KJ Washington
[0:00] Good morning, my name is KJ Washington, [0:01] and I have the privilege to serve on staff here [0:04] at Village Church and just be a part of what God is doing [0:07] to reach the people of Middle Oathian, [0:09] and our hopes that the gospel will just take root [0:11] in their hearts, and that would change everything for them.
[0:15] And so if you’ve been here the past few weeks, [0:16] or if you’ve been here for a year, [0:18] we’ve been going through a sermon series [0:19] through the Book of Romans, [0:21] but actually we’re taking a break [0:22] from that series this week.
[0:23] We’re gonna have a standalone message, [0:24] and we’ll be in the Book of Ephesians, [0:25] so the text we’re gonna be in is Ephesians chapter two, [0:28] verse 11 through 17. [0:30] See, if I was to give a big idea or a main theme [0:34] for this text that we’re gonna be in today,
[0:36] it would be racial reconciliation. [0:38] So I know some of you are looking at me right now, [0:40] you’re like, what are you gonna do with this, [0:42] or where are you going? [0:43] And some of you might feel a little bit [0:45] unease with this, because you’re like, okay,
[0:47] this could mean a lot of stuff, [0:49] this could have a lot of implications for us in our lives. [0:51] But this is my prayer. [0:54] My prayer is that you would come to this open eyes, [0:56] open hearts, for God to do a work through us together, [1:00] corporately, through the word of God,
[1:03] and allow him to dictate our perspective of race, [1:08] and the way that we can be reconciling agents together [1:10] for the sake of the gospel. [1:12] Pray with me.
[1:15] Father, we thank you for this opportunity [1:17] just to be able to dive into your word, Lord. [1:22] Lord, I pray for us just as we together [1:26] go into this text where there might be moments [1:28] that we might feel uncomfortable, Lord. [1:32] But Father, I pray that we trust the gospel,
[1:35] we trust your word for it to be true, [1:39] and that we respond, Lord.
[1:42] Father, be gracious to me as well [1:44] as I’m just speaking your word out, Lord. [1:47] Let me be faithful. [1:49] In Jesus’ name, I pray. [1:51] Amen.
[1:53] So the reason why we’re going at this [1:56] is because the gospel matters, [1:59] and the racial reconciliation is a gospel issue. [2:02] And so I wanna build a case here about why this matters. [2:05] So the first case I wanna make this, [2:07] I mean, to this morning is that it’s an issue of atonement.
[2:10] The second case I wanna make is that, [2:12] is an issue because of mankind bearing the image of God. [2:16] That means that we have worth and value. [2:19] So Genesis chapter one, verse 26, [2:21] I’m gonna read this, [2:22] and then we’re just gonna dive straight in.
[2:36] So,
[2:39] See, throughout Orthodox Christianity, [2:43] we have held firm to the fact that mankind [2:45] bears the image of God. [2:46] What this means is that there has been [2:48] a dignity of value that cannot be taken away [2:51] from anyone that’s ever been created, ever been birthed,
[2:55] because they were made in God’s image. [2:58] He sets that value and that dignity. [3:00] What this means is this, [3:02] is that a child that has a disability [3:04] is just as valuable in the eyes of God [3:07] as the President of the United States.
[3:09] Thank you, Jesus, for that. [3:11] And so this changes the game. [3:12] This changes the way that we engage into race issues [3:14] because if every person is made in the image of God, [3:18] that they have this respect, they have this value, [3:20] they have this dignity,
[3:21] that means that that affects the way [3:22] that we interact with them. [3:24] The way that we care for them, the way we love them.
[3:29] See, at times, we’ve become a people [3:32] that is for pro-life, we’re for the living. [3:36] But a lot of times we’ve lacked in this area [3:38] because we’ve only been an advocate [3:39] for the life of the living just in the womb, [3:43] but not caring about them from the womb
[3:44] to the tomb. [3:45] See, the doctrine of Amago Dei, [3:47] or what is known as mankind bearing the image of God, [3:50] reinforces the fact that we care about [3:51] the entire life of a human flourishing, [3:54] not just that they will live.
[3:57] That’s because the gospel changes everything about us [4:00] in such a way that it affects the way [4:02] that the church engages in raising up people [4:04] to be faithful to the gospel, [4:07] and that faithfulness to the gospel [4:08] is gonna lead to the flourishment in life.
[4:11] That’s only possible through the gospel, [4:13] but if we look throughout church history, [4:14] we’ve seen moments where the church has failed or struggled
[4:20] to respect the dignity of people bearing the image of God. [4:23] We can look at the rise of Nazi Germany, [4:26] we can look at the American enslavement [4:28] of the civil rights movement, [4:29] or like I stated earlier, the pro-life movement. [4:33] But only by God’s grace can we grow in this.
