Taking Time to Remember (Ephesians 2:11-22)

Summary

We were supposed to move on to Ephesians 3 today, but the Holy Spirit had other plans. Dave learned this morning that CJ was too sick to preach. Rather than throw together something quickly, the pastors felt the Spirit asking us to review last week's text. What about Christian unity is hard for Citizens? Where are we tempted to exclude? What old ways of living is God asking us to discard?

Warning: This sermon includes lots of opportunity for reflection and discussion which cannot be heard on the podcast. Use the blank spaces to consider your own answers to Dave's question.

Text

“Therefore remember 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—remember 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. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

(Ephesians 2:11–22 ESV)