October 30, 2022
Ephesians 2:11-22
“One New Humanity”
Service Overview: Jesus does more than just save individuals who turn to him, he adopts them into a new family and reality; designed to bring together people who were once far from God under the leadership of Jesus.
Memory Verse for the Week:
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:4-5 (NIV)
Background Information:
- The Gentiles, said the Jews, were created by God to be fuel for the fires of Hell. God, they said, loves only Israel of all the nations that He had made. The best of the serpents crush, they said, the best of the Gentiles kill. It was not even lawful to render help to a Gentile mother in her hour of sorest need, for that would simply be to bring another Gentile into the world. (William Barclay, The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians, 125)
- The Gentiles were literally nonparticipants in the privileges, present or prospective, which were pledged to Israel. God had entered into a covenant relationship with Israel not a contract in which God and man hammered out the terms. God set the terms of the covenant because of who He is. He is the one party who can under all circumstances keep His side of any agreement. (Willard H. Taylor, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 8, 149)
- 2:14-16. Paul writes this letter from prison because he has been falsely charged with taking a non-Jew inside the temple in Jerusalem (Acts 21:28). Taking a non-Jew beyond a particular dividing point in the temple was such an important breach of Jewish law that the Romans even permitted Jewish leaders to execute violators of this law. Paul’s readers in Ephesus and Asia undoubtedly know why Paul is in prison (Acts 21:27, 29); thus for them, as well as for Paul, there can be no greater symbol of the barrier between Jew and non-Jew (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 279)
- While the blessing of the Gentiles is included in God’s covenant with Abraham (Gen. 12:1–3), God did not make any covenants with the Gentile nations. The Gentiles were “aliens” and “strangers”—and the Jews never let them forget it. Many of the Pharisees would pray daily, “O God, I give thanks that I am a Jew, not a Gentile.” (Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich: Ephesians, 55)
- While Paul was writing this letter, there was a literal wall standing in the temple that excluded the Gentiles. Josephus tells us that attached to this barrier at intervals were messages in Greek and Latin, warning that the Gentiles must not proceed further lest they die. The temple was destroyed physically in AD 70, but it was destroyed spiritually around AD 33 or so, when Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners. “In His flesh” Jesus tore down the wall that separated these groups. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians, 59)
The question to answer…
What big idea is Paul communicating to his readers?
Answer…
The incredible new reality that exists by being in Christ; that those once far are now near. And not just near, but one.
What is Paul highlighting here? The implications of once being …
- … separate from Christ, but now in Christ.
(v. 13, 14 | Ps. 118:22; Mat. 27:50-51; 2 Cor. 5:17; Galatians 3:26; 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:8-10)
It is worth noting that the spiritual plight of the Gentiles was caused not by God but by their own willful sin. Paul said the Gentiles knew the true God but deliberately refused to honor Him (Rom. 1:18–23). Religious history is not a record of man starting with many gods (idolatry) and gradually discovering the one true God. Rather, it is the sad story of man knowing the truth about God and deliberately turning away from it! (Wiersbe, 55)
- … aliens, but now citizens, and family.
(vv. 12, 19 | John 1:12-13; Rom. 8:16-18; Phil. 3:20-21; Col. 3:1; 1 Peter 2:9-11)
Christ Jesus, through his death (in his flesh), destroyed the barriers that had separated Jews and Gentiles, making peace between both groups. This, in turn, made the way for peace between them. Even more than making peace between the two groups, Christ reconciled them both to God. (Bruce Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Ephesians, 51)
- … hopeless, but now hope-fueled.
(v. 12, 14, 18 | Isaiah 28:16; 57:15-19; John 14:27; Rom. 9:32-33; 1 Cor. 15:22; 1 Peter 1:3)
Those apart from Christ typically wrap their lives around things and refuse to think about ultimate reality. The escape can be very intellectual on one hand, or on the other an eternal Nintendo game. As a believer who has found hope, I cannot imagine living without God. (R. Kent Hughes, Ephesians, 111)
- … godless, but now God’s own temple.
(vv. 21-22 | Mark 14:58; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20; Hebrews 3:2-6; 1 Peter 2:4-8)
The Gentiles were excluded from the Jerusalem Temple by a wall and by signs threatening death. But now in Christ they actually form the wall of the new temple. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Ephesians, 122)
The church is not a building we go to or an event we attend. The church is family, living life together on mission. Be careful not to treat the church as a hotel—visiting a place occasionally, giving a tip if you are served well. Rather, see the church as part of your Christian identity, and understand that we all have a role in God’s household. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians, 63)
Conclusion… How should these ideas impact Jesus’ disciples today? By…
A. …eagerly embracing all who are coming near.
(v. 11-14, 17-19 | Lev. 19:34; Mat. 25:35; Acts 15:9; 1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:28; Heb. 13:1-2)
Here in Ephesians, Paul told the Gentile Christians to remember what it felt like to be treated that way, to be seen as unworthy outsiders . . . and he told them not to return the favor. (Barton, Ephesians, 51)
If we are in Christ, we are all equal. All distinctions must give way to the one overall title for all of God’s children—“the Redeemed.” (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location, 1518)
Here Paul does not simply mimic a common stand against racism in his culture; he condemns racism and segregation of a religious institution even though he has to challenge his culture to do so. (Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament, 280)
… B. actively building faith on God’s truth.
