Dec. 19, 1999 Ephesians 2:11-19
An end to hostilities
INTRODUCTION
19 days ago, the Fox Family channel began to annoy me. On Dec. 1, they started their “25 days of Christmas” promotion. That means that every night at 8:00 and several times during the day, they have been showing some type of Christmas movie or cartoon. In order to fulfill this commitment, they have been scraping the bottom of the barrel a few times. Now I like Christmas movies as much as anybody else does, but when you see that many of them in a row, it gets kind of old and loses some of its appeal. I think that the old Christmas specials, the ones that I watched as a kid, are still some of the best. I like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” & “Frosty the Snowman” & “Santa Claus is coming to Town” & “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” & “The Little Drummer Boy”. Tammy likes “A Christmas Story” – the one where the kid wants a B/B gun for Christmas, and one of his family says that he’d shoot his eye out if he got one. That’s also the one where the kid is bullied into putting his tongue on the frozen pole where he gets stuck. Then there’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” and Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas”. Those are a few of the old favorites. But perhaps the one I enjoy the most is “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. Throughout the story, CB is looking for the true meaning of Christmas. Most of us can identify with Charlie Brown as he goes out and finds the weakest looking tree in the whole bunch, thinking that maybe the tree and its decorations are what Christmas is all about. [If anyone were to look at some of the homes in Bridgeport, they might agree that the lights and decorations are the true meaning of Christmas] His tree looks like it might die at any moment. In fact, when CB puts one Christmas ornament on the tree, it wilts over to one side, and CB yells out, “I killed it!” Throughout the story, everyone is mad at CB, picking on him, and generally disgruntled with the whole Christmas season because the tree looks awful and the play is going poorly. But then, as he usually does, Linus pulls the play and the situation out of the fire. He comes onto center stage, the spot-light shines on him, and he begins to quote from the Christmas story as it is told in Luke 2. (Luke 2:8-14 KJV) And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; You shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” That statement was made by the angels almost 2000 years ago. And yet as the writer of one Christmas song put it, “And in despair I bowed my head: ‘there is no peace on earth’ I said, ‘for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men’” [“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day] Every evening that I am able to sit down and watch TV, I am reminded that we have not yet achieved peace on earth. I see stories of families killing one another and people suing each other over minor things. Our State dept. this week put out a warning against traveling overseas during the holidays. This warning is not because of Y2K fears but because they fear the terrorists will take advantage of the publicity that the new millennium will bring and will attempt to kill large numbers of people, especially Americans. The Columbine high school was shut down once again this week because someone made a threat that they were going to finish what those two boys had started. Why haven’t we achieved peace in the 2000 years since the announcement by the angels and the birth of Christ? What does it take in order to bring an end to the hostilities?
1. It takes a recognition of the problem.
“separate from Christ” – I hate being separated from people that I love especially over the holidays; service men and women stationed in hot spots all over the world. I see their recorded messages that they have sent to family and loved ones here in WV because war and unrest prevents them from being with the people that the love. Is 59:2 sins separated you from God; Heb 9:26 Jesus separated from sinners; Rom. 8:35,39 – no one separate us from the love of God – no one but us that is; the rich man was separated from comfort and peace because he had remained separated from Christ during his lifetime.
“excluded from citizenship in Israel” – young Cuban boy, Elion Gonzalez, that two nations are fighting over-he doesn’t know where he really belongs; those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior have their citizenship in heaven (Phil 3:20; Jn. 14:2 Jesus is preparing us a place) - those who have not accepted Him have this world as their home, this world will end
“foreigners to the covenants of the promise” – as a home-grown boy, you have certain rights and privileges that transplants do not have; When I moved here from SC, I was told early on not to make jokes about West Virginians. WV people can make jokes about WV people. Outsiders dare not do so; The rights and privileges that persons foreign to Israel were not included in were the promises made to Abraham (Gen 12:1-3) – significance of promise > Savior!
“without hope & without God in the world”- (Rom 15:13 NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:1-2,5 NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 5 And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (1 Cor 15:19 NIV) If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
“the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility”- did you know that if you are without Christ as your savior, then you are the enemy of God? (Phil 3:18-19 NIV) For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Col 1:21 NIV) Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. God made us to live in relationship with Him and in obedience to Him. If you do not have Jesus as your Savior, or if you are living with known sin in your life, then it is impossible for you to have peace. Over and over again, the Bible speaks of the tie that there is between living in right relationship with God and having peace in your life. (Isa 32:17 NIV) The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. (Isa 48:18 NIV) If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (Isa 48:22 NIV) "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." (Rom 8:6 NIV) The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; (Gal 6:16 NIV) Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God. (Eph 6:15 NIV) and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.(Psa 85:10 NIV) Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psa 119:165 NIV) Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
But you may think that you are not the enemy of God. You leave God alone, and as far as you know, He leaves you alone. You kind of have an agreement that way, or so you think. (Mat 12:30 NIV) "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.
