Eph 2:1-10

Introduction:

We are in the midst of a most tense, nail-biting presidential election in this country. This election clearly demonstrated the diversity of this nation. At the same time it also revealed how divided we really are. We are divided along religious, moral, social and ethnic lines. The next president will have the tremendous challenge to bring a divided nation together.

     The same division exists in our own immediate circle. Often we use derogatory remarks to call people who are different from us. We may look down on certain people because they are from a different city, province or speak a different dialect. We associate with people who are similar to us in financial and educational background. Or, the distinction between the apartment dwellers and house dwellers. We are separated by all kinds of walls. No wonder, in the midst of many people, some of us feel lonely, without a sense of belonging.

     The passage we will study this morning is about barriers and its removal. In this passage we see a simple truth, that with Christ’s death on the cross, he broke down all the barriers between man and God and men with each other.

I.  Life without Christ is a picture of total alienation. 11-12.

In v11, we see for the second time the term “formerly” appears. In vs1-3 Paul wrote that formerly both the Jews and gentiles were dead in transgressions and sins. Here he was addressing the non-Jews, the gentiles. Two times Paul wanted the gentiles to remember what life was like before they knew Jesus Christ. In a rather sarcastic manner he pointed out that the Jews arrogantly called themselves the “circumcision” and the gentiles the uncircumcised.  In vs12 the gentiles were separated from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise. And then in vs14, “…destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility…” There is a wall of hostility. To help us understand this, let us take a look at this picture of the temple in Jerusalem. On the wall that separated the gentiles from the Jews were warning signs in Greek and Latin saying any gentile who tried to go beyond this wall would be punished by death. This was the extent of the hostility between the Jews and non-Jews.

So in vs12, the gentiles were without hope and without God. They were without hope because they did not have Christ. They were without God because they had deliberately turned away from God’s revelation. Therefore they were far off, alienated from God and God’s people. They were Christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless and godless. A rather dismal picture of what they once were. It was total alienation with no sense of belonging whatsoever.

Not just the Jews, but a world without Christ is like this also. Everywhere we turn, we see divisions and barriers. In recent years, we have witnessed the coming down of the political walls around the world. First in eastern Europe, then spreading to Asia. However, there are still plenty of walls that separate us from one another.  We see each other through the lens of skin color, race, economics and education. There are also walls among us because of the unforgiving and bitter spirit.

Not only are we separated from each other; we are also separated from God. Without Christ, we live a life-style that is incompatible with God’s standards. In our study of 2:1-11, we had looked at the meaning and implications of trespasses and sins. Life without God is not a very pleasant picture. It is a portrait of death and alienation.

II. The work of Christ breaks down the walls of alienation. (13-18)

Vs11-12 described how the gentiles were alienated from God and the Jews. Here in vs13, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”. They were once far off, but now brought near to God. In the OT, God and the Israelites were very near to each other. Now, God is near to the gentiles also. Vs 14, “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility,” The wall between God and the gentiles was broken down. Jesus was the peace between the two. Not only the gentiles were brought near to God, they were also brought near to the Jews. The temple wall that separated the Jews from the gentiles were broken down in AD70 when the Roman soldiers destroyed the temple. But spiritually, when Jesus died on the cross around AD30, the walls were take down. How so? How was the barrier between God and men broken?

1.     Christ abolished the law of commandments 15a.

     vs15, “by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.” First this is a reference to the ceremonial law. Previously, for an individual to approach God, he had to observe the ceremonial laws. Such as circumcision, sacrifice, dietary regulation and the various cleansing rules. These rules had become barriers between the Jews and the gentiles. Jesus Christ, in his flesh, had fulfilled all the regulations, therefore we no longer have to keep them.

     Secondly, this is also a reference to the moral laws. Previously, obedience to the moral laws was a means to salvation. None of us can keep the law. On our behalf, Jesus kept the laws perfectly. He was the true righteous man. And he gave his righteousness to us. And we no longer need to keep the law as a means to salvation. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the means to salvation. This is how he abolish the demands of the laws on us.

2.              Christ created a new humanity. 15b

When God first created the world, it was good and harmonious. There was harmony between God and men and among men. But because of sin, this harmony was destroyed. Now, vs 15b, “His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace,”Jesus had brought peace between men. He created a new man, a new community. In a parallel passage in Colossians, we learn that in this new community, there is no difference between the Gentiles and Jews, male or female, slave or freeman. We are all equal in Jesus Christ.

3.              Christ reconciled the Jews and gentiles to God. Vs16.

Vs 16, “and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” Christ not only brought peace between the Jews and the gentiles, he also brought the Jews and gentiles to God. He made peace between men and God. When Jesus died on the cross, our sins were forgiven and our hostility toward God is removed.

On that cross, he also received God’s wrath because of our sins. Therefore, by his death, he delivered us from God’s wrath. He removed God’s hostility toward us. This is how Jesus took away the hostility between God and men. Moreover,

4.              Christ came to preach the peace. Vs17

Vs 14 we learned that he was our peace. In vs17, “He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.” He came to preach peace. By preaching this peace, men and God can be reconciled. There is peace between God and men. This is an ongoing process. Whenever we tell others about Jesus Christ, he is preaching his peace through us.

