A Unified Body

1. A Unified Body Eph 2:11-22

2. Skilurus offered his 80 children a bundle of darts.

3. Skilurus offered his 80 children a bundle of darts. • Plutarch: “If they held together, they would continue strong, but if they fell out and were divided, they would become weak.”

4. In the church, unity is vitally important.

5. In the church, unity is vitally important. • “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father as in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:20-21, ESV).

6. In the church, unity is vitally important. • “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father as in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn 17:20-21, ESV). • “I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment” (1 Cor 1:10, ESV).

7. Ephesians 2:11-22

8. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles.

9. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • “He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him” (Acts 19:8-9, ESV).

10. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • “He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him” (Acts 19:8-9, ESV). • Obviously, some Jews were converted, for Luke mentions “disciples.”

11. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • “He entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him” (Acts 19:8-9, ESV). • Obviously, some Jews were converted, for Luke mentions “disciples.” • But, the synagogue quickly became hostile toward Paul’s preaching.

12. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • Acts 19:8-9. • Many sorcerers were converted in Ephesus.

13. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • Acts 19:8-9. • Many sorcerers were converted in Ephesus. • “Many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:18-19, ESV).

14. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • Acts 19:8-9. • Many sorcerers were converted in Ephesus. • “Many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver” (Acts 19:18-19, ESV). • It’s difficult to see Jews as sorcerers.

15. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • Acts 19:8-9. • Many sorcerers were converted in Ephesus (Acts 19:18-19). • The riot in Ephesus was over idols (Acts 19:21ff).

16. The church at Ephesus seems to have been made up mainly of Gentiles. • Acts 19:8-9. • Many sorcerers were converted in Ephesus (Acts 19:18-19). • The riot in Ephesus was over idols (Acts 19:21ff). First-century Jews would not have been purchasing idols.

17. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.”

18. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified.

19. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified. • We know that some Jews were members of this church (Acts 19).

20. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified. • We know that some Jews were members of this church (Acts 19). Were they causing the Gentiles to feel inferior?

21. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified. • We know that some Jews were members of this church (Acts 19). Were they causing the Gentiles to feel inferior? • Were other congregations—composed mostly of Jews—causing these Gentiles to feel inferior?

22. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified. • The historical situation might throw some light on the passage.

23. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified. • The historical situation might throw some light on the passage. • But, our lack of knowledge doesn’t change the thrust of the text.

24. In this passage, Paul speaks of bringing Jews & Gentiles alike into “A Unified Body.” • We don’t know why Paul felt he needed to write to the Ephesians about being unified. • The historical situation might throw some light on the passage. • But, our lack of knowledge doesn’t change the thrust of the text. • Jew & Gentile alike can come to Christ is “A Unified Body.”

25. We need this lesson on unity.

26. Each congregation has its own “culture.”

27. Each congregation has its own “culture.” • Each congregation has its own history.

28. Each congregation has its own “culture.” • Each congregation has its own history. • Each congregation is constantly changing.

29. This morning’s text provides a basis for unity.

30. This morning’s text provides a basis for unity. A COMMON CURSE A COMMON CONCILIATOR A COMMON CORNERSTONE

31. A Common curse vv 11-12

32. “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (vv 11-12, ESV).

33. The Ephesian Gentiles together shared a common curse.

34. The Ephesian Gentiles together shared a common curse. • Notice that Paul lumps these Gentiles together in their condemnation.

35. The Ephesian Gentiles together shared a common curse. • Notice that Paul lumps these Gentiles together in their condemnation. • “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh . . . were . . . separated from Christ.”

36. The Ephesian Gentiles together shared a common curse. • Notice that Paul lumps these Gentiles together in their condemnation. • “Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh . . . were . . . separated from Christ.” • It’s not that some of them were condemned & others were just fine.

37. Did not all of us share a common curse before our conversion?

38. Did not all of us share a common curse before our conversion? • Is there a single one of us who wasn’t really that bad before we were washed in Jesus’ blood?

39. Did not all of us share a common curse before our conversion? • Is there a single one of us who wasn’t really that bad before we were washed in Jesus’ blood? • We often categorize our sins & think that we might not have been that bad without Jesus.

40. Did not all of us share a common curse before our conversion? • Is there a single one of us who wasn’t really that bad before we were washed in Jesus’ blood? • We often categorize our sins & think that we might not have been that bad without Jesus. • Paul does not do that here.

41. Did not all of us share a common curse before our conversion? • Is there a single one of us who wasn’t really that bad before we were washed in Jesus’ blood? • We often categorize our sins & think that we might not have been that bad without Jesus. • Paul does not do that here. • Not a single one of these Gentiles had hope or God without Jesus!

42. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus.

43. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus. • “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV).

44. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus. • “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV). • God doesn’t reveal his wrath against your sins, but not against mine.

45. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus. • “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV). • God doesn’t reveal his wrath against your sins, but not against mine. • God’s wrath “is revealed . . . against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.”

46. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus. • “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV). • “All that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 Jn 2:16, ESV).

47. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus. • “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV). • “All that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 Jn 2:16, ESV). • John doesn’t say that your desires were from the world, while mine were from the Father.

48. We all stood under a common curse before Jesus. • “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (Rom 1:18, ESV). • “All that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 Jn 2:16, ESV). • John doesn’t say that your desires were from the world, while mine were from the Father. • “All that is in the world . . . is not from the Father.”

49. what is the common curse?

50. We were separated from Christ.