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| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) *Song of Adoration: Hymnal #105C: 1-3 “O Praise the Lord, His Deeds Make Known” Song of Confession: Hymnal #13 “How Long Will You Forget Me, Lord?” *Song of Preparation: Hymnal #241 “O God beyond All Praising” Scripture: Ephesians 2 (p. 1159) Text: Ephesians 2:11-22 Message: From Aliens to Citizens *Song of Response: Hymnal #406: 1-5 “Jesus, with Thy Church Abide” *Benediction *Doxology: Hymnal #248: 5 “All Creatures of Our God and King” |
Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
I read this week that as of November 1, 1.4 million Afghans, who were refugees in Pakistan had to leave the country or they would be subject to arrest. People began flooding back across the border without an idea of where they will end up. That must be a horrible feeling. When you are in a foreign country, you can easily feel vulnerable. The rights you have as a citizen do not apply. You can be easily deported, mistreated, or taken advantage of. There are millions of people today who are in this very situation.
There is a Norwegian word I heard a few years ago. The word is hygge (hoo-gah). It is similar to the Dutch word gezellig. It is difficult to define. Neither has a direct English translation. Coziness might come close. I picture it, for example, as a warm fireplace on a cold or rainy day, with some wool socks on, a warm flannel shirt or sweater, surrounded by good company, maybe a nice warm cup of coffee or glass of wine and a full belly. You can picture what hygge looks like for you. But, one thing is for sure. You cannot experience it if you do not have the basic necessities of life.
We have millions of illegal aliens or illegal immigrants in our country. They are all in a state of feeling not totally welcome. They likely get uptight or nervous around law enforcement. They fear deportation back to wherever it is they are from. This was the spiritual status of these Gentile Christians in Rome who were receiving this letter. They were illegal aliens spiritually. But these foreigners, of which we all are by nature, are granted the greatest citizenship possible through the precious blood of Jesus. Our theme is Our Lord unites his people together in Christ.
- The Problem (v. 11-12)
- The Solution (v. 13-18)
- The Result (v. 19-22)
I. The Problem (v. 11-12)
What is taking place in the verses of our text is the same thing that was described in the first ten verses of this chapter. The difference is, the first 10 verses refer primarily to personal salvation, these verses of our text branch out and describe a whole new society and people, the New Testament church of Christ. It will be as ethnically diverse as the people of the world. The apostle, under the inspiration of the Spirit tells them to remember. A very important word in redemptive history. Read verse 11.
What this means, is that at one time they were the enemy. They were the heathen, they were the other. They were the people good god-fearing parents warned their children about. If a Jewish man married a gentile, the family would often have a funeral for the Jewish man, and they would grieve him, because he married outside of the covenant.
Look at verse 12 and the things the gentiles were deprived of. They were alienated from the church and from God. First, they were separated from Christ. They did not know of the glory of God’s grace. They didn’t understand that God himself provided righteousness through Jesus Christ. They were not waiting for the fulfillment of the promises because they didn’t know them.
Second they were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. Israel was the place and people God set his covenant love. They were not the mightiest nation, but they were God’s nation. This week in supper devotions as a family we read Psalm 68. In verses 15-16 it says, “O many-peaked mount, mountain of Bashan! Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the Lord will dwell forever?” The mountains of Bashan were beautiful and majestic. But Zion, was the place where God chose to dwell. They were not part of the nation of Israel.
Third, they were strangers to the covenants of God. In God’s covenant promises to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David, it was a promise to God’s people. It wasn’t for those strangers. They were not waiting for the fulfillment of the promises, because they didn’t know the promises.
Fourth, they were without hope. They had nothing to look forward to in this life or the life to come. They would simply live day by day. Like the average unbelieving American who lives an aimless life of vanity with no regard to the weightier matters of existence.
Fifth, they were without God. Even though God has revealed himself to all in a general way in creation, they did not know the name of God, the mercy of God, they history of God’s dealing with his people, and the expectation of the promises from God. William Hendriksen said that these gentiles were “Christless, stateless, friendless, hopeless, and godless.” All of this was because they were gentiles in the flesh, not chosen as God’s covenant people. This was their problem.
II. The Solution
Verse 13 begins with “but now.” Something has changed. To parallel back to verse 4 “but God”. The dire predicament has been laid out, but that has all changed now. What changed it? The blood of Christ. Those who were far off, have been brought near.
The temple in Jerusalem was the center of Israel’s worship. It was the place where God set his presence on earth, in the holy of holies. Outside of the temple was a courtyard. Only Jewish men were allowed there. Further out, was the court of the women. Only women who were Jews could be there. Then, 10 feet lower, in a large court was the court of the gentiles. This, for example is where Jesus would have scolded the money changers. There were multiple signs at the edge of the court of the gentiles that if they went any further toward the temple, their impending death would be their own fault. In the last 200 years they have dug up two of these signs which are now in a museum.
That 10 foot tall wall has been spiritually torn down. It is rubble of the past. Jesus blood tore it down. The dividing wall of hostility, in verse 14, has been broken down. What we have to answer at this point, is what did the blood of Jesus actually do?
