Iron and Clay Pt 9: Christ, Our peace.

Christ, Our Peace

Ephesians 2:11–22

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

It simply does not matter, whether it is a concern of where the world is going, or a fear of the last days, or matters within life that trouble us, family members going astray, illness, financial worries, worries respecting the provisions of our lives, legal matters in life or simply hoe you may get from A to B, when you know Christ you also come to know more and more that, HE IS OUR PEACE.

Verse 14 to 15 of our passage what Jesus has done for you and I and all the world who may come to beleive in him, how it was that he secured OUR PEACE  and Paul goes through some of the details as to how we can bring this to mind and appreciate all that Jesus had done.

From having us to REMEMBER our RIFT, our separation from God and the knowledge that we NEVER had a claim on him.

To realising the RECONCILIATION Christ Jesus had made for OUR REST.

To finally coming to see that our life and lives are to be renewed, rebuilt upon the ROCH of Christ, “being the chief corner stone” by which all things of life and living in measured.

How I pray this study will bless you, not just for now, but for all eternity, in every trouble, in every fear, in all forms of suffering.

For to know that HE IS OUR PEACE, is to KNOW what PEACE truly is.

PRAY

Reflection Of Our Rift

Reconciliation For Our Rest

Refashioned On Our Rock

Reflection Of Our Rift

Ephesians 2:11–13

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 

Its difficult to appreciate CHRIST as OUR PEACE when we forget that there was a time in life that, in truth, we had no peace. 

We had NO claim to anything eternal, anything that matters, any claim that any and all suffering in life will have benefit in heaven.

We had no ability to understand that all the gain we have in life means NOTHING without Christ. Temporal riches apart from Christ leaves us ETERNALLY DESTITUTE, we are POOR beyond measure, no matter how RICH we may seem to be, if we do not have PEACE WITH GOD.

SO, Paul charges the church to “remember” here in verse 11.

It is a memorial respecting our past life, a;

Reflection: Without A Saviour (Christ)

Ephesians 2:11–12

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at that time ye were without Christ,

The jews referred to the gentiles as “uncircumcised”, that is, not set apart, not chosen of God as they were. No claim on God OUTSIDE “THE COMMON-WEALTH of Israel“

Paul extends this for us to recall “That at that time ye were without Christ“.

Turn back a little to the beginning of the chapter;

Ephesians 2:1–3

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

We forget too often WHO WE WERE when we “walked according to the course of this world“. A testimony ALSO to the transformation within all those who are TRULY BORN AGAIN. 

We no longer have the desires that we once had, SIN has become EXCEEDINGLY SINFUL and it detests us. We are sick when committing sin oursleves, this alone testifying to the ‘new creature’ that you have become. You are no longer a pig enjoying the mud.

So much so is the expectation of a TRANSFORMED LIFE witnessed in the text, that Paul feels he needs to remind his readers to “remember“!!

Peter does so also;

1 Peter 4:3–5

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

IF you are truly born again, this is a part of YOUR history, your past, you NO LONGER walk in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.

Your every being and desire is to OBEY the LAW of God, you embrace them, keep them, not to save you but to have life to the full.

There is no Christian who is happy in sin. In fact, the most miserable people in the world are Christians living in sin.

Thereby, there is no person alive happy in sin, excusing sin, that can call himself Christian!

These are not “quickened” because they remain “dead in trespasses and sins“. 

But to those who have forgotten who they were, Paul calls them to remember their RIFT from God.

As such, we rest all the more in CHRIST, OUR PEACE.

Reflection: Without Citizenship

Ephesians 2:12

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,

There is a national closeness to God that we as Gentiles were never even entitled to, in other words, we HAD NO CLAIM on God, we were WITHOUT CITIZENSHIP and thereby no claim on PEACE.

Balaam, desired that his own life would be as Israel;

Numbers 23:8–10

8 How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations. 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

Israel were not “reckoned among the nations“, they were set apart, separated to God. 

The commonwealth of Israel is as a peculiar nation to God, a PEACE they had a claim on because of the PROMISES OF GOD.

Paul here states that we ourselves, as a part of the world, a part of the “nations” had NO CLAIM ON PEACE, no part of heaven, no citizenship to claim even an historical alliance with Gods people.

So we were SEPARATED FROM CHRIST through our sin.

And SEPARATED FROM CHRIST through our nation.

It was ONLY because “some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them” (Rom 11:17). 

It was ONLY because of the temporary rejection of Israel’s OWN REST, that we had opportunity to REST. 

Reflection: Strangers, Without Promise

Ephesians 2:12

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise,

Israel were given FOUR unconditional promises, FOUR Covenants that had no qualifier respecting their own faithfulness. (We will speak more to this next time, as I had a desire to close off the recent Iron and Clay series with the subject of Israel).

