[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, May 25, 2025 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Being Built Together (Ephesians 2:11–22)
2025. 5. 25. 주일예배 설교- 에베소서 강해 10
본문: 에베소서 2:11-22
제목: 함께 지어져 가느니라
설교자: 손진국 목사
The church is always challenging the world and also being challenged by the world. Today’s passage reflects such a situation. The Ephesian church was founded after Paul preached the gospel there for three years. Ephesus was a bustling trade city and a spiritually corrupt, temple-centered city. But there, the gospel was proclaimed, and those who heard and were saved became the Ephesian church. However, while Paul was imprisoned in Rome, he heard news from the Ephesian church—there was a problem between Jewish and Gentile believers.
When problems arise in the church and grow, it becomes difficult to focus on God's will, and ultimately, God's will cannot be fully accomplished. So, through this letter, Paul conveys the right view of the church, hoping that the believers in Ephesus will resolve the conflicts within. This is the purpose of this letter. When the church, a community of those who are saved, understands how and why it was established in the world—its reason for being and its purpose—it can fulfill its mission. But forces trying to hinder this constantly infiltrate the church. Even now, the church faces endless challenges in the world—false teachings, heresies, the lure of worldly wealth and glory, and the tide of secularism.
When we speak of the church, we must remember we are speaking of the earthly church, not the heavenly one. The earthly church is a gathering of sinners who have been saved. It is not a gathering of perfect righteous people. Therefore, problems are inevitable within the church. Some advocate for “churchless Christianity” because of such issues, saying the church is no longer needed. But this reflects a misunderstanding of the original purpose for which the Lord established the church. It's like saying marriage is bad just because many people divorce—this is not a right way of thinking. Believers saved by God’s grace must grow, mature, and fulfill their mission through the organic community of the church.
I hope Hope of Heaven Church becomes such a church. Through God’s Word, let us examine how and why the church was established on this earth and how it should continue to be built.
1. Brought near by the blood of Christ
Let us read verses 11–12 together.
[Ephesians 2:11–12] Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)—remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
In these verses, the phrase "at that time" is repeated twice. What time is being referred to? It is the time before the event of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Paul is describing what kind of beings the Gentiles were at that time. The Jews boasted of their lineage and claimed that only they were God’s chosen, saved people. In contrast, the Ephesians—recipients of this letter—were seen from a Jewish perspective as Gentiles, the uncircumcised, apart from Christ, with no hope of salvation. Before Jesus, they had no way to have a relationship with God—they were cut off and separated from Him.
Now read verse 13: [Ephesians 2:13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
In verses 11 and 12, it said “at that time,” but what does it say here? “But now.” This marks a complete change in outcome. The previously broken relationship has been made whole. What made this possible? The cross of Jesus. The cross of Jesus is the power of God that reconciles broken relationships. It resolved the problem between Jews and Gentiles—something no one else could solve. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, those who were far—Gentiles and Jews—have become one.
Who became one? We did. We, who were far off, have been brought near to God and to the Jews by the blood of Christ. By what? By the blood of Christ.
And this was already foretold in the Old Testament:
[1 Kings 8:41] As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name—
[Isaiah 5:26] He lifts up a banner for the distant nations, he whistles for those at the ends of the earth. Here they come, swiftly and speedily!
[Isaiah 57:19] “Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”
These Old Testament passages prophesy that Gentiles would become God's people through Jesus Christ. This speaks of unity in Christ—no more division.
Therefore, it is meaningless now to distinguish between Jews and Gentiles by blood. Similarly, there should be no discrimination in the church—no division based on wealth, education, or social status. Why? Because we have become one. Those who were far off have become near by faith in Jesus and have become God's people.
[Romans 3:22] This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile.
[Application] Is there anyone I consider different from myself and therefore cannot get close to? Looking at the cross of Christ, what thoughts of mine need to change?
2. Broke down the dividing wall by His flesh
[Ephesians 2:14–16] For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
These verses show what price Christ paid to bring us close to God. Because of sin, humans became enemies of God. That enmity created a dividing wall between God and man—and also between people. This wall was built by sin. Jesus came and tore it down.
