Ephesians 2:15-18
The New Man (Part 2)
Introduction
Illustration: Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean 'we,' Whiteman?"
There’s nothing worse than being divided. Are we together or not? Are we one at EFC or are we divided against each other? What will we be? Last week we began to look at what Paul calls “the New Man”. The New Man is another way of referring to the Church. We said there were 5 truths about this new man and we saw 2 last week: The New Man is Near to God, and In the New Man there is Peace.
Peace and unity go hand in hand. They are not the same, but, you can’t have unity without peace. Paul said in 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We said last week that the BASIS for separation between Jew and Gentile has been done away with, and, now, the BASIS for peace has been established. Christ is our peace, Paul said. In Him, Jew and Gentile, who once were hostile towards one another, now have the basis for peace with one another in Jesus Christ. This is seen elsewhere too. In Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Romans 10:12 it says, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.”
Therefore, we saw, in application, we as believers, have a reason, and, even an obligation for being at peace with one another. Peace in the Church is to be sought as though it were precious as silver and gold; and that, so unity may exist and be the expression in our relationships with one another. Let us then, look closer at the 3rd truth of the New Man, Unity.
In the New Man there is Unity (v14-15)
In the New Man, there is Unity. Notice verses 14-16, “….made the two one… one new man out of the two… in this one body”
Our theme today is unity. What do we mean by unity? We mean that we are together. We are many, and as the man of us are individuals, we become united. John 17:21-23 Jesus said, “….”
How do so many different individuals become joined together? Something becomes common between them. A fact, a reality, is found in each one in the mids of every difference. That fact, or reality, is more powerful in bringing all of them together than the power of all their differences are to divide.
What is the fact in the church? What is the reality existing in each of our lives that powerfully joins all of us together into one unified society? What do we all share, despite all our differences in life, that inspires us to cast aside those differences and despise their dividing influence, and embrace one another?
In the Church it is nothing less and nothing other than Jesus Christ our Lord. No human, earthly, physical, difference is able to undo the joining work of Christ and make all of us be “Together” in unity. God unites. He unites man and woman inmarriage to make them one. He joins every born again believer to ever other born again believer. In this way, God unites people together who otherwise would never have come together. The divisions – even the hostility – between people that find reconciliation unimaginable are overcome by the powerful uniting influence of Jesus Christ. People who are so different, people who have differences, and people who are indifferent are able to be brought together in a radical unity when they are joined to Christ.
God has given a basis for unity – Christ – and He expects unity to be seen within the Church. The more I am reading through Ephesians the more I am seeing unity. If we walk away from this study through Ephesians and we are not more united then when we started, then shame on us. I am seeing unity all over the pages of this book. Let me walk you through this:
i. “…bring all things together under one head..” (1:10)
ii. “…made the two one...” (2:14)
iii. “…create one new man out of the two…” (2:15)
iv. “…the whole building is joined together…” (2:21)
v. “…the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (3:6)
vi. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…” (4:3)
vii. “...until we all reach unity ….” (4:13)
viii. “…the whole body [is] joined and held together…” (4:16)
ix. “…for we are all members of one body…” (4:25)
x. Unity is the point in chapters 5-6
1. Unity in marriage (5:22-33)
2. Unity between parents & children (6:1-4)
3. Unity at work (6:5-9)
4. Unity under attack (6:10-18)
Be Active to Create Unity
What does all this mean? It means that God expects the individuals of the whole community to be active participants in creating unity. It means that each of us is expected to not only avoid doing things that would cause division, but, we are expected to actively cause unity in the Church. What we do should be done while asking the question: Is this bringing us all together, or, is this causing separation?
Let’s look at an example here from Galatians 2. Turn there with me if you will.
Here the great Apostle Peter needs to be corrected by Paul in the very issue we’re discussing today. Peter wasn’t promoting unity, but, division. Peter was having dinner with and really enjoying his new Gentile Christian friends. Pork isn’t so bad. These uncircumcised fella’s aren’t that bad. But all of a sudden when Jewish Christians came into the house Peter acted like he wasn’t their friend anymore. As soon as they walked in Peter backed away from them and separated himself from them. He reverted back to the old divisions, the “us verses them” mentality. Peter was promoting division in the Church that Christ died to bring together in unity. And Paul brought a stern rebuke to Peter.
