The Church and I: One New Humanity (Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

Snippet of Sermon by Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan

Our text today makes three primary points:

1. Divisions are real (vv.11-12)

The Jewish practice of circumcision and their observance of many ordinances and religious regulations created a sense of superiority among the Jews and contributed to their sense of disdain for the Gentiles. At the same time, these practices and attitudes created a strong anti-Jewish backlash among the Gentiles. One of most visible expressions of this distinction and hostility between Jews and Gentiles was found in the temple. There, a wall divided the inner court sanctuary -- which was open only to Jews - from the outer court, which was also open to Gentiles. Insiders and outsiders.

This inscription contains the ominous words, "Whoever is captured will have himself to blame for his subsequent death."

Christian community is an unnatural unity, unlike a lifestyle enclave in which a shared interest brings people together [e.g. fishing, golf].  The New Testament Church was anything but a homogeneous group.  It was made up of Jews and Gentiles, young and old, slaves and slave owners, male and female.  It had a host of characters from ex prostitutes, ex priests and ex practitioners of magic to fishermen, zealots (the terrorists of the first century) and tax collectors, collaborators with the Roman establishment!

There was a far greater ethnic, economic, political and social diversity than we have in Singapore today.  Their resultant behavior caused the Romans to call them “The Third Race.” [1] Their life gave credibility to their faith and the truth of their message (I John 4.20).  The Church as community also provides a living statement of God’s truth to the world.

Animosity and divisions can arise when someone seeks to manipulate people and/or events for their own ends. It may be that there is pride in rule-keeping and those who do not keep the same rules are slighted/snubbed. It may be that a pet interpretation of doctrine is emphasized and used as a litmus test for belonging to the “in” group. In Singapore, a Church filed injunction against bible college board over doctrinal difference in 2008, only resolved in 2011. Or, it could be that someone wants to wrest leadership from the pastor or elders and rallies a group of people around himself to accomplish a coup d'état. Sadly, difference of opinion regarding music and worship style is also a frequent cause of division in the church.

Reflection Question: Today are we recognized as being a third race? People who are the living proof of God’s truth in the world?

2. Christ is our peace (vv.13-16)

In spite of this long history of division between Jews and Gentiles, Paul writes that Christ "is our peace" (v.14). Paul uses a number of phrases and images in verses 13-16 to describe the broad scope of Christ's reconciling work. In short, Paul says that Christ has eliminated the root causes of the hostile division between Jews and Gentiles. Both groups are reconciled to God through the cross.

Far and near. First, Paul says that those who once were far off -- the Gentiles -- "have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (v.13). In using this image of far and near, Paul cleverly borrows from the prophet Isaiah who once distinguished the Jewish exiles who were far off in Babylon from those who were left behind in a decimated homeland (Isa. 57:19[2]). And just as God had once restored the Jewish exiles, now, in Christ, God would do the same thing for the Gentiles.

Jews and Gentiles focused on their differences. But, as Paul infers, both groups had this in common: each had known the experience of being estranged from God. The sacrificial life and death of Christ would benefit all who would believe -- both Jew and Gentile.

Dividing wall. Second, Paul says that Christ has broken down the dividing wall that represented the hostility between Jews and Gentiles (v.14). I noted earlier that this dividing wall in the temple kept Gentiles from having access to the inner court of the temple where they could worship God. Instead, they were banished to the outer court where they had to contend with the noise and distraction of the merchants and moneychangers. The wall was a constant reminder that the Gentiles were second class at best. Paul says that Christ broke down the dividing wall in order to make both groups one and offer both groups equal access to God.

Abolish the law. Third, Paul says that Christ "has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances" (v.15). At first blush, this statement seems to be at odds with the comment of Jesus when he said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill" (Matt. 5:17).

Christ has dismantled, disarmed, put to death and made a public spectacle of those things we humans construct to make us feel special and superior -- things that cut us off from God and from one another. And in their place, God has reconstructed one new humanity in place of the two (v.15) and has reconciled both groups to God in one body (v.16).

Christ is our peace. If only Christians will honor God by life style within the community of faith.  As Paul said to the Church at Corinth, “You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts to be known and read by all.”  (II Cor. 3.2).  Jesus lived, died and was raised from the dead to create the community of faith! 

3. The church is God's new dwelling place (vv.17-22)

This is the image that Paul uses here: Christ demolishes the old order so that he can build the new. In this "one new humanity in Christ" -- which we call the church -- Christ is reconciling former enemies and constructing a new temple where God can dwell.

The old temple, because of its dividing wall, had been a painful symbol of alienation and separation between Jews and Gentiles. But this new temple will be the symbol of reconciliation and unity.