[4:37] We’ve had people along the way, [4:39] people like Martin Luther King Jr., [4:41] who has been an advocate for the life of African Americans [4:44] in this racial reconciliation. [4:47] I wanna read a quote from his I Had a Dream speech.
[4:53] “’I have a dream that my four little children [4:55] “’will one day live in a nation [4:57] “’where they will not be judged by the color of their skin [5:00] “’but by the content of their character. [5:02] “’I have a dream today. [5:03] “’I have a dream that one day down in Alabama,
[5:06] “’with its vicious races, with its governor having his lips [5:09] “’dripping with the words of interposition [5:12] “’that one day right down in Alabama, [5:14] “’little black boys and black girls will be able [5:15] “’to join hands with little white boys [5:17] “’and little white girls as sisters and brothers.
[5:20] “‘I have a dream today.’ [5:22] “’See, I’m thankful for Dr. King’s dream. [5:24] “’I’m indebted to him for his dream [5:27] “’and the impact that it’s had on this nation. [5:30] “‘But I believe that Dr. King missed the mark.’” [5:34] And some of you are looking at me like,
[5:35] “’How can you say that Dr. King missed the mark? [5:36] “’Haven’t you seen where this nation has come to? [5:39] “’Looking back at the 90s, [5:40] “’we’ve grown in a lot of ways since the 60s to the 90s [5:43] “’and even the 90s to today. [5:45] “’But my response will be this.
[5:47] “’Haven’t you seen within the past two or three years [5:49] “’how racial tensions have been heightened at a new level? [5:51] “’How the polls are showing even millennials [5:53] “’are feeling the racial tensions that are rising?
[5:58] “‘Haven’t you seen?’ [6:00] The point is this, is that the only possible way [6:04] for racial reconciliation to take place [6:06] is through the gospel. [6:07] See, reconciliation is only possible through the gospel [6:10] and the gospel alone.
[6:13] See, I’m thankful for the stance that Dr. King took [6:15] and his heart advocating for the gospel, [6:17] but just holding hands with a person of another race [6:20] does not mean reconciliation. [6:21] That’s just a plea for diversity.
[6:25] See, the gospel brings those who are far [6:27] and draws us near for a purpose. [6:29] It allows the people that don’t know each other [6:31] who are enemies of one another to be brought in [6:33] and to be the family of God now. [6:36] See, the implications of this is that all of us
[6:38] can be together knowing Jesus and cherish Jesus together. [6:42] That’s racial reconciliation. [6:43] We start discipling one another, caring for one another, [6:45] mourning for one another, rejoicing for one another. [6:48] And we’re gonna look at all of that in Ephesians 2, [6:52] verse 11 through 17, because our hope is this,
[6:55] is that we’re a people of the gospel [6:56] that’s faithful to the gospel here at Village Church. [6:59] And that means that we have to lean into [7:00] some very uncomfortable conversations [7:02] where some of us have predispositions [7:03] that the gospel wants to shatter.
[7:07] So by God’s grace, we’ll make it through [7:09] this text this morning. [7:11] Ephesians chapter two, verse 11 through 17.
[7:17] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles [7:19] in the flesh, called the uncircumcision [7:21] by what is called the circumcision, [7:24] which is made in the flesh by hands. [7:27] Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, [7:30] alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel,
[7:31] and strangers to the covenants of promise, [7:34] having no hope and without God in the world. [7:37] I love the butt gods. [7:38] But now in Christ Jesus, you who are once far off [7:42] have been brought near by the blood of Christ, [7:45] for he himself is our peace, who’s made us with one
[7:48] and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall [7:51] of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments, [7:54] expressing ordinances that he might create himself [7:57] one new man in the place of two. [8:00] So making peace. [8:02] And might reconcile us both to God in one body
[8:05] through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [8:08] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off [8:11] and peace to those who were near. [8:14] This leads us to the first point this morning. [8:16] Remember you were once separated from Christ. [8:18] And so what Paul has just alluded to prior to this text
[8:21] in the book of Ephesians is that is through God’s grace [8:24] alone that you can be saved. [8:25] It’s nothing that you’ve done, but you were dead [8:27] in your trespasses and sin. [8:27] But Jesus had redeemed you from that and made you an heir.
[8:33] But Paul takes a turn here and says hey, [8:35] you’ve realized that, but there’s been a sense [8:37] of maybe arrogance and pride that’s came about [8:39] that you forgot your heritage. [8:41] You forgot where you came from. [8:43] So it’s good for us sometimes to remember
[8:45] where we came from, that we were once separated [8:47] from Christ and realized that. [8:48] So Paul’s going to now paint this picture for us [8:52] of where the Gentiles were at beforehand. [8:54] So therefore in this passage, it’s Paul’s transitioning [8:57] into telling them hey look, remember where you came from.
