Ephesians Series Week #14 Ephesians 2:11-18 The Jew and the Gentile Become the Church 2/10/2013 I. Introduction and review A. The story of the Australian bus driver 1. This bus route was over long distances of deserted outback 2. Racial tension and disruption of his bus 3. He transported whites and Aborigines 4. Sometimes fights, yelling and disruption 5. One day in the middle of nowhere he stopped the bus, pulling it over to the side and stood up to address his passengers 6. To the whites he asked what color are you 7. After a proud answer, he informed them that on his bus they were green 8. He then asked the Aborigines what color they were and they responded black 9. He informed them that no, on his bus they were green 10. He went on to tell everyone that only green people could ride on his bus and anyone who was not green would have to get off 11. He then ask one of the leading whites what color they were [they responded green] 12. He did the same to the Aborigines and they responded green 13. He went along for a while enjoying great success, and then he heard some Page 1 of 10
one in the back of the bus say, alright, all light greens on this side of the bus and all dark greens on the other side of the bus. 14. The point of the story is that we humans can always find a means to discriminate amongst ourselves B. Racial prejudice is one of the few sins that does not come naturally to us humans, but is a learned behavior C. Our country has seen its share of racial conflict, inspired by racial prejudice and hatred 1. Bus restrictions, water fountains, schools, theaters 2. Names we use with derision 3. Jokes we would tell 4. Now, in order to solve the problem, we have legalized racial bias, its called affirmative action D. In the first century A.D. there was tremendous racial strife 1. Jews hated Gentiles 2. They called them uncircumcised Gentile dogs 3. The Jews believed that they were the only people that God really loved 4. They believed that the birth of a Gentile baby just provided more fuel for the fires of hell and so would rarely participate in even helping with such a birth 5. When a Jew married a Jew they would celebrate, many times for a week, but when a Jew married a Gentile, they held a funeral 6. If you were a respectable Jew, you wouldn t even go into a Gentile s home E. Biblical heritage: Page 2 of 10
1. Judges 14:3 Then his father and his mother said to him, "Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she looks good to me." 2. 1 Samuel 17:26 Then David spoke to the men who were standing by him, saying, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God?" 3. 1 Samuel 17:36 "Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has taunted the armies of the living God." 4. The story of Jonah 5. The story of the good Samaritan 6. Acts 10:26-29 But Peter raised him up, saying, "Stand up; I too am just a man." 27 As he talked with him, he entered and found many people assembled. 28 And he said to them, "You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a man who is a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; and yet God has shown me that I should not call any man unholy or unclean. 29 "That is why I came without even raising any objection when I was sent for. So I ask for what reason you have sent for me." 7. Consider the Temple a. An intact temple warning inscription in the Greek language (sometimes they contained both Greek and Latin) chiseled into a Page 3 of 10
limestone block, was discovered by C.S. Clermont-Ganneau in 1871. The letters were painted with red ink against the white limestone. Portions of other such warning inscriptions have since been discovered. b. The warning reads: NO GENTILE MAY ENTER BEYOND THE DIVIDING WALL INTO THE COURT AROUND THE HOLY PLACE, WHOEVER IS CAUGHT WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME FOR HIS SUBSEQUENT DEATH 8. The Jews however were not alone in the feelings of racial superiority a. The Greeks were so proud of their culture, that they considered everyone who was a non-greek, to be barbarians b. The Romans of course held the same belief about themselves 9. Finally, there was one thing that all of these cultures could agree on when it came to bias, and that was the inferiority of women a. Most of the time, wives were treated little better than slaves F. So how would these first century Jews feel about Gentiles becoming Christians and part of the same church as they G. What did God have to say about it? II. Ephesians 2:11-18 A. The outline for this passage can be set out in two parts 1. What we formerly were 2. But now we have become B. 2:11-12 What they formerly were Page 4 of 10
