Breaking Down Dividing Walls Ephesians 2:11-22 Big idea: Jesus broke down the division between Jews and Gentiles by reconciling them both to God through the cross. Intro – The past year in our country has brought renewed attention to race relations with the deaths of black men in Ferguson, Missouri and New York City. Regardless of the position you hold, what’s clear is nationally the media, politicians, and probably many of your friends on Facebook or in the neighborhood have begun to wonder how to have unity amidst racial diversity. Long before it was a concern of our country, unity among His people was a deep concern of Jesus Christ. The human barrier was between Jews and everyone else – the gentiles. This partly stemmed from God’s particular use of the Jewish nation in the OT and their clear need to be separate from the th surrounding nations to avoid idolatry and remain a beacon. After the exile in Babylon in the 6 century BC, the need to remain distinct increased because of the contaminating effect of the people groups who were moved in and intermingled with the few Jews who remained in the land. However, by Jesus’ day the disdain for other nations had intensified. Acts 10:28a And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him;
2 3 Acts 11:23 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, saying, "You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them." The historian Tacitus wrote, “they (the Jews) regard the rest of mankind with all the hatred of enemies.” Acts 10-11 The Jewish Christians couldn’t believe that the Gentiles should be included in the church until they heard that God had given them the Holy Spirit as well. Galatians 2:11-14 Peter had to be confronted for keeping himself separate from the Gentiles out of fear of upsetting a party of Jewish Christians.
Galatians 3:28 emphasizes that “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
11 Likewise, Colossians 3:11 a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. India – An Indian missionary that UBC has supported for more than 15 years saw the his ministry struggle when the uppercaste people left after lower caste people came to Christ and began attending the church. In America, churches are often functionally divided along age lines (young, hip church or traditional, older church), socioeconomic lines, common interests (cowboy church), or racial lines. Often from good intentions to reach a particular community or a group of people with the gospel. But unfortunately the beauty of the gospel is often hidden when people who have a natural affinity get together. However, when the world sees young and old, rich and poor, from a variety of cultures and nations and native languages gathering for worship and investing in each other’s lives, that is truly dramatic. 1. Gentiles were formerly alienated from God. (2:11-12) Defining terms – Jews – circumcision – national identity as a people set apart for God, doesn’t mean that all had a personal relationship with God through faith Gentiles – called uncircumcision – all the other nations (goyim in Heb, ethnos in Gk), doesn’t mean there weren’t any who had faith in the true God – some proselytes to Judaism, some “God fearing” like Cornelius described in Acts 10. 2 Acts 10:2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. a. Separate from Christ i. True personally that they were separate from Christ but also true of many Jews who didn’t have personal faith in Christ. This is speaking nationally or corporately. ii. Jewish history was looking ahead to the Messiah. Although the Messiah would come and bless all nations and the New Covenant would be expanded to all people as they are grafted into it, as Mike preached on Jeremiah 31 a few weeks ago, the history leading up to the Messiah was a history of the Jewish people. b. Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel i. From the time of Abraham they were a people group, after Moses they were a nation with God as their King and Lord.
20 ii. Psalm 147:20 He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His ordinances, they have not known them. Praise the LORD! c. Strangers to the covenants of promise i. Abrahamic – land, nation, blessing ii. Mosaic and Davidic and even the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31) were originally for the Jewish people. d. Without hope i. Hopeless brooding didn’t begin with today’s English majors or philosophy teachers; many Greek poet’s expressed a hopelessness about life. ii. Theognes – 500 BC I will try to have a good time while I’m young, because I will like under the earth for a long time – voiceless as a stone, and I shall leave the sunlight that I loved . . . then I shall see no more. Have a good time, my soul, while young; soon others will take my place, and I shall be black earth in death. No mortal is happy under the sun. 1. But even if not expressed, this passage is less about whether they felt hopeless and more about the reality of their hopelessness. e. Without God i. Myriad of religions, incurably religious, but no God. ii. People may fill their lives with things and entertainment and advancement and experiences, and in one sense have a full life but really those are walls without a foundation. iii. Ephesians 2:1-4 describes every individual’s spiritual state apart from Christ, and it’s pretty bleak. 2:11-12 describes the corporate Gentile state apart from Christ, and it’s equally bleak! 2. The gospel gave both Jews and Gentiles access to God (2:13-18) a. Jesus brought Gentiles near to God. (v. 13) i. “you” plural brought near, the Gentiles brought near. Not that all are saved but access to God is much more available to all. b. Jesus abolished the ceremonial law that separated Jews and Gentiles. (2:14-15) Jesus fulfilled the moral law Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. His active obedience to fulfill the law of God in perfect righteousness. Jesus abolished the ceremonial law. (vv. 14-15) The dividing wall alludes to the wall that separated the court of the Gentiles at the temple from the rest of the temple grounds. A sign read, “No Gentile may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.”
