Week Four
Ephesians 2:11-22
Body, Citizen, Building
Establishing Your Bearing
There’s obviously a bigger picture, here. Paul has worked hard in the first third of his letter to the Ephesians to encourage them with everything God has done for them.
He chose them, redeemed them, and sealed them to be His for eternity. (Ephesians 1:3-14)
He gives them hope for their future and power for today through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:15-23)
He made them alive in Christ and saved them by His grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10)
Now, in typical Pauline fashion, the foundation is laid. We build onto this foundation of who we are in Christ with who we are in the church. We have seen what God does for each of us. Paul takes us to the next level of understanding as he builds out what God does for us collectively.
Setting Your Course
God Brings Us Near
Ephesians 2:11-13
11 Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The Ephesian church is predominantly non-Jewish. Paul makes it crystal clear that God’s work extends beyond any human boundary. The Way, as Christianity was known in Asia Minor at this time, was open to everyone. Here Paul uses only two extremely broad, but very specific categories – Jews and Gentiles, “Circumcision” and “Uncircumcision.”
Because of the work of Christ on the cross in our stead, those who were “far off have been brought near” to God. Salvation by grace through faith is extended to everyone. God has opened the gate that leads to life, that leads to hope and Him.
God has brought us near to Himself by the blood of Christ.
God Brings Us Peace
Ephesians 2:14-17
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, 16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. 17 AND HE CAME AND PREACHED PEACE TO YOU WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE WHO WERE NEAR;
This is where Paul spends most of his attention in this section. And he sets it up beautifully, drawing these two groups away from division and into peace.
God is our peace. That’s Paul’s point – no debate, no question. But see what happens when we allow God to be our peace.
- Groups previously at odds with one another are “made…into one.”
- Barriers that separated these groups are broken down.
So God brings peace from opposition between people, and He brings peace between us and Him. He reconciles us to Himself as one body – “through the cross.”
God brings us peace, resulting in unity together and reconciliation with Him.
God Gives Us Access
Ephesians 2:18
18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
Paul’s comments about the dividing wall being broken down have a very real correspondence to the tearing of the curtain between the holy place and the holiest of holies in the temple when Jesus died. Christ’s death did indeed unite humanity, as they accept His work, to each other. It also opened our access to God. The commandments and ordinances, the Law itself, was fulfilled in Christ’s work on the cross, and we are now invited into the presence of God.
That access is provided through the blood of Christ (see verses 14-17) in the Spirit. Paul needs us to know that all persons of the Godhead are involved in this unity and reconciliation. Because of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence in our hearts, we can approach God.
God has welcomed us into His presence through Jesus’ blood and through the Holy Spirit in us.
God Gives Us a New Family
Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
This section concludes with a really wonderful picture of what we gain because of what God gives. We receive citizenship. We are no longer strangers, we are citizens, enjoying the fellowship of all our fellow believers.
We also have a home. We are members of God’s household. In fact, Paul adjusts his metaphor immediately to encourage us that we are not just citizen-members as the Romans might understand that. God is incorporating us into the very building He has designed along with Christ, who is the cornerstone. According to Paul, we are together “a holy temple in the Lord.”
God is building us together into a holy temple.
Refreshing Your Bearing
Paul tells us that this life in God through Christ just keeps getting better. Along with everything He has done for us to give us the greatest gift of life in Christ, He continues to work in us – bringing us near Him, bringing us peace, giving us access to Him directly, and making us into His holy temple. God’s free gift of grace continues to build unity out of division, acceptance out of hate, and His glory replacing our sinfulness.
Continuing Your Journey
Week Five
The Mystery Revealed
Read: Ephesians 3:1-13
Read. Meditate. Pray.