1. Segregated socially a. Uncircumcision vs. circumcision (1) Uncircumcision = Gentiles (2) Circumcision = Jews b. The Jews took great pride in this difference c. The Jews socialized with themselves d. If you wanted to be with them you had to become Jewish 2. Separated spiritually a. The Jews and Gentiles were not only separated socially but also spiritually b. The Gentiles had no expectation of a coming redeemer (1) an exception the Magi from the East c. Gentiles had nothing to live for other then the here and now 3. Isolated nationally a. The Gentiles were considered aliens to the nation of Israel b. They were outsiders c. And the Jews did little or nothing to change that d. Do you remember what it took to get Jonah to carry God s message to a Gentile nation e. But that was not God s plan [see Zechariah 8:20-23] 4. Insulated culturally a. When it came to God s promises in the Old Testament (1) there was the Abrahamic covenant Page 5 of 10
(2) the Mosaic covenant (3) the Davidic covenant (4) those promises were given to the Jew and not to the Gentile b. There is a song that was taught to children in our churches, one line of which is: Every promise in the Book is mine, every chapter, every line. c. If you are a Gentile that is not true d. If you are a Jew that is not true An Aside: we must consider carefully every statement and every pronouncement of what God says in His word. If it is not, we will allow error to creep in. E. G. Story of one of our interim pastors 5. Alienated personally a. The Gentiles had no hope b. The door to hell as described in Dante s Divine Comedy had the inscription above it: Despair of hope, all ye who enter here c. The Gentile found himself personally: (1) without a Redeemer (2) without citizenship (3) without covenants (4) without the Creator (5) and without hope C. But now we are 1. Paul employs this method of emphasis again, just as he did in 2:4 2. 2:13 Once we were far off, now we are near Page 6 of 10
a. God considered the Gentiles to be far away from Him b. But now they have the ready opportunity to come near to Him c. Everyone has this easy opportunity for closeness to God 3. 2:14 Once we were separated, now we are united a. He is our peace (1) what does that mean? (2) does that mean that the life of a believer is one of peace and tranquility? (3) does that mean that God s peace is available to us as believers? (4) consider Romans 5:6-10 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (5) in this context, we now have peace with God and are no longer considered His enemy (6) remember Jesus said if you are not for me you are against me b. He... broke down the barrier (1) what barrier? Page 7 of 10
(2) the wall around the temple that kept Gentiles on the outside (3) this was a poignant picture for both Jew and Gentile (4) but especially Paul (a) (b) remember that Paul was in prison in Rome what had the Jews accused him of doing? (c) see Acts 21:26-28 4. 2:15-16 Once we were two different men, now we are one man a. Jesus tore down the wall was by abolishing the ceremonial or religious law (1) what does that mean? (2) the ceremonial law was the religious law (a) (b) circumcision temple worship (especially since there was no temple after 70 A.D.) (c) (d) the sacrificial system the sabbath b. God did not make the Jews become Gentiles or the Gentiles to become Jews c. Instead, He created a new person the Christian d. And a new entity the Church e. No longer are there Jews or Gentiles, only Christians and non- Christians f. Under God s new plan, we are not seen by what makes us different, Page 8 of 10
but by what makes us the same g. And there is therefore no longer enmity between God and the believer or between spiritual brothers and sisters 5. 2:17-18 Once we were excluded, now we are admitted a. We all now have access to the father b. And that access is no longer difficult or limited, but easy c. The story of the young boy (1) at the gates of Buckingham palace (2) the guards tried to make him leave (3) the Prince of Wales noticed (4) he took the young boy in to see the king in his private chambers d. We now have similar access to the King (1) the actor in granting us that access in this passage, is the Holy Spirit (2) because it is God s plan for ours to be a Spirit led life (3) we will learn more about that as we progress through this book III. The key for us right now is the difference between formerly and now A. We must understand that it is God s plan for us to be one B. Only Jesus can break down the walls of prejuice C. We must learn to rejoice in our unity as Christians, and not focusing on our differences Page 9 of 10
D. We also must recognize that spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the faults of others Page 10 of 10