24 Hebrews 9:2428 For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of 25 the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with 26 blood that is not his own. Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been 27 manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And inasmuch as it is appointed for 28 men to die once and after this comes judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. In Hebrews, Jesus is both the better high priest and the better sacrifice, fulfilling all the ceremonial laws of sacrifices and ritual cleansings that would set the Jewish people apart from the Gentiles. Jesus removed the enmity. Jesus brought peace with God for both Jews and Gentiles (vv. 16-18) The horizontal peace was a natural consequence of vertical peace Romans 3:29-30 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. Romans 15:7-12 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers, 9 and for the Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy; as it is written, "THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES, AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME." 10 Again he says, "REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE." 11 And again, "PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES, AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM." 12 Again Isaiah says, "THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE, AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES, IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE." 3. Therefore, embrace your citizenship in God’s household with the rest of the family. (2:19-22) a. You are a citizen not an alien. (v. 19a) i. Citizenship is an important identity issue today and it was perhaps more so in Paul’s day. Your city was a key part of your identity and if you were a Roman citizen you had special status and privileges. (Acts 22:28) ii. Citizenship as identity - Common history, cultural values, privileges iii. American citizenship – 1. History – Revolutionary war, WW2, Great Depression, tumultuous 60’s 2. Values – freedom, honesty, hard work 3. Privileges – protection at embassy’s, access to services iv. Citizenship in heaven 1. History – church history around the world, redemptive history in the Bible 2. Values – fruit of the Spirit, marks of love in 1 Corinthians 13, emphasis on forgiveness 3. Privileges – Access to the God of the universe!
20 v. Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; b. You are a family member not an outsider. (v. 19b) i. Closeness, belonging, safety, acceptance c. You are part of God’s temple. (vv. 20-22) i. Rather than the temple made with hands including the wall separating Gentiles from Jews, this temple is now made up of God’s people. ii. Foundation – The apostles and prophets – God’s Word in the NT scriptures. 1. NT prophets since connected with apostles. 2. Kent Hughes – “The church stands or falls in its regard for New Testament scriptures. If we tamper with the foundation, the temple will crumble.” iii. Corner stone – Christ Jesus – the rest of the building takes its line and orientation from the corner stone. 1. Likewise, in the church we take our bearing off of Christ. Every ministry, every decision should be traceable back to the questions, “How does this fit within our mandate to know Christ and make Him known? Is Jesus honored by this?” iv. Building blocks 1. Illustration – Legos and their unique click-together feature that other building blocks haven’t been able to match.
2. 1 Peter 2:45 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but 5 is choice and precious in the sight of God, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 3. Christians are the temple of God corporately. Don’t leave this just in the abstract though. This should get down to the reality of connecting with and participating in a local church. a. “To dwell above with saints we love, O that will be glory. But to dwell below, with saints we know, now that’s a another story.” b. Theologians talk about the visible and invisible church or the Universal and Local church 4. Application for today a. Connect with a local church. i. If you’re hearing this, that’s a good start! But maybe you’re not actively involved or committed. ii. Ask yourself, “How healthy would the church be if every member demonstrated the same commitment as I do?” b. Accept one another in the local church across dividing lines. i. Romans 15:7 Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God. c. Be sure that you have peace with God through Christ. i. Romans 5:12 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord 2 Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.