Ephesians 2:13-18
The New Man
Introduction
A. Illustrations. At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose "loud" as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical. Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music. Today in the Word, June 22, 1992.
So many differences, all brought together by one thing in common. The Church is like that, and Paul talks about that in the 2nd half of Ephesians.
The book of Ephesians is one that is known for its rich teaching on the doctrine of the Church. For us to have the best understanding of the Church we must look closely at Ephesians. Without it, we most certainly would be deficient in our perception of this precious community.
In Ephesians alone, we find the various names and metaphors given to the Church. In 1:22 it is called the Church. In verse 23 it is called Christ’s “Body”. In 3 Paul calls the Church a “Mystery”. In chapter 5 he calls the Church “the Bride” of Christ.
There is one more in our passage this morning. Paul calls the Church in 2:15, a “New Man”. He says, “His purpose [Jesus Christ’s] was to create in Himself one new man out of the two…” Christ has created a new man, a new society, a new community. The members of this new group lose their former distinctions in order that all of them (us) may be bonded together in something they all have in common. In order to bring the Body of Christ to life, Christ had to give His physical, human body over to death. His shed blood, His flesh, His body are all references in this passage to His death. Without His death, the New Man would not live.
Paul teaches us 5 Truths about this New Man. Today we’re going to get through 2
In the New Man we are Near to God (v13)
Verse 13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” This must be seen in the Context of verses 11-12. Paul described the separation of Gentiles. They were separated from God and from Israel.
Israel was the chosen nation, they were near to God. They were near because they had the covenants, they had the sign of circumcision that God gave them, they had the promise and the hope of the Messiah. They had the Tabernacle, they had the cloud and the fire and they had the Shekinah glory. They were near to God and God was near to them. Dueteronomy 4:7 says, “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near to them the way the LORD our God is near us when we pray to Him?”
But now, Gentiles are no longer far off. Paul says, “you who once were far away” – that’s Gentiles. It is through Christ that Gentiles are brought near to God.
Are you near to God? The Bible describes people as being near to God and it also describes people being far away from Him. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus is describing people whom He is sending to hell when they say to Him, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” Away from me. Never will you be near to me. Now listen to Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 when he says also about the Lord sending people to hell, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from tehmajesty of His power”. They will never be near to Him.
The desire of God’s heart is for you to be near to Him. He offers it to you. He invites you. Jesus is the One who prayed, “Father I want those who you have given me to be with me where I am…” And He is the One who said, “Come! Whoever wishes let Him come and take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” That is an invitation. If you are far away, then come near. Come near through Jesus Christ.
In the New Man we all have Peace with Each Other (v14-15)
He says, “For He Himself is our peace.” And then in verse 15 Paul says, “His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.” Peace is important in Scripture. The Bible says we can have different kinds of peace. We have peace with God when we are saved (Rom. 5:1). We have inner peace when we pray in difficult times (Phil. 4:6-7). And we have peace with each other, which is what Paul is speaking of here.
Now notice what is said in verse 14: Christ Himself is our Peace. The Prince of Peace is our peace. This is important. Paul means more here than just that Jesus achieved peace between two hostile parties. He is our peace. Wuest says, “It is not only that the peace was made by Christ and ranks as His achievement, but that it is so identified with Him that were He away it would also fail, - so dependent on Him that apart from Him we cannot have it.”
Christ is able to overcome all hostility between people so that in Him people can have peace. Whereas people who are separate, or far away from Christ would never be at peace, it is possible for peace when they both come to Christ. I would say it is not only possible, but, logical, and, not only logical, but, expected. What does this mean? Well, it means that peace should be the norm between Christians.
Someone might be saying, well that’s all fine on paper but it’s obvious that Christians don’t always have peace. That’s true. But, that’s because of sinful disobedience to the clear commands of Scripture.
What I mean is that the basis for peace is established – that is Christ. The way to live so that His peace is experienced is also given in the NT. For instance, Paul, when he begins to give practical application starting in chapter 4, the first thing he says in verse 3 is “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Now Paul is going to tell you how to experience peace: Compassion, forgiveness, humility, gentleness, love, patience…
When Christians choose instead to be unforgiving, arrogant, harsh, unloving, impatient, demanding, self-centered well of course there is no peace. So I would say it is the willful negligence and ignoring of what the Bible requires of our character that causes the disruption to peace.
I mentioned a moment ago that the “basis” for peace between Jew and Gentile is established. That means Christ – He is the basis. But before Christ, the there was an established basis for separation, not peace. Paul says in verse 14-15, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.”
