Unity in Christ: Overcoming Division and Pride

 

Summary

In Ephesians 2:11, Paul addresses the Gentiles, reminding them of their past as "uncircumcised" and the division that existed between them and the Jews. This division was not just a cultural or religious difference but a significant barrier that seemed insurmountable. The Jews, through a misunderstanding of their own scriptures, had turned circumcision into a point of pride and division, rather than a sign of their covenant with God. This created a barrier between Jews and Gentiles, which seemed impossible to overcome. However, Paul emphasizes that through Christ, these barriers have been broken down. The church, consisting of both Jews and Gentiles, is a testament to God's power to unite what was once divided.

The world today, much like the ancient world, is full of divisions—between nations, classes, and even within the church. These divisions often stem from pride and a misunderstanding of what truly matters. People tend to exaggerate differences and turn them into barriers, leading to strife and disunity. The solution, as Paul outlines, is not found in human efforts or organizational unity but in Christ alone. Only through a change of heart, brought about by the Spirit of Christ, can true unity be achieved. This unity is not about minimizing differences but recognizing that in Christ, we are all one, sharing in the same grace and mercy.

The call is for individuals and the church to recognize the futility of human efforts to achieve unity and to turn to Christ, who alone can break down the walls of division. It is through humility and a Christ-centered life that true peace and unity can be realized.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Power of God's Unity: The church, composed of Jews and Gentiles, is a powerful illustration of God's ability to unite what was once divided. This unity is a testament to the exceeding greatness of God's power, which is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. It is a reminder that true unity is only possible through God's intervention. [06:21]

2. The Barrier of Pride: Pride and self-centeredness are the root causes of division. They blind us to the truth about ourselves and others, leading to exaggerated differences and barriers. Recognizing our own pride and the need for humility is essential for overcoming these divisions. [27:23]

3. Misplaced Values: The Jews' emphasis on circumcision as a physical sign rather than a spiritual reality highlights the danger of misplaced values. True circumcision is of the heart, and it is this spiritual transformation that matters, not external rituals or traditions. [33:50]

4. The Futility of Human Efforts: Human efforts to achieve unity, whether through conferences or organizational means, are ultimately futile. True unity can only be achieved through the gospel, which transforms hearts and minds, bringing people together in Christ. [23:12]

5. Christ as the Solution: Christ alone can break down the walls of division. By revealing the truth about ourselves and others, He brings us to a place of humility and unity. It is through His Spirit that we are reconciled to God and to one another, creating a new humanity in Him. [45:10]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Introduction to Ephesians 2:11
- [01:29] - New Section in Ephesians
- [02:22] - God's Great Purpose
- [03:21] - The Church as an Illustration
- [04:13] - The Need for Enlightenment
- [05:12] - Exceeding Greatness of God's Power
- [06:03] - Overcoming Obstacles
- [07:58] - The Second Obstacle
- [09:23] - Remembering the Past
- [11:24] - Division Between Jews and Gentiles
- [13:00] - Understanding the Verse
- [16:41] - The Jews' Misunderstanding
- [20:14] - Modern Divisions
- [23:38] - The Cause of Division
- [33:33] - Wrong Sense of Values
- [40:55] - Christ as the Cure
- [45:10] - The Only Hope for Unity

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 2:11-12

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Observation Questions:

1. What was the division between Jews and Gentiles that Paul addresses in Ephesians 2:11? How did this division manifest in their cultural and religious practices? [11:24]

2. According to the sermon, what were the two main obstacles that stood between the Ephesians and becoming Christians? [06:40]

3. How does Paul describe the power of God in relation to the unity of Jews and Gentiles in the church? [06:21]

4. What misunderstanding did the Jews have about circumcision, and how did it contribute to the division between them and the Gentiles? [16:09]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon suggest that pride and self-centeredness contribute to divisions within the church and society? [27:23]

2. In what ways does the sermon argue that human efforts to achieve unity are futile without Christ? [23:12]

3. How does the sermon explain the concept of "true circumcision" and its significance for both Jews and Gentiles? [33:50]

4. What role does humility play in achieving the unity that Paul describes in Ephesians 2:11-12? [44:23]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when pride may have caused division in your relationships. How can you address this pride and work towards reconciliation? [27:23]

2. The sermon emphasizes that true unity is only possible through Christ. How can you actively seek Christ's guidance in resolving conflicts in your life? [23:12]

3. Consider the "walls of division" in your own life, whether they are cultural, social, or personal. What steps can you take to break down these walls through the power of Christ? [45:10]

4. How can you cultivate a Christ-centered life that prioritizes humility and unity over pride and division? [44:23]

5. Identify a specific area in your church or community where divisions exist. What practical actions can you take to promote unity and understanding in that area? [21:28]

6. Reflect on the values you hold. Are there any that might be misplaced or exaggerated, leading to division? How can you realign these values with the teachings of Christ? [33:50]

7. How can you ensure that your efforts to achieve unity are grounded in the gospel and not merely in human strategies or organizational efforts? [23:12]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Power to Unite the Divided
Through Christ, God has demonstrated His power to unite what was once divided. The church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, stands as a testament to this divine unity. In a world filled with divisions, the church is called to reflect the unity that God has achieved through Christ. This unity is not a result of human effort but a manifestation of God's power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead. It is a reminder that true unity is only possible through God's intervention. [06:21]

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility." (Ephesians 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a division in your life or community. How can you invite God's power to bring unity in this situation today?


