I am Reconciled

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8:40am Service | 10:00 Service | 11:20 Service | Sermon Audio

Good morning Chapel family. I would love to pray for our country on this 4th of July weekend. Would you rise to pray with me? 

Prayer of gratitude for the US and our military, wisdom for our leaders, peace in the world, and growth of the Kingdom of God.  

When I was about ten years old, I lived on a cul-de-sac with eight houses on it. Across the cul-de-sac from me, there were two neighbors, side by side, and in between those two houses was an 8-foot tall, solid wooden fence. You know that saying, “Good fences make good neighbors?” Not true in this case. Everyone in the neighborhood knew it: those guys don’t like these guys, and these guys are really mad at those guys. There was one summer when the feud got really bad. And that’s where I enter into the story. Both of those families had kids around my age. And I was better friends with the kid in the left-side house than I was with the kids in the right-side house. So I remember many days that summer, going over to my friend’s house, standing on his side of the fence, knowing that the other kids were on the other side of the fence—we couldn’t see them but we knew they were there—and we would lob rocks and sticks and handfuls of gravel over the fence, hoping to hit one of those kids. And then dodging the stuff that the other kids were throwing at us. Wholesome summertime fun.  

You know what the craziest part was? I didn’t really know why we were fighting. Something had apparently been said by the parents of those kids to the parents of this kid, and the parents of this kid took offense and said something harsh back to those people, and then the kids started saying nasty things to each other, and the animosity between these two families grew and grew. Both sides were positive they were right! So they fought. And I joined in the fight. And in between us stood the fence.  

That was many years ago. But since then I’ve learned that our world is filled with fences. Divisions between the people on this side of the fence and the people on that side of the fence. And sometimes those divisions are so strong that we build something even stronger than fences—we build walls. And today’s passage in the book of Ephesians is all about those walls in our lives, and how they affect us, and how they can be knocked down by the power of the gospel. Because here’s the great news: we serve a God who loves knocking down walls. 

So…look with me at Ephesians chapter 2, starting in verse 11. This is God’s Word for us today… 

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 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, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He 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 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. This is the Word of the Lord. 

Let’s talk first about The Reality of Walls. Paul addresses this part of the letter specifically to the Gentiles in the Ephesian church. Remember, in the first-century church there were people who came from a Jewish background, and there were people who came from a non-Jewish background—the Gentiles. And Paul is speaking here to the Gentiles. Look what he says to them in verse 11: Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision”… In the first century, the only people who were circumcised were Jewish people, and they viewed that as a badge of honor that Gentiles didn’t have. So Paul is saying to the Gentiles, “You guys know what it feels like to be on the wrong side of the wall. To be left out. To be discriminated against.” 

At the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, there was an outer area called the Court of the Gentiles. So non-Jewish people were allowed to go there. BUT you had to be careful not to go any further. The first-century historian Josephus said there were signs, written in Greek and Latin, warning Gentiles to stay in their place. And then, in the late 1800s, archaeologists actually found one of those signs, written in Greek—here’s a picture of the sign, and here’s the translation: “NO FOREIGNER IS TO GO BEYOND THE BALUSTRADE AND THE PLAZA OF THE TEMPLE ZONE. WHOEVER IS CAUGHT DOING SO WILL HAVE HIMSELF TO BLAME FOR HIS DEATH WHICH WILL FOLLOW” How’s that for a visitor-friendly church?  

So…the point is, Jewish people didn’t have a very high view of Gentiles. But the prejudice went both ways. On several occasions, all the Jewish people in Rome were kicked out of the city because there was suspicion and racism against them. So…there were rocks being thrown from both sides of the fence. But Paul is focusing here on the prejudice that the Gentile Christians had experienced. He says, “Remember how it was for you guys! Jewish people would condescendingly call you ‘uncircumcised.’” Which was a very crass way to remind them that they were not God’s special, chosen people. They were on the wrong side of the wall.  