The Law was the basis for separation. You see, God gave the Law to Israel, and no other nation. And in the Law God required Israel to be distinct from all other nations around them. The food they ate, the clothes they wore, the way the worshipped God, their work week, the requirement to be circumcised, the feast days, the sacrifices, the offerings were all different from the nations surrounding them. God made them unique and they were to be unique in all they did because they were now the possession of God and God is unique. God set up the separation between Jew and Gentile, Israel and the other nations.
And Paul refers to this separation when he mentions the “dividing wall of hostility”. Now Paul is referring simply to the differences between Jew and Gentile, but, there is an allusion to the actual wall in the Jewish temple that separted the Gentiles. When you came up to the temple, the outermost court was the court of Gentiles. And there was a wall that prevented Gentiles from going any further into the next court which was the court of Women (Jewish women). And the next court was the court of Israel, and then the court of the priests, and the then Holy Place and finally the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies).
The wall was about 4 feet tall and it had No Trespassing signs that gave warnings to any Gentile that to pass that stone wall would result in immediate death. One sign was dug up in the 1800’s and it said this: “Let no one of any other other nation come within the fence and barrier around the Holy Place. Whoever is caught doing so will himself be responsible for the fact that his death will ensue.”
The wall was a continual reminder that there was a difference between being a Jew and a Gentile. It was a reminder that God had chosen Israel. Isreal had the privilege to be near to God as seen in how the Temple was laid out. Gentiles were furthest away, Israel was closest.
All of this separation between Jew and Gentile was God’s doing. But now all of this breaking down of barriers is God’s doing. God did this through the death of Jesus Christ. Paul refers to Jesus’ death 2 times in this passage.
What Christ did when He came and lived and died was 2 things in regards to the Law. First, He fulfilled it. He met the righteous requirements of the Law. He did not violate it in any way or to any small or large degree. Everything the Law demanded of men for righteousness Christ fulfilled.
Secondly, Christ Paul says abolished the Law. Let’s look at this a second. First Jesus fulfills the Law. Therefore, by all rights He does not deserve any penalty the Law gives for breaking it. But, Christ did suffer the penalty of the Law. Christ suffered the penalty for every single one of our sins and transgressions – the sins and transgressions Paul talked about at the beginning of the chapter. In His death, then, every crime against the Law was paid for.
Therefore, the Law no longer has claim to anyone who is joined to Christ. The word for “abolished” does not mean to destroy, but, in the Greek it means to render inoperative, or, to make powerless, or, to put it out of commission. Sometimes when I run the weed wacker I run out of cord and the plug is pulled out and the power is cut off. Jesus pulled the plug on the Law. The Law is made to be inactive and powerless in Christ. In other words, Christ shut down the Law. This means that the Law cannot require me to pay any penalty for my violation against the law because I am now in Christ and any penalty for any violation of the Law was paid by Christ for me.
I’m a Gentile, not an Israelite. And that is Paul’s point. In the Church, in the New Man All Distinctives are Destroyed, “destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility”.
What this means is that the Law is no longer the basis for division between Jew and Gentile. The Jew is to no longer look at the Law and see himself as separate from the Gentiles because of the Law. Now, the Jew is to look to Christ as the basis for unity with the Gentiles. Christ is the new economy, the new constitution, the new framework for peace with Gentiles where the law was used for division.
Conclusion
Lets end with just a couple applications.
First, Have you been brought near to God through faith in Jesus Christ? Or are you trying to get to God on your own. You can’t do it. Only Christ can bring you to God. Today you can be given the assurance of being near to God for eternity by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for your sins. Believe in Him and your sins will be taken as far from you as the east is from the west, and you will be brought near to God.
Second, is there someone you need to reconcile with? Is there someone who you have hostility towards? Romans 12:18 says, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Lastly, There is an emphasis in our study times to learn how to see ourselves in Christ. But I would conclude today with something different. How do you see each other in Christ? Do you see your brother in Christ as one who near to God? Or, as someone you have peace with because of Christ? Or someone whom you are united with in an eternal way?
The New Man
Introduction
A. Illustrations. At a meeting of the American Psychological Association, Jack Lipton, a psychologist at Union College, and R. Scott Builione, a graduate student at Columbia University, presented their findings on how members of the various sections of 11 major symphony orchestra perceived each other. The percussionists were viewed as insensitive, unintelligent, and hard-of-hearing, yet fun-loving. String players were seen as arrogant, stuffy, and unathletic. The orchestra members overwhelmingly chose "loud" as the primary adjective to describe the brass players. Woodwind players seemed to be held in the highest esteem, described as quiet and meticulous, though a bit egotistical. Interesting findings, to say the least! With such widely divergent personalities and perceptions, how could an orchestra ever come together to make such wonderful music? The answer is simple: regardless of how those musicians view each other, they subordinate their feelings and biases to the leadership of the conductor. Under his guidance, they play beautiful music. Today in the Word, June 22, 1992.
