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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