Truth-Driven Unity
Notice there in verse 14 what Paul says. It is so important: When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel….” Paul was saying that Peter was a hypocrite. He was preaching the Gospel but his actions were not lining up with the truth of the Gospel.
I think we need to highlight something here. Unity in the Church is what I would call a Truth-Driven Unity. What does that mean? It means that our unity is driven by truth. Our unity is based on our allegiance to Biblical Truth. Many churches and organizations today try to create unity not based on truth, but, despite truth. Many are willing to hide what they say they believe in, and set their doctrinal beliefs aside in the shadows. They do this so that other things like social justice can become connecting points for unity. In other words, many people don’t care if someone has different ideas of what is true, just so long as we can join together in solving some social issue of the day.
Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 6, and listen to Paul speak on this matter: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.”
We do not disregard the truth so we can fellowship with others who disregard the truth. There is no harmony with those who have no agreement with us in matters of truth.
“The True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).
“Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17)
But the truth of God’s Word is the only real power for bringing unity. For a church to think that it can set the truth aside and achieve a unity apart from the truth is foolish. There is no such thing as unity apart from the truth. There is only the appearance of unity. Real unity is in Christ, it is in the Gospel, and it is in the truths that are in line with the Gospel.
Let us not be the kind that would mix what is true with what is false – for that is disgraceful to do in the eyes of our Lord. Listen to Spurgeon on the matter:
"To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one"? (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, "Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless... Unite, unite!" Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord's prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel.” –Spurgeon
In other words, for the Church to be divided is sinful. But for the Church to be united with any on grounds other than the truth of the Gospel is also sinful.
Listen to Paul’s words to the Philippians as he urges them to be unified and tell me if he is not making truth the point of unity. Turn with me to chapter 1:27-28. Notice the unity language, “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man…” He might as well have said, “Stand firm in unity, contend as one man together in unity”. Then notice that the unity is based on truth. What does he say to contend for? “The faith of the gospel”. In other words, the whole Church is to be united in contending for the truth of God’s word because it is the truth that has brought all of the believers together in unity.
Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” –A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
Caution Against Hyper-Segregation
We need to offer a word of caution here. Let us be careful not to “hyper-segregate” ourselves within the church. What I mean is we need to be careful not to emphasize human, physical, earthly things as the basis of who we fellowship with. Lot’s of times we see in churches the idea that I need people I can relate to who are in my life situation. So age, kids, income, marital status, hobbies, and so on become the connecting point between Christians. Groups form around distinctions that are earthly rather than Biblical. It is not our common salvation and identity in Christ, but, rather our demographics that we end up emphasizing. The focus should be our unity in Christ, not our similarity in our earthly life.
The hazard is that if we’re not careful this hyper-segregation can actually hinder unity in the Church. We begin to see ourselves as having nothing in common with people outside of our little demographic, and therefore never develop any relationship with others who we may benefit us in our walk with Christ. If the older and younger Christians in the Church don’t really fellowship how on earth can Titus 2 (older women teaching younger) ever occur? The Lord has gifted the Body of Christ, not the singles ministry, or the college and career ministry. When we avoid others outside of our own demographic we avoid the spiritual benefit that comes from others outside of our group.
What we all have in common is Christ, therefore, over and above anything else, we have Christ as our reason for joining in unity, fellowship and brotherly affection together.
The New Man (Part 2)
Introduction
Illustration: Tonto and the Lone Ranger were riding through a canyon together when all of a sudden both sides were filled with Native American warriors on horses, dressed for battle. The Lone Ranger turned to Tonto and asked, "What are we going to do?" Tonto replied, "What you mean 'we,' Whiteman?"
