The Master`s Race

In the early part of the last Century, a man by the name of Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany. His country had been defeated in World War One, and the world had added humiliation to the defeat – leaving the German people impoverished and resentful. When Hitler came into power, he did so on a platform of national pride and zeal – claiming that the German people had been victimized by the Versailles treaty, and that they were being repressed – held back by a global conspiracy from which they had to break free, and rise to their rightful place as leaders of the world. Along with his notions came the concept that the German people were descendants of a great “Master Race” - the Aryan race that had been set up by God with physical, mental and societal qualities superior to any other people on the planet. It was their destiny to rule the world – they were doing nothing more in their aggressive moves than taking that which was rightly theirs.

The idea of a “master race” is nothing new. From the Carthaginians to the Romans, to the French Imperialists, Japan and the Soviet Union – all through the history of humanity people have convinced themselves that theirs was the “master race” – destined to rule the world.

Today, we’re not going to talk about a “master race,” but rather, “The Master’s Race” – a group of people not bent on world domination, but on deliverance – it’s unlike any other ethnic group in human history – in the Bible, both Peter and Paul referred to this group as a “peculiar people.” In I Peter 2:9, we find these words,

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works

In our study of Ephesians, Paul talks at greater length about the Master’s Race – a race of humans who belong to God through the saving work of Jesus Christ that we talked about last week. He writes, in Ephesians 2 verses 11-22:

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called “Uncircumcision” by what is called “The Circumcision” made in the flesh by hands-- 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.[i]

In the verses just prior to these, Paul has laid out for us the truth that our salvation is not the result of, nor ensured by our good works. Our good works have nothing to do with our salvation. Anyone who thinks that they can be “good enough” to please God is simply misguided. God is not impressed by my good deeds! The only way a person becomes a part of the family of God is through faith in the work that was done by Jesus Christ on the cross. In that instant, He did the work of paying the price for my sins, and yours.

After hearing that, some may say, “Well, if works don’t matter, then I suppose I can believe in Jesus, and do whatever I want, because He has paid the price for my sins! If they’ve already been forgiven, then I can live any way I choose, and still go to heaven.”

If you found yourself thinking that, don’t feel bad! Just about everyone who has considered this stuff has had that thought at one time or another. In fact, in a letter that Paul wrote to a different church – this one was in Rome, Paul echoed that very thought. He wrote, in Romans 6:1, “What shall we say then, shall we go on sinning that grace may abound?” There were people in the church who thought that since Jesus died for all sins, that if we actually sinned more, then that would increase the amount of love that God had for us to forgive the increased sins! (Kinda’ sounds familiar to some of us doesn’t it??!!)

So what’s the answer? Can we just plunge into a life of self-indulgence now that we’ve got this whole eternal destiny thing settled? Well, No! Back at that Romans passage, Paul answered them this way,

When you and I realize the sin in our lives, and the consequences for that sin, and when the Holy Spirit brings us to the place where we humble ourselves, confess that sin, and ask for forgiveness, there is a work that takes place in our lives that is transforming. Paul talks about it in Ephesians 2:10 as “His workmanship.” Jesus does a re-creating work in our lives – Jesus Himself called it being “born again.” It is the beginning of a whole new life – we are born into an entirely new race – the Master’s Race.

Believers don’t live like the rest of the human race because we are not part of the human race – we are part of a new race of beings! What we do does not save us, but being saved changes what we do!

As Paul makes his point, he does so by once again contrasting the past circumstance with the current reality.

Paul opens up this passage by saying, “therefore remember…” He wants them to have a clear understanding of just how bleak their situation was. One word seems to describe their situation was without. Without means, in its most basic terms, “apart from.” If you without water, you don’t have any – you are apart from it.

The people of Ephesus were not used to being described as “without.” It was an affluent powerful, sophisticated city. In the first century, the city of Ephesus had an environment very similar to our own in modern-day America. It was the crossroads of civilization, politically known as "the Supreme Metropolis of Asia." The Roman governor of the region lived there, and it was the religious center for the worship of the fertility goddess known by the Greeks as Artemis and by the Romans as Diana. Her temple on the outskirts of the city was one of the seven wonders of the world.

Economically, Ephesus was a giant among first-century cities. With its strategic location, it was the chief commercial center of western Asia Minor. Its harbor brought ships from around the Mediterranean, and its two major roads gave ready access to other cities along the coast and inland. Diana's temple, in addition to being a religious center, became the primary banking institution in Asia Minor.

Morally, however, the city was bankrupt. Just as our nation is filled with perversion and pornography, Ephesus was controlled by the educated prostitutes affiliated with Diana worship. Part of the cult of Diana was the use of ritual prostitution whereby the worshiper became "joined" with the goddess through her priestesses, ensuring her favor throughout the year.

