The Difference Christ Makes

Introduction

Very pleasant good morning to all, and certainly a cordial welcome to those who are visiting in our audience today. I notice we have several different ones, perhaps many from out of town, but maybe there are some even from this area. We especially hope that if you are from the area, you’ll come back and be with us from time to time. And I might say I’m certainly glad to be back home and be here today. And I want to thank you for not handing me a visitor’s card. I have been gone more in these last few weeks than ordinarily I would allow my schedule to be compacted as it has been. The fact is that I didn’t originally have it this compacted together, but uh when Arlene had the surgery back in the spring, I sort of moved some of those obligations to to the fall, and so that made it all sort of about to push together.

But I thank you also for your interest in the work that I’m able to do in other places and encouragement. This last week I was in Palatka, and they had asked that I preach from the book of Revelation. So to do the cover the book of Revelation in eight lessons is quite a quite a task in and of itself. But there was good interest throughout the week, and I’m thankful for the good health and now the ability to be back home. Certainly, I’d like to encourage you this morning, if you have a New Testament, to be opening to the reading found in the book of Ephesians. Ephesians is a great treatise that gives us an understanding of God’s eternal purpose and plan. It begins in chapter one and speaking about his predestined plan.

How that even before the world began, that God planned that through Jesus Christ would come the means of redemption. And in fact, that that plan was the means that carried out that we have all spiritual blessings through him and only through him. The book unfolds, therefore, to talk about the grace of God. For we did not deserve the gift of Jesus Christ or the death on the cross that he suffered in our place. It is by grace that we’re saved. God solely by grace made possible the death of his only begotten Son. But it doesn’t mean that salvation is on our part solely by grace, that is, our grace only. But rather the scripture says it is by grace through faith that we’re saved. We did not deserve the gift of God, but our part is to respond in faith to God’s gift.

In this letter, therefore, the apostle speaks about our responsibilities in observing God’s grace. In fact, in chapter one, two weeks ago, when I preached, I spoke about the prayer that Paul uttered for those brethren at Ephesus. In fact, it’s a prayer that I think is worthy of us even now. For as in chapter 1, Paul spoke about how that he did not cease to pray that the eyes of their understanding would be opened. That to me is particular phrase to say the eyes of your understanding opened. And I think what Paul was saying, that it isn’t enough just to go through some facts. Maybe sometimes we take for granted the treasures that we have in Christ. And maybe we come to an assembly like this because, well, it’s Sunday, and I’ve been baptized, and I’m a member of the church, and I’m supposed to come on Sunday.

But how many times do we look forward to it with a kind of zeal and enthusiasm and realizing what a treasure it is to be called the child of God? And instead of assemblies like this being a spirit of, well, do I have to come? And frankly, there are some who call themselves Christians who haven’t come and don’t come on a regular basis. And maybe it’s because they do not really comprehend what the apostle was saying. I want your eyes to be opened to understand the hope of his calling. That we live not just for the things of the now and the things of this world, while there is indeed the help of the Lord through our daily struggles, but the real hope is that there is something awaiting us even in eternity.

The hope that we have is the anchor of our soul. That no matter what the trial or the trouble may be, that indeed it carries us through, we can resist even the temptations of evil because our sights are set on something better than this world. That your eyes be enlightened to understand the hope of his calling. And then he said, the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. A superlative of a superlative, so to say, the riches of the glory of his inheritance. How many times do you stop and think about the hope of his calling? How many times do we stop and think about heaven and what it will be like? Perhaps more often our thoughts are, well, what we’re doing later today and what our plans are for tomorrow, or however we think we can make more money or do this or that.

All to do with this world. When the apostle says, I pray that the eyes of your understanding would be enlightened. Open, that you have a greater understanding of it. And that even that you not know the working of his power, God’s power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead and set him in his own right hand in the heavenly place, is far above. Who is Christ? Far above all principality and power and might and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come. And he hath put. It’s not something future and a thousand year reign on earth like some would proclaim, but he has put all things under his feet and gave him to be a head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who filleth all in all.

