Ephesians Series

Today, little remains of the Berlin Wall. In places where the wall once stood, you can see the skeletal markings of where enormous blocks of cement formed the base, but that’s about all. I’m told, however, that there is a part of the Berlin Wall still standing as it stood 14 years ago. A ten foot section of cement and barbed wire that serves as a memorial for all those who died trying to flee communist East Germany.

I’ve never seen it for myself, but I imagine that those who walk past that piece of chill cold barrier are reminded of what once was. Before the wall came down, a city and country was divided. Before the wall came down, people were shot dead trying to escape. Before the wall came down, the grip of communism squeezed the life out of an entire people. Before.

But in 1989 communism crumbled and the Berlin Wall with it. Most of us remember the scenes of jubilation and tears, the overwhelming emotion, as the very people who’d been separated swung pick-axes to break holes in the wall. Then came the bulldozers and wrecking balls as a people were united and freedom took root.

If you were to ask someone who lived in Communist East Germany if given the choice, would they be willing to return to that way of life, I suspect they’d think you crazy for suggesting it. However, I bet none of them would want to give up the memory of life before the wall fell. I bet if you were to ask a former East German what freedom means to them, they’d tell you about what life was like before they were free. You see, the past instructs the present and future. In Germany ’s case, the memory of division gives deeper value to freedom and unity today.

Remembering the past is a very important part of what it means to be a Christian. Our life before we knew Jesus was one of fracture, self-centeredness, disunity, and separation from God. As we learned last week, before Jesus, we were objects of God’s wrath. Ask anyone who knows Jesus as their savior if they’d like to go back to that way of life and they’d think you crazy. People passionate about life with Jesus today are acutely aware of what life was like before Jesus. They understand that life before Jesus was no life at all.

People passionately in love with Christ today remember where they came from. Remembering the change effected by Jesus Christ through continual awareness of where we’ve come from enhances our thanksgiving and obedience to God.[i] This is what Paul wrote to the Ephesian Christians in our text this morning (READ Ephesians 2:11 -22)…

EPH 2:11 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)-- [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.

Isolated. Excluded. Inferior. Without hope. These are words that describe the plight of non-Jewish, or Gentile, Christians in the First Century. As you’ll recall from our study of Galatians last year, Paul wrote to the congregations of Christians in

Galatia

to help them fight a group of radical Jewish teachers called the Judaizers. The Judaizers represented the common Jewish perspective of superiority. If you weren’t a Jew, you really weren’t, period.

In Ephesians, Paul declares that when you make the choice to follow Jesus for your life, there ceases to be any sort of division or exclusivity. You are no longer Jew or Gentile, male or female, slave or free, rich or poor. You are known only, and wonderfully, as God’s beloved people, with Christ Jesus as the head.

Paul writes, “Remember that formerly you Gentiles by birth were called all sorts of names, like ‘uncircumcised’ by your Jewish neighbors. They considered you “second class” citizens, less pleasing to God than they. You had no relation to Christ; you were excluded from citizenship, you were foreigners, without hope, without God—the sphere in which you lived was isolated from God and what he was doing” ( 2:11 -12, paraphrase mine).

[13] But now (there’s ‘but’ again) in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

The PROBLEM: estrangement and distance; The SOLUTION: nearness and belonging. Isaiah 57 says, “Peace to those far and near, I will heal them…” This is a declaration of God’s plan to make unity and reconciliation the mark of his kingdom, that there will be no one too far away to enjoy his kingdom. The Old Testament sacrificial idea is brought to bear through the sacrifice of Christ—the penalty is paid (sacrifice) by the death of Jesus—all can now be brought near to God. The only solution is closeness with God and Jesus takes us there—the only way we can be made right with God is through faith in Christ.

EPH 2:14 For he himself is our peace (SHALOM) who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace (SHALOM), [16] and in this 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 (SHALOM) to you who were far away and peace (SHALOM) to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

We know now from the first section that Jesus unites. In this second section, Jesus brings peace. Four times in four verses, Paul refers to Jesus as ‘peace’. Christ makes peace; Christ is peace and proclaims peace. “To say Christ—that is to speak of peace. To speak of peace—that is to speak of Christ.”[ii]

It’s really important that we understand the proper context of the word ‘peace’ here. It is much, much more than a cessation of war and fighting—though that is a part.

The context of “peace” is based on the OT word, “Shalom”, which, as you’ve heard me say before, is an incredibly rich and deep word referring to wholeness, physical well-being, prosperity, good relations and integrity. Shalom is also equated with righteousness, justice, salvation and the reign of God. Shalom means to flourish! Shalom is what God wants for his people.

Shalom describes God’s kingdom, his plan for His people. It is God’s design that one-day His people will come to live in the full richness of that kingdom. What does that kingdom look like? We get a picture in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.[iii] (Read Sine passage)

Now read verses 14-18 again, only this time replace “peace” with “shalom”…

Moments of peace and unity are often marked with some physical symbol—a signature, a monument, a handshake or hug. God’s symbol of true peace—Shalom—is the cross.

At the cross, God leveled all human divisions. He put an end to man trying to please God through human acts. At the cross, God made a way for all humanity to know shalom.

“If God does not show favoritism (Acts 10:34 -35; Romans 2:11 ), if all are created in his image, if God’s purpose is unity, if we are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44 ), if Christ took the hostility into himself to destroy it, on what grounds can we justify keeping any barriers in place? None of our barriers—our ways of devaluing, limiting and taking advantage of others—has any basis.

