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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (21-1-1996
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Paul now in section of Ephesians where he is turning to
the effects of the Gospel especially among different races and classes. He began
by reminding Gentile readers of what God had done for them. Now he shows how the
Cross unites men who were hitherto sworn enemies, and also unites both parties
to God so that they have access into His very presence.
Very relevant issues in a day of alienation, divided
society and racial tension. C.f. all the conferences, speeches, books,
government agencies, peace treaties and commissions about this matter. What
answer does the Christian message provide? Can it do any better than the rest?
The answer is that only in the Gospel is there a deep and profound
solution. The rest are only tinkering with the problem.
The Christian is not to start by giving people Christian
teaching or advice, or political sermons. Must go much deeper than that because
the real problem is in the heart and sinful nature of man. And all advice and
teaching does not deal with that. The answer at deepest level is Christ and His
Cross. While the world rejects that, it will be searching in vain for solution
to problems.
As we approach this passage, sin is seen as causing alienation, broken relationships not in one but two ways: (i) broken relationships between men and men, between races, classes, nations, and (ii) between God and men. Horizontal and perpendicular effects. Got to get men reconciled first of all to God and then reconciled to one another. Many people argue that the Bible has got this the wrong way round, and that all effort must be made to make peace and reconciliation between men first. But if men and their maker are reconciled first, then reconciliation follows automatically and fits into place without difficulty.
Ancient world, like the modern world, was full of strife,
division and bitterness. It was nowhere more so than between Jews and Gentiles,
though plenty of division among Gentiles also. God had chosen Israel to be His
people and given them His Law and covenant. In calling her, He intended her to
be a light to the nations, to bring them to Him. In calling Abraham, He planned
that all nations of the earth be blessed. But Israel forgot her vocation, and
ended by despising Gentiles as dogs and fuel for fires of hell.
A Jew would never help a Gentile mother in childbirth,
because that would mean bringing another Gentile into the world. If a Jewish boy
or girl married a Gentile, they were treated as dead, and a funeral service was
held. In the Temple, the middle wall of partition was a barrier, dividing Jews
from Gentiles in the other court. It was a stone wall, 1.5metres high. Warning
notices in Greek and Latin warned trespassers that they would be executed. C.f.
Paul was almost lynched by Jewish mob when he was suspected of taking a Gentile
named Trophimus into the Temple.
Gentiles were also hostile to Jews, “enemies of the
human race”. Greeks were contemptuous of every other race, whom they dismissed
as barbarians, ignoramuses. In the 2350 years between 1500BC and 850AD there
were 7500 peace treaties, none of which lasted longer than two years. Today’s
comparisons are endless – divisions among men, nations, classes, parties and
groups are clear and unmistakeable every time we put on a news bulletin.
What is at the root of it all? What is behind it all? For
all the talking, very few have ever faced the cause, the disease behind the
symptoms. Human sin. Men asserting themselves, firstly against God and then
against others.
God’s original plan was for men to live in obedience to Him and in harmony with one another. The Fall of man has altered all that. All goes back to root and fundamental sin of pride. Controls and dominates lives and twists our thinking. From pride comes prejudice which blinds and perverts us. Sin makes men self-centred, full of self-love, self-concern and self-praise, gives us a false view of ourselves, our importance and greatness, and a false view of others. So sin spawned endless category of envy, jealousy, lying, hatred, bitterness and contempt. We exaggerate our race, birth, colour, position, social class, wealth and all other externals. These are the things behind every family quarrel, every crime, every page of every history book ever written. Sin is the great separator and destroyer. Until that is recognized and dealt with, we cannot get far in dealing with this world’s ills.
What is the answer to the problem? No use in appealing to
goodwill – “You can do better than that.” Not even suggest obeying
teaching of Christ – that is important but comes later. The answer is the
Cross of Jesus. At the Cross, men face fact that before they get right with
others they have to get right with God. God has sent His Son into the world, He
died for men that their sins might be forgiven, and begin again with new heart
and new life. The Cross shows seriousness of my sin – never mind about the
next man’s. Could be forgiven only through Christ’s atoning death. God turns
away His wrath and condemnation from guilty sinner. Face it, my guilt, pride,
bitterness of soul, hostility to others. These are to be faced, repented of,
seek for mercy, ask for new heart and new nature. Deep inward change. Saved in
same way, by grace and through faith.