Five covenants in total were made with the nation, only ONE of which was “conditional”, this is the Mosaic Covenant which is recognised from Exodus 20 and particulalry Deuteronomy 28:1-68.

Those were identified by the formula “If ye will” “if thou shalt” and “if thou wilt not hearken”.

But there are FOUR unconditional promises, that begin to the formula “I WILL”. 

They are The Abrahamic Covenant, the Palestinian Covenant, the Davidic Covenant and the New Covenant.

These are the “Promises” that we, as gentiles, are strangers from. None of those promises of God pertained to us, we therefore ought to “Reflect” that we were “Strangers, Without Promise”.

Beloved, if it were not for Israel rejecting her messiah, we would have been left without a Saviour, without Citizenship and without promise.

Abrahamic Covenant

Genesis 17:7, Genesis 15:12-13; 15:17–21

The Palestinian Covenant:

Genesis 12:7

Genesis 13:15

The Davidic Covenant:

2 Samuel 7:12–16

Psalm 89:3–4

Psalm 89:34–36

Isaiah 9:6–7

The New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31–34

So we were SEPARATED FROM CHRIST through our sin.

SEPARATED FROM CHRIST through our nation.

And WITHOUT CLAIM to ANY promise or COVENANT.

Lastly, AS A RESULT OF SUCH SEPARATION, Paul calls us to reflect that we were;

Reflection: Without Hope

Ephesians 2:12

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

The “hope” that the Bible presents throughout its pages is not a “wishful thinking” hope, but a certainty of that which is yet to come. Its not a “hope so hope“. 

Its a looking forward, with absolute certainty for that good thing to come.

Paul, writing to the Thessalonians of the sorrow that compasses those who lose loved ones without hope;

1 Thessalonians 4:13

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Those who are STILL without CHRIST as their PEACE are they “which have no hope”. BUT this is not YOU who are IN CHRIST.

While we may all have lived with a “hope so hope“, none of us had any true “Hope” while we were “dead in trespasses and sins“. 

In that state, while yet alive, there may have been “hope” to obtain that certain hope, but when death comes all hope is lost.

It was Dante, in his poetic Dirge “The Inferno” who describes an archway at the entrance to hell, with a sign above saying “ABANDON ALL HOPE YE WHO ENTER HERE”.

Those who remain lost at death, have eternity to reflect on the opportunities given them to believe the Gospel. 

I have NO DOUBT in my mind that there will be some, even nominal Christians, in hell who will remember Pastor Edi warning them and pleading with them to examine themselves, that they be not “Christian” in name only.

I have no doubt that there will be MANY in hell who have heard the GOSPEL of PEACE and, having chosen to ignore such PEACE, be reminded in torment for all eternity.

ALL that Changed however, the moment we believed the gospel, the moment our hearts were changed, that moment the spirit of God quickened us to life. We were ONCE without hope, WITHOUT PEACE, but now the RIFT that separated us is joined by Christ.

Reflection Of Our Rift

Without a Saviour

Without Citizenship

Without a Promise

And Without Hope

That WAS the case for some of us….BUT IT REMAINS THE CASE FOR FAR TOO MANY STILL.

Reconciliation For Our Rest

Reconciliation For Our Rest

Ephesians 2:13–18

Reconciled THROUGH Christ

Ephesians 2:13

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Now a CHANGE. NOW, peace beyond understanding is the TRUE claim for those who “are made nigh by the blood of Christ“

The Bible tells us the extent of it;

Romans 5:10

10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Colossians 1:21

21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled

Reconciled IN PEACE

Ephesians 2:14-15

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

The LAW of God, even the Ordinances by which Israel were to obey, was not a friend but an ENEMY.

It stood as GIANT STONE TABLETS, condemning us each and every day.

Like a giant MIRROR that revealed our sin. Every corner we come to it, every opening of our eyes, every sin another charge laid against us condemning us to hell. 

The LAW WAS our Freind ONLY in showing us our need for a SAVIOUR;

Take a look at Romans 3;

Romans 3:20

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Apart from this ONE Good respecting the LAW, it was our ENEMY, an enemy Jesus Abolished;

Eph 2:15 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

See Romans 5 and consider its entry point in the scriptures.

The first three chapters of Romans laying down the condemnation against all the world, yes even those who have a claim on God, the nation of Israel, that in every way the RUIN OF THE WORLD IS LAID BARE.

Chapter 4 has the gospel presented through the example of Abraham, who believed by faith, and “it was imputed to him for righteousness” (v22)

Look now at the ENTRY to chapter 5

Romans 5:1–2

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Reconciled TO God

Ephesians 2:16-18

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 

JESUS CHRIST IS OUR PEACE.