If you’re not in the church of the Lord, my friend, you’re missing out on the riches of the glory of the inheritance that God has prepared for those who by faith serve him. In chapter 2, I’d like for you to be reading with me, though. I’m going to start with verse 11, where he picks up talking about really the church and what it means to be in Christ Jesus. In Ephesians 2 and verse 11, therefore remember that you once Gentiles in the flesh. And now I might pause to say, Ephesus was a city made up certainly of Gentiles. Where the apostle Paul had gone really briefly on his second missionary journey, but stayed longer on his third preaching journey, and a church was established at Ephesus, basically made up of Gentiles.

While there were also some Jews there, no doubt. But he addresses the letter as though to both Gentile and Jew. At this point, he says, Remember that you once Gentiles in the flesh, who are called uncircumcision, by what is called the circumcision made in the flesh by hands. That is the Jews being circumcised according to law of Moses, referred to the Gentiles as the uncircumcised, as heathens in fact. So in verse 12 he says, That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made both one, has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in his flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.

And that he might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have access by one spirit to the Father. Now therefore, you’re no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens were the saints and members of the household of God, having been redeemed, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. The temple of the Lord.

1. Members of a Different Family

You who are Christians, he is saying, are now built together, not as a physical building like the temple had been in Jerusalem, but now as a spiritual dwelling place of God. And that is true even to this point in time. We’re a special people if we’re in the Lord’s church. I want you to notice, though, as he addresses these Gentiles, the difference that Jesus Christ really makes. First of all, to these people, he would say, you’re now members of a different family. You once were indeed the uncircumcised, called that by the Jews who were circumcised. And really, at that time you were without Christ. You were aliens. You know, our country, we talk a lot here in the news a lot about illegal immigrants. Well, what are they?

They’re aliens. They’re not citizens of this country. Well, can you be an illegal immigrant in the family of God? Not really. Only through the blood of Jesus Christ can you be made one in Him. And these Gentiles, at that time, you were estrangers, in fact. You did not have the kind of relationship that the Jews had with God. You were separated from God and from the privileges of those who were in the covenant relationship with God. Even as they were circumcised on the eighth day, so they became a part of the family. God’s special family. Chosen first of all through Abraham, and then through his special, his son Isaac, the promised son, through Jacob and the twelve sons of Jacob, now the family of Israel. Gentiles were not part of that.

God had blessed this special family to be the one through whom the Messiah would come. And while maybe the Israelites didn’t fully comprehend what all that meant, they certainly had hope. They were looking forward to something in a greater period of time that God would restore this special family. The Gentiles had none of that. In fact, they were without hope and they were without God. But now he says in Christ Jesus, things are different. He says, You’re made near. First of all, in verse 13. You see, the Gentiles are now brought into God’s relationship. That is a covenant relationship with God. You who were strangers, down in verse 19, he says, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints. Members of the household of God.

The household the word means simply the family of God. You’re now part of his family. And therefore, being part of his family, there he has made peace. What do you mean, peace? Well, through the scripture, even here, he speaks about the enmity that stood between the Jew and the Gentile. Here were people separated, apart from the Gentiles, would not intermarry with the Gentiles. We’re indeed separate from them. And there was enmity between the two. But now we are reconciled through Jesus Christ. In verse 16, he might reconcile them both to God in one body, thereby putting to death the enmity. In Christ Jesus, therefore, we become members of the same family. We’re brethren. We’re brothers and sisters in Christ. That’s what the church is. It’s his body, of which he is head over all things to it.

2. Through Him, a Different Law

What a difference Christ makes. Most of us, now probably would say, as far as I can tell, all of us in this audience would be Gentiles. We were not of that physical lineage called of Israelite. And what we were without Jesus Christ, without hope, without God. But now in Christ, he makes a real difference. Not only though, in that he has given us a new family, he’s also, through him, given us a different law.

In fact, that law of Moses was that middle wall of partition. It stood between the Jew and the Gentile. Those of you who have studied through the scriptures understand that even the Old Testament basically, and that that really the major part of it deals with the law of Moses given by God through Moses at Mount Sinai, starting at least at that point in Exodus 20. Starting with the Ten Commandments, and then the other laws that governed them as a nation, civil government, as well as how to live and things to do. The Gentiles were not given that law. That law separated, you might say, the Jews from the Gentile. But that law of itself could not save. In fact, the Apostle Paul, when he was at Antioch, in Acts chapter 13, on his first preaching journey.

