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The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt31

Reconciliation by the cross, Pt2

Scripture: Eph 2:14-17.

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II. CHRIST HAS, MORE IMPORTANTLY, RECONCILED US TO GOD
Verse 16. The division between the Jew and the Gentile was the result of the division between God and the sinner. True peace with men can only come about from reconciliation to God. Loving our neighbour follows on from loving God.

1. Such reconciliation was ever the purpose of Christ. He came to restore the “old friendship” lost through the fall, by His sacrifice, Rev 13:8. (Reconcile = restore to former harmony.)

2. Reconciliation is only through the blood of Christ. It is “by the cross.” Col 1:20. No forgiveness but by the blood, Hebs 9:22.

III. THE GOSPEL IS, IN ESSENCE, THE MESSAGE OF PEACE
“And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” Ephesians 2:17. That was  announced on the Day of Pentecost. “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call,” Acts 2:39.

1. Christ is speaking irrespective of who does the preaching of the gospel. This is what gives this ordinance such dignity.

2. The offer of peace with God must be made before the sinner may avail of it. What an evil thing it is for minister or people to downgrade preaching.

3. See again the grace of God in that the initiative is His alone. He came to the sinner.

4. The sum of the gospel is peace. Have you the peace of God today?

The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt30

Reconciliation by the cross, Pt1

Scripture: Eph 2:14-17.

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This is a chapter of change and contrasts. Having depicted the misery in which the Ephesians dwelt before conversion to Christ, Paul also detailed their happy estate in Christ. They are no longer “far off”  but have been made nigh and it is all because of the blood shed by Christ,v 13.

I CHRIST HAS RECONCILED THE GENTILE CONVERTS TO THE TRUE ISRAEL
1. Ceremonially, the gentile had been cut off from Israel. “That at that time ye were . . . aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise” verse 12.

a. Middle wall broken down. The Church of God in the TO had been as a garden, walled off, from which the Gentiles were excluded.“A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed,” Song of Solomon 4:12.

b. Enmity abolished. The Gentiles were the enemies of God against whom a war of opposition must be fought to stop them polluting the house of God. The Gentiles hated the distinctives, Esther 3:8.

Christ abolished this enmity by abolishing (render idle, of no further use) its cause, verse 15. Note just what was abolished. It was the “ordinanaces” — the ceremonies of the Old Testament. Not the whole Law or the whole Commandments but that section called the ordinances, Col 2:14. But these ordinances were at enmity with the Jewish worshipper also. Every sacrifice he made, condemned him as one  guilty of death.

2. The Jew and the Gentiles are now one. “To make in himself of twain one new man,” verse 15. Gal 3:26-29; 7-9. We shall partake of Abraham’s blessing, Gen 12:2-3; 7. Matt 5:5.

The unsearchable riches of Christ, Pt29

From foreigners to fellow-citizens, Pt2

Scripture: Eph 2:11-13.

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 II. WHEN WE REMEMBER OUR FORMER CONDITION, WE WILL SEE IT TO BE THE SAME AS THE EPHESIANS.
We were Gentiles and without Christ.
1. We were without Christ. That is, “outside of Christ.”  We were not part of Him or in touch with Him. We were in the place of danger and damnation.
2. We were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. Israel was the people of God and we were outside of that commonwealth or community.
3. We were strangers to the covenants of promise. We were foreigners, having no part in the covenant of grace. It is called covenants (plural) because it was so often renewed and published to new generations in ancient times (Adam, Abraham, David etc.). We were ignorant of the promise contained in that covenant for we were strangers to it all. What is the covenant? “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him,” John 3:36.
4. We were without hope. Being cut off from God, His people and His gospel, we were without hope for eternity.
5. We were without God. We had religion but not God! Note the words “in the world.” The unconverted sinner is alone in this world. Without guide or comfort; without direction or knowledge; without friend or companion. Without God.
What a dreadfully destitute state to be in
Such were we when Christ in mercy saved us.
How can we ever forget that this was so?
III. OUR DELIVERANCE FROM THIS DREADFUL STATE WAS BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ,” Eph 2:13.
“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,” 1 Peter 3:18.
We owe all to Christ and His death at Calvary.