[8:59] Remember what your former identity was. [9:02] He does this by saying remember, [9:03] you were Gentiles in the flesh. [9:06] Another translation of that could be [9:07] you were a Gentile by birth. [9:08] When the word Gentile was used throughout scripture,
[9:10] it was probably referring to a pagan. [9:13] So anybody that was not a part of the nation of Israel [9:16] was considered a Gentile, which led to some tension [9:20] between the Israelites and the Gentiles [9:25] because there was a sense of arrogance [9:26] that came along with this and they’re like hey,
[9:28] I’m a part of this people and you’re not.
[9:31] A point where they like to kind of bring it out at [9:33] was the fact that they were uncircumcised. [9:37] You don’t have the mark. [9:38] You don’t have the mark of the covenant promise [9:40] that God has established with you. [9:41] You don’t have that, but this is a fact.
[9:44] The mark of circumcision was just a mark [9:46] that you are part of this hope [9:48] of being a part of God’s people, [9:50] not the fact that you were God’s people. [9:52] See, the heart is what matters. [9:54] The transformation that takes place in the heart
[9:56] through the gospel is the only thing [9:58] that could change somebody’s disposition [10:01] from being an enemy to God, [10:03] to being part of the family of God. [10:05] See, the case that Paul is making seems that [10:07] you were separated.
[10:09] You did not have God. [10:10] You didn’t even have the hope of having God. [10:13] So the point says you didn’t even have the hope [10:15] of having the covenant promises that were laid out for you.
[10:20] Paul goes on to say, remember that you were [10:23] at that time separated from Christ. [10:26] So regardless, if you’re an Israelite or a Gentile, [10:29] you’re both separated.
[10:32] One just thought they were a little bit closer [10:33] because God had established this relationship with them, [10:36] and the Gentiles need to be reminded of this [10:38] because they had just seen God save thousands [10:41] upon thousands of people.
[10:46] But Paul brings them back to, says, [10:47] don’t forget that you’ve now been grafted in. [10:51] It wasn’t always this way. [10:52] We talked about this in the Book of Romans, [10:54] that we’ve been brought into this body, [10:57] this family together with the Israelites,
[11:01] the Jewish people, so that we can serve Jesus [11:05] and be on mission.
[11:08] So let me ask a question. [11:10] How many people here are of the Jewish descent? [11:14] You can raise your hand if that’s you. [11:15] Y’all can look around. [11:17] I don’t see a person that is of the Jewish descent. [11:20] So what this means for us is that this is your story.
[11:24] This is your heritage. [11:25] You were on the outside looking in.
[11:29] For the fact is this is that many people [11:31] have conversations, they’re like, okay, [11:32] I don’t get what it feels like to be on the outside. [11:35] That’s it. [11:37] God had to bring you in. [11:40] Like, this is how separated we are from Jesus
[11:44] if we don’t have him. [11:44] Like, you’re completely separated, severed. [11:47] You have nothing. [11:48] You are hopeless.
[11:51] Because you don’t have God in the world. [11:54] But thank you for Jesus’ blood, right? [11:56] Thank you, Jesus.
[12:00] See, this affects the way that we look at other people [12:02] as well, though, too, because I think sometimes [12:04] we have the same privileged disposition [12:06] that the Jewish people have, where they kind of [12:08] look at people and are like, ah, y’all don’t have it, I do.
[12:15] We’ve all been there. [12:16] We look at the tabloids and we’re like, ah, man, [12:19] that person has really missed the mark. [12:20] So you look at the Kardashians, you’re like, [12:22] man, their lives are awful. [12:23] I can’t imagine doing some of the things that they do.
[12:26] But this is the fact. [12:27] What this text is saying is that you’re just as separated [12:30] from Christ as them. [12:32] Just as separated. [12:33] See, the gospel leaves for no ethnic boundaries [12:35] on separation from him.
[12:38] It’s only the cross that can bring us near.
[12:42] And see, we need to preach that to ourselves [12:44] more often than we do, because we’ll look at people [12:46] in the stores and we’re like, ah, I can’t imagine [12:48] having your type of life.
[12:52] See, we’ve missed the mark there.
[12:56] See, with there not being any ethnic privilege, [13:00] we can’t boast in our depravity. [13:03] Sadly, more often than not, we gravitate [13:04] towards a disposition of supremacy.