This is the REALITY. 

It does not come via “feelings” generated through music, incantations, mystical experience or drug induced self deception, 

IT COMES by first being REMINDED WE HAD NO PEACE;

A Reflection Of Our Rift

Without a Saviour

Without Citizenship

Without a Promise

And Without Hope

BUT NOW the knowledge that;

HE MADE Reconciliation For Our Rest

RECONCILED Through Christ

….In PEACE

….To GOD

Refashioned On Our Rock

Refashioned On The Rock

Ephesians 2:19-22

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

As if that were not wonderful enough, as if having now made PEACE WITH GOD, were not enough, we discover that we are being even now RE-BUILT on a sure foundation.

Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

We are firstly; 

Refashioned To Citizenship

Ephesians 2:19

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

We now have a true claim to PEACE that we never had before, the opportunity to build our HOUSE as FELLOWCITIZENS with the saints, and the household of God.

Throughout History, the Israelite people ONLY ever had the assurance of one land they can call their homes. Everywhere else they tried to build a home, they remained as strangers.

There was a promise given them for a country, a land UPON which they can rebuild their lives and nation. Promise was given them of old time; first for a physical land, a physical property a NEW LIFE can be built, but ultimately it was a HEAVENLY COUNTRY that gave the assurance of ETERNITY;

TURN TO Hebrews 11,

An incredible passage that speaks of the faith of all them that had gone before us, who know they were but pilgrims in this world, in verse 10, speaking of Abraham it says;

Hebrews 11:10

10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Hebrews 11:13–16

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

YOU have that foundation, Jesus Christ is the starting point of REBUILDING your life, HE is that Corner Stone by which is the single and ONLY Datum Point for life.

You are thereby;

Refashioned THROUGH The Datum

Ephesians 2:20

 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

Christ is our DATUM point, this is where we BUILD that new Life. HE is our sure foundation.

Turn to Matthew 7.

Be warned beloved, for within this passage is a warning to you if you lay a claim that is NOT yours to lay, but also the charge to build your house UPON that Rock which is CHRIST.

Matthew 7:21–27

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Jesus Christ has another name and it is a name that we testify to every time we pick up The Book of books.

We ONLY ever truly acknowledge him by this name when we HOLD the Bible as our FINAL authority.

Revelation 19 gives to us this name, and it is given at a time after that final judgementhas come upon this world; 

a NAME by which, if the world had have known and trusted in it, they may have been spared; 

it is a name through which the world abandoned, set aside, rejected, even though it was the ONLY FOUNDATION UPON WHICH PEACE CAN BE FOUND and LIFE CAN BE LAID;

Revelation 19:11–13

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

BELOVED, you desire peace, you desire a fullness of life, you desire understanding in this present time and the time to come, you desire comfort and hope, it is found in one place and one place ALONE, the FULLNESS OF PEACE is found in this Book.

We are transformed by it, our minds are RENEWED THROUGH IT. 

It is our daily bread, and living by it is our sustenance.

Christ is our Corner Stone, and his Word is the Datum Point. 

Ignore it as the world does, expect your life to go the way the world is.

So you are;

“Refashioned Through Citizenship”, and

“Refashioned Through The Datum”

Refashioned In Tabernacle

Ephesians 2:20-22

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The foundation of our lives is not as it was before, everything has changed in us. Our desires are new, our hope is real, our foundation is Christ and all that we build upon it is our reward for all eternity.

The Church is the body of Christ, it is the dwelling place of God, the people within it are filled with the Spirit of the living God, redeemed from hopelessness and now refashioned and changed by the words of God to a new man.

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If you are born again, if you are truly saved, everything has changed. 

You are now the heir of the promise of God, a new citizen of an heavenly country. 

Your mind has changed, your thoughts have changed, your desires have changed. Your focus has changed.

You prefer to speak of Christ more than any other conversation. 

You long to learn more of him and desire above all to do his will.

The foundation of your LIFE sets itself upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ, for HE IS OUR PEACE!

Your body is now the tabernacle of the Living God, you have been fashioned and changed and the remodelling of your life is within the body of Christ. 2 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

In Chapter 4 of this letter we are given understanding of HOW DISTINCT the Body of Christ is from the clubs of the world, and how we ought to renew the spirit of our minds to “put on the new man“

Ephesians 4:22–32

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Reflection Of Our Rift

Without a Saviour

Without Citizenship

Without a Promise

And Without Hope

Reconciliation For Our Rest

RECONCILED Through Christ

Reconciled In PEACE

Reconciled To GOD

Refashioned On Our Rock

Refashioned To Citizenship

Refashioned THROUGH The Datum

Refashioned In Tabernacle

Colossians 3:15–17

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.