Sunday, September 11, 2016

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 5: Jew & Gentile Reconciled through Christ

Paul's Epistles - Ephesians - Part 5:
Jew & Gentile Reconciled through Christ
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org


SERMON INTRODUCTION
In Paul’s 35 years of ministry, since his conversion in Damascus, we have recorded in the Holy Bible many of his epistles, or letters.

Paul’s first journey took place from 33AD (the year of his conversion), through 46AD, leaving Damascus in 38AD.

Paul’s 2nd journey began in 50AD, four years later; during this time he wrote 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, and Galatians, with his second journey ending in 54AD.

Paul’s 3rd journey began in 55AD and lasted until 58AD where he found himself imprisoned in Judea from 58-60AD. During his 3rd journey Paul wrote 1st and 2nd Corinthians, and Romans. We have no record of writings from Paul during his prison time between 58-60AD in Judea.

After his release from Judea, Paul traveled on his voyage to Rome from 60-61AD, writing Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon, and finding himself in a Roman prison in 63AD.

Released soon after his incarceration, Paul then writes the epistles Hebrews, 1st Timothy, Titus and his final letter before his death 2 Timothy, which was written from a Roman prison he was placed in during 66-68AD.

Though the bible does not tell us when or how Paul died, it is believed by scholars that he was beheaded in 68AD in May or June.










SCRIPTURE REFERENCE Ephesians 2:11-22
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.

Paul’s Explanation how both the Jew and Gentile are reconciled through Christ

The message of this epistle to the church is “The Church, The Body of Christ”.

Scripture today begins with “Therefore”, which is a reference to the previous verses where Paul explains that we have been saved by Grace through faith, not by works, so no man can boast of his salvation.

    I.      YOU WHO WERE GENTILES
a. Gentiles by birth
                                                                                  i. You were called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcised”
1. This was the external sign of covenant with God

                                                                               ii. But this was done to the body by human hands.
1. It was symbolic of marking a person as belonging to God’s covenant.
2. Just as the Holy Days were symbolic of the coming of Christ, the substitutional sacrifice, Salvation, Judgment, and Eternity with God.

                                                                            iii. It was symbolic of God doing something greater.
1. Circumcising (removing or cutting away) sin from our hearts, and marking us inwardly as belonging to Him.

2. Romans 2:29 “a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person's praise is not from other people, but from God.”


b. Remember you were separate from Christ
                                                                                  i. Excluded from citizenship in Israel

                                                                               ii. Foreigners to the covenants of promise

                                                                            iii. Without hope and without God in the world

c. But now, in Christ Jesus, you who were far away are near because of the blood of Christ



II.      CHRIST HIMSELF IS OUR PEACE
a. Making two groups one
                                                                                  i. Destroying the barrier and dividing wall of hostility


b. Jesus set aside (satisfied/fulfilled) the Law and its commands and regulations
                                                                                  i. His purpose is to create in Himself a new humanity out of two

                                                                               ii. Thus making peace
1. Islam makes this claim, calling themselves the religion of peace because by the sword they will force all to become Muslim, and therefore there will be a unity and peace because all who do not obey will be killed until all that is left are those who obey.
                                                                            iii. In one body, Jesus reconciles them all to God through the cross.


c. He (Jesus) came and preached peace to those far and near (To God)
                                                                                  i. Through Christ both Jew and Gentile have access to the Father by one Spirit.



III.      CONSEQUENTLY, (GENTILES) ARE NO LONGER FOREIGNERS AND STRANGERS, BUT FELLOW CITIZENS WITH GOD’S PEOPLE AND MEMBERS OF THIS HOUSEHOLD
a. Built on the foundation set by the Apostles and Prophets
                                                                                  i. The prophets foretold of everything that was going to come
                                                                               ii. The Apostles explained everything that had come

b. Christ Jesus himself as the Chief Cornerstone
                                                                                  i. All things built from Him and His perfection

c. In Christ, the whole building is joined together and rises up to become a Holy Temple in the Lord
                                                                                  i. The people are the “church” not the building
                                                                               ii. God dwells among His people
                                                                            iii. The Holy Spirit resides within the person, who is the Temple of God



CONCLUSION – IN CHRIST, YOU TOO ARE BEING BUILT TOGETHER TO BECOME A DWELLING IN WHICH GOD LIVES, BY HIS SPIRIT
           





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