There’s nothing worse than being divided. Are we together or not? Are we one at EFC or are we divided against each other? What will we be? Last week we began to look at what Paul calls “the New Man”. The New Man is another way of referring to the Church. We said there were 5 truths about this new man and we saw 2 last week: The New Man is Near to God, and In the New Man there is Peace.
Peace and unity go hand in hand. They are not the same, but, you can’t have unity without peace. Paul said in 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” We said last week that the BASIS for separation between Jew and Gentile has been done away with, and, now, the BASIS for peace has been established. Christ is our peace, Paul said. In Him, Jew and Gentile, who once were hostile towards one another, now have the basis for peace with one another in Jesus Christ. This is seen elsewhere too. In Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Romans 10:12 it says, “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile – the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him.”
Therefore, we saw, in application, we as believers, have a reason, and, even an obligation for being at peace with one another. Peace in the Church is to be sought as though it were precious as silver and gold; and that, so unity may exist and be the expression in our relationships with one another. Let us then, look closer at the 3rd truth of the New Man, Unity.
In the New Man there is Unity (v14-15)
In the New Man, there is Unity. Notice verses 14-16, “….made the two one… one new man out of the two… in this one body”
Our theme today is unity. What do we mean by unity? We mean that we are together. We are many, and as the man of us are individuals, we become united. John 17:21-23 Jesus said, “….”
How do so many different individuals become joined together? Something becomes common between them. A fact, a reality, is found in each one in the mids of every difference. That fact, or reality, is more powerful in bringing all of them together than the power of all their differences are to divide.
What is the fact in the church? What is the reality existing in each of our lives that powerfully joins all of us together into one unified society? What do we all share, despite all our differences in life, that inspires us to cast aside those differences and despise their dividing influence, and embrace one another?
In the Church it is nothing less and nothing other than Jesus Christ our Lord. No human, earthly, physical, difference is able to undo the joining work of Christ and make all of us be “Together” in unity. God unites. He unites man and woman inmarriage to make them one. He joins every born again believer to ever other born again believer. In this way, God unites people together who otherwise would never have come together. The divisions – even the hostility – between people that find reconciliation unimaginable are overcome by the powerful uniting influence of Jesus Christ. People who are so different, people who have differences, and people who are indifferent are able to be brought together in a radical unity when they are joined to Christ.
God has given a basis for unity – Christ – and He expects unity to be seen within the Church. The more I am reading through Ephesians the more I am seeing unity. If we walk away from this study through Ephesians and we are not more united then when we started, then shame on us. I am seeing unity all over the pages of this book. Let me walk you through this:
i. “…bring all things together under one head..” (1:10)
ii. “…made the two one...” (2:14)
iii. “…create one new man out of the two…” (2:15)
iv. “…the whole building is joined together…” (2:21)
v. “…the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” (3:6)
vi. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit…” (4:3)
vii. “...until we all reach unity ….” (4:13)
viii. “…the whole body [is] joined and held together…” (4:16)
ix. “…for we are all members of one body…” (4:25)
x. Unity is the point in chapters 5-6
1. Unity in marriage (5:22-33)
2. Unity between parents & children (6:1-4)
3. Unity at work (6:5-9)
4. Unity under attack (6:10-18)
Be Active to Create Unity
What does all this mean? It means that God expects the individuals of the whole community to be active participants in creating unity. It means that each of us is expected to not only avoid doing things that would cause division, but, we are expected to actively cause unity in the Church. What we do should be done while asking the question: Is this bringing us all together, or, is this causing separation?
Let’s look at an example here from Galatians 2. Turn there with me if you will.
Here the great Apostle Peter needs to be corrected by Paul in the very issue we’re discussing today. Peter wasn’t promoting unity, but, division. Peter was having dinner with and really enjoying his new Gentile Christian friends. Pork isn’t so bad. These uncircumcised fella’s aren’t that bad. But all of a sudden when Jewish Christians came into the house Peter acted like he wasn’t their friend anymore. As soon as they walked in Peter backed away from them and separated himself from them. He reverted back to the old divisions, the “us verses them” mentality. Peter was promoting division in the Church that Christ died to bring together in unity. And Paul brought a stern rebuke to Peter.