So many differences, all brought together by one thing in common. The Church is like that, and Paul talks about that in the 2nd half of Ephesians.
The book of Ephesians is one that is known for its rich teaching on the doctrine of the Church. For us to have the best understanding of the Church we must look closely at Ephesians. Without it, we most certainly would be deficient in our perception of this precious community.
In Ephesians alone, we find the various names and metaphors given to the Church. In 1:22 it is called the Church. In verse 23 it is called Christ’s “Body”. In 3 Paul calls the Church a “Mystery”. In chapter 5 he calls the Church “the Bride” of Christ.
There is one more in our passage this morning. Paul calls the Church in 2:15, a “New Man”. He says, “His purpose [Jesus Christ’s] was to create in Himself one new man out of the two…” Christ has created a new man, a new society, a new community. The members of this new group lose their former distinctions in order that all of them (us) may be bonded together in something they all have in common. In order to bring the Body of Christ to life, Christ had to give His physical, human body over to death. His shed blood, His flesh, His body are all references in this passage to His death. Without His death, the New Man would not live.
Paul teaches us 5 Truths about this New Man. Today we’re going to get through 2
In the New Man we are Near to God (v13)
Verse 13 says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” This must be seen in the Context of verses 11-12. Paul described the separation of Gentiles. They were separated from God and from Israel.
Israel was the chosen nation, they were near to God. They were near because they had the covenants, they had the sign of circumcision that God gave them, they had the promise and the hope of the Messiah. They had the Tabernacle, they had the cloud and the fire and they had the Shekinah glory. They were near to God and God was near to them. Dueteronomy 4:7 says, “What other nation is so great as to have their gods near to them the way the LORD our God is near us when we pray to Him?”
But now, Gentiles are no longer far off. Paul says, “you who once were far away” – that’s Gentiles. It is through Christ that Gentiles are brought near to God.
Are you near to God? The Bible describes people as being near to God and it also describes people being far away from Him. In Matthew 7:22-23 Jesus is describing people whom He is sending to hell when they say to Him, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers.” Away from me. Never will you be near to me. Now listen to Paul in 2 Thessalonians 1:9 when he says also about the Lord sending people to hell, “They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from tehmajesty of His power”. They will never be near to Him.
The desire of God’s heart is for you to be near to Him. He offers it to you. He invites you. Jesus is the One who prayed, “Father I want those who you have given me to be with me where I am…” And He is the One who said, “Come! Whoever wishes let Him come and take the free gift of the water of life.” (Rev. 22:17. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” That is an invitation. If you are far away, then come near. Come near through Jesus Christ.
In the New Man we all have Peace with Each Other (v14-15)
He says, “For He Himself is our peace.” And then in verse 15 Paul says, “His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace.” Peace is important in Scripture. The Bible says we can have different kinds of peace. We have peace with God when we are saved (Rom. 5:1). We have inner peace when we pray in difficult times (Phil. 4:6-7). And we have peace with each other, which is what Paul is speaking of here.
Now notice what is said in verse 14: Christ Himself is our Peace. The Prince of Peace is our peace. This is important. Paul means more here than just that Jesus achieved peace between two hostile parties. He is our peace. Wuest says, “It is not only that the peace was made by Christ and ranks as His achievement, but that it is so identified with Him that were He away it would also fail, - so dependent on Him that apart from Him we cannot have it.”
Christ is able to overcome all hostility between people so that in Him people can have peace. Whereas people who are separate, or far away from Christ would never be at peace, it is possible for peace when they both come to Christ. I would say it is not only possible, but, logical, and, not only logical, but, expected. What does this mean? Well, it means that peace should be the norm between Christians.
Someone might be saying, well that’s all fine on paper but it’s obvious that Christians don’t always have peace. That’s true. But, that’s because of sinful disobedience to the clear commands of Scripture.
What I mean is that the basis for peace is established – that is Christ. The way to live so that His peace is experienced is also given in the NT. For instance, Paul, when he begins to give practical application starting in chapter 4, the first thing he says in verse 3 is “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Now Paul is going to tell you how to experience peace: Compassion, forgiveness, humility, gentleness, love, patience…
When Christians choose instead to be unforgiving, arrogant, harsh, unloving, impatient, demanding, self-centered well of course there is no peace. So I would say it is the willful negligence and ignoring of what the Bible requires of our character that causes the disruption to peace.