[13:08] See, without God, we are hopeless, but we still try [13:13] to find ourselves comparing our hopelessness [13:16] to other people’s hopelessness. [13:18] Who are we to do that? [13:21] That’s why it matters that all ethnic groups [13:23] are just as separated from Christ.
[13:28] For example, the difference between Carlton Banks [13:32] and Tupac Shakur, they’re just as separated from Christ. [13:35] And if you didn’t get that, I’ll give you another one. [13:37] The same difference of Miley Cyrus and Donald Trump, [13:39] they’re just as separated from Christ [13:42] as one another.
[13:44] The same is that we are to them. [13:47] See, this is the same thing as somebody in the Hamptons [13:50] are just as separated from Christ as somebody in Carlton. [13:53] See, somebody from Woodlake is just as separated [13:56] from Christ as the person in Jackson Ward, [13:58] but it’s by God’s grace alone that he’s brought you near
[14:01] and brought you out of that, [14:03] because you were hopeless without him. [14:06] We need Jesus. [14:08] We’re all separated from him. [14:11] And it’s by his grace alone that we can be brought [14:13] into this.
[14:16] So why does this matter in regards [14:17] to racial reconciliation? [14:18] It matters because every single person needs [14:20] to be reconciled through the blood of Christ. [14:23] Only Christ’s blood can make various groups [14:25] that were enemies of one another family.
[14:27] The cross brings together different people groups [14:29] from different ethnic backgrounds, [14:31] heritage, and subcultures, and says you’re one. [14:35] This leads us to the second point this morning.
[14:39] Christ reconciles us regardless of our ethnicity. [14:41] This is stemming from Ephesians chapter two, verse 13. [14:44] But now in Christ Jesus, you who were once far off [14:47] have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14:50] So Paul’s laid out this perspective here [14:52] that everybody’s separated, regardless if you’re a Jew,
[14:54] if you’re a Gentile, you’re just as separated [14:56] from Jesus as the next person. [14:59] And then he goes on to point out, he says, hey look, [15:01] the only way that you can be brought in is by his blood. [15:04] See, the blood never loses its power. [15:06] See, we act as if sometimes the blood loses its power
[15:08] and that the blood can’t save a certain person. [15:10] The blood never loses its power.
[15:14] So we should be thankful for that, [15:15] we should rejoice for that. [15:17] And it’s only Christ’s atonement, [15:20] only his atonement that could bring about peace [15:23] between two groups that are enemies, [15:25] that are just as separated from him,
[15:27] and make them one and bring them in. [15:30] See, this type of peace is only brought about [15:32] not simply because just people are getting along together [15:35] or not fighting with one another,
[15:39] but it’s brought together when people live [15:43] in a communal type of lifestyle together. [15:47] This is a type of reconciliation [15:48] that Paul’s alluding to here. [15:51] He’s not just talking about being in the market [15:53] and giving somebody the head nod,
[15:55] or just being nice to them, not being mean to them. [15:58] But he’s making the cases that you’re family.
[16:02] And the Gentiles needed to be reminded about this.
[16:08] So mankind being reconciled to God [16:09] does not allow for us anymore [16:11] to go on identifying with our own people group. [16:15] But our identification should be found [16:16] in the fact that we’re heirs of Christ, [16:20] which means that we’re a part of one new people now.
[16:23] See, Galatians chapter three, verse 27, verse 29 [16:26] reinforces this by saying, [16:28] For as many of you as were baptized into Christ [16:31] have put on Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, [16:34] there is neither slave nor free, [16:35] there is no male and female,
[16:37] for you are all one in Christ Jesus. [16:40] And if you are Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, [16:42] heirs according to the promise. [16:45] So if the blood of Christ has bought us and purchased us, [16:48] we are now an heir. [16:50] So regardless of your background,
[16:51] there’s only one way to be brought nearby the cross, [16:55] and that’s Jesus’ blood. [16:57] The only way, thank you Jesus for that. [17:00] What that means is, is that for us now, [17:03] you’re not known as a white Christian, [17:04] you’re not known as a black Christian,
[17:06] you’re not known as a Hispanic Christian [17:07] or an Asian Christian, you’re known as a Christian. [17:09] You’re a part of a new people now, [17:11] you’ve been grafted in, you’ve been brought into this family [17:14] and it’s by God’s grace alone. [17:17] Thank you for the blood that brought us near
[17:18] when we were far off.
[17:21] We should rejoice over that.
[17:25] Because this changes the way that we engage [17:27] the culture with the gospel. [17:29] You see, this type of reconciliation should leave us [17:32] in anticipation for the new heavens and the new earth. [17:36] So understanding the power of Christ reconciles us, [17:39] propels us to long for this.