This does not mean that through Jesus’ death, every person on earth is automatically being reconciled to God. In vs18 it is also clear that only those in Christ are reconciled. This means that each person will have to embrace the gospel message. Each person has to receive Jesus Christ in order to be united with God and with others.

This is what Christ has accomplished on the cross. He broke down the barrier between men and men, the barrier between men and God. He reconciled us to God. There is now peace between God and men, between men and men.

In the 1^st century Roman church, we see the gentiles and the Jews, women and men, slaves and free men, master and servants, member of the Royal family and ordinary citizen, all worshipping together. This was unheard of in that society. It was a scandal at that time.

I also think of a particular church in St. Louis where the white Americans and African-Americans worship God together. No politician can make this happen. Jesus alone has the power to break down our barriers. Jesus alone is our peace. He alone is the peacemaker.

III. Life in Christ is a picture of the new human race. 19-22

In vs13 we read that you once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Jesus Christ. What is result/consequence of this being near to God?

V19, told us that you are no longer foreigners and aliens, you are no longer visitors anymore. Then in the following verses, Paul used 3 pictures to describe what happened when we are brought near to God and to each other.

1. Citizens of God’s kingdom. V19

We become citizens of God’s kingdom. Jews and the non-Jews alike, are all citizens in God’s kingdom. There is no more preferential treatment of the Jews. When we are in God’s kingdom, it means that God is the one ruling in our lives. When we were outside his kingdom, we were the king of our own lives, and master of our own ships. I do what I want to do. But when Christ broke down the wall between God and me, I also moved into God’s kingdom. In another 2 months, we will witness the transfer of power in Washington D.C. The power of government will be transferred from one administration to another. Likewise, when I am in God’s kingdom, I also transfer the ownership of my life from me to God. From here onwards, I am to listen and obey him. Its no longer I do what I please. I have to follow his direction and instruction on how I shall live.

2. Members of God’s family. V19

Before we were strangers with each other and with God. But now, Jews and non-Jew are members of God’s family. First it means that we are God’s children, he is our father. Being our father, he cares and provides for us. Even when we are in the midst of troubles and adversities, he is there watching over us. Being his children give us that ultimate sense of belonging. We belong to someone who cares and loves us.

Besides God’s fatherhood, as a member of his family, there is also the brotherhood of believers. As brothers and sisters in God’s family, we show our affection, care and support to those around us.

Looking around us, we recognize that many us have come from families that are sort of irregular. There was little communication or love among family members. Each going his/her way. The home is more like a hotel, where we just come to eat, sleep, clean and then take off. A place where our basic needs are met. But we mustn’t let this determine how we live in God’s family. In God’s family, everyone is important. Everyone in this family is to feel and experience God’s love manifested through his children. Everyone in this family is to use his/her spiritual gifts to help each other to grow into spiritual maturity.

We are to do our best not to let our own experience of family determine how we live in this family of God. In the rest of this epistle, there are many instructions teaching us how we are to live in God’s family.

3. Temple of God.

When we are brought near to God, besides being citizens of his kingdom, members of his family, we have also become his temple. Even as Paul was writing this, he saw two visible temples. One is the temple of Artemis in Ephesus. The other was the temple in Jerusalem. They were both massive buildings. But they had one thing in common; they were both without God. When we were brought near to God, we; the Jews and the non-Jews had become God’s temple, God’s dwelling place. The foundation of this new temple is not the elevated piece of land, but the apostles’ teaching.

To day we see the fighting and tension over the physical Jerusalem and the temple. But if our understanding of this passage is correct, the physical temple is no longer important. For now, we, the believers have become God’s temple. God’s spirit is living within us. We are his dwelling place.

Conclusion

     In this passage, we learned about what Christ accomplished when he died on that cross some 2000 years ago. Previously we were far away, we were God’s enemies, we were alienated from God. But now, through his death on the cross, we are reconciled to God. Not only are we being brought near to him, but also we are brought near to each other. Christ broke down the barriers among men. And from this he created a new humanity.

     However, as we look around us, we cannot help but see the barriers we have raised on our own. Even among the Christians, we see each other through the lens of race, education and finance. We unknowingly build walls separating those from HK, China and Taiwan. With prejudice towards those who are different from us, with unforgiving spirits towards those who have hurt us, we have erected walls around us. Seeing ourselves as more knowledgeable, more wise and spiritual, we look down on those who are younger. With the natural affinity of drawing close to those whom we know, we erect walls that make new comers feel unwelcome. Insisting on certain non-essential doctrines, we separate ourselves from fellow believers. These walls among us are very offensive to God.

     As our church continues to grow, it is my prayer that this church, HCC, will become a model for the new humanity.

We look to a day when we no longer will label people by where they come from: China, HK, Taiwan or SE Asia. Yes we are different in our background and we speak different dialects. Yet above all, we are citizens of God’s kingdom. We all hold the same passport indicating that he is our Lord and ruler. We owe our allegiance to him. We are also members of God’s family where we are at peace with God and with each other. Whoever comes into our midst, will feel the love of God because of our love for them. Our life-style will be evidence that we are his temple, his dwelling place. This is how this church can cause others to glorify God.

Rev. William Hsueh    Nov. 12, 2000    Houston Chinese Church,  Houston, Texas