Ephesians 2:19-22 So
then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with
the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the
cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you
also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The
church in Ephesus was primarily made up of Gentiles. Much of what we know about
the church there is contained in Luke’s account in Acts 18-20, with a few
references in other places in the New Testament. The great struggle for the
early church centered on the divisions caused by race and religion. The
non-Jews, called Gentiles, had little or no knowledge of God. They had limited
access to the Old Testament writings. Nevertheless, there were a goodly number
of Greek speaking believers who flowed into the church from the very beginning.
Paul
wanted the new Gentile converts to see themselves as “fellow citizens” with the
saints that had gone before. He wanted these Gentile converts to understand
that they are no longer separated from Christ. Now the peace of Christ had come
to them as it has to us today. We saw last week that Christ Himself becomes
peace to both the descendants of Abraham in the flesh and the Gentile nations
outside the Jewish family. In Christ God has now broken down the middle wall of
partition and has allowed all people everywhere to become part of the household
of God. Yet, we have to ask ourselves…
What advantage did the Jews
have? Look with me at Romans
3:1-2. Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much
in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
The
most important advantage that the Jews had was the very fact that they were the
protectors of the words of God. That was one of the amazing truths seen by
Paul. Not only did Paul see this advantage but Moses spoke his amazement in… Deuteronomy 4:8. And what great nation is
there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set
before you today?” The Jews had the wonderful advantage of
having been entrusted with statutes and rules beyond any other nation. It is
true that other nations had laws and rules of conduct but that just goes to
show that the image of God is implanted in all men everywhere. This does not
mean that they are saved but that they have consciences and understand that
actions have consequences.
When
Moses brought the people out of Egypt and into the wilderness he received God’s
rules for living based on the Ten Commandments. The law, or rules of God,
became a guardian to bring men to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Perfectly keeping
the rules found in the law is an impossibility! We are not able to repair the
damage done when we sin. One Man did! Jesus had no sin to repair! (1 Peter
2:21-25) That Man is now seated at the right hand of Power in heaven. He is the
one Mediator between God and men. He is the God/Man, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy
2:5).
The
Jews had the law but could not keep it. They were never intended to be able to
keep the law perfectly! Instead, the law was there to show them that they must
have Someone who is able to fulfill the law on their behalf. When Jesus did
this He became the source of salvation for all men, for all time, everywhere.
What we could not do in that our flesh as weak as it is He did for us and the
Father credited it to our account. In order to settle this issue…
The first church council was
held in Jerusalem. Let’s turn to the historic record. Some men,
who were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, had come from Jerusalem to Antioch
and, for the Gentile believers, added to the gospel the teaching that they
would have to become Jewish proselytes before they could be Christians. Paul
and Barnabas opposed them and the decision was made to send some of the
believers in Antioch, along with Paul and Barnabas, to Jerusalem to meet with
the apostles and elders there. After considering their testimony James, the
Lord’s brother, summarized the decision. Let’s read his summary in Acts 15:19-21. Therefore my judgment is
that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, 20 but
should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from
sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. 21 For
from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him,
for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”
The
decision made in Jerusalem was very encouraging to the Gentile believers in
Antioch. Two believers from Jerusalem brought the letter from the Council. The
door now seemed to be open to carry the gospel to everyone, everywhere. However
prejudice is very hard to root out. Even with all the encouraging words…
Yet, divisions still occurred. Let’s
look at Paul’s account found in Galatians
2:11-12. But when Cephas (Peter)
came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For
before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when
they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.
Paul
had fully surrendered his prejudices to the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus
Christ. When ministering to Jews he would respect Jewish tradition. When
ministering to Gentiles he would put tradition aside for the sake of the
gospel. When Peter came to Antioch he joined with Paul in that same attitude.
We do not know exactly how long Peter continued to put aside tradition in order
to minister to the Gentiles but it must’ve been for several days — perhaps even
weeks. It was absolutely essential that the simple gospel be protected from
Jewish legalism. Peter could see that, and had joined with Paul, until some
Jewish believers came from Jerusalem. Paul had to confront Peter publicly in
order to protect the gospel. Prejudice had raised its ugly head…
And had to be dealt with. Let’s
read two more verses Galatians 2:13-14.
