“To Create In Himself One New
Man” (2)
Irmow Nor Mart Mu Sdy./e
(God’s Magnificent Work Through Christ)
Ephesians 2:11-22
We spoke in the Armenian
sermon about Unity of Christ’s People
(11-13). The purpose of unity is not
self-satisfaction. There is a new order, new creation in this unity. But how?
2. Peace with
God (and each other) (14-18)
The word for peace (eirene)
occurs forty-three times in Paul’s
letters, eight of which are in
Ephesians (1:2; 2:14 – 17; 4:3; 6:15, 23).
Peace is a central and fundamental component of
Paul’s theology. Virtually every topic of doctrinal significance is brought
into relation to peace. Christ himself is peace, and only through Christ we can
have peace.
“For
he himself is our peace…” (Vs 14)
When Paul talks about faith, it is not a static faith; it is a
two-dimensional active faith: a vertical dimension with God and a horizontal dimension
with humanity.
“We live with God and he
with us. We communicate with God, and his presence shapes us. Once again faith is shown to be relational,
not a decision or set of beliefs.”
(NIV, Ephesians, p. 129)
How
can we make any relationships when we do not have peace?
But
what kind of peace? Today everyone talks about peace. Let us understand what
Paul is referring to.
- Paul
draws the picture of the dividing wall.
- How
terrible was the wall dividing Berlin into West and East
- How
terrible was the dividing zone between East Beirut and West Beirut.
- How
vicious was the apartheid reality in South Africa dividing the whites from the blacks.
- In
the Temple of Jerusalem there were different kinds of walls. The
Gentiles had a different court
outside on a lower level; they could not see inside the Israelites’ walls; they
could not enter the Jewish courts. In fact, it was written in Greek and Roman
languages, “No foreigner should go within that sanctuary.” What was the
penalty? Death!
- Paul experienced this rejection when he
brought a new convert with him from Ephesus, his name was Trophimus. The Jews who did not
like what Paul is doing said the following about Paul:
“Men
of
Therefore, the
peace Paul talks about is to bring back the divided groups together and create a
new order through CHRIST.
Let me ask you
tough questions:
- How often we
reject people that are not like us?
- How often we
exclude on the basis of race and color?
Today all
churches should ask the question: Which is more important, our culture or Christ? (This is not just an Armenian issue; it is
relevant to all nations).
Culture is important, a necessary part of the fabric of
our lives, but Christ, not culture, gives the primary definition to life. I am
glad that I am Armenian. I will do everything to learn and keep my culture. I
have a special calling to the Armenian nation and people. But “culture” should
not put me in a trap of self-satisfaction. Culture
is the means by which Christ is expressed, but the message is Christ himself.
(NIV
Ephesians, p.152)
So What is the
solution?
God destroyed the
old ORDER and replaced it by creating ONE NEW MAN.
Jesus brought peace with His Blood on the cross. He brought
RECONCILITATION.
“by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and
regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God
through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” (vs. 15,16)
Because of sin we had enmity with God and with each other.
Because of sin we created
barriers and divided things.
Because of sin we were alienated from God.
Christ is the answer. I know you heard it many times, but this is
it. He brought reconciliation between God and us and each other. AMAZING GRACE!
Our new creation starts with Christ
on the cross.
Let me describe you what Schnackenburg argues,
“The Church is thereby pulled into
the vicinity of the Cross, exists in fact in the Crucifixion-event… . So close
is the connection of the Church to Christ
that she already appears in the Cross as a New Creation, the one redeemed
humanity.” (NIV P.134)
The new being is Christ himself, into which people
are incorporated as his body. This is the meaning of the body of believers,
the Church. This is the reason that the church is beyond culture and nations.
It has a much deeper connection than culture or nation. We are united in
Christ. We are united on the cross.
Today in the Armenian Apostolic church’s lectionary is called the
Sunday of “The Prodigal Son.” It is the tale of two brothers: one went away (like Gentiles) and wasted
everything, one stayed at home (like Jews) yet he did not repent. Both needed
repentance to be united with their father. Both needed to repent to be united
together so there would be peace and reconciliation.
3. Implications of Christ’s peace (19-22)
We are not foreigners and
aliens, we are citizens. Each of you who immigrated here has a joyful story
when you became citizens of the USA. Let me tell you, God gives you the best citizenship;
we are citizen’s of His Kingdom. Do you have that Joy?
He talks about God’s household, where the foundation
is Christ Himself. He is the CORNERSTONE.
That should be the foundation of any church, or any individual.
In HIM everything can be joined
together. In Him the NEW CREATION, the NEW MAN, the NEW ORDER, even former enemies
can come together.
Here is something we need to
do before approaching the table, WE NEED TO BE CRUSHED.
The wheat was crushed, so the
flour was made and eventually the bread was baked.
The grape was crushed, so the
juice could come out.
Christ was broken for our
sins, so we can have new life.
There is no new order without
giving up the old order.
We cannot approach to Him
without allowing to be crushed by God.
Do you have relationship with
God?
How peaceful is your
relationship with God and each other?
Allow Christ to make ONE NEW
MAN
Amen