Let me ask you a very personal question: do you ever feel like you’re on the wrong side of the wall? Maybe because of how you look—your body shape or your height or the color of your skin? Maybe because of where you live? Or because of your economic level? Or because you have an accent, or you have a disability? Or maybe most of the people around you have strong political views, and they’re different from your views, so when they’re celebrating things, you’re sad about things, and vice-versa…and you feel like there’s a wall between you and them. Or maybe it’s like my neighbors: something was said; offense was taken; and now there’s no communication between you and that person. There really are walls everywhere, aren’t there? 

And Paul says, “You Gentiles know what that’s like! You know what it’s like to be called the “U” word (uncircumcised). You know what it’s like to be on the wrong side of the wall. 

He goes on in verse 12: remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. So here’s what he’s saying, “Not only was there a wall between you and other people; there was a wall between you and God.” Why? Because way before Jesus came, God had made a covenant with the nation of Israel, so there really was a special relationship between God and the Jewish people. And Paul says, “You Gentiles were on the outside looking in. You were without hope and without God in the world. 

That’s a bad place to be. Because we humans were meant to live at peace with God and with one another. That’s how God meant for us to live. But our default mode is to fight with people and to fight with God. And it’s the source of all human misery. 

One of the most important words in the Bible is the word “peace.” It shows up three times in this passage, and it’s rooted in the Hebrew concept of shalom. And shalom means much more than lack of fighting. It does mean that, but it can’t be just that. If you think about my neighbors, if they stopped throwing rocks at each other—no more fighting—does that necessarily mean they would have shalom? No! Because they might still live in icy silence and suspicion toward each other. Shalom is so much more: it means interdependence, and harmony, and flourishing. Shalom means those neighbors would share meals, and they would borrow each other’s lawnmower, and when the one goes on vacation the other one would water their plants and pick up their mail and if it was really deep shalom, they would even feed their cat. That would be shalom. 

And that’s what we were created to experience—both with others and with God. And Paul says to these gentile Christians, “Remember: you didn’t have that at all! You were at odds with people, and you were at odds with God.” And by the way, when you’re disconnected from God, your personal conflicts always get worse. Because when those little offenses happen, our pride flares up, and we want revenge; and it gets ugly. So Paul says, “Remember—that’s what life used to be like for you guys. There was a wall separating you from people and there was a wall separating you from God.” And in our natural condition, the same exact thing is true of us. Without the intervention of God, our lives will be characterized by walls that rob us of peace. 

And that’s why I love the first two words of the next verse. Look at verse 13: But now… But now! This whole passage pivots on those two words: But now. And we should look at ourselves as “but now” kind of people. Like, “Yeah—I used to be like that, but now…” So yes, in this life, we have to face the reality of walls. But now let’s talk about The Breaker of Walls. Verse 13: But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. If we are far away from God, which tends to push us farther away from people, the thing that can bring us near is the blood of Christ. Why? How does that work? Well, it’s really simple: on the cross, as Jesus bore the weight of our sins, he was willingly allowing himself be separated from his Father in our place.  

Think of it like this: as Jesus hung on the cross and shed his blood, it was like the biggest, most impenetrable wall in history was put up between Jesus and his Father, and Jesus was on the wrong side of the wall—so we don’t have to be. 

Or think of it like this: in the Old Testament, people entered into a covenant with God through circumcision—a little piece of flesh is cut off that person. But now, we enter into the New Covenant with God—not by having a little piece of ourselves cut off, but by all of Jesus being cut off from the Father.  

Guys, Jesus loves you so personally that he was completely walled off, and completely cut off…for you! He got pushed away, so we could come close. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

A few years ago, there was a very unusual moment at the MTV Movie and TV Awards. The actor Chris Pratt received an award. And in his acceptance speech, he gave his “nine rules for living.” Some of them were funny, but some of them were very personal and meaningful. Like, his sixth rule was "God is real. God loves you, God wants the best for you. Believe that, I do." But his final rule was the most profound. Listen to what he said:  

"Nobody is perfect. People will tell you that you are perfect just the way that you are, you are not! You are imperfect. You always will be, but there is a powerful force that designed you that way, and if you are willing to accept that, you will have grace. And grace is a gift. Like the freedom that we enjoy in this country, that grace was paid for with somebody else's blood. Do not forget that. Don't take that for granted."  

