52:150318
The Church as a New Man
Ephesians 2:14/22 “..For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit..”
In ancient days, the Churches character .. Ep 3:5 “Was not made known unto the Sons of man” ..It was .. “a mystery hid in God” (3:9).. In all ages god had His Holy ones, but ‘as a new man’, a new created body of Christ, though which in the “manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church” had not yet been revealed.
I’ll be exploring 3 points…
- The Divine Plan
- The Divine Preparation
- The Divine Purpose
The was, (Jew & Gentile) “create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace”, (3:15) this new body was to be …
i. Composed of Jew & Gentile
This was to encompass the whole Human race, NO exemptions. The new rule meant no matter your skin Colour; Race; Gentile; no matter the Language you speak. It was made clear that, if you don’t come from a Jewish background then you are a Gentile; no matter religious persuasion, Muslim; Nazarene; Catholic. The church is now to be made up of, those ‘called-out’, this is now to be an inclusion of every Nation and people under God’s Heaven.
ii Reconciled one to Another
This means that there will no walls of fences to separate us from one to the other .. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (v19) … All in one Christ Jesus, in being brought to God, each one of us is brought into Gods Symphony.
iii Reconciled to God
“..that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross..” .. As we stand side by side with a Jew, God has stripped away all differences, and we are now all equal before God. Instead of 2, we now come together as one body, this is made possible .. “brought near by the blood of Christ” (3:13) .. The fact is we have all been saved by the grace of God. This ‘new-man’ ..
“..To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved..” (1:6)
2 The Divine Preparation
To prepare for what job ~ Exams or sport? Exams: the most stressful time of our childhood, even now as adults, we tremble as we live them times. Sport: Means lots of hours refining our fitness&stamina. That’s why, before this gracious purpose of God could be accomplished a great work had to be done, the work that only our Lord God could possibly do.
i A Wall of Partition to be broken down
V14 “..has broken down the middle wall of separation..”
In ancient days, the Temple a very sacred place, it was a place that you would have a ‘high Priest’. In the temple area was divided into 3 sections ... First .. you enter and there is an area that was set for the sacrifices (blood offering), once you pass here there is the ‘Laver’. This was made out of bronze, originally made from the highly polished bronze ladies used as ‘mirrors’. So when melted down and turned into the ‘Laver’, which the person who had done the sacrifices, they used this pool to clean both their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle. Second ..now entering the tent/Tabernacle everything is now made out of solid Gold. It was divided into 2 sections, see illustration below …
… you can see where out side the tent the sacrifices took place as well as the Laver. In the first section of the Tabernacle, is where Worship took place, the other section is separated by a thick Curtain from floor to the top/ceiling, some say it was 3-4 inches thick. Only the Priest/Pharisees were allowed beyond the curtain, as this was regarded as the Holy of Holy places and where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. This area was always kept shrouded in mystery, as you could never see in, because of the partition/curtain being so solid. No ‘Gentile’ was allowed any where near the whole area, as they were seen as unworthy.
Now in this new creation in Christ all such prejudice, even ‘Sectarianism’, also every dividing thing was to be broken down and dismantled. To show this God tore the Curtain in the Tabernacle from the top to the bottom to show and prove only God was able to do this. The sad realism that we are still building walls, by ourselves, and continually carried with us. Out of pride – religious bigotry, and superstitions.
ii Enmity to be slain
(V16) “..He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity..”
The cross of Christ is God’s enmity weapon for breaking down barriers between individuals and Nations, between Human hearts and a Holy God. The news is not new but totally the opposite, God’s power has been around since God created the Heavens and the Earth, we have never tapped into it fully. The greatest of all ‘partitions-walls’ is the ‘Enmity of the mind’ of the carnal mind, and the the Wall that separated East from West Germany (known as the ‘Berlin-wall’, OR The great wall of China (that God can see from the Heavens … Romans 8:7 “..Because the carnal mind is enmity against God..” … No matter the obstacle God over comes all!
iii. Both must be possible by the same Spirit
V18 “..through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father..” The marriage of both Jew & Gentile is not a mere expediency for a temporary end when in fact it’s an extremely vital part of God’s eternally wonder full of grace. Who would not want to have a life full of our Lords grace? I Corinthians shows us the truth….
1 Corinthians 12:13 “..For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit..”
…. Our Lord Christ Jesus is, and will always be the fountain head of our spiritual life, that flows through every member, if your having trouble thinking how much God’s grace can flow through us think of ‘Niagara-falls’. The apostle John said it like this…
John 7:37 “..If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water…” By doing this you will want for nothing else, as God’s grace is ‘ALL’ sufficient.
3 The Divine Purpose
V22 “..A new man, as a fixed abode of god through the Spirit..”
(from the Weymouth translation)
When our Lord God brought out His people, from the land of Pharaoh, they spent 40 years in the wilderness. Now His people had no ‘fixed-abode’, at least so they thought, what they had is a tent called ‘the-Holy-place’. Does this mean, now that in the coming age, the church will be the ‘fixed abode’ of the Holy Spirit for the manifestation of the glory of Christ.
i. All built on the One Foundation
Matthew reminds us of what a solid foundation can do for your faith... Matt 7:24/7 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” … When Jesus instructs us to do one thing don’t be a like a petulant child, running around waving your arms all over place, stamping your feet because it’s not what ‘YOU’ want to do, just say yes Lord God. I have said this many times before, God places us where He needs us to bless - strengthen - encourage someone. Lets have servants attitude for ALL things to help others in Gods name.
Ephesians 3:20 “..been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone..”