And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even
Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw
that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas
before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew,
how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
Peter
had mingled with the Gentiles and ate with them. We can safely assume that the
food he ate was not kosher. Remember, it was to Peter that a vision came of a
sheet being let down from heaven filled with all kinds of unclean animals,
reptiles and birds along with a voice that said “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” To which Peter replied “By no means, Lord”. I submit to you
that Peter could not say “No” and
with the same sentence say “Lord”!
If Jesus is Lord then one cannot say “No”,
if one can say “No” then the title “Lord” is meaningless!
Immediately
after the vision three men arrived at the door to invite Peter to preach to a
Roman centurion and his household. Peter later said, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or
to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call
any person common or unclean. (Acts 10)
Rather
than seeing the Gentile believers as “no
longer strangers” Peter pushed them to the back of the bus so that he could
be politically correct. It was absolutely essential that Paul confront him to
his face in front of the entire congregation to bring an end to the prejudice
against the Gentiles.
We
must remember where our true citizenship is at…
We are temporary residents
here.
Let’s see what Paul said to the Philippians
3:20-21. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the
Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be
like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all
things to himself.
I
recall a story told by an evangelist about his encounter with a cemetery plot
salesman. It went like this: the salesman told the evangelist that he should
prepare for the end of his life so as to lift the burden off his family. The
evangelist said, “How should I prepare?”
The
cemetery plot salesman replied, “You should have made funeral arrangements as
well as have a last will and testament. Part of your funeral arrangements
should include the purchase of a cemetery plot.” The evangelist and said,
“Purchase? Is there any way I can rent a cemetery plot?” The salesman replied,
“I have never heard of such a thing. Why would you want to rent a plot?” The
evangelist said, “I am not going to be there forever. I have believed on the
Lord Jesus Christ and am saved. Therefore, when Christ comes again I am going
to rise to meet him in the air along with all those who put their faith and
trust in him. So I won’t need that plot after that.” Needless to say there was
no possibility of him arranging a rental.
The
writer of Hebrews tells about the time when God met with Moses on the mountain.
That meeting was so terrifying that Moses said, “I trembled with fear.” However,
that is not where we have come to meet God. We have come not to Sinai and the
law. We have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God! We have come to
the heavenly Jerusalem and to innumerable angels! We have come to the assembly
of the firstborn and to God Himself. We have come to Jesus, the mediator of a
new covenant (Hebrews 12:18-24).
Heaven
is the place where God stores our treasure and has seated us with Christ.
Heaven is where our faith comes from and since it has already been
accomplished, our salvation cannot be taken away from us. As a result of the
work of Christ on the cross…
We now have access to our
forever home. Look at Colossians
3:1-4. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are
above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set
your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For
you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When
Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
When
a person believes in Jesus, confessing Him as Lord and Savior, believing
completely that God raised Him from the dead that person is born again — that
person is saved! Since it is true that we have been raised with Christ (I know
the passage says “If then” it is not
a matter of guesswork, we have the promise of God). The Greek verb here is past
tense. We have been raised with Christ! We have the responsibility to set our
minds on things above. We need to put aside the focus on earthly things. Our
life is hidden with Christ in God and when He appears we will appear with Him,
and we will be like Him. While we remain on earth we must continue in the
process of putting on the new self that we have been given by Christ. We should
not be afraid that we will lose this glorious relationship because…
In the mind of God we are
already there. Look back at Ephesians 2:5-6. (But God) even
when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by
grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated
us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
The
Word of God tells us that our names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of
Life from the foundation of the world! We don’t have to wait and wonder. We can
accept God’s commitment. By God’s grace, through faith we have been saved (past
tense) and raised up with Him (past tense) and seated with Him (past tense) in
heavenly places
It
is wonderful to know that we who were once far off from God have now been
brought near through the death of Christ on the cross. Crucifixion was perhaps
the most horrible means of execution and Jesus bore that for us. The prospect
of His becoming sin for us and then to be beaten, abandoned and hung on a cross
as a public spectacle was horrible enough that Jesus asked the Father for
release but only in God’s will. Jesus’ death was necessary to pay the penalty
for our sin. And because of that death on the cross all who believe on Christ
will be saved. Have you put your faith and trust in Him? If not, today can be
your day of salvation.
All
scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version.
2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
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