Cross exposes us and shows us what we are really like.
Humbles us. Punctures our pride and conceit and arrogance and puts us in the
dust. Shuts our mouth. Guilty before God. When this happens – to enemy also
– we are one in our sin, failure and shame, one in our need for Christ, one in
our need for new heart. Deals with arrogance at deepest level. And reduces
self-importance to nothing, for we have nothing to boast of. So when right with
God, we are right with others. God makes those He has reconciled, a new humanity
and new man. New family. Find peace with Him and therefore peace with one
another.
The Cross puts away enmity and sin. The Cross, as far as
the Jew and the Gentile were concerned, breaks down middle wall of division, by
fulfilling ceremonial law and abolishing it, that ceremonial law which
distinguished Jew from Gentile. In Christ and through His salvation, men find
end of tensions and rivalries. Neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free,
neither male nor female – for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians
3:28). Neither Greek nor Jew, neither circumcised nor uncircumcised,
Barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all in all (Colossians
3:11). For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord
over all is rich to all who call upon Him (Romans 10:12).
The Cross shows men equal in sin, equal in condemnation,
equal in salvation, equal in new birth, equal in position in God’s family.
Humility and graciousness in Christ-centred and Christ-filled man which was
never there before. Now one fold and one shepherd (John 10:16).
God’s way works! Worked in the first century and works
in modern times.
At one of the earliest communion services in New Zealand
there were two Maori chiefs. One had killed and eaten the father of the other.
The other said it was only the Gospel which had given him a new nature that
could have made him eat bread and drink wine side by side with the murderer of
his own father.
Also at a communion service, the Duke of Wellington said
to a woman who was hesitating to kneel next to him, “We are all equal here.”
After the American Civil War, fought over the issue of
slavery, General Robert E. Lee was seen at a church kneeling next to a black
man. In response to an enquiry, he said, “My friend, all ground is level at
the foot of the cross.
In this century there are remarkable stories of inmates
of concentration camps who were Christians, and brutal guards who were later
converted, able to express unity and oneness in the Lord.
And we know of broken marriages which were on their way to the divorce court, but never got there because one partner found the Lord and, because of that, found each other again.
Lovely picture now follows. Two parties at daggers drawn.
Reconciled to God and therefore to each other – through Christ both have
access by one Spirit to the Father. Access prosagwgh
- scene of oriental court where subjects are granted audience with king
and presented to him. Because we are reconciled to God and to one another, and
both are essential if God is to hear our prayers, both parties enter audience
chamber of the king. The scene ends with two bitter enemies joining together in
Christian prayer. They pray unitedly in harmony.
We pray to the Father, through Christ – both principles
are essential to true prayer. No access to God except through Christ. He is the
one mediator. Cannot come to the Father except through Him, therefore He offered
the one sacrifice which takes away sin and makes us acceptable to God. Therefore
we can come boldly to the throne of grace, through the Holy Spirit, who creates
spiritual mind. The Spirit quickens and stimulates us to pray, makes the things
of God real to us, reminds us of God’s promises and gives us freedom in
prayer.
Perfect summary of prayer – to the Father, through the
Son, by the Holy Spirit. The only ground of true prayer.
Two parties once at war, now united and enjoying all intimacy and blessing and support of closest fellowship with God. Being a Christian is a wonderful thing. It brings me into fellowship with God, changes relationships with others. And all comfort and support through prayer. Coming as a child to the Father. Enjoying Him. When all is against us, one gate is always open and one ear is always listening. There is one place where our burden may be laid down.
Relevance of message. Treated as though we have nothing
to say to modern world, but this message has everything to say. Going about
things in wrong way and wrong order. Get nowhere by shutting God out. Begin with
Him, get right with Him and then with others. Start with God and all else falls
into place.
Christians to enjoy Christian fellowship, to receive one another for Christ’s sake. Other differences are unimportant. All that matters is that we are in Christ.
