Idolatry, the Cross and the Temple

11Therefore, 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)— 12remember 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. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by 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, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Idolatry 11Therefore, 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)— 12remember 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. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. By Blood – Christ sacrifice which was the fulfillment of the covenant/citizenship that goes as a member of Israel, it isn’t external, it is by Jesus, his blood. To diminish the violence and sacrifice of Christ, is to misunderstand the divide between gentiles and Jews, the Holiness of God. Blood was the including principal since the garden Any obsessive concern, internal or external, can be worshipped.

The Pursuit of God A. W. Tozer “There can be no doubt that this possessive clinging to thing is one of the most harmful habits in life. Because it is so natural it is rarely recognized for the evil that it is; but its out- workings are tragic.” - 22 Why are we “cold”? “Our hearts are veiled by self-life (idolatry) which we never truly acknowledged… To be specific, the self-sins are these: self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self- admiration, self-love and a host of others like them.” -32

Idolatry 11Therefore, 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)— 12remember 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. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Any obsessive concern can be worshipped. Social Justice, theology, works, principals, morality, denomination, gifts, tongues, peace, family What do you identify with before Jesus? Deuteronomy 5: 1-10, 2 Corinthians 11:1-4, Gal 1:6-9, 1 John 2:15 -5:21

Cross 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by 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, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. The cross has destroyed division – Separation of Jew & Gentile is gone, Slave & Free, Male & Female in Christ. Wholeness – Peace Create IN HIMSELF one new humanity … through the cross – Christ did it Why is there still division?

Cross 14For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15by 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, 16and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Reconcile both, near and far, by destroying the dividing wall. Luke 14: 15-24: “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.” – 23 To reconcile both of them John 17:20-23

The Cross & Idolatry & Body Luke 14: 15-24: “And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain them to come in, that my house may be filled.” - 23 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, even their own life--such a person cannot be my disciple. – 14:26 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. Luke 12: 49-51

Household 19Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. Blood relatives, same body, same family, same citizenship. Christocentric-Cruciocentric Joined together – chiseled to fit. What happens when we are joined together, built on foundation of apostles & prophets with Jesus as the cornerstone?

1When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple. 2The priests could not enter the temple of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled it. 3When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 7 21In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

Radical obedience to Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit God Raised Jesus from the dead, to be sure, but that is not yet the full measure of God’s power or of their hope. - Verhey & Harvard p 59

Idolatry In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Idolatry