[17:41] And the full culmination of God reigning here, [17:46] God reigning, us reigning with God [17:49] and being a part of his kingdom. [17:51] Revelation seven, verse nine through 10 says this, [17:54] after this I looked and behold, [17:57] a great multitude that no one can number,
[18:01] from every nation, from all tribes and peoples [18:03] and languages standing before the throne [18:05] and before the lamb, clothed in white rose [18:07] with palm branches in their hands [18:09] and crying out for loud voice, salvation belongs [18:11] to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb.
[18:14] So the picture that is being portrayed here in this text [18:16] is that there’s a multi-ethnic mentality of worship [18:19] that’s gonna be in heaven, of the truth [18:21] that the lamb is worthy and that only through him [18:23] salvation can come.
[18:29] I long for that.
[18:33] Do you long for that?
[18:36] Do you long for this type of worship [18:38] that you’re gonna be with thousands upon thousands [18:41] upon thousands of people worshiping Jesus [18:44] with people from all tribes and nations and tongues? [18:48] That’s glorious. [18:50] I’m excited.
[18:51] I’m looking forward to that. [18:54] See, I’ve only had the privilege to be a part of [18:56] about 19,000 people worshiping Jesus in a arena at a time [19:00] and they were using this phrase I like to call going broke. [19:06] What I mean by that is this, [19:07] is that you can tell when people are worshiping Jesus,
[19:09] you can tell that their heart is broken, [19:10] that Jesus can only make them whole [19:12] and they realize that he’s a cornerstone, he’s it. [19:15] Y’all have seen people, that’s their mentality, [19:16] like man, Jesus is it, that’s all I need. [19:18] He’s a salvation, he’s a lamb that was slain,
[19:20] that was broken for me, that blow is poured out for me. [19:24] You can see that they realize that [19:25] when they’re worshiping Jesus, going broke for Jesus. [19:29] So I’ve been a part of seeing that, [19:31] but that’s just only a glimpse [19:33] of what Revelation 7 is gonna be like.
[19:36] It has nothing on it. [19:38] That can’t even compare to this multi-ethnic event [19:44] that’s gonna be here, an event that’s gonna last [19:46] for eternity, that we’re gonna be a part of.
[19:52] Again, do you long for this? [19:54] I pray that we would. [19:55] I pray that we would want to just have a taste of this, [19:57] what heaven is like here on earth. [20:00] Then that means that we should become an advocate [20:02] for that type of racial reconciliation here.
[20:05] See, a lot of times we see it there [20:06] and we read our Bibles and we’re like, [20:08] oh yeah, one day that’s gonna happen, [20:10] but we don’t see to live that out here.
[20:17] Scripture encourages us in Matthew 6, verse 9 through 10. [20:22] I’m gonna focus in on verse 10 in a second, [20:24] but we’re gonna read it. [20:25] Pray then like this, this is the Lord’s prayer. [20:28] Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. [20:32] Your kingdom come, your will be done
[20:34] on earth as it is in heaven. [20:37] We’re gonna focus on verse 10. [20:38] So Jesus is teaching the disciples [20:40] the way in which they should pray. [20:42] He is praying for, he’s teaching them to pray [20:45] that God’s kingdom will continually be ushered in.
[20:49] He’s laying out this, the stop process [20:51] of the already but not yet. [20:53] The already is that King Jesus is on the throne [20:55] reigning with the Father right now, he’s there. [20:59] The not yet is that King Jesus is king [21:01] and he is not here reigning physically yet, not yet.
[21:04] So he’s on the throne, but he’s coming.
[21:07] But the implications of this affects the way [21:10] of us ushering in his kingdom. [21:12] So your kingdom come, your will be done [21:14] on earth as it is in heaven. [21:15] What this is saying is that we should then in return [21:18] become advocates for his kingdom to be ushered in here
[21:21] as it is in heaven. [21:23] So how is it in heaven? [21:24] Revelation 7, nine says this, it says, [21:28] going back to it says, a great multitude [21:29] that no one could number from every nation, [21:32] from all tribes and peoples and languages
[21:33] standing before the throne, before the Lamb. [21:36] We should become an advocate of this.
[21:40] The already, Jesus is on his throne [21:42] so why aren’t we seeking this type of reconciliation?
[21:47] No, but that will happen one day when Jesus is here.
[21:51] Jesus wants us to live in that tension here. [21:54] He wants us to become an advocate for that here. [21:57] We’re gonna lay out later how we can be a part of that. [22:01] But the sad thing is this.
[22:05] Is that a lot of times we’ve messed up [22:09] our missional mindset where we don’t encompass [22:11] race relations as being a gospel issue?