SUMMARY- The reason that people, maybe you, do not have peace is not because they don’t have enough money, or because their boss is always on their case, or because they don’t have enough time in the day to do all that is required of them. The reason people do not have peace is because their sins have separated them from Christ, they don’t know where they belong, they don’t accept the reality of God or the role that He wants to play in their lives so they can’t claim His promises and can’t experience the hope that He has prepared which means that they have to struggle through life on their own, and they find themselves fighting against God in a battle that they can never win and will only lead to their eventual final and forever destruction. It should not cause us amazement when we see people have nervous breakdowns. The number of people who use legal nerve suppressants and illegal drugs should not surprise us, knowing the situation that people without Christ are in. When someone without Christ commits suicide, it should sadden us, but it shouldn’t shock us. What should surprise us is that that they lasted as long as they did before they yielded to the pressure. When you understand where you are without Christ and the danger that you are in, it should take away any peace that you might have felt. A lack of peace is not primarily an emotional or physical problem; it is a spiritual problem. And if it is a spiritual problem, then it can only have a spiritual solution.
2. It takes an acceptance of the solution.
“brought near through the blood of Christ” – not through our works (2:8-9); turn to Col. 1:13,19-22 [make comments especially about “dominion of darkness”]
“he himself is our peace” – not just a peacemaker, but the cause, payment, and source of our peace; verses that talk about the fact that Jesus is our peace; (Isa 9:6 NIV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isa 53:5 NIV) But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. (Jer 29:11 NIV) For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (Ezek 37:26 NIV) I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. (Mark 4:39 NIV) He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. (Luke 1:79 NIV) to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Rom 5:1 NIV) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (Gal 5:22 NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, ; tell story of “Peace Child” – two warring tribes – they had no word for peace, missionary had no means of telling them about peace, when he tried to tell them about how mankind had treated God’s Son they laughed because it was the ultimate in treachery – finally, they had had enough of the war, the only way to bring about an end to the war was for one tribal chief to give up his son to the other tribal chief – that boy was called the peace child; when the angels spoke of “peace on earth”, they weren’t talking about the concept of peace. They were talking about the Person of peace, the one who is our peace, the one without whom, we can have no peace – Jesus, the Peace Child.
“destroyed the barrier” – the Berlin Wall
“abolishing . . . the law with its commandments and regulations” – the legal requirement was that we be condemned for all eternity (Romans 6:23); God is just and the justifier; woman caught in adultery brought to Jesus to see if He would uphold the requirements of the law
“to reconcile both of them to God through the cross” – reconciliation between us and God not only brings an end to hostilities but brings a relationship in which God is our greatest Friend and our greatest Benefactor. It is not just the end of war but the beginning of love.
“access to the Father” - the tearing of the temple curtain as a result of the death of Christ. (Eph 3:12 KJV) In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him. (Heb 4:16 KJV) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
CONCLUSION
Canada and the United States have long been the best of friends, justly proud of the undefended border between them. It has not always been so. During the War of 1812, between the United States and Britain, the Americans crossed the border and destroyed York, modern day Toronto. The British retaliated by burning Washington, D.C. Finally, on December 24, 1814, representatives of the two countries, who had been meeting in Belgium signed the Treaty of Ghent, which agreed on the details of an armistice.
Unfortunately, the news of the peace was delayed, and, on January 8, 1815, unaware of the armistice, the two armies met in the Battle of New Orleans. More than 2,000 men lost their lives in a totally unnecessary battle, because they were ignorant of the peace treaty.
INVITATION
I know that the message that you have heard today has not been the usual Christmas message about a peaceful baby that was born in a lowly manger. But I didn’t want to be late in declaring to you that a peace treaty has been signed between you and God. When Jesus hung on that cross, just before He died, He cried out, “It is finished!” The battle was over. He had provided the payment necessary for a man and God to be at peace with each other once again. God has provided the way, but you have to agree to His terms. If you want to have peace in your life, if you want to have Jesus as your Savior, then you must . . .
A. Admit that you are a sinner. You have been fighting against God. You have been separated from Christ, and you have been living as God’s enemy.
B. Believe that Jesus Christ, God Himself, left behind His place in heaven to be born as a man, lived a perfect sinless life, died on a cross to make payment for your sins and mine, and then rose from the dead to provide hope for us.
C. Commit your whole life to Christ. Leave your past behind with its sins and failures and trust wholly and solely in Christ to provide forgiveness, direction, and peace.
If you have never asked Jesus Christ to become your Savior and would like to this morning, please raise your hand.
