Where is Peace?

Ephesians 2:11-22

By David Turnerwww.Biblestudies-Online.com

Christ to bring peace

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace

among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 12:51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on

earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

Peace in Heaven and Israel

Luke 19:36–42 (ESV) 36 And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, 38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” 41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

Christ’s peace

John 14:27  

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be

afraid.

John 16:33 

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have

tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Types of Peace

• Peace with God• World Peace• Peace in the Middle East• Peace in our communities• Peace in families and relationships• Peace within

Peace in this Life?

Without ChristThere is no peace

Ephesians 2:11–22 (ESV)

11 Therefore 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— 12 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.

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the

dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he

might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us

both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of

God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows

into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the

Spirit.

Three types of men

In Adam In Christ

JewsCircumcisedUnder Law

Possessed rev.Near

GentilesUncircumcisedOutside of the

promisesFar Off

One New Man

Neither Jew or Gentile

Not included in the promise11 Therefore 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—

• Don’t forget who we were:– Gentiles– Uncircumcised: as

opposed to the circumcised.

We had no team benefits12 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

• Don’t forget– Separated from the

promises of Messiah.– Alienated from the

commonwealth of Israel.– Strangers of the

covenants of promise.– Without hope and God

in the world.

Included because of Christ13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

• Now we are in Christ Jesus:– We’re not separated

from Christ – We’re not alienated

from the commonwealth of Israel

– We’re not without hope and God in the World.

• Why? Christ bought us with His blood.

Christ Is our peace14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

• Christ is our peace because– His blood has brought

peace between Jew and Gentile.

– His body broke the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles.

Christ destroyed the Wall15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

• The Law was the wall that separated Jews and Gentiles

• Not: Combining Jew and Gentile.

• Rather: Creating a new man In Christ where there is no Jew or Gentile.

Reconciled as One16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

• Through The Cross– Jews are reconciled to

God– Gentiles are reconciled

to God– Not as separate entities

but as one body.

Christ Preached Peace17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.

• He preached peace to:– The Gentile – you who

were far off.– The Jew – those who

were near.

Access Through Christ18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

• Gentiles have access to the Father through the same Spirit as the Jews.

Gentiles Into God’s House19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

• Non Jews– No longer strangers– No longer aliens– They share together with

all who believe as members of God’s household.

A Spiritual House20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,

• Not a physical Temple• It is a Spiritual Temple

with:– Foundation: apostles

and Prophets– Cornerstone: Christ

Jesus himself

A Spiritual Temple21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

• It is a growing• It is holy• It is in The Lord

We are God’s dwelling Place22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

• You are being built into the temple

• You are being built together with other believers into that temple.

• It is the dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Colossians 1:19–20

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in

heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.