[22:16] When that’s an improper perspective. [22:19] See, through the atonement of Jesus we’ve made the case [22:21] is that Christ brought those who were far off near in. [22:25] It’s not that he just brought you in. [22:27] He brought you in alongside other people [22:30] from all tribes and all nations and all tongues.
[22:33] That’s an atonement issue. [22:35] So Christ’s body and blood being broken and poured out, [22:38] that’s an issue of that, [22:40] because that’s what Jesus did. [22:42] He brought us all in.
[22:47] Let’s just not be a people that just doesn’t long for that [22:50] and just settle for diversity. [22:52] Let’s settle for racial reconciliation. [22:56] This leads us to the third point this morning. [22:59] Racial reconciliation is only possible through the cross. [23:03] Ephesians 2, 14 through 17 says this.
[23:06] For he himself is our peace [23:07] who has made us both one, [23:09] and has broken down in his flesh [23:10] the dividing wall of hostility [23:12] by abolishing the law of commandments [23:13] expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself
[23:16] one new man in the place of two, so making peace. [23:20] It might reconcile us both to God [23:22] in one body through the cross, [23:24] thereby killing the hostility. [23:25] And he came and preached peace to you who are far off [23:28] and peace to you who are near.
[23:31] See, our hearts naturally just gravitate towards us [23:35] thinking that we’re better than other people. [23:36] See, this is one of the effects of sin. [23:38] So when we in return then respond [23:41] by being hostile to other people. [23:44] See, what the Jews and Gentiles struggled with
[23:45] was this hostility towards one another. [23:48] This tension had built up. [23:50] They disliked one another.
[23:53] And there was definitely a bent towards arrogance there. [23:57] And so if I could explain this, [23:58] the best way to explain it would be this, [23:59] is that if you imagine with me that I have a long rope [24:01] and every time that tension arose [24:03] between the Jews and Gentiles, just tie it, tie a knot.
[24:07] And just keep on tying, the next thing happens. [24:09] The next thing happens, this happens to us here. [24:11] So tensions building between us [24:13] and different other people groups [24:14] and different subcultures within our own people group, [24:16] the tension keeps on building, it keeps on building.
[24:18] This knot just keeps on getting tighter [24:20] and tighter and tighter.
[24:24] What Paul’s alluding to in this text, [24:26] the only way for this wall that was built, [24:28] this tension that was built up so high to be severed, [24:31] it was Christ’s flesh being broken. [24:35] That’s the only way for that to be annihilated. [24:40] It’s through his flesh, his body annihilates even
[24:43] the thought process of racial tension. [24:47] It’s a gospel issue.
[24:50] Paul goes on to say, it’s basically it withers away, [24:52] it dismantles, it falls apart, it’s gone.
[24:57] So if we’re a people of the gospel, we’ve been brought in. [25:01] He goes on to say that you weren’t just two different [25:04] groups, you’ve been now made one because of this. [25:08] See, again, like I said, you’re not known anymore [25:10] by your people group, you have a new identity now [25:14] and that’s the follower of Jesus.
[25:17] And this reconciliation brought about peace,
[25:22] a peace that probably the rest of the world [25:23] couldn’t even understand. [25:26] Because shouldn’t there be a lot of an aminocity [25:28] around amongst y’all two people groups? [25:31] Shouldn’t that be there? [25:33] Shouldn’t y’all have issues with one another?
[25:35] Shouldn’t you struggle?
[25:38] Why not? [25:39] Because peace has been brought through the gospel.
[25:44] That’s the only way that we’ll be able [25:47] to have this type of peace. [25:49] So what does this look like? [25:51] We’ve handled the theological aspects [25:53] of the atonement of Christ changing the game [25:55] that we were all separated from him
[25:56] and only through his blood that we can be brought near. [25:59] So how do we actually live out this peace? [26:01] Only I’ll just two steps of ways we can be active [26:06] and be people that are about racial reconciliation here. [26:10] The first is this, invest in the lives of people [26:13] from different backgrounds.
[26:17] These are people that are different than you. [26:20] This is coming from Acts chapter 10 verse 34 through 35. [26:23] So Peter opened his mouth and said, [26:25] truly I understand that God shows no partiality, [26:28] but in every nation, anyone who fears him [26:30] and does what is right is acceptable to him.
[26:34] Let me give you some of the context there. [26:36] This is the first time that the gospel [26:37] advanced to the Gentiles. [26:40] And God called Peter, Peter who had issues with Gentiles, [26:45] who even after he went and shared the gospel with him, [26:48] still had issues and still struggled with the fact of,
[26:50] oh, they’re Gentiles.
