TEXT:
“[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.”
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What is the significance of the church being portrayed as God’s kingdom, a place where we are “fellow citizens with the saints?”
What is the significance of the church being portrayed as God’s family, a place where we are “members of the household of God?”
What is the significance of the church being portrayed as a holy temple, a place where we are being “built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit?”
SERMON MANUSCRIPT:
If I were to give Ephesians 2 a theme, it would be the theme of reconciliation. Ephesians 2:1-10 shows us that we have been reconciled with God through faith in Christ's death on the cross. Ephesians 2:11-22 shows that the church has been reconciled with one another through Jesus' death on the cross. Reconciliation with God leads to reconciliation with God's people. Peace with God leads to peace with one another. A relationship with God leads to a relationship with God's people.
Today, we will continue looking at Paul's words regarding our peace with one another. And as we look at these verses, I want to ask, "What do these verses teach us about the church?"
We live in a day and age where many are leaving the church. I read a statistic early this week that three out of every five young Christians (59%) disconnect permanently or for an extended time from church life after age 15. Another Barna study estimates that roughly 3,500 people leave the church each day, and over 1.2 million people will leave the church in the next year. Barna cited a multitude of contributing factors. But, the most significant factor is an overall sense of disconnect from the local church.
So, I think now, more than ever, we need to know what the Bible says about the church. Now, more than ever, we need to establish a robust theology of the church. When we properly understand what the church is and what it's intended to be, we can begin to actively live out a healthy church.
So, what is the church? What does the Bible say about the church? Is the church optional when it comes to loving Jesus? Can we have a healthy relationship with Jesus without a healthy relationship with the church? Can we deconstruct our faith, step away from the institutionalized church in America, and maintain a healthy love and relationship with Jesus?
These are the questions I want us to wrestle with today. And I'm confident we should walk away with a reasonably straightforward answer to these questions after studying our verses today.
The main point of our passage today is that the church is important to God. Therefore, the church should be important to us.
Let's dive in.
"[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."
JESUS PEOPLE
At the start of these verses, we see that the church is a united group of people who cling to Jesus as their only hope for salvation. This is the most foundational element to who and what the church is. The church has been and always will be about Jesus. We are a Jesus people. If you take away Jesus, you have no church. We are individual disciples of Jesus who gather to worship Jesus and who seek to teach and encourage other disciples of Jesus.
Remember what we learned last week as we unpacked verses 11-17. In addressing Gentile Christians, Paul teaches the church that Jews and Gentiles are now one in Christ.
Notice all the separation language used at the start regarding the Gentiles: uncircumcision, separated, alienated, strangers, no hope, without God. But, notice the language change that occurs because of the cross: brought near, peace, made us both one, one new man, reconciling us both, killing the hostility, both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
So, now Paul is saying, "Ok, you were once far off, but now you're close because of Jesus. There was once distance between you and God, but now there's nearness. There was once hostility between you and God, but now there's peace. You were once without God, but now you have access to God through the Spirit."
Jesus changes everything. The cross is transformative. God is creating for himself a redeemed people who are united in their love and allegiance to Jesus. The church is not a building; it is a people. And it is not a divided people; it is a united people.
We are united in Christ. And if we are united in Christ, then that tells us that a critical element of the church is peace. Living peaceably with God's people is not optional for God's people. We love, serve, and honor Jesus with our lives together.
So, to stir up conflict within the church is to wage war against the gospel. To build up walls within the church is to wage war against the work of Christ. To abandon the church is to abandon Christ.
Together, we have been reconciled to God in one body through the cross. If you love Jesus, you will love his bride. If you love Jesus, you will care about what he cares about.
As we see in verse 18, it is through Jesus that we have access to the Father. The church is a Jesus people because Jesus is our only way to the Father. I said it last week, but it's worth repeating. Jesus isn't a good way to heaven or the best way to heaven. Jesus is the only way to heaven.
HOLY SPIRIT PEOPLE
But, not only are we a people who cling to Jesus as our only hope for salvation. We are also a united people filled with the Holy Spirit— "For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."
The Bible teaches us that those who are in Christ have the Holy Spirit in them. The third person of the trinity resides within the hearts of His people. The Holy Spirit is the one who comforts us in trials and calamity; he is the one who convicts us of sin and teaches us truth; he is the one who strengthens us to proclaim the gospel in power; he is the one who gives us the power and ability to put sin to death and walk in righteousness; and he is the one who extends to us unique gifts that we are to use to build up the church.
One of my greatest joys in being a pastor is seeing the Holy Spirit work in and through your lives. Sometimes, this may be seeing the Holy Spirit working through you as you share the gospel with a nonbeliever. Sometimes, this may be listening to you confess difficult sins. Sometimes, this may be watching you serve others within the church. Sometimes, this may be watching you experience comfort in the midst of trials.
It's such a joy knowing that the same Spirit that resides within me is the same Spirit that lives within you. You and I are no different. We are the same. We are one. The church is a united people, filled with the same Holy Spirit, who possess the same access to the Father.
A HOLY KINGDOM
Next, we see the church portrayed as a kingdom to reside in. The church is a holy kingdom. In verse 19, Paul says, "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints…"
The root word for fellow citizens here is the Greek word "politēs," which means to inhabit a city or country (Acts 21:39, for example). It's to say that a particular location is your home.
