Ephesians 2:11-22
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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Ephesians: Part 1 God’s Reconciliation in Christ, Chapters 1-3
Ephesians Part 2 Our Response to God’s work in Christ, Chapters 4-6
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
For (because of everything he has said so far)
You are saved
by grace (unmerited favor)
through faith (belief)
(faith is not a cause, but a means) not from yourselves
(grace explained) it is God’s gift
(consequence of it being a gift) so that no one can boast
For (because of this salvation in this way)
we are his workmanship (trade skill, quality of product; could be translated “masterpiece”)
(how are we this?) created in Christ Jesus
for good works
God prepared ahead of time for us to do.
Faith is the means, not the source, of our salvation.
Good works don’t earn salvation. Salvation earns good works!!
As God’s images, and as his adopted children, God has allowed us to act like him.
Now for some questions
Now for some questions
Do you know your way around Tokyo?
What was the longest line you have ever waited in?
Do you do your own taxes?
11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
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11 So, then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world.
Geographic, physical, national, ethnic, exclusions.
“by human hands” is an OT phrase that is usually associated with idolatry. Yikes! Paul isn’t holding back. Circumcision is not the way to be “brought near” to God.
What barriers to coming near to God do we make today “by human hands”?
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13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In his flesh, 15 he made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
Brought near
both groups one
tore down the diving wall of hostility
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 2
There was an inscription on the wall of the outer courtyard of the Jerusalem temple warning Gentiles that they would only have themselves to blame for their death if they passed beyond it into the inner courts. Paul may or may not be alluding to this wall, but it well illustrates Christ’s reconciliation of all people into a new humanity
Brought near from far away
both groups one
tore down wall of hostility
made no effect of the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations
so he could make 1 man out of 2 —> resulting in peace
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16 He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. 17 He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
This is all done by Jesus.
19 creating words of praise.” The Lord says, “Peace, peace to the one who is far or near, and I will heal him.
3 No foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord should say, “The Lord will exclude me from his people,” and the eunuch should not say, “Look, I am a dried-up tree.” 4 For the Lord says this: “For the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose what pleases me, and hold firmly to my covenant, 5 I will give them, in my house and within my walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off. 6 As for the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to become his servants— all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold firmly to my covenant— 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and let them rejoice in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” 8 This is the declaration of the Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel: “I will gather to them still others besides those already gathered.”
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39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”
41 Even for the foreigner who is not of your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name— 42 for they will hear of your great name, strong hand, and outstretched arm, and will come and pray toward this temple— 43 may you hear in heaven, your dwelling place, and do according to all the foreigner asks. Then all peoples of earth will know your name, to fear you as your people Israel do and to know that this temple I have built bears your name.
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19 So, then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building, being put together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you are also being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.
“apostles and prophets”
Probably the apostles and prophets of Paul’s day, similar to Eph. 2:14, 3:3,5 . The Greek is “the apostles and prophets” where it would read “the apostles and the prophets” if it meant to groups of people.
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