responded? Are you still a deadman/woman walking?
Come to him?
Uniting us with one another -
one new humanity
one body
one nationality
one household
one temple
one tabernacle
The Lord’s Supper
There are elements of the Lord’s Supper which cause this to be a memorial - looking back on the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
There is also a present-day recognition - as we’ve discussed in this passage of Ephesians - in the way that Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection form something in us - it unites us.
But there is also a future hope, a foreshadowing if you will that this supper becomes a glimpse of a future supper - the Marriage supper of the lamb.
Revelation 19:6–10 ESV
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
and his Bride has made herself ready;
it was granted her to clothe herself
with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Tim Keller notes that God’s love for His people has a depth and intimacy that surpasses typical religious imagery.
He is God - deserving of worship and admiration, respect, reverence
He has called us friend - inviting us into a relationship that is familiar, even at times casual
Here in revelation, we (the church) get to be seen as bride - Jesus knows and loves us as a bride in a way that know one else can. Welcomed, accepted, redeemed, adorned.
Elements
for those who have accepted Christ a savior - responded to God’s call for salvation.
Bread - symbolizing his body - broken
Juice/Wine - symbolizing his blood that was poured out as an atoning sacrifice - where as the OT sacrificial system required regular and even daily animal sacrifices - and other religions require annual sacrifices - because of Jesus’ perfect life - His is sufficient once - for all time.
Benediction
Ephesians 3:20–21 ESV
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
References
Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.
O’Brien, Peter Thomas. The Letter to the Ephesians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999.
Seal, David. “Ephesus.” Edited by John D. Barry, David Bomar, Derek R. Brown, Rachel Klippenstein, Douglas Mangum, Carrie Sinclair Wolcott, Lazarus Wentz, Elliot Ritzema, and Wendy Widder. The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016.
Strange, Daniel. “Strange Times: Going Deeper.” Themelios 48, no. 1 (2023): 26–28.