But the Ephesians, with all their wealth, sophistication and self-indulgence, were “without” in many ways.[ii]

They were without Christ (vs12). As good citizens of the city of Ephesus, these folks had been completely wrapped up in the worship of the goddess Diana, whose temple was the greatest feature of the city. They knew nothing of Christ, and the amazing forgiveness and freedom that is found in Him. In Ephesus, they had the best the world could offer, but it left them feeling hollow inside.

They were without citizenship. Paul calls them “aliens” in verse 12. In Roman culture, being a citizen was of utmost importance. While the people of Ephesus were citizens of the Roman empire, they were not part of the Kingdom of God. The Jews had always considered themselves God’s people, they saw beyond the national identities of the world, but up until Jesus came, Gentiles were not part of that heavenly citizenship.

They were without promise. IN verse 12, Paul says that they were “strangers from the covenants of promise” – God had made promises to the children of Israel that had not been made to any other people – as Gentiles the Ephesian people were not part of the Master’s race – they were “strangers.” And the Jews made sure that they knew it – one common Jewish prayer was “O God, I thank thee that I am a Jew, and not a Gentile.”

They were without hope. Paul continues, “being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope…” They had the best the physical world could provide at that time – amazing architecture, technology, wealth and peace, but they were without hope. When I was in Germany, I asked the father of the family I lived with how the German people, being so pragmatic and serious, could have been duped by Hitler, he said, “People who are desperate will grasp at anything that offers hope.” The people of Ephesus, before they met Jesus, were desperate for something to give them hope for eternity, even worshiping their emperor as a god, and “joining themselves” to the goddess Diana, but it left them hopeless. They could see through the façade of those failed ideas.

They were without God. The Roman and Greek world was full of gods and goddesses…because the people were desperate for something to fill the spiritual void of their lives. They had a god for everything, and priests and priestesses who were willing to exact a high price for peace with that god. In Athens, the capital city of Greece, it was said that it was easier to find a god than a man! They had so many gods, and were so consumed with pleasing all of them, that Paul discovered a monument in the city that was designated “to an unknown god.” It was like our tomb of the unknown soldiers in Washington, DC. That memorial is placed as a way of honoring any and all fallen soldiers who have never been found, identified or had a proper burial. It’s a place for families to come and honor their lost loved ones.

The Greeks had a similar place to go – just in case they had missed a god somewhere in the universe – when in fact the had missed THE ONLY GOD IN THE UNIVERSE! Paul worked to identify the Lord of creation to them in Athens, as he had already done in Ephesus. They had been without Christ, without citizenship, without promise, without hope and without God…

…and then we come to that wonderful little three letter word that we saw earlier in this letter…the word “but.” Paul writes in verse 13, “But now in Christ Jesus you were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” The Past stands in stark contrast to the present reality.

The Current Reality (vs 13-22)

Paul says in verse 15 of our text that Jesus has “created in Himself one new man from the two…” He has just spent an entire paragraph describing two races of people – Jews and Gentiles – but now he launches into a description of an entirely new race – The Master’s Race – in verses 14-22. In verse 15 Paul tells us that Jesus has broken down the barriers that separate us, and has “created in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.” But it was far more than just breaking down the barriers between Jews and Gentiles that Jesus did. Verse 16 tells us that He did this creative work “to reconcile them both to God.” Verse 17 continues, And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” That’s every one of us – no matter how far you were from God, or how near you may have been – it takes the work of Jesus Christ to make us part of the Master’s Race. In our situation today, it’s not a matter of race –Jew or Gentile– it’s a matter of place – In Christ or out.

Paul continues on to the believers in Ephesus – in verse 19-22 he reaffirms who they are, and what that means. He says, “Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God…” If you have believed on Jesus Christ, then you are now a part of an entirely new race of beings – humans, yes, but redeemed humans! Human beings who are members of God’s family – who are a temple of the Holy Sprit who lives within you. Do you see that? You are a dwelling place of God! He Himself lives within you – You are part of His family, redeemed by His son, filled with His Spirit – IF you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ.

We are part of the Master’s Race – part of the family of God – we need to be living lives that reflect the family values and character. No longer driven by the values of this world-we are living a life of holiness that comes from the presence of God within us – as we grow and mature we yield more and more of ourselves to His control.

That’s why the question for a believer is not, “Since my salvation is not dependant on my good works, can I do whatever I want?” Instead the question is this – “Since I have this amazing, undeserved salvation, how can I do whatever God wants?” A citizen with the saints and a member of the household of God doesn’t want to see how sinful his life can be and still be part of the family – A person who has been born into the family of God, who is a member of the Master’s Race wants to do what pleases their Master! Our lives are driven to good works – not out of fear of punishment, but out of love, appreciation and joy!

But that life can not be experienced by any effort of our own – it is only known through the saving work of Jesus Christ. If you have not experienced the thrill of this new birth, ask Jesus today, right now, to be your Savior and Lord – to make you part of His new race. If you have been born into the family of God – Live like it! Recognize the truth of your current reality, and live in the joy and victory that is yours through Jesus Christ the King!

[ii] Warren Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary. Victor Books, 1989 p 22.