What We Were Is Not What We Are

Introduction

A. June 12, 1987 a historic event took place. Ronald Reagan was on a tour of Europe. His journey had brought him to Berlin. The city that had been divided since the end of WWII. A city in the heart of Germany was divided. And the sign of that division was as clear and solid as any wall. The Berlin Wall had long signified the dividing line between west and east; freedom and slavery; capitalism and communism; haves and have nots. It was a dividing line which kept people apart. Those who tried to leave the east without permission were detained, imprisoned, and too often killed. But those on the west were also imprisoned. Loved ones on the eastern side were rarely if ever seen. Traveling to the east was met with suspicion and mistrust. Both sides were missing out on the ultimate freedom. A unified city was the desire. To unify the city would mean that east and west were free to intermingle and support and love one another in ways that had not happened for over 40 years.

B. Ronald Reagan stood at the Brandenburg Gate of the Berlin Wall. And in a little over 2700 words called on an end to the cold war. He called for an end to the hostilities of each side. He called for freedom and liberty and with challenging, fervent words Reagan said, “General Secretary Gorbachev, if you seek peace, if you seek prosperity for the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, if you seek liberalization: Come here to this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, open this gate! Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”

C. Paul says very much the same thing in our text this morning. Except he doesn’t call for the wall to be torn down but reminds us that the wall has already been torn down. Just as those from the east and west of the Berlin Wall had to learn how to live together after the Berlin Wall was indeed taken down, so Jews and Gentiles were having to learn to live together after the wall which separated them was torn down. I want us to look at the three sections of this text and allow each section to lead our thoughts today as we sing and as we share in prayers and the Lord’s Supper.

Statement of Unity (vss. 11-13)

A. In this section, Paul discusses the Gentiles from a Jewish perspective. Before their conversion, the Gentiles lacked five things:

1. Without Christ—unlike the Jews who had the promise of Christ, the Gentiles were separate from him with no promise.

2. No citizenship—Jews because of God’s choosing were citizens in Israel.

3. No covenants—foreigners have no rights. The covenants are a reference to the unconditional covenants of God made to the Jews (Abraham, David, new covenant of Jer. 31).

4. No hope—hope is the eager expectation of the future; no expectation of God’s working in their lives

5. Without God—interestingly Paul uses the word from which we get the word “atheist.” While the Gentiles believed in gods they did not believe in the one true God. There were at-theist. Without God.

B. But this all changed in Jesus. They have been brought near by the blood of Jesus. In the Old Testament the phrase far away is a reference to Gentiles (Dt. 28:49; 29:22; 1 Kings 8:41; Is. 5:26; Jer. 5:15). Near is a reference to Jews (Ps. 148:14). What was lacking has been taken care of in Jesus. Notice in verse 11 the word formerly and notice in verse 13 the word now. The word “but” in verse 13 is set in the strongest contrast. What was once true has been taken care of in Christ. We like the Gentiles also were lacking in these same five areas. By the blood of Christ we have been brought near. Let’s sing songs reflecting the changes which have come because of Jesus. (E.g. Amazing Grace—once was lost but now am found.)

Explanation of Unity (vss. 14-18)

A. While Paul is writing primarily to Gentiles in the first section, he leaves no doubt that Jews are also a part of this discussion. There is no room for boasting on either side—Gentiles or Jews. Jesus is the one who has made the two one. He destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. Gentiles and Jews were divided by the hostility of their differences. But it was Jesus who broke down the wall. Neither group could do it. Only Jesus could. Jesus is the peace. The point is not that he is the source of peace which is true, but he, himself, is peace. How did he destroy the wall?

B. By abolishing the law. The word for abolishing means to make inoperative. It isn’t that Jesus destroyed the law with all of its requirements, but that he made the law inoperative. The law was fulfilled in him so that no one has to live according to the law. No longer was the law going to be used as a of dividing. The Jews held it against the Gentiles for not keeping the law; demanding conversion to be saved. The Gentiles found the Jews arrogant and boastful; thus they were put off from God.

C. This fulfilling of the law brought two purposes.

1. A new body out of the two. No longer Jews and Gentiles but a new body—Christians. No longer labeled by culture; named for Jesus

2. Reconciliation both of Gentiles and Jews through the cross. No one can be reconciled to God without the cross. Thus, hostility has no fuel. For Jesus himself preached peace to those who were far away (Gentiles) and peace to those who were near (Jews). Now both groups have access to the same God by the same Spirit.

D. Let’s sing songs reflecting the cross of peace. Followed by the Lord’s Supper.

Consequences of Unity (vss. 19-22)

A. Now both Jews and Gentiles are no longer foreigners and strangers, i.e., they are no longer those who have no rights in another country. They are now fellow saints. They are part of God’s household. They are part of the family of God. They now are part of those who are being built into a temple for God to live and dwell through his Spirit.

B. So what does this text have to say to us? We do not experience the same tension between us as Gentiles and those who are Jewish. This text is filled with insight into God’s work and our plight. Three brief lessons.

1. Don’t forget where you have come from. Without Christ, no place to call home, no access to God, no hope and without God. Lost. Isolated. Hopeless. Living only for self and finding no real satisfaction in that life. Living each day with no direction and purpose.

2. Don’t forget what Christ has done for you. Gave us a new identity. Gave us peace. Gave us access to God. Gave us direction and purpose.

3. Don’t forget what we are. We are part of God’s family—the church. Every so often we need to be reminded that church is who we are not where we go.

   a. As the church we are to represent the peace of Jesus. We are to show the world what peace looks like.

   b. As the church we to demonstrate the unity of God. Jesus died so that we could be one. He has brought all with different views and has given us one new name—his name.

   c. As the church we are to demonstrate family. As God’s children, we reveal the love and intimacy of family.

   d. As the church we are growing and maturing so that Jesus is revealed in us more and more.

   e. As the church we are to demonstrate God’s purposes and will. Living in this world is not about us; it is about God. We live revealing God’s will. We are to be a visual model of the gospel. We are to demonstrate reconciliation. We are to model a new community, a family who loves God and each other.

   f. This is what it means to be the church. It has nothing to do with buildings but everything to do with God.

C. May we never forget where we have come from; may we not forget what Christ has done for us through his blood; and may we not forget who we are—God’s demonstration of love and care in this world. Invitation.

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