Sermons on Ephesians 2:14-18


The various sermons below interpret Ephesians 2:14-18 by focusing on the peace and unity that Christ brings through His sacrifice. They all emphasize the breaking down of barriers, particularly the historical division between Jews and Gentiles, and the creation of a new humanity in Christ. A common thread is the dual aspect of peace: vertical peace with God and horizontal peace among people. The sermons delve into the original Greek text to highlight the transformative power of Christ's actions, emphasizing reconciliation and unity as central themes. They also explore the concept of "shalom," a holistic peace that encompasses wholeness and reconciliation, illustrating this with relatable analogies like a family dinner. The sermons agree that true peace and unity are found in Christ, requiring faith and repentance.

While the sermons share common themes, they also present distinct nuances. One sermon emphasizes the need to address historical and cultural divisions within the church to achieve true unity, while another focuses on the holistic nature of "shalom" and the necessity of turning away from worldly pursuits. A different sermon critiques modern ecumenical movements, arguing that true unity and salvation are found only in Christ, rejecting the notion of multiple paths to God. Additionally, the sermons vary in their exploration of linguistic nuances, such as the subtle differences between "by faith" and "through faith," and their implications for understanding justification.

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Ephesians 2:14-18 Interpretation:

Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ (Seneca Creek Community Church) interprets Ephesians 2:14-18 by emphasizing the dual aspect of peace that Christ brings: vertical peace between humanity and God, and horizontal peace among people. The sermon highlights the historical tension between Jews and Gentiles, using the metaphor of a "dividing wall of hostility" to describe the barriers that Christ has broken down. The sermon uses the original Greek context to explain how Jesus' actions on the cross created a new humanity, not by forcing assimilation but by uniting diverse groups into one body.

Anticipating Peace: The Gift of Shalom in Christ (Dunntown Advent Christian Church) interprets Ephesians 2:14-18 by focusing on the concept of "shalom," a Hebrew word for peace that encompasses wholeness, completeness, and rest. The sermon describes how Jesus' sacrifice on the cross reconciles humanity to God and to each other, restoring the shalom that was lost in the fall. The sermon uses the analogy of a family dinner to illustrate the idea of shalom, where peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of wholeness and reconciliation.

One God, One Salvation: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) interprets Ephesians 2:14-18 by emphasizing the abolition of distinctions between Jews and Gentiles through the cross of Christ. The sermon highlights that the "middle wall of partition" has been broken down, creating one new humanity. The preacher uses the original Greek text to clarify that the passage does not imply universal salvation for all Jews and Gentiles but rather for those who have faith in Jesus. The sermon also explores the linguistic nuances of "by faith" and "through faith," suggesting that while there is no material difference, the terms may subtly emphasize the source and means of justification.

Ephesians 2:14-18 Theological Themes:

Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ (Seneca Creek Community Church) presents the theme of reconciliation as a core aspect of the gospel, emphasizing that Jesus' work on the cross not only reconciles us to God but also to each other. The sermon highlights the importance of acknowledging and addressing historical and cultural divisions within the church to achieve true unity.

Anticipating Peace: The Gift of Shalom in Christ (Dunntown Advent Christian Church) introduces the theme of shalom as a holistic peace that encompasses all aspects of life. The sermon emphasizes that true peace is found in Jesus and that it requires turning away from worldly pursuits and embracing the peace that Christ offers through faith and repentance.

One God, One Salvation: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) presents the theme that God's way of salvation is singular and universal, applicable to both Jews and Gentiles. The sermon argues against the idea of multiple paths to God, emphasizing that the cross of Christ is the only way to reconciliation with God. It also critiques modern ecumenical movements that suggest all religions worship the same God, asserting that true unity and salvation are found only in Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-18 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ (Seneca Creek Community Church) provides historical context about the tension between Jews and Gentiles in the early church, explaining how cultural and religious practices, such as circumcision, were used to create divisions. The sermon also references the physical dividing wall in the temple that separated Jews and Gentiles, illustrating the cultural barriers that existed at the time.

Anticipating Peace: The Gift of Shalom in Christ (Dunntown Advent Christian Church) discusses the concept of shalom in the Old Testament, describing it as a state of wholeness and completeness that was present in the Garden of Eden before the fall. The sermon explains how the fall disrupted this peace and how Jesus' work on the cross aims to restore it.

One God, One Salvation: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) provides historical context by discussing the early church's struggle with Jewish and Gentile distinctions. The sermon explains that the Apostle Paul had to repeatedly emphasize the unity of Jews and Gentiles in Christ due to lingering Jewish resistance to the inclusion of Gentiles. It also references the historical context of the Protestant Reformation, highlighting the importance of maintaining doctrinal purity and the singularity of the gospel message.

Ephesians 2:14-18 Cross-References in the Bible:

Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ (Seneca Creek Community Church) references Colossians and Galatians to support the idea that in Christ, there is no division between Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female. These passages are used to emphasize the unity that Christ brings to the church.

Anticipating Peace: The Gift of Shalom in Christ (Dunntown Advent Christian Church) references Romans 5 to explain how we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. The sermon also references Isaiah 53 to describe how Jesus' suffering and sacrifice bring us peace. Additionally, Revelation 21 is cited to illustrate the ultimate restoration of peace in the new creation.

One God, One Salvation: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) references Romans 3:29-30 to support the interpretation of Ephesians 2:14-18, emphasizing that God is not only the God of the Jews but also of the Gentiles. The sermon also references Galatians 2:16 and 3:8 to illustrate the interchangeable use of "by faith" and "through faith," reinforcing the idea that justification is through faith in Christ alone.

Ephesians 2:14-18 Christian References outside the Bible:

Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ (Seneca Creek Community Church) references Pastor Rick Warren's commencement speech, where he emphasizes the importance of relationships over achievements in the final moments of life. This reference is used to highlight the significance of building relationships within the church as a reflection of the peace and unity that Christ brings.

One God, One Salvation: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) does not explicitly reference any non-biblical Christian authors or theologians in the discussion of Ephesians 2:14-18.

Ephesians 2:14-18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Building Bridges: The Power of Relationships in Christ (Seneca Creek Community Church) uses the metaphor of a high school lunchroom to illustrate how people tend to segregate themselves into groups based on similarities, creating barriers that need to be broken down to achieve true unity in the church.

One God, One Salvation: Unity in Christ (MLJTrust) does not use any secular sources or illustrations to explain Ephesians 2:14-18.