Truth-Driven Unity
Notice there in verse 14 what Paul says. It is so important: When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel….” Paul was saying that Peter was a hypocrite. He was preaching the Gospel but his actions were not lining up with the truth of the Gospel.
I think we need to highlight something here. Unity in the Church is what I would call a Truth-Driven Unity. What does that mean? It means that our unity is driven by truth. Our unity is based on our allegiance to Biblical Truth. Many churches and organizations today try to create unity not based on truth, but, despite truth. Many are willing to hide what they say they believe in, and set their doctrinal beliefs aside in the shadows. They do this so that other things like social justice can become connecting points for unity. In other words, many people don’t care if someone has different ideas of what is true, just so long as we can join together in solving some social issue of the day.
Turn with me to 2 Corinthians 6, and listen to Paul speak on this matter: “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.’ Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord.”
We do not disregard the truth so we can fellowship with others who disregard the truth. There is no harmony with those who have no agreement with us in matters of truth.
“The True worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24).
“Sanctify them by your truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17)
But the truth of God’s Word is the only real power for bringing unity. For a church to think that it can set the truth aside and achieve a unity apart from the truth is foolish. There is no such thing as unity apart from the truth. There is only the appearance of unity. Real unity is in Christ, it is in the Gospel, and it is in the truths that are in line with the Gospel.
Let us not be the kind that would mix what is true with what is false – for that is disgraceful to do in the eyes of our Lord. Listen to Spurgeon on the matter:
"To remain divided is sinful! Did not our Lord pray, that they may be one, even as we are one"? (John 17:22). A chorus of ecumenical voices keep harping the unity tune. What they are saying is, "Christians of all doctrinal shades and beliefs must come together in one visible organization, regardless... Unite, unite!" Such teaching is false, reckless and dangerous. Truth alone must determine our alignments. Truth comes before unity. Unity without truth is hazardous. Our Lord's prayer in John 17 must be read in its full context. Look at verse 17: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth." Only those sanctified through the Word can be one in Christ. To teach otherwise is to betray the Gospel.” –Spurgeon
In other words, for the Church to be divided is sinful. But for the Church to be united with any on grounds other than the truth of the Gospel is also sinful.
Listen to Paul’s words to the Philippians as he urges them to be unified and tell me if he is not making truth the point of unity. Turn with me to chapter 1:27-28. Notice the unity language, “stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man…” He might as well have said, “Stand firm in unity, contend as one man together in unity”. Then notice that the unity is based on truth. What does he say to contend for? “The faith of the gospel”. In other words, the whole Church is to be united in contending for the truth of God’s word because it is the truth that has brought all of the believers together in unity.
Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers [meeting] together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.” –A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
Caution Against Hyper-Segregation
We need to offer a word of caution here. Let us be careful not to “hyper-segregate” ourselves within the church. What I mean is we need to be careful not to emphasize human, physical, earthly things as the basis of who we fellowship with. Lot’s of times we see in churches the idea that I need people I can relate to who are in my life situation. So age, kids, income, marital status, hobbies, and so on become the connecting point between Christians. Groups form around distinctions that are earthly rather than Biblical. It is not our common salvation and identity in Christ, but, rather our demographics that we end up emphasizing. The focus should be our unity in Christ, not our similarity in our earthly life.
The hazard is that if we’re not careful this hyper-segregation can actually hinder unity in the Church. We begin to see ourselves as having nothing in common with people outside of our little demographic, and therefore never develop any relationship with others who we may benefit us in our walk with Christ. If the older and younger Christians in the Church don’t really fellowship how on earth can Titus 2 (older women teaching younger) ever occur? The Lord has gifted the Body of Christ, not the singles ministry, or the college and career ministry. When we avoid others outside of our own demographic we avoid the spiritual benefit that comes from others outside of our group.
What we all have in common is Christ, therefore, over and above anything else, we have Christ as our reason for joining in unity, fellowship and brotherly affection together.
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