The term "saint" doesn't refer to those who are holy or set apart. It's an expression that was first applied to Israel as the 'holy nation.' But it is later extended to the Christian community, the Israel of God. "Saints" is a term used to describe all of the church. If you have trusted in Jesus for your salvation, this title is bestowed upon you. If your faith resides in Jesus, you have been set apart as holy, belonging to God as a prized possession.
So, together with all of the saints, we are residents of God's kingdom. And just like any kingdom, city, or country, there's a distinct culture found in God's kingdom.
I just recently got back from Boston, and Boston is very different from Mobile. People talked, acted, and lived differently in Mobile than in Boston. This is true all over the world. The language people speak in America is different from that in Russia. The food people eat in Mexico is different from the food people eat in India. Transportation is different in Mobile than it is in New York. The clothes people wear are different in Hawaii than in Iceland.
The same should be true of God's kingdom, the church. There ought to be a unique culture within the society of God's kingdom that you shouldn't be able to find anywhere else. We should be a city known for kindness and love, not rudeness and hostility. We should be a kingdom known for peace and hospitality, not hatred and divisiveness. We should be a holy people known for righteousness, not wickedness. The way we live, the way we talk, and the way we act should stand in stark contrast to the rest of the world.
The culture of every kingdom should begin to reflect the character of their king. Therefore, the culture of Harbor Community Church should begin to reflect the character of Jesus. The culture of the churches in Mobile, AL should begin to reflect the character of Jesus. The culture of the churches in America should begin to reflect the character of Jesus. The culture of the [C]hurch throughout the world should begin to reflect the character of Jesus.
We are fellow citizens with the saints. We are residents of God's kingdom. Therefore, we walk in submission to the King. We have a good King and should love and worship him together.
GOD’S FAMILY
Next, we see the church is God's family— "…you are…members of the household of God."
The term "household" is oikeios in the Greek. It's a phrase that entails close familial intimacy. It means to belong to a house or a family related by blood.
In writing to Timothy, for example, Paul says, "But if anyone doesn't provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Paul tells Timothy that a critical element of the Christian faith is providing for your family, especially your immediate family. And in Ephesians, Paul describes the church as God's immediate family. The church is not a distant relative to God; they are a part of his immediate family that he will provide and protect. This is unbelievably beautiful imagery. If God calls us to provide for the members of our household, how much more will God provide for the members of his household? God will always take care of his children. He will always take care of you.
It's important for us to understand that sometimes God cares for his family's needs through the love and care of those in his family. In Galatians 6, for example, Paul says, "As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially those who are the household of faith."
So, as members of God's household, we are responsible for doing good to those in God's family. The church is a kingdom in which we reside together. But, the church is also a family. We are not simply neighbors that we pass by on the streets. We are brothers and sisters who sleep under the same roof and eat at the same table. We are a family.
A HOLY TEMPLE
Then, lastly, we see the church described as a holy temple, a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Verses 20-22 say, "…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. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
I don't want to assume that we all understand the evolution of God's dwelling place throughout Scripture. So, let me quickly unpack that for a moment. In the book of Exodus, God dwelt with his people in the wilderness through the Tabernacle. Then, once they made it to the promised land and built the temple, God dwelt with his people through the temple. But, in the gospels, we see God became flesh and tabernacled (dwelt) among his people— Jesus was Immanuel, God with us. But now, in Ephesians, we see God lives with his people by residing in his people. God is with us by being in us. We, the church, are the body of Christ, the new temple of God (Eph. 2:21-22; 2 Cor. 6:16). Those who are in Christ have Christ in them.
Now, when it comes to temple imagery in the New Testament, there's a personal and corporate aspect to it.
In the book of 1 Corinthians, for example, we see Paul highlight the personal aspect of this. In his letter, he points to individual believers twice and says, "You are the temple of God."
One instance is in 1 Corinthians 6:13-20, "[13] "Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food"—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. [14] And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. [15] Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! [16] Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, "The two will become one flesh." [17] But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one Spirit with him. [18] Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. [19] Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, [20] for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
What one moment do we see Jesus express his righteous anger? Jesus expressed his anger when the religious leaders defiled the temple by selling oxen, sheep, and pigeons. After he made a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple and said, "Take these away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."
So, listen to me. You are God's temple, and God cares about you and what you do with your body. Your body is not your own. So, be careful what you do with your body. The marriage bed is a good gift to be enjoyed within the confines of marriage and marriage alone. So, do not make his temple, your body, a house of trade. Jesus is zealous for his house, and you are his house. So, glorify God with your body.
The New Testament also describes the corporate church as the holy temple of the Lord that is still being built together— "you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit." We are a temple where Christ is the cornerstone, and the apostles and prophets are the foundation. In simple terms, this means that the teaching of the apostles and prophets, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, served as a solid foundation for the early church.
The imagery here is that we are essential stones placed around and upon Jesus, the cornerstone. The cornerstone would have been the most important stone laid in constructing a building. It would have been the stone that led and guided the workers in the building process. Once the cornerstone was set, it became the basis for determining every measurement in the remaining construction; everything was aligned to it.
So, upon Christ, you and I are essential to the structure of God's dwelling place. We are being built into a holy temple in the Lord, the dwelling place for God by the Spirit.