The cross is the place where barriers are destroyed. Before the cross we know our sin, and we cannot stand there without realizing all of us are without defense and have no claim on God. No one has higher value than anyone else. The ground at the cross is level. Any standing we have is God-given, not something that inherently makes us better than others.”[iv]

If the cross is where shalom begins, then the church is where it is lived out for the entire world to see!

EPH 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people (God’s holy, hagios, people—set apart) and members of God's 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.

In other words, because of Jesus, we’re not homeless aliens—we’re members of God’s household. In Jesus we’re built together as a dwelling place for God, the dwelling place for the Holy Spirit! Can anyone tell us what Paul’s really describing here? Paul is describing church! Church is the dwelling place for God. Church is God’s people living in unity because of the cross, where God’s glory—His shalom—is displayed and offered to the world. God established the church so that the world might know his plan for a new humanity.[v]

God’s desire for a new humanity is shalom. Describe Shalom, and you describe God: flourishing, righteous, generous, worthy of celebration, valuing everyone, valuing all creation, fairness, just, peace-loving, reconciling, kind, compassionate, loving. Describe Shalom, and you describe the purpose of church.

“The church is the place for reconciliation in the world. Those who were once ‘without God or hope in the world’ (2:12) are no longer ‘strangers’ but ‘fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God’ (2:19)…When people in the world see what the possibility is for humanity based not in rivalry and boasting but in the gift of God (reconciliation), they themselves will be drawn into the community of (shalom).”[vi]

The congregation in Ephesus , as any congregation, does not exist for itself alone, it stands as a signpost for the world, pointing to God that his glory may be truly acknowledged!

There are many ways to describe church. Writer, Rodney Clapp, describes church as “’the work of the people’ not just on the first but on every day of the week. Church is who Christians are and what they do not just on Sunday but (at all times, with each breath, in all motion).”[vii] Earlier we described church as God’s people living in unity because of the cross, where God’s glory—His shalom—is displayed and offered to the world.

With these definitions of church ringing in our ears, can we look at our congregation, an extension and expression of the church, and evaluate how we live as church? There are many ways to gauge things—programs and strategies, consultants and experts. However, I think the place to go is the Bible. The questions to ask are, “Do we reflect God’s plan for Shalom? And are we willing to let the Holy Spirit of God change us to better reflect God’s Shalom?”

Applying our text today means a call to unity and reconciliation. Paul states that Jesus has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall, that he has made one body in Him—the church—and that through the church all can be reconciled to him because of the cross (2:14-17).

Remembering the change effected by Jesus Christ through continual awareness of where we’ve come from enhances our thanksgiving and obedience to God.

Therefore, in thanksgiving and obedience, we ask through the Holy Spirit…

Do our actions and speech promote unity—do we speak words that build rather destroy? Do we tell truth, rather than innuendo? When we hear or sense something wrong, do we seek truth?

Our leadership team has taken great steps to lead from a unified position. We have been led by a two-board system—P&F and Deacons. Both crucial and valuable, but separate, divided (not in a hostile way). This spring will see the beginning of a more united leadership structure.

The Bible urges us to live at peace with everyone (1 Thess.), and to see that no bitter root of division is allowed to grow (Hebrews 12). If we are to be a people of Shalom, then we must be a people of reconciliation.

Has anyone left this community of faith as a result of conflict? Is that conflict unresolved? Have you come to this community of faith from another as a result of conflict in that congregation?

Do you have relationships that are currently fractured? Are you at odds with anyone in your life right now? Is there something you can do to promote peace?

Ephesians 4:31 says, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander…be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you” (emphasis added).

Holy God, you are the great healer of wounds, the lover of our souls and shaper of your church. We long to be a congregation that lives your shalom plan. Lord God, we know you desire that for us for your glory and fame.

Search us, O God, and know our anxious thoughts, see if there is any offensive way in us. Would you guide us by your Holy Spirit to see any disunity and unforgiveness, to acknowledge it, and give us courage through your Holy Spirit to follow you toward unity and reconciliation?

God of all history, bring to mind those events and relationships from our past that need your healing. We know that there is a risk involved, for others may not forgive us, but as long as it depends on us, as long as there is something we can do, Lord, give us your grace and courage.

God of the present and future, your word tells us of your desire that all your people flourish as one. May Zion be a congregation that is united. Show us if there is division, and move us, O God, to unity.

We love you, O King, and give you all the glory for anything good that comes of our lives and community of faith. We shine because you shine. Amen.

[i]Klyne Snodgrass, “Ephesians”, from The NIV Application Commentary series,

Terry Muck, gen. ed. (Michigan: Zondervan, 1996) 123-156.

[ii]Ibid, 129

[iii]At this point I read from Christine and Tom Sine’s Living on Purpose: Finding God’s Best

For Your Life ( Michigan : Baker Books, 2002), 58-60. In this section they quote an extended passage from Eugene Peterson’s The Message.

[iv]Snodgrass, 145

[v]Luke T. Johnson, The Writings of the New Testament (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986).

[vi]Ibid, 376.

[vii]Rodney Clapp, A Peculiar People (USA: Inter Varsity Press, 1996), 174.

United for His Glory

February 23, 2003

Introduction: Remembering Where We Were

Therefore, in thanksgiving and obedience, we ask through the Holy Spirit…