[26:53] God ordains the fact for him to go there, [26:55] share with them the gospel, [26:57] so the gospel takes root in their lives. [27:00] And he had meals with them, [27:01] he built a relationship with them.
[27:05] See, we’re called to engage in cross-cultural relations. [27:10] But see, this is our fact for the American church at times [27:11] is that we’ve romanticized world missions
[27:17] over missions in our neighborhood, and this is how. [27:20] Is that we get so amped up about reaching people [27:24] of different nations and different cultures overseas, [27:27] but we lack to be about it here. [27:29] Or we make up the excuse that, [27:31] oh, I just can’t really reach those types of people
[27:33] because I don’t know how to relate with them.
[27:37] See, what Paul’s advocating here is that, [27:38] you have a new commonality now, and it’s God himself, [27:41] Jesus who can bring you near, and you’re just separated, [27:44] you have no excuse.
[27:47] I bet you Peter had some very awkward conversations, [27:50] because like, what do y’all like? [27:52] What do you like? [27:53] Those are going to happen when we have to step into [27:55] these awkward moments for the gospel events, [27:57] or if not, we’re not being faithful to the gospel mission.
[28:01] See, we’re without excuse here in Midlothian [28:03] because if you go to the mall on a Saturday, [28:05] you can see the plethora of races [28:08] and subcultures that are there. [28:11] Diversity is in our city. [28:13] So we have to be an advocate for us,
[28:15] we have to be on the front lines of saying that [28:17] the gospel does speak to this.
[28:22] And I’ve tried to make the case for that this morning, [28:24] so, a few questions. [28:26] Do you spend time with people that are different than you, [28:29] or only the people that are same as you? [28:32] Do you avoid going to certain areas of town [28:34] because of the type of people that are there?
[28:37] So you’re never going to start discipling people [28:39] unless you start going into these areas [28:41] and having some of these awkward interactions [28:42] and caring for them. [28:45] People will know that you genuinely care for them [28:47] by the way you care for them.
[28:51] We over complicate this.
[28:55] People are people, they put on the pants the same way. [28:59] We just have to be willing to build [29:00] these relationships with people. [29:02] Trusting the gospel to be faithful, [29:04] that Jesus is faithful, that the blood doesn’t lose its power [29:07] and that he can bring people near.
[29:11] God’s gonna do the work. [29:14] But we have to get past our perceptions of ourselves [29:16] because we have a very high perception of ourselves.
[29:23] See, when you’re really trying to engage [29:25] in this type of discipleship, [29:26] that doesn’t mean that you can just go and say, [29:27] hey, you can come and be a part of the Jesus life, [29:30] but then take on my culture as well.
[29:34] See, we just want to decide people that look like us, [29:36] act like us, talk like us, think like us. [29:39] See, the only thing that we should be worried about [29:41] is letting the gospel be central in their lives [29:43] and if the gospel is central in their lives, [29:44] that’s gonna change everything else about their lives.
[29:47] We don’t have to drop our culture on them.
[29:51] But there are moments where we need [29:53] to have tough conversations because our culture [29:55] affects the way that we grow in the gospel. [29:57] And those conversations are worthwhile.
[30:01] We have to engage in those moments. [30:04] The second part I want to allude to is this. [30:07] We need to mourn and rejoice with our brothers and sisters. [30:12] Romans 12, 15, rejoice with those who rejoice [30:14] and weep with those who weep. [30:15] See, different cultures have different types of baggages
[30:18] as we’ve explained, which produces [30:20] a plethora of scenarios in their lives. [30:23] See, this means that any event that happens [30:25] in the United States could affect an Asian person [30:27] different than it’ll affect a Hispanic person.
[30:31] See, we have to be considerate when we bring [30:34] our perspective to the table because your perspective [30:36] might not be their perspective. [30:37] But if we establish relationships with our brothers [30:39] and sisters in Christ and say, hey look, [30:41] I’m trying to understand this, I trust that the gospel
[30:43] is at the center of your life, help me lean into this. [30:47] Help me to understand how your race is filling in this area [30:51] because I care and I bet you that that conversation [30:54] is gonna open up and they would love to share that with you. [30:58] But you have to be willing to engage in that. [31:02] See, what we’ve seen in this nation in the past few years
[31:05] which is a growing tension between two different groups, [31:09] the people that are chanting black lives matter [31:11] and the people that are chanting police lives matter. [31:14] When I’m referring to these, I’m referring to these [31:15] as phrases, not the organizations. [31:18] I’m referring to these phrases as both two truths.
[31:22] They’re both true. [31:23] Because of the doctrine of a mago day, [31:26] mankind bearing the image of God, both sides matter. [31:29] But what we find ourselves doing is as Christians [31:31] at times we’re picking sides and devaluing [31:34] the lives of other people.