I mentioned a moment ago that the “basis” for peace between Jew and Gentile is established. That means Christ – He is the basis. But before Christ, the there was an established basis for separation, not peace. Paul says in verse 14-15, “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.”
The Law was the basis for separation. You see, God gave the Law to Israel, and no other nation. And in the Law God required Israel to be distinct from all other nations around them. The food they ate, the clothes they wore, the way the worshipped God, their work week, the requirement to be circumcised, the feast days, the sacrifices, the offerings were all different from the nations surrounding them. God made them unique and they were to be unique in all they did because they were now the possession of God and God is unique. God set up the separation between Jew and Gentile, Israel and the other nations.
And Paul refers to this separation when he mentions the “dividing wall of hostility”. Now Paul is referring simply to the differences between Jew and Gentile, but, there is an allusion to the actual wall in the Jewish temple that separted the Gentiles. When you came up to the temple, the outermost court was the court of Gentiles. And there was a wall that prevented Gentiles from going any further into the next court which was the court of Women (Jewish women). And the next court was the court of Israel, and then the court of the priests, and the then Holy Place and finally the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies).
The wall was about 4 feet tall and it had No Trespassing signs that gave warnings to any Gentile that to pass that stone wall would result in immediate death. One sign was dug up in the 1800’s and it said this: “Let no one of any other other nation come within the fence and barrier around the Holy Place. Whoever is caught doing so will himself be responsible for the fact that his death will ensue.”
The wall was a continual reminder that there was a difference between being a Jew and a Gentile. It was a reminder that God had chosen Israel. Isreal had the privilege to be near to God as seen in how the Temple was laid out. Gentiles were furthest away, Israel was closest.
All of this separation between Jew and Gentile was God’s doing. But now all of this breaking down of barriers is God’s doing. God did this through the death of Jesus Christ. Paul refers to Jesus’ death 2 times in this passage.
What Christ did when He came and lived and died was 2 things in regards to the Law. First, He fulfilled it. He met the righteous requirements of the Law. He did not violate it in any way or to any small or large degree. Everything the Law demanded of men for righteousness Christ fulfilled.
Secondly, Christ Paul says abolished the Law. Let’s look at this a second. First Jesus fulfills the Law. Therefore, by all rights He does not deserve any penalty the Law gives for breaking it. But, Christ did suffer the penalty of the Law. Christ suffered the penalty for every single one of our sins and transgressions – the sins and transgressions Paul talked about at the beginning of the chapter. In His death, then, every crime against the Law was paid for.
Therefore, the Law no longer has claim to anyone who is joined to Christ. The word for “abolished” does not mean to destroy, but, in the Greek it means to render inoperative, or, to make powerless, or, to put it out of commission. Sometimes when I run the weed wacker I run out of cord and the plug is pulled out and the power is cut off. Jesus pulled the plug on the Law. The Law is made to be inactive and powerless in Christ. In other words, Christ shut down the Law. This means that the Law cannot require me to pay any penalty for my violation against the law because I am now in Christ and any penalty for any violation of the Law was paid by Christ for me.
I’m a Gentile, not an Israelite. And that is Paul’s point. In the Church, in the New Man All Distinctives are Destroyed, “destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility”.
What this means is that the Law is no longer the basis for division between Jew and Gentile. The Jew is to no longer look at the Law and see himself as separate from the Gentiles because of the Law. Now, the Jew is to look to Christ as the basis for unity with the Gentiles. Christ is the new economy, the new constitution, the new framework for peace with Gentiles where the law was used for division.
Conclusion
Lets end with just a couple applications.
First, Have you been brought near to God through faith in Jesus Christ? Or are you trying to get to God on your own. You can’t do it. Only Christ can bring you to God. Today you can be given the assurance of being near to God for eternity by putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus died for your sins. Believe in Him and your sins will be taken as far from you as the east is from the west, and you will be brought near to God.
Second, is there someone you need to reconcile with? Is there someone who you have hostility towards? Romans 12:18 says, “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
Lastly, There is an emphasis in our study times to learn how to see ourselves in Christ. But I would conclude today with something different. How do you see each other in Christ? Do you see your brother in Christ as one who near to God? Or, as someone you have peace with because of Christ? Or someone whom you are united with in an eternal way?
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