Breaking Down Barriers
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11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
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30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Ephesus was the capital of Asia Minor (Turkey today). It was a large commercial centre, but it was also a centre of pagan religions and occult practices. The pride of the city was the Temple of Artemis, four times the size of the Parthenon (Athens) and one of the seven wonders of the world.
It drew people from all over the world. Paul spent 2¼ years in Ephesus. (Acts 19:9) Three months speaking at the synagogue, where there were some converts. Then two years with the gentiles, using the “lecture hall of Tyrannus.”
Acts 19: 10 “This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.”
So Paul is now writing to this church probably from prison or under house arrest in Rome (Ephesians 3:1) Acts 28: 16 ‘When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.’
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul reminds the Ephesians of the incredible change that has happened in their relationship together (horizontal), Jew and Gentile and with God (vertical). He uses a ‘Before and After’ format. Once you were like that, but now you’re like this. Paul is teaching us how great our salvation is. Reminding his readers of the dramatic change that has taken place in their lives. Reminding us of the power of the cross where barriers had been broken down.
I suggest we look at this passage through the headings BC. The Cross. AD.
1. Before Christ (Eph 2:11–12);
2. The Cross (Eph 2:13–18);
3. AD Anno Domini - Life in Christ (Eph 2:19–22)
Before Christ - Remember
Ephesians 2:11–12. “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (that done in the body by the hands of men)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel & foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”
Remember what you have been saved from. It is good for us to remember today.
Perhaps, like me you were young when you became a Christian, not particularly sinful. Paul is saying, Eph 2:13 far away and brought near. Friends if we do not reflect on what we have been saved from, we become blasé /casual about how wonderful our salvation is. It is most encouraging to hear people share about their life before Jesus, how they encountered Jesus, and how they’ve been transformed by Jesus.
In Autumn we are doing a series on sharing our faith with others. Testimony is so powerful even if we started young.
Charity Gayle became a Christian as a child “When I wrote Thank You Jesus for the Blood, we started by sharing what God has done for us and could truly say we were all lost but now we’re found and we just HAVE to thank Him for it.”
I was a wretch, I remember who I was,
I was lost, I was blind, I was running out of time.
Sin separated, the breach was far too wide,
but from the far side of the chasm,
You held me in your sightThank you Jesus for the blood applied
Thank you Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank you Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
In Eph 2:12 Paul mentions five things that express everyone’s life BC. Four ‘withouts’ & one within. 1. Without Christ (KJV), they were separate from Christ (NIV).2. Without Roots. We did not have the privileges the Jews enjoyed.Excluded from Israel citizenship and covenant.3. Without Hope. No hope that God was near. 4.Without God. They had idols but not the true God. 5. Within the world of barriers and divisions.Paul describing us BC. Without x4 (Christ. Roots. Hope. God). Within the world. Christless, rootless hopeless Godless worldly. Ouch! Why does Paul want them to remember? So that they would realise how great is God’s grace, how unconditionallyloving, how merciful& forgiving. How special is our status now as child of God, body of Christ, temple of HS. Good shepherd, Mk 6:34
2. Our encounter at the cross +
Before far away, now near! Eph 2:13-22 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” The blood of Christ here refers to his life violently and sacrificially ended on the cross. It is Paul’s way of speaking of Christ giving up his life for us. That’s what brought us to God ‘Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to the cross, I cling’ The cross bought our reconciliation “you who once were far away have been brought near.” What a wonderful thing to hear that we are brought near – it is message of closeness, tenderness, with-in-ness. We have access to his presence.
Eph 2:14 He is our peace - shalom: the wholeness of right relationship with God and right relationship with other believers: v14b destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…..
[illustr] Best understood against the backdrop of the Temple in the time of Jesus. The Temple was a parable in stone, exposing the pride & prejudices & power… the walls of prejudice that existed; barriers b/n Jews & Gentiles, b/n men and women & children, courts for priests, even a barrier to Holy of Holies. Temple at Jerusalem. 3 courts on same level Priests. Jewish men. Women. Then five steps down and a four-foot wall perimeter. Another 14 steps down Gentile court spacious. They could look up but not enter.
Paul refers to dividing wall. Jesus breaks down the barrier between US and God and between us and them. Destroyed when Jesus died on the cross the curtain was torn a visual metaphor a spiritual reality. The power of the cross. Eph 2:17: “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” Far away (us – gentiles) those who were near – Jews. This wording is lifted from Isa 57:19; ‘Peace, peace, to those who are far and near,’ says the Lord.” Isa 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news [gospel], who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation.”
Notice this Trinity-shaped salvation creates a new humanity under a new covenant through the blood. Eph 2:18 summary “Through Christ we both, Jew and Gentile alike, have access to the Father by one Spirit.” Jews, Gentiles, men, women children, every race and culture are reconciled not only to God but to each other. That is the wonder of our salvation. It is a challenge for us to be at peace with others as Christ is our peace.
When we worship today we are one. We are parts of the whole body of Christ – there is unity. I love worshipping churches which are multi-ethnic, rich and poor, clever and dopes like me - coming together because we love Jesus, we are brother and sister in Christ. Unfortunately, sadly… the temptation is to build dividing walls again… that is a challenge to us.
3. Our life in Christ - A.D.
Eph 2:19–22 “Consequently” There are huge consequences to this salvation, consequences in our understanding of who we are. Paul writes, “Consequently, you Gentiles are no longer foreigners and aliens but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household.”
You belong to the people of God, this body, family, household, this building of God’s people, built, on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ himself as the chief cornerstone. You belong. Not by race. Not by birth. But by the death of Christ.
v21 “In him the whole building [us] is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” This is a great picture. Notice the word dwelling -it really means to take up residence and take it over.
[Illustr]: Our house bought in 2008 was a project. Needed TLC. 15 years later we look at it and there isn’t much that hasn’t been changed since, Jennie transformed the garden, the house itself has been transformed since we moved in in 2010.
So God by his Spirit moved in on us individually and corporately, the temple of God, and he found it full of flaws. God took up residence. He cleans you up, he reshapes and improves you. When He moved in he knew the potential you had with Christ within. Isn’t that what we want? To be a dwelling in which God lives by his spirit. We must remember what separates us from God, acknowledge how terrible sin is and how much it cost our Lord Jesus to pardon our offences and break down our barriers. Remember that we are all sinners saved by grace and that every sin is a brick in a new barrier. Every bitterness, every refusal to make peace is a brick in a wall that separates. Look at the cross, see the lamb of God in agony - because of our sin. How can we hold on to our bitterness and sinful ways?
Matt Redman writes:
Who, oh Lord, could save themselves, Their own soul could heal?
Our shame was deeper than the sea, Your grace is deeper still.
You alone can rescue, You alone can save, You alone can lift us from the grave
You came down to find us, led us out of death,
To You alone belongs the highest praise
Let us worship