And he preached how that there is salvation through Jesus Christ. He says, which could not be through the law of Moses. That the law of Moses could not and would not justify. He said, the law of Moses had only sacrifices that were animal sacrifices. And as in Hebrews chapter 10, those sacrifices could not take away sin. It needed, we needed the blood of Jesus Christ. But God had a time of preparation. He gave the law of Moses, you might say, to prepare this family for the coming of the Savior of the world. And that’s why when we look about the difference between the law of Moses and the giving of the of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we recognize the gospel of the good news of Christ is founded upon the death, burial, and resurrection of this the Son of God.

The law of Moses had a purpose, though. Paul wrote in Galatians chapter 3 and verses 23 through 25 before faith came, that is the system of salvation by faith. Before faith came, we were shut up unto the law, under faith, that we were shut up by the law itself. But he says that law was our schoolmaster. King James Version uses the word. It was our tutor. It was that means by which we were brought to Jesus Christ. In the Roman letter, the apostle Paul there even describes how that the law taught us sin. We became aware of what sin is. And understanding that we have violated God’s law, transgressed his will, we’re worthy of death. That’s God’s law for sin. But through that law, while it taught us what sin is, and it taught us the need for a Savior, in that sense, it brought us to Christ.

It guarded men, it led us unto the understanding that only in Christ is there reconciliation. But that law, having served its purpose, came to an end. Paul wrote in Colossians chapter 2 and verses 14 through 17, using the description of having been nailed to the cross. Of course, that’s in a figure of speech. The law of Moses was not literally tacked on the cross, but in the sense that Christ died, he provided for us a new covenant. And the language even in Hebrews chapter 8, verses 6 through 13 is that if that first covenant had been without fault, there would have been no need for a second. Had man been able to be saved by keeping the Ten Commandments, be no need for the cross of Christ.

Had men been able to take that old testament and follow it only, be no need for the new testament or the covenant of Christ. But there was a need for the new covenant. In fact, in Hebrews chapter 9, verses 15 through 17, there the apostle speaks how that this covenant, indeed, this testament was made for not only those today who would serve it, but even it reached backward. That is those under the law of Moses. And even you might say before that, those who were faithful to God, who obeyed the covenant or the word of God that they had, whether it be a Noah or an Abraham or finally Moses and Elijah and those who lived under the under the law of Moses, the blood of Christ reaches backward as well as forward to those who were faithful to God.

But as he died on the cross, only in this means is their salvation. But I want you to notice here in this passage. He says that law abolished, or that cross abolished that middle wall of partition, verse 15, having abolished in his flesh the enmity. That is the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in himself one new man from the two, thus making peace. I tell you many times in the religious world today, this lesson needs to be taught again and again. Because there are some who just bounce from one passage to the other. I sometimes say they play biblical hopscotch. They go to the Old Testament and read a verse there that they sort of like and want to fit it as though it’s fitting for today, when really it’s not for those who are serving the Christ today.

3. A Different Foundation: Built on Jesus Christ

Take each verse in its context and understand that the law of Moses had a specific purpose, and that purpose has been fulfilled in the death of Jesus Christ. It’s important that we understand and read the Old Testament, don’t misunderstand. But it is not the law for the church or for those who would serve Christ today. Jesus Christ broke down the middle wall. It was nailed to the cross. But Jesus Christ also makes a difference in that there’s a different foundation. We’re built on Jesus Christ. And a foundation laid by the apostles and prophets. Verse 20, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. I once had some Mormon friends who was reasoning with me one day, and they said, you know, the Mormon church is the one true church.

And I tell you how you can determine that. Because we have apostles and prophets. Do you have apostles and prophets in your church? Of course, my answer is, well, yes, but not living today. But they made the claim, well, they have apostles and prophets in the church, and of course, they can get modern day revelation, they would claim. And many of the doctrines, in fact, of the Mormons, is that they’ve had some revelations starting with Joseph Smith on down to our generation of time. And they say, well, here’s the reason why. At least they claim to be apostles. Because, first of all, in Acts chapter 1, when they were the uh the true apostles of the Lord were replacing uh Judas, who had betrayed the Lord, they said that in order to appoint a new apostle had to be one who witnessed Jesus Christ, who witnessed even from the time of his coming till even after his death.

