We are United

As we consider our vision of life and ministry together over the next 10 years,

we have been studying Ephesians to understand God's vision for the church

! and getting to know who is the church that God wants us to become.

Finding out our characteristics of the bride that God is preparing for His Son,

hoping that we will align our vision with God's vision for the church

as we look forward to the time we honour God with how we live and do ministry

at St. Paul's, united under Christ.

The church is God's new humanity, society and people,

where old barriers are broken down.

The church is what the world needs.

And we have seen in Ephesians so far that we are blessed to carry out God's plan

to bless His world.

We are growing in God's love and living hope to glorify God.

And we are alive, safe from making God's bride more beautiful.

So today, we'll consider how we are united from the passage that Anne just read out for us

from chapter 2, verse 11 to 22, with the following points.

And you can follow that along in our church app.

So, three points I want to talk about.

A divided humanity, describing our condition outside of Christ,

alienated, estranged and without hope.

A united church, proclaiming the great reconciliation work

that Christ accomplished on the cross, making the two groups one.

And being a united church,

depicting our new identity and mission within this new community.

Fellow citizens and members of God's household,

built together to become God's temple.

So last Sunday, Steve, our senior minister,

explained our predicament and condition as human apart from God.

We are dead because of our self-centeredness.

Selfishness, a constant calculating of what is in it for me,

is the root of sin and cause of problems we see in this world.

We live in a world riddled with division, opposition and alienation,

where separation along racial, political, social and generational lines grow ever deeper.

It's not much different to the time of Paul when he write this letter to the divisions.

One of the more obvious separation was among believers

when they start segregating and giving other people groups labels and names.

We read,

Remember that at that time you were separated from Christ,

excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigner to the confidence of the promises,

without hope, without God in the world.

Humanities segregated and call each other names due to selfishness.

The computer within each one of us are constantly in overdrive,

working out who are my in-group that will confirm my identity and worth.

Who are the group that I can step on to elevate myself,

to achieve greater return for whatever effort I put into my life.

So with five faces, Paul revealed a picture of profound darkness and despair

of a divided humanity.

Firstly, he talks about separating from Christ.

This is a fundamental alienation.

Christ is a source of life, truth, and a way to our Heavenly Father.

To be separated from Him is to be cut off from life's meaning,

ultimate truth, and eternal destiny.

This is a spiritual death that mentioned last week in previous passage.

Secondly, he used a face excluded from citizenship in Israel.

Israel here referred to the nation God chose in history to bear His redemptive plan.

To be outside of this community means you were not part of the official narrative

of God's salvation story.

An outsider, a marginal figure.

Citizenship can only be by birth or granted.

And John 1.12 says,

Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believe in His name,

He gave the right to become children of God.

It's a privilege that cannot be earned or bought.

It can only be received by faith in grace.

We can often see how so many people turn their privilege as a weapon

to exclude and ostracize those they label as foreigners or outsiders.

Their action reflects the deep sense of loss and separation within themselves.

The barrier and unrest they face when they try to reach out to their Father God.

In our faith that Paul uses foreigners to their confidence of the promise,

God made confidence of promises to Abraham, the father of our faith,

of redemption, rest, and ultimately a Savior.

These promises are to Abraham himself and his offsprings.

And Galatians 3.7 says,

tells us that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

This confidence, a vessel of hope of inheritance,

but as a foreigner, humanity have no share in these certain future-oriented promises.

The future of humanity can only be the best described

as a crop shrouded with uncertainty.

And Paul goes on to say,

without hope, without God, without the promises,

all striving was ultimately fertile,

because humanity is dead in our transgression.

Despite its pantheon of gods,

the Greco-Roman world was largely pessimistic or vague about the afterlife.

They embarked on world concords to build great monuments

to show their significance,

but deep down is meaningless.

Meaningless.

Utterly meaningless.

Everything is meaningless,

as said by the teacher of Ecclesiastic.

The feeling of despair is what we can strongly resonate

within our secular society today.

