The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Ephesians 2:11-22
A Holy Temple
Proper [11] B, Seventh Sunday after Pentecost, 19 July 2009
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
To the saints who are… faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:1b-2) Amen.
When we think of the word “church,” usually we think of a building like this one. It looks like a church. But that use of the word “church” is only secondary. We could still have the “church” and have a church service without a building. The primary meaning of “church” is “Christian people, or as St. Paul explains to the Christians in Ephesus: 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
It was not always that way. Jews and Gentiles, that is non-Jews, were separate. Gentiles were considered unclean. God’s ancient people were blessed so that they would be a blessing to the whole world. Now we know that this blessing culminated in Jesus’ Great Commission to make disciples of all nations—not just one or two, but all nations—by means of baptizing and teaching. The Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament, clearly say that God’s intent all along was for all people and all peoples to come to a knowledge of the truth and have faith and trust in the only true God.
Consider the many Gentiles of the Old Testament who were benefiting from the outreach of the grace of God. (Kaiser) Melchizedek, a Canaanite—king of Salem and priest of God most high. Jethro was a priest of Midian and later father-in-law to Moses. The prophet Balaam of Beor is a mysterious figure. He delivered God’s Word four times. Rahab was a prostitute. She hid Israel’s spies and showed that she feared the God of Israel more than she feared her own king of Jericho. Ruth was a Moabite woman who came to faith. And then Naaman, the Syrian army commander, was healed though the prophet Elisha.
God’s people of old ran into a great many Gentiles. Not many heard the word and believed. Paul urges us to remember God’s grace and not take it for granted.
[Therefore] 11Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
The Jewish people were distinguished from other nations in ancient times by circumcision. The other nations were not circumcised.
Of even more importance is the word “therefore.” You don’t see it printed for you. In the Bible text, the word “therefore” at the beginning of verse eleven makes our text today the consequence of something the Ephesian Christians just heard. You should hear it, too.
8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
Verses eight and nine of Ephesians 2 are familiar territory to us. Grace. Faith. Not your own doing. Gift. Not a result of works. Salvation is not because of who we are, something inside of us, what we have done, or even something we have had done to us, like circumcision. It’s all God’s work. Our good works then, are laid out for us by God in verse ten. We do them because that is what Christians do! If we forget, we are denying who God has made us to be and what he has prepared for us to do as His baptized people, the church.
Therefore. Yes, sometimes one word is significant. Why was it left out? Sometimes different Bible translations chop up the Greek sentences differently so that they are more readable in English. Sometimes lectionary committees leave off the first word of a reading to avoid little detours like the one we just took. Yet, Scripture must be read in context. Each part is connected to the whole.
[Therefore] 11Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
That was then. This is now, Paul says. That is the message of the word, “but.”
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” The love God had for Jacob was so great, it appeared from the outside that Esau was hated. Jacob and Esau were eventually reconciled. God had a plan for Jacob. God Himself gave him a new name: Israel. Israel’s sons became the twelve tribes. After the centuries in Egypt and the decades of wilderness wandering, they settled in the promised land. God called His people to be separate, divided from other peoples, yet for a purpose: so that they would not be defiled by the surrounding culture and fall away from Him. Faithfulness. Faithlessness. Faithfulness. Faithlessness. With Israel and later the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah, it seemed there was an endless cycle of faithfulness and then faithlessness. God was there in judgment, but always—always—He was there to preserve the faithful remnant so that Jesus would come to be a blessing to all people, both Jew and Gentile.
The blood of Christ brings all people near to God. That is the power of divine blood. Only with the shedding of blood is there forgiveness of sins. Once for all, Jesus completed and fulfilled all of the Old Testament animal sacrifice.
He is our peace. He came as the Prince of Peace at Christmas, making peace between sinful humanity and the holy God.
Dividing people on the basis of Jew or Gentile has come to an end in Christ. Language and ethnicity should not separate Christians today. It used to be called a “mixed marriage” when a German LCMS groom married a Swedish LCMS bride. That should not be. Only differences in doctrine—teaching should divide the church. And we should work on those divisions, too. One side or both have neglected, contradicted, or denied what God had to say on the matter. There is unity when both sides have the mind of Christ.
Salvation comes from the Father, in the Son, delivered by the Holy Spirit. In prayer, each Christian has access to the Father / through the Son / in the Spirit.
The Lord, through Paul, calls for a Godly unity in Christ. It is often a challenge, though, to explain Close Communion to a visitor. Though it is a Biblical, apostolic, and historic practice, emotions run high. Pastor Garwood is right—there is no silver bullet—there is no way to do justice to both this Biblical teaching on Holy Communion as well as pastorally care for a visitor in five minutes before Divine Service. How can we lovingly, yet clearly prepare for such an important conversation later?
Consider the following: Our Lord wants us all to be “on the same page” when it comes to what we believe and teach in this congregation. We are to be “on the same page” with Him and His Word first, and then with one another. Once we know that visitors or new members believe as we have been taught from the Word, then we welcome them to Holy Communion.
One Lord. One faith. One baptism. One God and Father of all has one Biblical truth all are to believe before we gather together to receive the one cup and one loaf at the Lord’s table.
19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Individually, each one of you is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Together, we are the church, a holy temple in the Lord. Human opinion and wisdom have no place in this divine construction project.
Christ is our cornerstone. The apostles and prophets are our foundation. Together, we are nourished and built and joined together as one holy temple.
The Church’s one foundation is Jesus Christ, her Lord; She is His new creation by water and the Word. From heav’n He came and sought her To be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.
…you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. Amen.
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:23) Amen.