There’s not a man alive today who can qualify to be an apostle. But frankly, even their claim to have modern-day apostles doesn’t fit. Because this does not say the apostles were the foundation of the church. The apostles and prophets simply preached the foundation. Christ alone can save. There’s no other foundation can be laid than that which is laid, 1 Corinthians 3 and verse 11, which is Christ Jesus. In fact, Jesus is the foundation. It’s sort of like saying, I’m not sure who the who the contractor was at the time this building was built, but let’s say its name was Smith. Well, I’ll tell you, the building here is built on the foundation laid by Mr. Smith. That doesn’t mean he’s in the foundation, does it? It just simply means he’s the one who laid it, who oversaw the lay the laying of the foundation.

The apostles and prophets who went forward preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, preached the salvation that’s in Christ. And therefore they laid the foundation. That’s what it’s simply saying in Ephesians 2 and 20. They are the ones who proclaim the gospel. Jesus Himself. In Matthew chapter 16, when he was with his apostles, he said, Who do men say that I am, the Son of Man am? And they replied, Well, some say you’re John the Baptist, and some say you’re Jeremiah. Oh, one of the prophets. And then he said, Well, who do you say that I am? It was Peter who answered, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. And to that, Jesus Christ answered that God had revealed that unto him. And in fact, he said, Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell are of Hades shall not prevail against it.

You know, it had been an ideal time for even in Ephesians 2. For the apostle Paul to have said, now, Peter really is the foundation of the church. He was the first Pope, and therefore he’s the foundation of the church. But that’s not what’s said in Ephesians 2. And that’s not what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 16. On the very confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That’s the foundation of the church of the Lord. He is the one through whom we have hope, by whom we have redemption. He is the foundation laid by the apostles and prophets. In fact, he is the head, therefore. When you say that he is the foundation of the church, you’d have to say that through him the church is governed.

Jesus claimed that in Matthew 28 and verse 18. When he said shortly before his ascension into heaven, all authority has been given unto me, both in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Then listen, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world or of this age. Indeed, Christ is the head. And that’s affirmed not only in Ephesians, in Matthew, even in Colossians chapter 1 and verse 18, he is head of the church, which is his body. And therefore being the cornerstone. He holds it together. A cornerstone. As you build a building, it holds together.

And so the framework of the building. Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone. A rock laid. Even Isaiah prophesied in Isaiah 28 and verse 16. And it’s found also, even quoted by Peter. Who is the cornerstone? What does Christ do? By his authority holds together this body of his, which is the church. That really says that Christ intends for us to be united. In fact, later in Ephesians chapter 1, the apostle there writes how that with all that we ought to endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace. He says there is one body and one spirit, just as you were called and one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who’s above all and through all and in you all.

Jesus Christ wants us to be as one, as one body. You know, sometimes when you see that Christ indeed makes a difference.

4. A Different Temple: The Church of the Lord

He’s provided us a new message, the gospel of salvation. He’s provided us authority, a foundation that is sure, that is certain, that certainly as we look to him for salvation, we can be sure of our eternal inheritance. But also Christ makes a difference in that he has provided a different temple. It’s the church of the Lord. If you are in Christ Jesus, then you are described in the Bible as being a temple. I want you to notice the language here. In fact, in Ephesians chapter 2, he says we are knit together. The whole building fitted together, goes into an holy temple in the Lord. Well, you think it’s fitted together? A physical building, this building here, for example, there are a lot of different kinds of materials, aren’t there?

There’s there indeed is some sheetrock and there’s some wood and there’s some metal and there’s some glass and there are a lot of different kinds of materials, but they are fitted together. Even in the Lord’s church. We don’t all do the same things. There are different talents among us. There are different abilities. And yet we are fitted together. He could write this letter even to those who were Gentiles, didn’t have the same background as Jews. It would have been an ideal place for Paul to have said, now you know, the Lord built two kind of churches. He built one for the Gentiles, and he built one for the Jews. And you just go pick the one that fits you best. That’s not what he said. But rather we are as one body.

Christ the cornerstone, seeking unity among believers. And even though we have different talents and different abilities, we’re still to be knit together. In Ephesians chapter four and verse sixteen, there’s I think is an unusual expression when he says, From whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies. Are you a member of the Lord’s church? Then you ought to be supplying something to it. I wonder sometimes if maybe there aren’t some who call themselves Christians, who are like maybe boards uh in a building that kind of get out of place, maybe they get warped and go out of place, and constantly you have to kind of work to pull them back in and sort of get them back in place. Have you ever had in your house maybe something that you had to repair?