[31:35] We’re the people of the gospel, we’re the people [31:37] that are supposed to be advocates of reconciliation. [31:39] So why aren’t we picking sides?
[31:42] This is the thing, we need to mourn with those [31:44] who mourn when life is lost and rejoice with those [31:49] when justice is served. [31:52] There’s no way to choose sides in that.
[31:56] And that goes against the grain of culture.
[32:00] That means you have to allow for all the facts to come out.
[32:05] But if something happens, my first action is to mourn [32:08] with my brother and sister, to mourn with the people [32:10] of the city, not to jump and make conclusions [32:15] or accusations about the situation.
[32:20] See, we have to realize that the way that we talk [32:26] about the gospel, the way we talk about race [32:29] affects the way people see the gospel.
[32:33] See, the gospel changes us. [32:36] We can’t be a part of causing more strife and division [32:39] among people, but we should be seeking to show them [32:41] our love for the gospel. [32:44] And more often than not, your social media account [32:45] shows that.
[32:48] The conversations you have with your colleagues [32:51] show what you cherish. [32:54] Do you cherish more your identity as a Anglo-American? [32:58] Do you cherish your identity as an African-American? [33:02] Or do you cherish your identity as, oh man, [33:04] I’m a person of the gospel.
[33:10] What are you wearing on your shirt? [33:11] What are you wearing on your heart? [33:14] This is the gospel.
[33:17] Let’s long together for this type of reconciliation. [33:21] Let’s be about it.
[33:24] Now, I wanna lay out one quick thing before I close. [33:28] I know some people might be struggling, [33:30] saying, okay, how do I really know [33:32] if I actually have the struggle at times? [33:35] I’m gonna give a litmus test [33:37] that is not flawless at all times.
[33:40] But if you have a daughter or a family member [33:43] in your family that wants to marry somebody [33:47] outside of another race and they love Jesus, [33:51] like when I say love Jesus, I’m not saying [33:52] that he’s claimed to be like a cultural Christian. [33:55] I’m saying that they’re submitting to the gospel,
[33:57] they want this person to grow in the gospel, [33:59] be a part of the local church. [34:01] And you’re like, I don’t know [34:02] if I really want you with them. [34:05] And there’s probably a decent chance [34:07] that you struggle in the area of race
[34:10] and in the area of seeing people as being image bearers [34:14] of God. [34:15] And we can even do that subculturally as well [34:20] by talking about certain types of people. [34:24] For example, if we ever use a phrase like, [34:27] oh, that person is cute for a black girl,
[34:31] I mean, she’s cute for an Hispanic girl, that’s racist. [34:36] See, a lot of times we try to use preference [34:38] to hide the state of our hearts.
[34:43] And every racial group does it. [34:47] Your depravity naturally pushes you towards that [34:50] because you think that you’re better.
[34:54] But this is the beautiful thing, there’s grace for that.
[34:58] So if that’s your story, that’s your heritage, [35:00] that’s what you know, there’s grace in that, in the cross, [35:03] and Jesus changes everything.
[35:06] I’m thankful for God’s grace today. [35:09] So as the band comes up,
[35:12] I pray that we don’t forget the hope [35:16] that is found in the gospel here. [35:19] The way that the gospel changes, [35:20] the way that we will engage in mission.
[35:25] See, the gospel changes our perspective of race [35:28] because it changes us.
[35:32] See, the gospel changes the way [35:34] that we interact with our neighbors [35:36] because we really want them to be a part of this kingdom [35:37] one day, that’s Revelation 7, nine, foreshadows,
[35:43] saying, worthy is the lamb that was slain for us.
[35:50] So corporately as a body, [35:51] I want us to long for that together, [35:54] to engage in these conversations.
[35:58] I pray that we’re gracious to one another on all sides [36:02] because there might be some things [36:03] we just don’t understand or just don’t know.
[36:06] But by God’s grace, we can be the light in the city [36:12] for racial reconciliation.
[36:17] So as you come to the table this morning,
[36:21] don’t forget that Christ’s body was broken [36:25] to bring about reconciliation to him. [36:29] His blood was poured out to bring you near.
[36:35] And part of that is that we can all be brought here together [36:37] as a family and partaking this together. [36:41] And if you haven’t trusted the gospel, [36:43] [36:44] we have people in the four year who would love [36:45] to have that conversation with you
[36:47] and talk to you about how you can be reconciled [36:49] to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords [36:51] and be part of this beautiful work of reconciliation.
[36:58] By his grace alone, through faith alone, [37:01] we can be faithful to his mission. [37:04] Come to the table this morning.