When Jesus was crucified and gave up His spirit, something remarkable happened in the temple in Jerusalem. What was it? The curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was torn from top to bottom. What does this mean?
This curtain was the barrier that separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple. No one could enter the Most Holy Place except the high priest—and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. In other words, the curtain symbolized the wall between the holy God and sinful humanity. But through the blood of Jesus on the cross, this dividing wall was destroyed. Not only between God and people, but also between Jews and Gentiles who could never be one—this wall, too, was torn down.
Before this, Jews and Gentiles were enemies who didn’t even associate with each other. Although Samaria lay between Galilee and Judea, Jews would often go out of their way to avoid passing through it. Yet Jesus came and met a Samaritan woman at a well in Sychar and asked her for a drink. The woman responded in surprise: “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?”
Jesus replied: “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John
Whoever receives and drinks the water given by the Lord will receive eternal life. They will inherit the kingdom of heaven. The wall between them and God is torn down, and the wall between people is also broken. This is the gospel.
Then why do people still fight in church? It’s because they do not fully understand the gospel. The wall has not been torn down. Because the wall between them and God still stands, they don’t know God's heart, and so they fight. Because the wall between people still stands, they are not truly united.
We must look again to the cross of Jesus Christ. Let us look at what was accomplished through the blood He shed on the cross—He tore down the dividing wall and made us one. May we apply the power of His blood to ourselves today.
Let us believe that only the cross can destroy the dividing wall and bring the two into one. May we be believers who cling to the cross.
[Application] Is there still a wall that remains unmoved and blocked between me and those around me? What must I do to break it down?
3. Being joined together, we are becoming a temple
The apostle Paul explains how our identity has changed in Christ.
[Ephesians 2:18–19] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household,
We were once Gentiles, and they were Jews—people of different identities who could not be one. But through Christ, we have become children of one Father. Now we are no longer foreigners or strangers, but citizens of heaven and members of God’s family.
Paul goes on to describe what these changed people look like here on earth:
[Ephesians 2:20–21] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
People of different backgrounds are gathered and joined together in Christ to become the church, which is the body of Christ. Paul uses the image of a building—this building becomes the temple where God dwells. But he emphasizes a key process: “joined together.” We must be joined together. Why? Because we are being built into a temple.
What does it mean to “become a temple”? The Korean Revised Translation of verse 21 expresses it well:
[Ephesians 2:21 – KRV] In Christ the whole building is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
We can grow only when we are joined together. And only by growing can we become the temple God desires.
Though Paul describes the church as a building or temple, he is not talking about a static structure made of stone. He is describing a living building—an organism that grows as each part is joined together.
Just as the human body must be connected to grow, if a part is disconnected, it cannot grow. It is already dead, without life. How does growth happen when joined together? Does only the hand grow rapidly? Or one leg shoot up? What if only the ear grows? That would lead to deformity.
I pray our church does not grow like a disabled body. I pray that all the members of our church are joined together and grow together. Those who have grown more must help the weaker ones around them to grow as well. Together, we must grow and become the temple of God.
Verse 22 continues, saying this temple is built around Jesus, the cornerstone:
[Ephesians 2:22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Some people become disappointed when they see the imperfections of the church. Both non-believers and even Christians may criticize the church. But we must not forget—the earthly church is still under construction. It is not yet complete. We are being built, centered on Jesus, and moving toward completion. Imperfect members are being built together by following our perfect Lord.
Though the earthly church is not yet perfect, let us not forget one important truth: the cornerstone of the church—Jesus—is not lacking. Though the members of the church may be weak and flawed, we are becoming one in Him, forming a spiritual community moving toward completion.
We are still far from perfect, but may Hope of Heaven Church be a place where we are joined together, growing as one day by day, and being built into the image God desires. In the name of the Lord, I sincerely bless you.
[Application] Do I acknowledge that I am not perfect?
Do I accept that those beside me are also imperfect?
Who are the members I am connected to and need to grow together with?
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.