July 12, 2015 · Ephesians 2:11–13

We're Sorry For Being So Divided

Ephesians 2:11. 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.

“Jewish people hurt by those who call themselves Christians, excluding them. It comes from sin ultimately. And the only thing that's overcoming that is love. The only thing that is overcoming this is forgiveness and repentance and grace. Because that's what Jesus did for us. What Jesus did for the world. Just take a moment to look around this church for a second. I was thinking about this idea of God taking two people and making one. This is the new humanity. And to me it's beautiful. I look at you guys and I'm saying, the gospel isn't lying. Look at it. It's right in front of you. There are many nations that have been brought together under Jesus. The church is maturing. Right here in Toronto. … I look at this and I'm just like, thank you Jesus for what you're doing. Because the world as much as it sees the uglyness of the church, there is this beautiful side to the church that's there. It might not get much on the media. But Jesus is doing something. He's building something. … But we still need to say that we're sorry. We still need to build relationships up so that the hatred doesn't slip back in. One church, one people, one Jesus, one baptism, one faith, one hope, one love. Thank you, God, for your gift of unity. We're sorry for being so divided.”