Maybe there was a flood or something and the boards kind of buckled up or whatever. And we constantly know something about fitting it back in place. If every member of this church were just like you, would we have to be constantly fitting it back in place? Or would you be encouraging others to be in the body of Christ to help to hold it together, fit it together through that which every joint supplieth. In fact, notice, he speaks of it as the dwelling place of God. Now that’s a serious thought. In verse 21 and 2, the whole building being fitted together grows in the holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. The temple, literal temple built in Jerusalem, and the Holy of Holies, was so special that the high priest would enter it only one time a year.

And only there to offer sacrifice for the sins of the people. There, the mercy seat on top indeed of the Ark of the Covenant, overshadowed by cherubim on either side. God said, I’ll meet you there. It was such a serious thing that if the high priest were to dishonor God, he might even be struck dead. I’m told that it came to a point in tradition that even the Jews at some point in time tied a rope around the foot of the high priest in case he was struck dead, at least they could pull him back out of it. Can you imagine the seriousness of entering the mercy seat? Of entering to approach God. Perhaps we don’t think of it that seriously. That you as a Christian are a part of the temple of God, his dwelling place.

First of all, as the church itself, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, the apostle writes to the church at Corinth, and he says, Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? And then he says, if anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. As the church of the Lord. We are the temple of God. And you might say, in a congregated sense. Together we form that temple. You defile the temple. God will punish you. In a more specific way, he speaks to individuals in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. In 1 Corinthians chapter 6, in verses 19 and 20, there the apostle says, Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God?

And you are not your own. For you were bought with the price. Therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

In fact, he said, you know, if you’re holy, don’t join yourself with an idol or with that which is unholy. Come out from among them and be your separate.

Conclusion

That we are part of a special family, a spiritual family. We have a different law. We have the grace of God revealed even in the New Testament. And we are a people who indeed are on a foundation, a foundation of Jesus Christ. And it’s serious about how we handle the Word of God. Most of all, how we live. For we are a temple. God dwells in us. And individually, it is important that we go forth not as hypocrites, but as serious students and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. You may come to a building like this on Sunday, but how do you act on Monday or Tuesday or through the week? God knows. And other people watch you. And they may be saying, Oh, you mean that’s a Christian?

Well, I hope they’ll be saying, Oh, that’s a Christian. I’d like to be one. Don’t be the kind who would say, Oh, that’s a Christian. Why, you know, I can be just as good as that and stay out of the church. There are people who respond that way too. Recognize the seriousness of being the child of God. Jesus Christ makes a difference in our lives. And we ought to recognize what a privilege it is to be citizens of his kingdom. As Paul would say in Ephesians 1, I pray that the eyes of your understanding be enlightened that you understand these things. And that you do not take for granted the privilege of serving Christ. That you do not take for granted that I’m just a member of the church, and that’s it.

Recognize you’re part of the temple of God, the dwelling place of his spirit. Maybe there’s one in this audience this morning who’s never obeyed the gospel. When you look at passages like this, I hope it’ll stir your heart to understand. Without Christ, you’re as an alien, separated from God. As without Christ, without hope and without God. Indeed, what a tragic finish life will be for you if you don’t turn to him. Won’t you take part of the grace of God extended through Christ? Won’t you serve Him as a citizen of His kingdom? He’s given you that privilege. If you truly believe Jesus to be the Son of God, you can this day confess your faith in Him. You can this day making up your mind, I’m going to repent of evil in my life to the best of my ability.

I’m going to give my life to Christ. You can be buried by baptism into his death, to be raised to walk in newness of life, his blood having washed away your sin. Are you subject to that invitation? Our song is in the form of a question. It says someday you’ll stand at the bar on high. Someday your record you’ll see. Someday you’ll answer the question of life. What will your answer be? What will it be? Where will you spend eternity? If you should die this day of the Lord, should come this day. How would you answer that question? If you should have to say, well, you know, I’m not yet ready for the Lord to come. Why not this day? Make up your mind. Choose to obey him.

Choose to lay hold on the great privilege of being a child of God. If you’re subject to the invitation, we bid you come now while together we stand while we sing.