The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1958-04-17
.Sern, 0 n efte'
CHRIST OUR PEACE"
Ephesians 2:l1-22

saw a picture of the natural man,
the man who has the same nature
that he inherited at birth, the
man who knows not Jesus Christ
as his Lord and Saviour. We see
that man as dead IN trespasses
and sins - following the pattern
set by the world (the organized,
but ungodly, system of mem,
controlled by Satan, living for
the luSts of the flesh, fulfilling
the desires of the flesh and of the
mind. This makes them ''the chill
dren of wrath"
The scene changes and we see
that God appears in the Person
of His Son Jesus Christ, reveal
ing His great love for man by
His abundant mercy and grace.
He has provided the gift OF
salvation which delivers one
from the penalty and habits Of
that nature which he received
at the time he was born in the
flesh. This gift not only delivers
one, but it also assures him of
sharing in the glory and
blessings of His Lord, Jesus
Christ. He also becomes living
demonstration Of the grace and
power Of God oversees 7 and 10)
Now the Holy Spirit would
have us realize the Christians
position in Christ, especially
those who were Gentiles by
birth. Reference is made in verse
II of "the commonwealth Of
Israel" and "the covenants of
promise" This speaks of a
spiritual commonwealth (organ-
lied community of which Israel
lin the Old TestamenD was
type. 1t concerns the spiritual
rather than the national distinc-
ton.
In being separated from that
commonwealth. the Gentle was
separated from Christ, because
the faithful Israelites had a hope
in Christ Chased on the promises
of God) Who was the object of
their faith and the ground of
their salvation. The covenants
which God made with the
Hebrew fathers were based on
the promise of a Messiah, a man
sent from God Who would de-
liver His people.
A man without Christ" is a
man having no hope (verse
l2). No hope for the present
life. He has no assurance of JOY
and blessings. He has nothing
that will insure peace of mind.
There is no hope for the life to
come. Life at its longest span is
brief. Death may take us at any
time. What of eternity? Heaven
is only for those who know Jesus
Christ as their Lord. For the one
without Christ there is no good
night here, good-morning up
there For the one without
Christ there will be no reunion
with a godly mother or father,
or the little baby that was taken
or other loved ones. One without
Christ and without God is lost
and doomed for all eternity.
But in verses 14-l8 we see
that in Christ there is peace.
The wall, the whole Mosaic or
Old Testament economy, which
separated the Jew from the Gen
tile has been dissolved, done
away with. In Jesus Christ Jew
and Gentle form new man
(verse 15). The commandments
of animal sacrifices and cere-
monies for worship have been
abolished. Christ has fulfilled
those commandments. Jew and
Gentle, alike, are reconciled to
God through the work of Christ
on the cross (verse 16). The
result is that new body is
formed which is called the
church
In verse 1922, the Christian,
be who is in Christ, is said to
be a fellow citizen with the
saints, and a member of Gods
family, enjoying all the rights
and privileges Which such terms
imply. He is also described as
being part of a great building
which is in the process of being
built and which will be San holy
temple in the Lord" - the place
of prayer and worship. The
foundation for this building is
the teachings of the apostles
(New Testament messengers of
God) and prophets (Old Tesla
ment messengers Of God). Their
teachings concerned the person
and work Of Jesus Christ. The
cornerstone, the keystone, which
is the stone in the place of pro-
minence and of greatest import
ance is Jesus Christ Himself. The
cornerstone Identifies the build
ing. 1t sets it apart, in purpose,
from all other buildings. Remove
Jesus Christ and His teachings
from the building and you do
not have church, temple in
the Lord.
In closing, verse %, we note
that this is going to be a habita
ton "a permanent dWelling) of
God. 1t is to be maintained as
such through the working of the
Holy Spirit. The fellowship and
the worship of true Christians,
regardless of sect, division, or
denomination, will be under the
direction of the Holy Spirit. AS
He is permitted to control, there
will be true fellowship and true
worship which will be pleasing
to God.
Let us be sure that our loyalty
is to Jesus Christ and not to
an organization of men. Let us