Sermon Tone Analysis

The Great Change

A great change - loss wight, gain weight, economic change

Here we are talking about a change of status with God.

In the first ten verses of , Paul discussed the salvation of sinners in general, but now he turned to the work of Christ for Gentiles in particular.

In the first ten verses of , Paul discussed the salvation of sinners in general, but now he turned to the work of Christ for Gentiles in particular.

Most of the converts in the Ephesian church were Gentiles, and they knew that much of God’s program in the Old Testament involved the Jews.

For centuries, the “circumcision” (Jews) had looked down on the “uncircumcision” (Gentiles) with an attitude that God had never intended them to display.

Looked down on others - professor with glasses

The fact that a Jew had received the physical mark of the covenant was no proof he was a man of faith (; ; ).

Jews.

For centuries, the “circumcision” (Jews) had looked down on the “uncircumcision” (Gentiles) with an attitude that God had never intended them to display.

The fact that a Jew had received the physical mark of the covenant was no proof he was a man of faith (; ; ).

Those who have trusted Christ have received a spiritual circumcision “made without hands” ().

The fact that gentiles were allowing into the covenant with the God of Israel was not well accepted.

Jews.

For centuries, the “circumcision” (Jews) had looked down on the “uncircumcision” (Gentiles) with an attitude that God had never intended them to display.

The fact that a Jew had received the physical mark of the covenant was no proof he was a man of faith (; ; ).

Those who have trusted Christ have received a spiritual circumcision “made without hands” ().

It caused distain

It caused violence

The Holy Spirit here emphasizes the great dispensational change brought about by Calvary and Pentecost.

This change abolished the fundamental difference between Gentile and Jew.

Ever since the days of Abraham the rite of circumcision had served as a covenantal sign of the unique relationship that existed between God and the Israelites.

The Jews gloried in this relationship and in their insular pride contemptuously referred to the Gentiles as “the uncircumcised.”

In the early church many Jewish believers felt that the church was merely an extension of Israel and insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity should be circumcised too as part of the process of coming into the good of the covenant.

Gentile believers bitterly resented this requirement.

The amount of space devoted to the subject in Acts and the Epistles demonstrates what a hot issue circumcision was.

The Holy Spirit here emphasizes the great dispensational change brought about by Calvary and Pentecost.

This change abolished the fundamental difference between Gentile and Jew.

Ever since the days of Abraham the rite of circumcision had served as a covenantal sign of the unique relationship that existed between God and the Israelites.

The Jews gloried in this relationship and in their insular pride contemptuously referred to the Gentiles as “the uncircumcised.”

In the early church many Jewish believers felt that the church was merely an extension of Israel and insisted that Gentile converts to Christianity should be circumcised too as part of the process of coming into the good of the covenant.

Gentile believers bitterly resented this requirement.

The amount of space devoted to the subject in Acts and the Epistles demonstrates what a hot issue circumcision was.

I Our Natural State

eph 2.

Under the new dispensation, both circumcision and uncircumcision are without spiritual significance.

Paul emphasized the obsolete nature of circumcision as a religious rite by referring to it as “the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.”

True, circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant made with the nation of Israel—but the church is not Israel.

The seal of those who are in the true church is not circumcision in the flesh, but the Holy Spirit in the heart (Ephesians 1:13).

Gentiles are brought into a covenantal relationship with the God of Israel, not by becoming proselytes to Judaism, but by putting their faith in Christ.

The same is true now of Jews.

There is no difference.

Calvary and Pentecost effected a remarkable change.

Gentiles, who had no covenantal relationship with the God of Israel such as the one the Jews enjoyed and in which they made their boast, now have just such a relationship in the new covenant.

(b) No Commonwealth Relationship with the God of Israel (2:12)

“That at that time ye 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.”

This verse describes the natural state of the Gentiles.

Prior to the great dispensational change that has now taken place, the only way a Gentile could partake of the spiritual blessings and covenantal benefits of Israel was to become a Jewish proselyte.

Gentiles were natural-born aliens and had no part in the great covenantal promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and David.