Illustration: A woman recently remarried after being widowed for several years. As is often the case, both she and the widower that she married decided that they would each sell their old houses and buy a new house together. That way they could grow into their new home together rather than one needing to make all the adjustments of coming onto the other's "turf."

New Testament scholar Francis Beare makes a similar observation about the way in which Christ formed "one new humanity" from the Gentiles and Jews. Beare writes that it was "not by the victory of one part over another, (not) by the conversion of the Gentile world to Judaism, but by the harmonious union of the warring elements into something altogether new. . . The Gentiles, who were 'alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, are not beaten into submission to the religion of Israel, but are given an equal part in the making of the new (humanity)."

Paul makes several observations about the nature of this one new humanity -- the church:

Both groups will have equal access to God. We hear a lot about access today. Paul says that in Christ, both groups -- former enemies -- now have equal access to God. This access is based, not on the law, not on ancestry, not on circumcision, but on the cross of Christ. Based on God's initiative and on God's grace and mercy.

Both groups will have full rights of citizenship. One of the issues in last election has to do with immigration -- specifically, what rights to afford to immigrants, the permanent residents. Many Singaporeans want the demarcation to be clear that PR’s do not have the same rights and privileges as do citizens.

Paul says that both groups -- Gentiles and Jews -- are full citizens and members of God's household. This one new humanity in Christ is to offer space for all to meet and to experience God's presence and welcome.  God will only dwell where God's people are living out this one new humanity. The church is to be living proof of God's mighty power to reconcile. When we are not willing to live in reconciled relationships, we should not expect God to be present in our midst.

Application

1. Distinctions have their place but are not to be worshiped. Ethnic and national and political and denominational identities will always be a part of who we are. These distinctions bring with them rich traditions and customs and tastes -- all of which are to be celebrated as gifts from God.

Any distinctions in the human family are not an appropriate basis for deciding who is part of the body of Christ -- or for determining one's status, or for assigning human worth, or for apportioning power, or for making judgments about good and evil. God takes the initiative to extend grace and to offer a place in God's family for all who will respond to Christ with a faith that expresses itself in a willingness to follow.

2. We aren't ultimately responsible to fix the broken world in which we live. That's a relief. Paul says that God is already gathering up or reconciling "all things in (Christ), things in heaven and things on earth" (Eph. 1:10) and that Christ has already broken down the dividing wall of hostility (Eph. 2:14). Some of you may be thinking, well, if God has already done the work of reconciliation -- if Christ has broken down the dividing wall -- why is there still so much division in the world and even in the church? And if Christ has already done the work of reconciliation, then what is our role? What is left for us?

Our job is three-fold:

1. Our role is to not rebuild barriers. While Christ has broken down the dividing wall, we humans continue to construct barriers to make us feel superior to others: education levels, economic status, ethnicity, Christians by birth vs Christians by confession and choice. When we make these distinctions the basis for excluding some, or for showing favoritism, we are guilty of rebuilding the barriers which Christ dismantled. The same is true when we react to differences of opinion by taking sides and gossiping, the split will widen, more harm will be done to the church members, and our message to the world will be further compromised.

While we are not to rebuild barriers, neither are we to tear down the temple that God is building. The text from 1 Corinthians 3:17 has strong words in this regard.

Reflection Question: How would you see yourself? Are you part of the demolition team or the construction team in God’s house? Why?

2. Our role is to tell the truth about the power of Christ's reconciling work. Many other Jewish Christians in the first century were not particularly interested in telling the truth about the radical nature of God's reconciling work in Christ. They were not particularly interest in having the Gentiles share equal access to God. And so they insisted that Gentiles jump through all kinds of hoops:  be circumcised and observe all manner of rules and regulations. Essentially, they insisted that Gentiles become Jews if they wished to be part of God's family.

Paul refused to fall into this deception. He told the truth about the extraordinary thing that God had done in Christ. The truth is: no more walls; no more exclusive access; no more second class folks. The truth is one new humanity.  

Reflection Question: What sort of deception do we perpetuate in our midst that would birth “insider vs outsider” groupings?

3. Our role is to follow Christ in the way of peace.

This is our role: not rebuilding walls; not destroying God's temple; but instead, telling the truth about the amazing scope of Christ's reconciling work and following Christ in the way of peace.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together (London: SCM Press, 1970), p. 15)  mentions at least three tools for reconciliation that we can employ in church: 

(1) Confession,

(2) Forgiveness and

(3) Reproof. 

Each is important for building true community (see esp. Acts 4.42ff; II Tim. 3.16).

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[1] The Third Race is an actual description of early Christians by a pagan contemporary in the 1st century. He called them "the third race".

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_the_third_race#ixzz1lS3cXMDd

[2] Peace, peace to those far and near.: says the Lord,”And I will heal them.”