(v. 20 | Psalm 145:18; Proverbs 12:22; John 1:14; 4:24; 8:31-32; 14:6; Romans 1:18; Philippians 4:8; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; James 1:18; 1 John 3:18; 5:20)
The church stands or falls based on its faithfulness to God’s Word. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians, 64)
Since both the apostles and prophets had a teaching role, the foundation is teaching. Thus the foundation of the new temple is God’s Word, especially the New Testament Scriptures. The Church stands or falls in its regard for the New Testament Scriptures. If we tamper with the foundation, the temple will crumble. That is why Paul ordered Timothy to “preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2). (Hughes, Ephesians, 121)
C. … sincerely seeking unity as God’s own temple.
(vv. 19-22 | Rom. 12:5; 1 Cor. 1:10; 3:16-17; Gal. 3:28; Phil. 2:2; Col. 3:14; 1 Peter 3:8)
Jesus Christ died to make reconciliation possible. You and I must live to make the message of reconciliation personal. (Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich: Ephesians, 62)
I would give anything to stand outside the temple and watch God’s glory descend. But I get something so much better: I am literally a part of the temple itself! Somehow by the blood of Jesus, I became worthy of joining with others to form a dwelling place for God! (Francis Chan, Letters to the Church, 37)
Peter described us as “living stones” (1 Pet. 2:5). You are a stone in the same structure in which the apostles and prophets are the foundation and Jesus Himself is the cornerstone (Eph. 2:20)! When Paul talked about this concept, he used the plural form of you and the singular form of temple. We are all joined together to form one house for God. Somehow I am a block of a temple that transcends time and space. And because the structure is a temple, this means that God makes His home among us! (Francis Chan, Letters to the Church, 37)
Gospel Application…
In Christ alone is the hope of having both peace with God, and peace with others.
(vv. 14,18 | Romans 5:1; 12:18; Galatians 3:26; Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 5:11-12)
Jesus Christ made peace by the sacrifice of himself; in every sense Christ was their Peace, the author, centre, and substance of their being at peace with God, and of their union with the Jewish believers in one church. (Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1283)
The same death that reconciles us to the Father is that which makes it possible for us to be peacefully reconciled to each other. (Holmes, Ephesians, 1527)
Spiritual Challenge Questions…
Reflect on these questions in your time with the Lord this week, or discuss with a Christian family member or Life Group.
- What barriers exist between various people today? How about between you and another person or groups of people? What barriers tend to exist in the church between various groups of people? How can these barriers be overcome?
- Why is a unified church a great witness to the unbelieving world? How should this passage change the way we think about the church?
- What does it mean to be reconciled to another person?
- Why is reconciliation needed between man and God?
- What are you doing, or can you do, to help people be reconciled to God?
Quotes to note…
If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. Why is God so harsh about this? Paul explained that God’s temple is sacred, and we—collectively—are that temple. Every time you speak evil about a member of the Church, it is like taking a sledgehammer to the temple. Are you sure you want to keep doing that? (Francis Chan, Letters to the Church, 38)
God does not dwell in man-made temples, including church buildings (Acts 7:48–50). He dwells in the hearts of those who have trusted Christ (1 Cor. 6:19–20), and in the church collectively (Eph. 2:20–22). (Wiersbe, Ephesians, 61)
Just as the foreskin was removed from the Jew to mark his identity with the covenant, so the sinful nature is removed from the Christian to mark his or her relationship with Christ. (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location, 1458)
Spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the faults of others. (Bruce Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Ephesians, 51)
Christ is concerned to bring into birth “a new man, a new society.” This is the central purpose of His incarnation, ministry, death, resurrection, and exaltation. The first Adam, by his one act of disobedience, brought into existence a sinful, divisive race of people. But the Second Adam, by His one act of obedience to the will of God, is fathering a new humanity. (Willard H. Taylor, Beacon Bible Expositions, Volume 8, 151)
Peace between Jew and Gentile, the world’s races and ethnic groups, rich and poor, educated and uneducated comes only in Christ. This means that the Church has an immense responsibility to be a pocket of reconciliation and shalom in an alienated world. (R. Kent Hughes, Preaching the Word: Ephesians, 114)
Christ alone is peace personified. (Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll’s Living Insights: Galatians & Ephesians, 241)
Diversity in the church is a glorious demonstration of the work of Christ. It is to be celebrated as it pictures heaven. It demonstrates the one new man. (Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in Ephesians, 60)
Humankind has always built walls to maintain separation. We have heard of the Great Wall of China and the Berlin Wall. But there are also figurative walls that have been built over time. Walls built not of stone or brick, but built by ignorance and biases held together by hatred and indifference. Paul’s reference to Christ’s dismantling the wall is a message for today as we consider the numerous ways we stereotype and label people. (Mark A. Holmes, Ephesians, Kindle Location, 1518)
Christ, the Prince of Peace, has called us to peace as well. Peace with God and peace with one another. Can you describe your relationships with others in the body as characterized by peace? If so, thank God, who alone makes it possible. If not, repent and ask God to give you grace to make those relationships right. (Bruce Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: Ephesians, 54)