Our digital world has given us a parallel tour for connection,

yet we are arguably a lonelier, more alienated society than ever.

We create perfect lives on social media,

yet feel deeply inadequate compared to others.

We might have hundreds of friends online,

but no one to sit with us in our grief.

Anxiety, depression, and a search for meaning in achievement,

likes, or substance manifest our state of hopelessness.

And finally, without God in the world,

the ultimate poverty.

It doesn't mean polytheism or atheism per se,

but it's more about not knowing the one true living God,

the creator who is full of grace and truth,

life is of death of an orphan wandering in the cosmos.

We live in a growing heat economy

of transactional homelessness.

The increasing number of ride-share driver,

task app contractor, and delivery person,

they're essential to cities' function,

yet they have no stable place in it.

No company health insurance,

no retirement plan,

no team lunchroom.

They're perpetual outsiders,

navigating systems not built for them,

always looking for a next kid.

To be without God in the world

is to live in a state of spiritual kid world.

We hustle for meaning.

The next promotion,

the perfect relationship,

a fitness goal.

We contract for temporary relief,

a vacation, entertainment, retail charity.

But we have no permanent home,

no secure inheritance,

no loving father who provides and protects.

As a stranger,

negotiating with a universe

that feels impersonal and transactional,

our labor for purpose

never leads to permanent rest.

This homelessness

is a core human condition

when we are apart

from being brought into

the household of God.

So this fivefold description

is a microscope

of the shared human condition

of life without Christ.

Racial superiority and prejudice,

cultural arrogance and disdain,

social stratification and opposition,

political polarization and hospitality,

and even division within churches

over traditions, practice,

or theological nuance

are the external walls

that divide humans.

We also build internal walls

of pride, self-righteousness,

judgment, bitterness, and unforgiveness.

This wall isolates us

from each other

and from the life and love of God.

And Paul wants us to remember

this former condition

so we can see that

what we need saving from

is not only personal guilt,

but also this corporate,

structural reality

of division and alienation.

God's plan of salvation

from the very beginning

is to create

a united new community.

But now in Christ Jesus,

you who once were far away

have been brought near

by the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace,

who has made the two group one

and has destroyed the barrier,

the defining wall of hostility.

By setting aside in fresh

the law which is commands

and regulations,

his purpose was to create

in himself one new humanity,

out of the two,

thus making peace,

and in one body

to reconcile both of them

to God through the cross,

by which he put to death

our hostility.

He comes and prays peace to you

who are far away

and peace to those

who are near.

For through him

we both have access

to the Father

by one spirit.

But now,

it's one of the most powerful

transitional places

in the scripture.

All the former darkness

is utterly rewritten

by the work of Christ.

Paul here unfilled

the most central

revolutionary

social truth

of the Christian faith,

that Christ himself

is our peace.

Peace is not

an abstract feeling

or temporary truth.

It is a person,

Jesus Christ.

He achieved unity

through the cross.

The basic of the unity

is the blood of Christ.

The cost of being brought near

was astronomically high,

achieved not through

compromise

or moral persuasion,

but by the blood of Christ.

By giving his life

on the cross,

Christ paid the ultimate price,

satisfying the demand

of justice,

appeasing God's wrath

and providing the basis

for forgiving

the debt we own each other.

This is the foundation

of reconciliation.

The method of unity

is destroying

the defining war.

The law

with its commands

and regulations

are the instrument

and sign

to tell us

how short

we have fall

from God's standard.

It's a symbol

of our separation

from God

and his people.

That war

which defied

was abolished

by Christ

in his flesh.

How did he

do this

in his flesh?

by fulfilling

the law

perfectly.

And then on the cross,

he bears

his curse

for law

breakers.

Thus,

the law's function

as a condemning

and dividing force

was set aside

for those

who trust in Christ.

No longer

a barrier

between people

and God

and people

with peoples.

the purpose

of unity

is to create

one new humanity.

