Ephesians 2:13-22 - Peace and Belonging
/Ephesians 2:13-22
13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace. He made the two groups one by destroying the wall of hostility that divided them 15 when he abolished the law of commandments and regulations in his flesh. He did this to create in himself one new person out of the two, in this way making peace. 16 And he did this to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by putting the hostility to death on it. 17 He also came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. 20 You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. – EHV
This morning I have asked that a picture (not an actual one, because we don’t have them – Solomon was too busy ruling to invent a Polaroid camera for us) of the temple structure in Jerusalem be placed in front of you on our screens. Notice that it says Herod’s Temple above. That’s significant in the mind of the Jewish individual. Solomon’s temple was the one we hear of in the Old Testament accounts constructed by him at God’s decree and with God’s design. It was destroyed in 586/587 b.c. by the Neo-Babylonian Empire under King Nebuchadnezzar II. The second was of course rebuilt by the Jewish exiles returning from Babylon under Persian rule (completed around 515 b.c.). Ezra records at it’s construction, “However, when many of the older priests, Levites, and heads of families, who had seen the first house, saw this house being founded, they wept loudly, although many also raised their voices in a shout of joy. (Ezra 3:12)” The second just couldn’t compare to the grandeur of the first. So beginning around 19 b.c., King Herod the Great started his massive expansion and redesign of the temple, keeping the temple itself largely the same there would be a place for Roman garrisons (the Antonia Fortress) and a large area for commerce and business (the Royal Portico). These additions were met with mixed emotion from the Israelites. The Zealots for example, despised these Romanish additions. Note too that much of this would have been under construction as Jesus’ feet hit the pavements of this massive structure.
Enough of the history, I suppose, and time to get to the real reason this is in front of us this morning. Note in our illustration the various names of the courtyards. There is the courtyard of the Gentiles, the courtyard of women, the courtyard of the Israelites (males only), the courtyard of the priests, and then even in the temple itself, the division of the holy place where priests like Zechariah (John’s dad) did their work and the holy of holies where even the high priest was aloud to enter but once a year. Of course, each courtyard was so named because those were the people who gathered there and no farther. In fact, archeologists have found slabs, signs, embedded in the dividing wall for Gentiles and Israelites (yes, the one mentioned in our lesson) which read: “No foreigner is allowed to enter within the balustrade surrounding the sanctuary and the court. Whoever is caught will be personally responsible for his ensuing death.” Imagine for just a moment showing up to church this morning and finding out that you were not allowed inside because you came from the wrong family and that even if you could enter, you may not be able to make it past the narthex on pain of death.
I suppose that allows the words of our lesson to then bloom a bit for us. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace. He made the two groups one by destroying the wall of hostility that divided them 15 when he abolished the law of commandments and regulations in his flesh. He did this to create in himself one new person out of the two, in this way making peace. 16 And he did this to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by putting the hostility to death on it. 17 He also came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Notice that word “peace” is mentioned four separate times. It’s actually set at odds with the separation brought about by hostility. Peace for the Israelites (Shalom [שָׁלוֹם] in the Hebrew) is the idea of everything being set right. This is the brick wall expertly laid/built so that every brick and every mortar joint is absolutely perfect. Everything is in its place. Everything as it should be.
Of course, it’s not all peace! Hasn’t been since the early days of Adam and Eve in the garden. Since then we have known separation. Separation is the natural consequence of sin. Isaiah once proclaimed the blunt and awful truth to Israel, “Listen to me! The Lord’s arm is not too short to save, and his ear is not too deaf to hear. No, it is your guilt that has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden God’s face from you, so that he does not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2)” So Adam and Eve run from God as they hear Him walking in the garden after eating forbidden fruit. The young child denies the clear truth when caught. We haven’t needed separating walls because we have fled far from God to afraid to stand in the presence of His perfection. This is life under the Law. It constantly reminds us that things are not as they should be, constantly reminds us that peace with God has been destroyed in its breaking. The result is the ultimate separation of death, which separates body and soul, and in our sinfulness should mean the lasting separation of us from God in hell. This was the constant visual presented to Israel as layers of holiness all ultimately said the same thing, “You can’t stand before God. You are not worthy to be in His presence.”
Ah, but then our lesson starts “But now”. But now everything is going to change. And it all changes “in Christ Jesus”. Paul says, “He Himself is our peace!” Just as God is love, perfectly embodying, demonstrating, and living love, so also He perfectly embodies, demonstrates, and lives peace. The ugly wall that separated Jew and Gentile will be demolished in His flesh. This is the righteousness of Christ, which perfectly fulfills the Laws of God, and because it does, while the moral Law remains intact as a law for all people of all time, it is forever changed. No longer a separating wall between God and humanity, it is now an opportunity to live in thanks and praise, not to earn or deserve salvation but our “Thank You” letter to Him for His grace and mercy. The Civil and Ceremonial Laws, however, are abolished; their pictures and reminders no longer necessary in the reality of Christ. So Paul will later write, “16Therefore, do not let anyone judge you in regard to food or drink, or in regard to a festival or a New Moon or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were coming, but the body belongs to Christ. (Colossians 2:16-17)”
Law fulfilled and abolished, Jew and Gentile are now brought together as Isaiah had foretold in our Old Testament Lesson. But what of us and our God, sinners that we are? Paul announces, “Christ did this to reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by putting the hostility to death on it. 17 He also came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” The forgiveness purchased upon the cross does the rest. Throwing open the doors of heaven even as it eradicates the dividing lines of the sin that separates us from our God, and the result is peace, lasting peace between God and His people no longer marked by the color of skin, the place of one's birth, or the language they may speak; all have been made one body. The Church is for all people marked only by faith given by the Spirit, which connects us to the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Walk in the doors, walk right up to the front of the building, behold the majesty and mystery of God in Word and in Sacraments through that common faith, the unity of teaching, all is as it should be … peace!
I’m sorry friends, I know this is already a lengthier sermon, but there is still more. There remains yet another amazing truth in the words of our lesson today. As if real and lasting peace with God were not enough Paul continues, “19 So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. 20 You have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the Cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you too are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”
Peace restored, we no longer need to think in terms of Jew or Gentile. Faith given, we are now members of an entirely new, yet incredibly ancient family. This is why we define ourselves as Christians and can speak of each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. You are a member of the family of God. This family isn’t built on bloodlines or birthrights but on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets … the Word of God Himself, with Christ Jesus Himself as the guiding and directing stone of the entire building. Yes, in Him something crazy has happened.
The building in Jerusalem, built in grandeur, destroyed in our sin, rebuilt in mourning and joy, eventually leveled not long after the ascension of Jesus Christ Himself, it no longer matters. Why? God no longer dwells there! Now He dwells in you! Now there is an unexpected truth, right! By the gift of faith, founded upon the Word of God, we are now God’s temple. This is how intensely God has joined Himself to you. You cannot be left out in the courtyards because you do not belong to the family of Christ. You cannot be threatened with death because of your sin. You are not separated from God in the slightest but have become like the holy of holies itself, the very home and dwelling of the Most High. You belong to Him! You belong! Not because, like Stewart Smally, if you remember him, because we are good enough or smart enough or because people like us, but by God’s gift of faith, given by pure grace, and founded, derived, growing in God’s Word.
What a God … What a message … what grace. Nothing separates us from God! The Church is for everyone! In Him, we have peace and belonging. Through the Spirit we believe it and through His strength may we tell the world. Amen!