That was on MTV. And I appreciate how he artfully introduced the gospel into a setting where no one would expect to hear the gospel. This is a radical thought, isn’t it? That the thing we need most in this life is not something we can accomplish; it was actually paid for with somebody else’s blood. It’s life-changing. So Paul says to the Ephesians, “You used to be far away from God, but now you’re close because of the blood of Christ.”  

Then look at verse 15: 15b His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. So follow this thought: We just saw that Gentiles have been brought near to God…how? By the blood of Christ. But look at verse 16. It says Jesus reconciled “both of them” to God through the cross. Who is “both of them?” Gentiles and Jews! Oh! So the way that Jewish people and non-Jewish people connect with God is exactly the same way. It’s not based on ethnicity or race; everyone comes through the cross. Which is why our Jewish friends need to hear that Jesus is the Messiah they’re looking for—Yeshua Hamashiach.  

Verse 14 says Jesus destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. Remember that sign in the temple, threatening death to Gentiles? That symbolized the hostility between Jew and Gentile. And it says Jesus destroyed that barrier by setting aside the law with its commands and regulations. In the Old Testament, there are hundreds of ceremonial laws that faithful Jews had to follow—not only circumcision, but also what kinds of clothing to wear; what kinds of food they couldn’t eat. And those outward things made them separate from other people. But through his perfect life and his death on the cross, Jesus satisfied the purpose of all those laws, and therefore they no longer apply. We don’t have to follow the ceremonies now; we just have to trust in Christ. Which means the wall has been destroyed. 

Guys, this is broader than just Jews and Gentiles. The gospel removes any basis for prejudice or superiority or exclusion toward anyone. It doesn’t matter if you’re circumcised or uncircumcised; black or white; Democrat or Republican; Taylor Ham or Pork Roll; everyone is equal at the cross of Christ. But seriously this is why Martin Luther King, Jr., in his civil rights work, appealed most strongly to the gospel. This is why the most compelling voices for equality today are not voices of violence or hatred—that just makes the divide worse. The most compelling voices are the ones that teach equality and love based on the gospel. All people are equal at the foot of the cross. Amen? 

So Paul says, “You used to be far from God, far from people. But now, because of the blood of Christ you’ve been brought near to God. And that nearness to God now gives you the inner resources to overcome offenses and draw near to people.” So on a very personal level, here’s what this means: as a Christian, you cannot be a holder of grudges. You can’t be somebody who makes people pay for what they’ve done to you. Because God has made peace with you, you will be a person who always strives to make peace with others. And you will become a breaker of walls, and a maker of peace. 

And that leads to the last point: What God is Building in Place of Walls. See, the reason God tears down those walls is that he’s building something beautiful in their place. It’s called “the church.” And the last few verses give us three different pictures of what the church is meant to be.  

First, it’s A New Kingdom. Look at verse 19: Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people… When you become a Christian, your citizenship changes on the deepest level. So you’re still American or German or Brazilian or whatever. But now there’s an identity that’s even more important to you. I still remember the first time I walked into the International Church of Riga in Latvia. Here was a country that had been under the Soviet Union for about 50 years, and the Soviets had destroyed a lot of Latvian culture, so now that Latvia was independent, there was a lot of resentment over what had happened. But I walked into the church and here were Latvians, standing side-by-side with Russians, not to mention Americans and Canadians and other Europeans, worshiping God together. And they served together and met in small groups together during the week. It didn’t really matter what ethnicity you were, because our deepest citizenship is in Christ. So that’s the first picture of the church—a gathering of people holding different color passports, held together by their deeper citizenship in Christ. We are a new kingdom. 

Secondly, the church is A New Family. Verse 19 says: and also members of his household. This is even more personal than having a new citizenship! Because it says as Christians, we are family. We have the same Father…and that makes us brothers and sisters. So if we have differences, we’re going to work those out like family.  