God's purpose

was not simply

for believers

to conform

to certain rules

and regulations,

but to transform

in a new humanity

that he is creating

for himself.

This is a new creation,

a brand new category

of humanity.

In this new community,

being in Christ

is a new

primary identity.

Racial,

cultural,

and social differences

remain,

but they lost

that defining

and dividing

power.

Instead,

they become

a diverse canvas

upon which

the rich grace

of God

is displayed.

And the dual

dimension

of unity

are peace

with God

and peace

with each other.

Christ's work

brings reconciliation

in both

the vertical

and horizontal

dimension.

Vertically,

reconcile both

of them

to God

through the cross.

We are enemies

of God

because of our sin.

The cross

appeased

their hostility,

restoring our

relationship

with God.

Horizontally,

the same cross

put to death

the hostility

between humans.

When we stand

together

at the foot

of the cross,

seeing ourselves

equally

as sinners

saved by grace

alone

through faith

alone,

any sense

of superiority

based on law,

lineage,

or cultural

lost its footing.

Ultimately,

through Him,

we both

have access

to the Father

by one Spirit.

What a glorious

truth.

The Church

is not a club

of morally

improved individuals,

but a new

creation

community,

purchased

by Christ's blood

from the death,

resurrected

by His power

from death,

and united

by His Spirit.

Our peace

is found

on Christ's

finished work,

not on our

achieved

consensus.

So how do we

live our being

at the United Church?

Let's read on.

It says,

Consequently,

you are no longer

foreigner

and stranger,

but fellow citizens

with God's people

and also members

of His household.

Built on the foundation

of the apostles

and prophets,

with Christ Jesus

Himself

as the chief

cornerstone,

in Him,

the whole building

is joined together

and raised

to become

a holy temple

in the Lord.

And in Him,

you too

are being built

together

to become

a dwelling

in which

God lives

by His Spirit.

Since we have

been made

one in Christ,

how then

shall we

live out

this identity?

Paul uses

three powerful

metaphors

to describe

our present status

and ongoing

process

of growth.

So firstly,

we are citizens

and family members.

No longer foreigners

or strangers,

we now possess

the ultimate

belonging

and identity.

We are fellow citizens

sharing equal rights,

responsibility

and protection.

We are even more

significantly

members

of His household,

children in God's family,

brothers and sisters

to one another.

This means

church relationship

surpasses

ordinary

club friendship.

It's a family

love relationship

bought by the

blood of Christ.

Our responsibility

to one another

is the loyalty,

acceptance

and support

all to family.

And secondly,

we are a temple

under construction.

This is a dynamic,

growing metaphor.

The church

is a building

with apostles

and prophets

as foundation.

Apostles and prophets

are common terms

referring to the Bible,

which witness to

and proclaim

the truth

about Christ.

Our foundation

will become stronger

as we connect

with God daily

in reading the Bible

and prayer.

as we,

as well as

intentionally

sharing the gospel,

which are

two of the

seven rhythms

of grace

that is listed

in the book

of our season magazine.

The chief

cornerstone

of the church

is Christ Jesus

Himself.

The cornerstone

determines

the alignment

and angle

and stability

of the whole structure.

Christ

is our standard,

our center

and our reliance.

True unity

happens

when every part

is aligned to Him

as we practice

the seven rhythms

of grace.

The building process

is described

as in Him

the whole building

is joined together

and raised

to become

a holy temple

in the Lord.

As we worship God

and build

spiritual friendship

weekly,

which are

another two rhythms

of the grace

that we have mentioned,

each believer

is like

a living stone

as referred to

1 Peter 2,

1 Peter 2:5

verse 5,

being built

together

by the Spirit.

The process

requires

joining together,

fitted and connected

precisely,

and rises

gradually,

requires time,

patience,

and growth.

Unity

is not a state

of perfection

achieved overnight.

It's a process

of continuing

being built

together

in Christ,

which sometimes

involves

sanding and

trimming

and all those things.

And thirdly,

we are God's

drawing place.