Paul wrote to the Hebrews Prophets & Apostles how they are to build upon the truth revealed, whether by the Holy Spirit or by Christ Jesus Himself… Hebrews 1:1-2 “..God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds..”
In Matthew 21:42 it tells us accentually how the ‘Cornerstoner’ came to be, and the importance of it … Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
“..To the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved..” (1:6)
2 The Divine Preparation
To prepare for what job ~ Exams or sport? Exams: the most stressful time of our childhood, even now as adults, we tremble as we live them times. Sport: Means lots of hours refining our fitness&stamina. That’s why, before this gracious purpose of God could be accomplished a great work had to be done, the work that only our Lord God could possibly do.
i A Wall of Partition to be broken down
V14 “..has broken down the middle wall of separation..”
In ancient days, the Temple a very sacred place, it was a place that you would have a ‘high Priest’. In the temple area was divided into 3 sections ... First .. you enter and there is an area that was set for the sacrifices (blood offering), once you pass here there is the ‘Laver’. This was made out of bronze, originally made from the highly polished bronze ladies used as ‘mirrors’. So when melted down and turned into the ‘Laver’, which the person who had done the sacrifices, they used this pool to clean both their hands and feet before entering the tabernacle. Second ..now entering the tent/Tabernacle everything is now made out of solid Gold. It was divided into 2 sections, see illustration below …
Now in this new creation in Christ all such prejudice, even ‘Sectarianism’, also every dividing thing was to be broken down and dismantled. To show this God tore the Curtain in the Tabernacle from the top to the bottom to show and prove only God was able to do this. The sad realism that we are still building walls, by ourselves, and continually carried with us. Out of pride – religious bigotry, and superstitions.
ii Enmity to be slain
(V16) “..He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity..”
The cross of Christ is God’s enmity weapon for breaking down barriers between individuals and Nations, between Human hearts and a Holy God. The news is not new but totally the opposite, God’s power has been around since God created the Heavens and the Earth, we have never tapped into it fully. The greatest of all ‘partitions-walls’ is the ‘Enmity of the mind’ of the carnal mind, and the the Wall that separated East from West Germany (known as the ‘Berlin-wall’, OR The great wall of China (that God can see from the Heavens … Romans 8:7 “..Because the carnal mind is enmity against God..” … No matter the obstacle God over comes all!
iii. Both must be possible by the same Spirit
V18 “..through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father..” The marriage of both Jew & Gentile is not a mere expediency for a temporary end when in fact it’s an extremely vital part of God’s eternally wonder full of grace. Who would not want to have a life full of our Lords grace? I Corinthians shows us the truth….
1 Corinthians 12:13 “..For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit..”
…. Our Lord Christ Jesus is, and will always be the fountain head of our spiritual life, that flows through every member, if your having trouble thinking how much God’s grace can flow through us think of ‘Niagara-falls’. The apostle John said it like this…
John 7:37 “..If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water…” By doing this you will want for nothing else, as God’s grace is ‘ALL’ sufficient.
3 The Divine Purpose
V22 “..A new man, as a fixed abode of god through the Spirit..”
(from the Weymouth translation)
When our Lord God brought out His people, from the land of Pharaoh, they spent 40 years in the wilderness. Now His people had no ‘fixed-abode’, at least so they thought, what they had is a tent called ‘the-Holy-place’. Does this mean, now that in the coming age, the church will be the ‘fixed abode’ of the Holy Spirit for the manifestation of the glory of Christ.
i. All built on the One Foundation
Matthew reminds us of what a solid foundation can do for your faith... Matt 7:24/7 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” … When Jesus instructs us to do one thing don’t be a like a petulant child, running around waving your arms all over place, stamping your feet because it’s not what ‘YOU’ want to do, just say yes Lord God. I have said this many times before, God places us where He needs us to bless - strengthen - encourage someone. Lets have servants attitude for ALL things to help others in Gods name.
Ephesians 3:20 “..been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone..”
Paul wrote to the Hebrews Prophets & Apostles how they are to build upon the truth revealed, whether by the Holy Spirit or by Christ Jesus Himself… Hebrews 1:1-2 “..God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds..”
In Matthew 21:42 it tells us accentually how the ‘Cornerstoner’ came to be, and the importance of it … Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
ii. All fitly framed Together
V21 “..in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a Holy temple in the Lord..”
In Christians we all have our Lord Jesus to depend on, for he is the ‘Cornerstone’ of our faith. Some would have you think, that us Christians, we must be obligated to God, and have to swear allegiance to Him alone. I say to them, that they have missed the point. God wants us to be free, no longer ‘bondservants’, but to those who are ... 1 Timothy 6:1 “..Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed..”
They are individually fully-framed-together’ with their local fellow believer. Stones which do not fit with each other make an untrustworthy or uncomely structure. Christians have often ruined their testimony by being out of harmony with their brethren. So stay together, help each other with love.
iii All uniting to make a fixed abode for God through the Spirit.
When this Holy Temple is in the Lord it will be ready as a fixed abode for Him to whom it belongs, no tongue of Angel or pen of a scribe can tell. The day will come when the last addition will be made, and when the top stone will be put on. We have talked a lot here about stones, when the only unshakable foundation is our faith, a ‘fixed-abode’ is our hearts, always.
Zechariah 4:7 "..With shouts of “Grace, grace to it..”
Every stone in the building is a monument of the grace of God, through Christ Jesus. This is surly ‘A New Man’, fully grown and glorified will become the Temple of the Lord our God, witness to the triumph of Christ’s sacrifice in the Kingdom that is to come, we pray.
Matt 6:10 “..Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven..”
May the Lord plant seed growth with His wonderful word
Amen