And then third, the church is A New Temple. Look at verse 20: built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. So we, as the church, are like a building that’s in the process of being built. You know what the best part is? We don’t build it. Jesus is the Cornerstone and he’s the builder. In Matthew 16, Jesus said, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” Over the years the church has been persecuted and beat up and people have predicted that science and technology would make the church irrelevant…but every single time, the church has survived, and it’s going strong. Because it’s God’s building—not ours. 

So Jesus didn’t just come to knock down walls; he came to build something: this new kingdom—this new family—this new temple, called the church. Filled with people who used to have a wall between them and God, and they used to have all kinds of walls between each other…but Jesus has knocked those walls down.  

If you want to see a great picture of what this looks like, come out to a Chapel Young Adults gathering this summer—Tuesday nights. Every time I hang out with this group, I’m struck by two things: how diverse they are—like radically different kinds of people—people who would never sit at the same table in the high school cafeteria—there’s jocks and nerds and techies and every kind of person--so different. The second thing I’m struck by is how close they are—there’s an amazing bond in that group. Because despite their differences, they have Christ in common. That’s the new family that Jesus is building in the church, and it’s beautiful to see. 

Let me show you one more picture of this. This is the mission team that served last week in Cali, Colombia, sharing the gospel and helping the local churches. If you look closely, you’ll see a bunch of Chapel people in that crowd. So think about it: there’s a language barrier; there’s huge cultural barriers; all kinds of walls between these people. And yet, you can see the joy and the unity they shared—because Jesus has knocked down those walls and drew them together. What a beautiful picture of the church. And by the way, there’s another team going to Barranquilla, Colombia in October—you should ask God if he wants you to go. 

The walls of life are a reality, but Jesus came to break them down and build something so much better in their place.  

In the fall of 1988 I was a Senior at Virginia Tech, and I needed an elective course, so I took German. Our teacher was a German immigrant, and one day he spent the whole class time talking about the Berlin Wall. In case your history is rusty, Germany used to be divided into East Germany and West Germany. East Germany was a communist country that denied its people basic human rights, and for the most part never allowed them to leave; West Germany was a free and democratic society. And the city of Berlin was divided down the middle: East Berlin belonged to East Germany, and West Berlin belonged to West Germany. And dividing the two was the infamous Berlin Wall. The wall was built in 1961; it was 100 miles long and about 13 feet high. It was heavily guarded by armed soldiers, who were under orders to shoot and kill anyone who tried to get past the wall.  

You want to hear something fascinating: after the wall went up, East German psychiatrists started noticing that the Berlin wall was causing mental illness, and rage, and depression, and addiction. In fact, the closer people lived to the physical wall, the more serious their disorders. Because walls don’t just divide us; they make us sick. And I remember, that day in that classroom, my German teacher confidently and grimly telling the class that Germany will always be divided. He said, “The divide runs too deep, and the differences are too strong, and as long as Germany exists, that wall will never come down.” That was the fall of 1988. How ironic.  

Because on November 9, 1989—one year later—the world stood in wonder as the wall came down. And soldiers stood back as thousands of jubilant Germans climbed the wall, and wept, and embraced each other on top of the broken pieces of concrete. And they took pickaxes and hammers and with joyful abandon they tore the wall down. It’s one of the great moments in history. And you know what psychiatrists discovered? Right after that, there was this emotional liberation that rippled through the East German population…because the wall was gone.  

And I never saw that Virginia Tech German professor again, but I would love to find him and say, “Hah! You were wrong!” That would be fun. To say to him, “It turns out that there is no wall so high and so thick and so deeply entrenched that it can’t be knocked down by a superior force…and that superior force was the power of democracy and freedom.”  

And here’s what I’m saying to you: whatever walls you might have in your life—walls between you and God; walls between you and people—there is no wall so high and so thick that it can’t be knocked down by a superior force. And that force is the gospel of Jesus Christ. When you receive his salvation by faith, the wall that separated you from God gets torn down. And then you get to go out and tear down walls between you and other people—not with hammers and pickaxes, but with humility and confession and forgiveness and the love of Jesus Christ. And in the church, we get to be this community of people with all kinds of outward differences that could easily form walls between us, but instead we live in shalom with each other, because the Jesus has brought us peace.