May 15, 2011
Evening Service

This morning we saw what the scriptures have to say about what sin really is.  We saw that because of our sin we are separated from God (dead).  But, through faith n Christ we are made alive again and given a whole new relationship with our Creator.

 

Paul plainly pointed out that our salvation is a gift from God Through His grace (undeserved favor), and is in no way earned by any works that we could ever do.

 

Eph 2:8-10  For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,  (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (10)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

This scripture paints a very clear picture of God’s plan of salvation and encourages us to seek our purpose in this life.  That purpose is to live a life that reflects Christ in every aspect of our lives and He will use us to fulfill His will.

 

 

Eph 2:11-12  Therefore remember that you, the nations, in time past were in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;  (12)  and 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, and without God in the world.

• One of the themes we are looking for is unity and  Paul has begun to teach on it by pointing out the separation that was very present in this time.
• Gentiles were referred to as the Uncircumcision and the Jews as the Circumcision.  That pertained to being one of God’s chosen people.  You were born into one or the other. 
• The Jewish people were always optimistic about the future because they knew the messiah would come.  The Gentiles had no such hope.
• Gentiles truly were aliens and strangers to the promises and hope that comes through God.

 

Eph 2:13-18  But now in Christ Jesus you who were once afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.  (14)  For He is our peace, He making us both one, and He has broken down the middle wall of partition between us,  (15)  having abolished in His flesh the enmity (the Law of commandments contained in ordinances) so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, making peace between them;  (16)  and so that He might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity in Himself.  (17)  And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near.  (18)  For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

• Paul uses two pictures to demonstrate this new unity that now exists between the Jews and Gentiles.
• Isa 57:19  I create the fruit of the lips; peace, peace, to him far off, and to him near, says Jehovah; and I will heal him.
• When rabbis spoke of one accepting the faith it was said they “had been brought near.”
• The second picture speaks of middle wall of partition being broken down.  The temple was broken up and into separate courts each one slightly greater in importance.  Gentile-women-Israelite-priests-Holy place.  A wall literally was the barrier that kept the Gentiles from the presence of God .

 

• Mat 27:50-51  And crying again with a loud voice, Jesus released His spirit.  (51)  And, behold! The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And the earth quaked, and the rocks were sheared,
• This signified that the path to God was now open to all.
• Paul then explains how this occurred.
• Christ is our peace.  He is our common ground, our mediator.
• He abolished all the endless laws that no one could follow.  He did not erase the law but fulfilled it all.
• Rom 10:4  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes.
• He replaced legalism with love.
• 1Ti 1:5  But the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned,
• Love never fails.
• Unity produces Christians who overcome all racial and social differences.  It produces men and women who are friends and friends with God, sharing equal access to Him through the same Spirit.

 

Eph 2:19-22  Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,  (20)  and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,  (21)  in whom every building having been fitly framed together, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord;  (22)  in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

• Gentiles are now considered family not foreigners.
• We are each a brick in the household of God.  Fulfilling our part building upon the foundation left for us the apostles and prophets and Jesus our chief cornerstone.
• Romans 12 and I Corinthians 12 are known as the gift chapters.  They speak how each of us has a God given gift that is to be used to build up (edify) the church.  It is a challenge to each of us to recognize our gifts and put them into practice as needed in the church.
• As we all work together to be God’s hand and feet we will continue to grow into what He intended us to be.  When one lags behind, in essence we all suffer for it.

 

Paul has begun to build a new wall of unity within the church.  It is between Gentiles and Jews and between each Christian brother and sister.

 

Jesus Christ is our common ground, our peace.

 

We are each a different piece in the temple that God is building.  A building in which He uses to bring others into our new found unity.  The Church is to provide a home where Christ and the Spirit can dwell and operate from.