Day 2: The Barrier of Pride
Pride and self-centeredness are significant barriers to unity. They cause us to exaggerate differences and create divisions. Recognizing our own pride is essential for overcoming these barriers. Pride blinds us to the truth about ourselves and others, leading to strife and disunity. By embracing humility, we can begin to see others as God sees them and work towards unity. [27:23]

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3, ESV)

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where pride may be causing division. How can you practice humility in this area today?


Day 3: Misplaced Values
The Jews' emphasis on circumcision as a physical sign rather than a spiritual reality highlights the danger of misplaced values. True circumcision is of the heart, and it is this spiritual transformation that matters, not external rituals or traditions. In our lives, we must be careful not to place undue importance on external markers of faith, but rather focus on the internal transformation that God desires. [33:50]

"For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God." (1 Corinthians 7:19, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on an area where you may be placing more value on external appearances than on internal transformation. How can you shift your focus to what truly matters?


Day 4: The Futility of Human Efforts
Human efforts to achieve unity, whether through conferences or organizational means, are ultimately futile. True unity can only be achieved through the gospel, which transforms hearts and minds, bringing people together in Christ. It is through the gospel that we find the power to overcome divisions and experience true unity. [23:12]

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a situation where you have been relying on human efforts to achieve unity. How can you invite the gospel to transform this situation today?


Day 5: Christ as the Solution
Christ alone can break down the walls of division. By revealing the truth about ourselves and others, He brings us to a place of humility and unity. It is through His Spirit that we are reconciled to God and to one another, creating a new humanity in Him. In Christ, we find the solution to the divisions that plague our world. [45:10]

"For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a relationship or situation where division exists. How can you invite Christ to be the solution and bring reconciliation today?

Quotes


The great object of this epistle to the Ephesians is to explain and to expound God's Great purpose during this present age it's put in in summary form in the 10th verse of the first chapter this that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he God might gather together in one all things in Christ both which are in heaven and which are on earth even in him. [00:02:22]

The church is herself an illustration of this and it's a very wonderful thing he goes on to say you remember there in that first chapter that the Ephesians the Gentiles also have been brought into the church so that there you see the church consisting of Jews and Gentiles and it's the first illustration in the realm and the field of history of this Grand and ultimate purpose of God in Christ to reunite everything again in himself. [00:03:21]

It is an amazing and an astonishing thing that these Ephesians these Gentiles should be members of the Christian Church side by side with Jews and there's only one thing that's made it possible and that is this exceeding greatness of God's power it's the same power that God manifested in raising the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. [00:06:03]

The world in those ancient times you remember was divided into two main groups the Jews the Gentiles and the division seemed absolute and any talk about reconciliation seemed quite monstrous and ridiculous Jew and Gentile Jews dogs but on the other hand the Gentiles had their classification and particularly the Greeks the whole world was divided up into to Greeks barbarians. [00:11:24]

The trouble was that the Jews had taken hold of this which really was a fact and they had turned that fact into a problem and it had happened in this way the Jews through misunderstanding the teaching of their own scriptures had come to think that the only thing that rarely mattered was the sign in the flesh they were regarding it in a material manner in a fleshly manner. [00:16:41]

The division in the ancient world was due to one thing and that was that differences had been turned into barriers I've already been explaining to you differences have become middle walls of partition now the principle is this you see that there are differences and it's fly to minimize differences differences are facts and even when you've had true Unity differences will remain. [00:25:14]

The tragedy is that men exaggerate differences and turn them into barriers into obstacles into curtains middle walls of partition that's the very thing that these Jews had been doing it was God's ordinance that there should be Jews and Gentiles it was God who made the nation of the Jews there was a difference the Jews were circumcised the others were not yes but that's that's not to be a barrier. [00:25:23]

Pride and self because pride is blinding pride is a powerful spirit that controls us and drons us and dominates us and under the influence of pride a man can't think straightly becomes Prejudiced and he cannot see anything truly as it is Prejudice is the greatest curse in life and it generally is grounded and rooted in Pride and it is an absolutely blinding Force. [00:27:23]

The whole tragedy of the Jew at that time was that he' missed the real point he had missed the real sense of values he thought that it was circumcision In the Flesh that mattered what Paul and others had to teach was that it was circumcision in the spirit that rarely matters that you can be circumcised In the Flesh and Damned and lost at the same time. [00:33:50]

The time is spent in talking about conferences endlessly conferences in which they explore their difficulties and you'll never get unity in that way it is the gospel alone that will produce unity and while there is disagreement about Unity it's a waste of breath and of energy to be talking about any other possible unities now that's the whole message of this section as I see it. [00:23:12]

Christ Alone can cure nothing else at all why well for this reason that if that is the cause obviously what is needed is a change of heart it isn't enough just to appeal for Good Will and for kindness and friendliness and brotherliness it simply does not work and it will not not work it isn't working it never has worked. [00:40:55]

There is only one hope that men and women be born again that they be reconciled by the blood of Christ that God should forgive them that God should give them a new nature and a new heart and implant a new spirit within them and all sharing this Spirit together will worship Him and praise him and boast in him and not in themselves or in their Nations. [00:45:10]

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Transcript
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