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9am Session 4 | One in Christ

 • Series:  Ephesians

Ephesians | Session 4 One in Christ. Ephesians 2:11–22 [11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] 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, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV) Last week Scott took the time to go back to the basics of the gospel. Philippians 4:8 [8] Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (ESV) Jesus fulfills that list. The gospel of Jesus the Christ! Thinking on Jesus and his Gospel will never steer you wrong and will always renew your mind. Ephesians 2:8–9 [8] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, [9] not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (ESV) Remember, Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world. The world was already condemned. He came to do what we ourselves or the law itself could not do. Save us. Pray THEREFORE. Or, for that reason, remember. [11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Who is Paul talking to? The Gentile followers of Christ. There were two groups of people: Jews and Gentiles. Those a part of God’s chosen people, those not. Immediately what does that indicate? There is a division. A wall. And what do walls do? Separate. God had pure and holy and eternal intention behind why He created this separation. Namely, to set apart a nation for His glory that, from it, all nations would be blessed. Two main covenants. Abrahamic Covenant Genesis 12:1–3 [1] Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. [2] And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. [3] I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (ESV) Prior to the law, God made a covenant promise to Abram of His seed (Jesus Christ) being the blessing to all families of the earth. Mosaic Covenant Exodus 19:5–6 [5] Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; [6] and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’” (ESV) The Mosaic Covenant? God met with Moses and gave him the law. A unique set of commandments, of which the 10 are a part, dealing with all areas of life that He asked His people to follow. Why? Several reasons scripture outlines for us. Read Galatians 3 for a great explanation. Basically, the law was given to set God’s people apart. To reveal mankind's sin nature, to point us to the fact that we NEED someone to save us from our sin, that we can’t be law-abiding enough, and to reveal the heart of the One Holy and Good God, who is our Father! “the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.” The LAW was never given to be followed legalistically in an attempt to earn God’s grace. Grace can’t be earned. It was given to be relationally followed BY FAITH. God’s intent was that His people would, by faith in His promises made PRIOR to the law, walk in faith-driven obedience to His commandments, which were by the way very good and pleasant and given to bless us and not burden his people. Behind every law God gave His people was holy intention. The burdensome elements of ‘the law’ happened as God’s people walked away from faith and added laws upon laws in a self-righteous attempt to earn God’s favor and grace, and prominence among people. Jesus said they have received their reward in full. Poor shepherds, abusing the flock of God by creating ‘new and improved’ laws that benefited them and burdened others. The Law: Study it for yourself! Genesis 12. Exodus 19-24. Galatians 3. Romans 4-8. Paul tells the gentiles to remember their previous state. 6 walls of separation: Uncircumcised. Separated from Christ. Alienated from the nation of Israel. Strangers to the covenants of promise. Hopeless Without God I believe that when we look back and see what we once were, our love and gratitude for WHO has brought us from death to life deepens, our faith is built. Our worship grows. Our minds are renewed. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. HOPE! That list of 6 is graciously demolished in the truth of the gospel! They were physically, spiritually, nationally, socially, individually, and hopelessly far off! Without God in the world. Can you imagine? BUT NOW JESUS! ‘have been brought near.’ They didn’t come near or get near on their own. They were brought near IN CHRIST. Christ is the Only one that brings us near, back to the Father, into the Kingdom. We can’t find our way in or let ourselves in. Our works are filthy. His work is faithful. He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Him. ‘By the blood of Christ.’ When he mentions the blood of Christ, I believe he is making a reference to the blood sacrifices God required of His people in the OT to cover over sin. Yet he speaks to the inadequacy of the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat and the blood of bulls and goats and animals required for transgressions found in the Old Testament, that it was unable to accomplish what ONLY the pure blood of Christ could do, and that is cleanse us of unrighteousness. Hebrews 10:1–4 [1] For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. [2] Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? [3] But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. [4] For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. (ESV) 1 Samuel 15:22 [22] And Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. (ESV) JESUS, who was fully righteous and completely sinless, was obedient unto His very death. He did the will of His Father and in doing so earned the RIGHT to become the ONE sacrifice necessary to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. A bull can’t bring me to God. A bull remains dead. A bulls blood once spilled cannot continue to do anything. That’s why OT sacrifices needed to be repeated. But a Sacrifice that pours out it’s pure blood for me, cleanses me, and then comes back to life? That blood, the blood of Jesus, STILL works for me! Jesus is our living hope. Our eternal one. Not a dead one. Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility Paul begins to use a different pronoun. Instead of saying YOU gentiles, he changes course now and begins to talk about us. The power of the blood of Christ not only brings one far off near to God, but it takes you, and takes me, and makes an US. It is what eternally and powerfully unites us and makes us, who through faith accept the gift of God’s grace, ONE. John 17:19–23 [19] And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. [20] “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, [21] that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV) Ephesians 2:14-16 [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] 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, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. HOW? Breaking down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances… A wall of hostility. There was a statement on the outer wall of the temple in Jerusalem warning Gentiles that they would only have themselves to blame for their death if they passed beyond it into the inner courts. There was a physical wall that would have created hostility between gentiles and jews. But, beyond that physical temple wall of hostility, there was the law which separated them. There were also generations worth of hostile walls that had been built up between gentiles and jews. The jews would cram it in the faces of the foreign nations that they were God’s chosen people and they weren’t. The law in the hands of faithless jews became a wall of hostility. The law was meant to do this: Deuteronomy 4:6 [6] Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ (ESV) The law followed in faith was intended not to build walls of hostility, but create awareness of sin and the need of God’s grace! And what do we as humans tend to do? Screw things up. We judge others far too often, causing even more walls to be built up. The reason the church today has a bad wrap is not because of the love of Christ, it’s because of the hostility of men and women in love with our own self-righteousness. **I am called to extend grace, love as Christ did, and to seek justice. However, I must refuse to unbind my justice from my active love of mercy, and to NEVER do either from a heart of pride, but always let humility be the foundation of my justice and mercy. Mercy without justice is greasy grace. Justice without mercy is untempered. Without humility, mercy is done to puff up ourselves. Without humility, justice is always biased aggression. They must all be present. How Did Jesus Leave the Walls of Hostility? Wall #1: Broken Down In the flesh. In the fact that he both walked out peace and talked to peace. He touched the leper. Broke down that wall. He ate with tax collectors. Broke down that wall. Talked with a woman. Not to mention a samaritan. Not to mention an adultering one. Broke down all those walls in one setting. He hung out with commoners as a rabbi. Broke down those walls. In the flesh he hung out with prostitutes. Broke down those walls. A woman of uncleanliness because of continual bleeding touched him, he didn't yell unclean. He broke down that wall. He came from nazareth. Broke down that wall. Walls of position, power, people groups, preferences, prejudices, perspectives, and entitlement he broke down as he was in the flesh through both his actions and his teaching. Matthew 8:10–13 [10] When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith. [11] I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, (talking about Gentiles, foreigners) [12] while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. (talking about some Jews who had no faith) In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” [13] And to the centurion, Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment. (ESV) He preached in that moment peace to those far and to those near. NO one is too far away to receive the grace of God by faith. Jesus broke down in his flesh, and ultimately on the cross, the walls of hostility that stand between us. In faith we accept that gracious work and we can walk IN HIM as one. He broke the walls down. How Did Jesus Leave the Walls of Hostility? Wall #1: Broken Down Wall #2. Killed The wall, the chasm, that stands between us and the Father because of sin. Impenetrable, impassable. Yet the Son of God, Jesus Christ IS the door, the access point, the way into eternal life With God. [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. Jesus KILLED the hostility between us and the Father. I’m hostile to God? How? Romans 8:7–11 [7] For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. [8] Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. [10] But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. [11] If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. (ESV) Ephesians 2:18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. The work of Jesus’ death on the cross dealt with sin, that which separated us from the Father. The wall of hostility that I built between me and God HE came down and killed, defeated fully! Didn’t just knock it down. He killed it! [17]And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. [19] So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV) Verses 19-22 are the new reality we share as those in Christ. And we are still being BUILT together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. It’s not done yet. 1, our Sanctification still needs to happen. We’ve not arrived. We’re still being sanctified in his truth by His Spirit. 2, God wants to adopt more kids! Others still need to be shown his grace! John 17:23 [23] I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (ESV) And a few closing thoughts, encouragements that Paul unpacks later in Ephesians about how then we should then live as the body of Christ in regards to the peace found In Christ and from Christ. Remember: Christ broke down the walls of hostility that separate you and me. Walls made in the flesh by the flesh. Let the walls remain rubble. Danger: Walls of hostility can easily be rebuilt in the flesh by the flesh. Condemnation from Christ Follower to Christ Follower, pointing out the speck in another's eye over the log in our own, are wall building sins that alienate blood bought citizens, harm a brother or sister, and stain the pure reputation of Christ. James 3:8–10 [8] but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. [9] With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. [10] From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. (ESV) Christ killed the wall of hostility that separated us from God, and has given us access in the same Spirit to the Father. Rest in the finished work of Christ! That wall of hostility between us and the Father is taken care of! Rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross which will forever be the ONLY thing necessary for our salvation, our redemption. Jesus died for us. Forgiven. Jesus rose for us. Securing eternal life. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit. He continues the work of sanctification in us and bears His fruit in us. It’s always him. It’s always his grace.