First, it secured reconciliation. The justice of God has been satisfied. When our Lord Jesus Christ cried out, it is finished, in that word, he summarized the entirety of his work. Their sins are forgiven and they are forever made right before God by grace and through faith. It is no longer limited to the Jews, but also the gentiles. This is what Peter is getting at in his Pentecost sermon in Acts 2:38-39 “The promise is for you and your children and all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” The gentiles were the ones who were afar off, but now they are brought near. A new society is being formed by the blood of Jesus. It includes both Jews and gentiles. However, it doesn’t include all the Jews. Romans 9-11 make clear that not all Israel is of Israel. They might have circumcision in their foreskins, but they do not have the circumcision of their hearts.
Dear friend, the same offer is for you. Regardless of your ethnic background, if you repent and turn from your sins and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be saved. You will be reconciled to the God you offended. This is all freely of God’s grace.
The second thing the blood of Christ does is it abolishes the law of the commandments expressed in ordinances. The laws of the temple that separated the Jews from the gentiles are done away with. The three things that made a Jew outwardly a Jew, the sabbath, circumcision, and dietary laws are all fulfilled in Christ and are no longer the markers of the covenant community. Now, both believing Jews and believing gentiles have access to almighty God. Read vs. 17-18. Our Lord Jesus Christ has brought peace.
God had promised Abraham back in Genesis 12 that all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him. What Paul is laying out had already been prophesied and promised. The peace that is brought about by the blood of Jesus is not only peace between believing gentiles and God, but also between the Jews and gentiles themselves. The dividing wall of hostility is broken down.
If we could use an anachronism, the Jews were pretty racist. They were prejudice against all races. The fact that they associated all non-Jews as gentiles collectively lends support to that. But now, the new society bought with the blood of Jesus has removed the Jew and gentile distinction. 8 years after Paul wrote the letter to the Ephesians, the temple and Jerusalem were destroyed. What spiritually had been done by Christ, now was literally done by the Romans.
What this means, is that by grace and through faith, we are the sons and daughters of Abraham. As we think of what is taking place in Israel and the Middle East, some people ask if we should support Israel because they are God’s special people. No they aren’t. That is not God’s nation, they don’t receive some special treatment from God because the blood of Abraham runs through their veins. We should support Israel because they are our political ally. But we ought not to do it for theological reasons or for the prophetic reasons.
Many evangelical Christians support Israel and Zionists so that the temple can be rebuilt, so that sacrifices can happen again, and Jesus can return. This is completely misguided. Whether unbelieving Jews build a temple or not ought not to matter to us. It would not only be a continued denial of the final sacrifice of Christ, but it cannot do them any good. What they need in Israel is the blood of Jesus. That is also what Hamas and Hezbollah need as well. Read vs. 18 (through Him alone.)
III. Result (v. 19-22)
In the opening verses of this beautiful chapter we saw the glorious work God has done through Jesus Christ. When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, God didn’t offer us medicine. He raised us from the dead spiritually. He saved us by grace and through faith. He gave us a new life. Now, as this passage continues into our text, the one who gave us a new life, is now developing a new society. It is a society made up of those whom Christ shed his blood. It is not reserved for national Israel. In fact, Israel for the most part, had rejected the Messiah. The gospel is going out to the nations. God is bringing near those who were far off. Relationships are changing in three ways.
First, verse 19 says, “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints…” In the Roman empire, citizenship was important. Paul himself will claim his Roman citizenship as a right of appeal all the way to Caesar. If you were a Roman citizen, you had some important rights. But to be a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, as Paul tells the Philippians in Phil. 3, is far greater.
When someone becomes the citizen of a new country, it is a very proud moment for them and their family. Now they feel that they belong. By faith in Jesus Christ, the believer is granted all the rights of citizenship, rights that impact this life and the life to come. As kingdom citizens, our work becomes a calling, our parenting is a privilege, our lives are not our own but might be dedicated to the Lord’s purposes, etc. Everything changes.
Notice also the term “fellow citizens.” There is a unity in that. I remember after 9/11 took place, the next month or two was different. People were kinder to each other. They all had a common enemy and that drew people together in unity. How much more through the blood of Christ. Our fellow citizens have a unique role in our lives. We are called to love all people, but especially those in the household of faith.
That brings us to the second relationship change. We are members of the household of God. We become brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We will forever be part of the family of God. These relationship changes are unto eternal life.
The third change is that we become Spirit-built temples. Read verse 20-21. A couple of notes about this temple. This spiritual temple is being built with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone. This is the language of Psalm 118. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” He is the foundation of this temple. But notice the connection with the apostles and the prophets. There is an Old Testament and New Testament continuity that binds the apostolic church to the OT church of Israel. The mother promise of Gen. 3:15 is tied to the blood of the cross and the empty tomb. This new society God is building as different rules, purposes, goals, and a future than any earthly kingdom.
As we think of these relationship changes, the over-arching theme tying them together, is that in Jesus Christ, we are all one. We are united together as we are united to him. Our text ends by saying this is being done by the Spirit of God. We have become a dwelling place for God. This is all rooted in our union with Christ. It is a mystery of God’s grace that he would want to dwell with us.
The Norwegians speak of hygge (hoo-gah), and the Dutch speak of gezelligheid, but the peace, hope, and future of kingdom citizens is altogether greater. The Lord has done a glorious work and we are recipients by faith. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Steven Swets, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2023, Rev. Steven Swets
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