Ephesians 2:11-22

our love for the Lord together in this year 2022 Lord willing, we'll make it from the book of Acts to the book of Philemon. Today we are at Ephesians chapter two, beginning at verse 11, and we'll work through the end of the chapter. Let's have some coffee. We'll pray and get into the Lord's Word. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for the work of your Holy Spirit that you have done in history. and that you are doing in our lives now. Father, we pray that as we read your word this morning, that you would watch over us, that you would teach us. Father, we pray that we would know who you are and walk in your ways in Jesus's name. Amen. Well, we're at Ephesians chapter two, beginning at verse 11. Ephesians chapter two, beginning at verse 11. Here we go.
Therefore, remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh, who were called uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision made in the flesh by hands, that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace who has made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the enmity that is the commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace. and that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Well, we need to ask ourselves, A, what is this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize this? And C, what are we called to do in response to these words? So A, what is this about?
Well, There really in the Jewish mind are two groups, Jewish and non-Jewish. Elect Gentiles. Saved everyone else. People of the covenant, people doomed to destruction. God's people, not God's people. And this was meant to be shown everywhere in the life of a Jewish person. And so what this passage is getting at is that that dividing wall has been torn down. That Jesus Christ himself has made the two one.
There's no longer any separating of us. But God has saved each one of us by his grace. He has redeemed us by the blood of Jesus. And so he says in verses 11 through 13 that all of us have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Even us who were aliens, foreigners, strangers of the covenant, uncircumcised in the flesh. Jesus has brought us near to the Father. He's put to death the enmity And then in verses 11, or sorry, verses 14 through 18, we find that Christ is our peace, right? For he himself is our peace who made both one and has broken down the middle wall of separation.
How has he done that? He's fulfilled all the commandments. He's done everything necessary, and especially when we think about the commandments, specifically those as the ceremonial law, they're all pointing to Christ. And so now they're fulfilled in Him.
And in Him, we have access to the Father. In Him, we are able to be one of God's people and have fellowship with God. See, it was verse 16, Jesus Christ who made the one man from the two making peace, verse 16, that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. The enmity between us and God is gone, our vertical relationship is gone, but it also affects the horizontal relationship either. Jesus Christ put the enmity between Jews and Gentiles gone. We're one body in Christ. The church is Christ's body. And he came and preached peace to you who are far off and to those who are near.
For through him, we both have access by one spirit to the Father. See, there's only one way to the Father. For the Jewish person, there's one way to the Father and it's through Jesus Christ. For the Gentile, there's only one way to the Father. It's through Jesus Christ. It's why Jesus told his disciples, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me. All nations come to the Father through Jesus Christ. And then this last section, verses 19 through 22, it's speaking of God building a house and Jesus being the cornerstone of that house.
Right. Therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. And if you are a Gentile Christian, It's not like you've got a green card or something, no. You've been made a citizen of God's kingdom. Now you're one who's brought in, but you're fully a citizen. And how do we become citizens? Through Jesus Christ, right?
Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the cornerstone. We're being built into a household of God and the the one everything is measured by, the cornerstone is Christ. So you set the cornerstone and all the walls are built off of it. You set the cornerstone to make sure that everything is square and everything is going to be straight. The plumb line is laid off the cornerstone and it's Jesus Christ who is the mark of perfection. And as we are lined up with Christ, then we grow.
It says, in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you, you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. It's not about a temple being built in Jerusalem. It's not about a temple that's being built with human hands. But it's a temple that God is building, living stones. This is why first Peter talks about us being living stones, right? God is building his church by setting the foundation in Jesus Christ. He's the cornerstone. And then he's building his church.
Person by person by person. Isn't this beautiful imagery? Body, building, citizenship, dividing wall torn down. What's this about? Well, I would say in all of this, going back to Hosea, we were once not a people, but he has made us a people. He is making a holy nation, a royal priesthood for himself. What's the best verse to summarize these? Well, that's going to be tough, right?
I think probably verse 13 for the first section. And then verse 14 for the second section, but I might also be tempted to say verse 16 for the second section. And then lastly, for the third section there, 19 through 22, I would probably underline verse 19 But then I don't want to miss verse 20 about Jesus being the cornerstone of that building.
So I'd be tempted to do that. But then I'd be tempted to think about 21 and 22, because that's the whole point of this, that God is dwelling with his people. So help me out here. What would you do? What would you underline in your Bible for the best verse to summarize this? The last calling. What are we called to do? How do you imagine drawing near to God? How do you imagine God the Father working in you and in your life? Is it through Jesus Christ? The only reason why we get to go to the Father is through the Son. So how do you go to the Father? So that's one question.
Question number two for you is, How do you treat other people in the church? Do you treat them as living stones, blood-bought, purchased people? Do you treat people as, well, they're of some other nation, some other ethnicities, they might come from another state, maybe they talk funky, maybe they have a different accent from you?
No. The dividing walls of hostility have been torn down. It's not saying there's not real cultural differences in this life. That's part of what adds flavor and spice to the church. Because not everybody's a mouth, not everybody's a hand, not everybody's a foot, not everybody's a nostril or an ear, you know. No, we have different types of people in the church from all different nations. That's the beauty of the kingdom of God. That's the beauty of the church.
So how do you treat others in the church like they belong there or like they're obstacles? Well, last, I would say. What does it look like for you? Does have the Holy Spirit dwell in you? Does he produce fruits of the spirit? As you are being built together with others in the church, Are you encouraging the work of the Holy Spirit in your own heart and the hearts of those around you? Are you one of those that when people come around you, they know that person's got the Spirit of God that lives in them? And are you spurring others on toward love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control?
Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for your word and most of all for telling us about Jesus Christ. Thank you for calling us your people. Thank you for giving us a homeland. Thank you for making us part of your temple. Lord, we pray that you would conform us more and more to your image. Finish the good work you've started, Lord, we pray in Jesus's name. Amen. May the Lord bless you today. May you walk in the joy and peace of Jesus Christ. And I'll see you tomorrow. Bye.
Thanks for listening to this week's message from God's Word for You, a ministry of Sharon R.P. Church in rural southeast Iowa. We pray that the message would be used by God to transform your faith and your life this week. If you'd like to get more information about us, feel free to go to the website, SharonRPC.org. We'd love to invite you to worship with us. Our worship time is 10 a.m. every Sunday at 25204 160th Avenue. Morning Sun, Iowa, 52640. May God richly bless you this week.