This is the ultimate

purpose

of the church

existence,

to be God's

drawing.

In Old Testament,

temple

was a place

where God's glory

temporarily

resides.

Now,

through His

living Spirit,

God takes up

permanent residence

in His new

temple,

the united

community of

church.

God desires

to manifest

His presence

and glory

in the midst

of our loving

church life

together.

When we make

every effort

to keep the

unity of the

Spirit,

we display to

the world

the reality

of God

with us.

We are united

as we look

forward to

our life and

ministry for

next five to

ten years.

We must let

unity be called

to our

community's

DNA,

bearing in

mind the

picture of

the gathering

of multitude

in Revelation

Revelation 7:9

7, verse 9.

A great multitude

that no one

could count,

from every

nation,

tribe,

people,

and language,

standing before

the throne,

before the Lamb.

We hope to

display Christ's

unity in our

diversity,

unity.

To live in

unity,

each of us

must constantly

return to the

foot of the

cross.

When I feel

impatient,

judgmental,

or distant

from other

member,

I need to

remember,

Christ died for

them as he

died for me.

I, like them,

am a sinner

saved by grace.

The cross

stripped me of

any right to

look down on

anyone,

and give me

the motive

to forgive

and reconcile.

St. Paul

is a church

comprised of

people from

different cultural

backgrounds,

social strata,

and age groups.

So let's not

try to erase

those differences,

but lean to

appreciate them

in Christ.

See how they

enrich the

weakness of

Christ's body.

Our unity

is not in

uniformity,

but in

diversity,

testifying to

the supernatural

power of

Christ that

bring us

together.

So every

time we

choose fellowship

over isolation,

forgiveness

over bitterness,

or humble

collaboration over

selfish ambition,

we are not

just being nice,

we are

practicing for

eternity.

In a

divided world,

a genuinely

loving,

united

Christian

community,

is itself

a powerful

gospel

proclamation.

It proves

to the world

that Jesus

is real

and that

his spirit

has a power

to change

hearts and

dissolve

hostilities.

Our

attractiveness

to the

community

will depend

significantly

on the

genuine,

supernatural,

and able

love we

have for

one another

across natural

barriers.

So let

let our

unity

be our

witness

to the

world.

Let's

look again

to Christ

who is

our peace.

The

wars in

our society

in our

own hearts

are strong.

It seems

permanent,

but the

resurrection of

Christ

declared that

war is

final.

The

mightiest

war ever

built,

the war of

death itself,

is strutted

on Easter

morning.

Every

other

dividing

war of

hostility

is by

comparison

a temporary

fence.

We can

rely on

the Christ

who has

already made

peace and

submitted to

the guidance

of his

whole

dream

drawing

spirit,

allowing

him to

build us.

This

once scattered

hostile

stone into

a dwelling

fit for

his glory.

So let's

live in

light of

our destiny.

Let the

vision of

that grace

unite

the

multitude

through our

prayers,

soften our

hearts,

and guide

our

action.

Let's

be a

people so

captivated by

the beauty

and glory

of God

that we

cannot help

but to

live it

out in

the present.

In the

coming weeks,

as we

study the

rest of

Ephesians,

Paul will

show us

how to

live our

life that

is grace

filled.

And cross

shaped.

A life of

a true

disciple of

Jesus,

a true

Christian.

Paul will

show us

in the

rest of

this

letter how

to

fulfill

the

good

works

which

God

prepared

in

France

for

us

to

do

in

our

marriage,

our

family,

our

workplace,

and our

day-to-day

life.

Our

aim at

St.

Paul's

is not

just to

build a

cohesive

church

for the

next

ten

years,

but a

united

church,

joining

God

in the

construction

of his

eternal

dwelling

place.

He is

preparing

for his

one and

only

Son.

We are

by grace

becoming

here,

now,

and what

we will

be

forever.

One

redeemed

people

from

every

division,

united

by one

Savior,

to the

glory

of one

God.