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Ephesians - 3
Ephesians 2:11-22
Introduction
The American author and politician, Bruce Barton, wrote, “Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.”
The doctrine of Union with Christ could seem like a ‘little thing.’
It could be merely a way for the Apostle Paul to refer to the realities of salvation.
It could be considered shorthand for Paul’s ideas of salvation.
However, once a person begins to comprehend the enormous consequences of this particular doctrine, it becomes clear that it is no ‘little thing.’
In fact, if a person takes their cue from the consequences of this doctrine, it would be easy, and correct, to conclude that the doctrine of Union with Christ may be the most important doctrine in all the world.
For the last two sermons in Ephesians, we have covered two texts in depth…1:3-14 and 2:1-10, showing that the Bible summarizes salvation by stating that believers are ‘in Christ.’
Blessing from God comes to those who are ‘in Christ.’
God the Father loves those who are ‘in Christ.’
The Holy Spirit seals eternally those who are ‘in Christ.’
Jesus forgives those who are ‘in Him.’ Grace is shown to those ‘in Christ.’
Mercy is granted to those ‘in Christ.’
Outside of Christ you are ‘in sin.’
Outside of Christ you are ‘in death.’
All of what it means to be saved, all of what it means to be a Christian, can be summed up by those two words…’in Christ.’
But what does that mean?
‘In Christ’ is a pretty vague, mystical sort of phrase.
It means you have been incorporated into or now live in the sphere that is Christ.
Think of it this way…this room is Christ.
It has borders and there are clear lines for being inside or outside of it.
Outside of this room is sin, death, destruction.
No hope.
No joy.
No life.
No forgiveness.
No blessing.
Only inside this room can you experience any of those things.
So God, in His kindness, mercifully saves some of those who are outside of this room.
He opens their eyes to the reality of their sin.
He flips the switch to cause them to believe the truth of the gospel message.
He saves them.
He resurrects their dead soul…by putting them into this room.
He picks up those who are outside of this room, dead in sin, and causes them to live by anchoring them in here.
And now that you are in this room, all the blessing of God is yours to have.
Forgiveness is yours.
Life is yours.
Salvation is yours.
All because God put you in here.
And now, everything about your life, your faith, your reality, your eternal destination, your everyday life…are all defined by being ‘in Christ.’
But what does that do in your life?
What are the consequences of being ‘in Christ’?
There are countless dominos that fall, but Paul has one in particular in mind.
It is the theme of Ephesians.
And now that Paul has established the doctrine of Union with Christ, he will now expound and explain what it does in your life and how you are to live out its reality every single day.
Here is the foundational theme of the entire book of Ephesians…Union with Christ creates Unity with Christians.
That makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?
If I am united to Christ and you are united to Christ, then we are, by default, united to one another.
It is inescapable.
For the rest of the letter, Paul is going to explain this theologically and practically.
Our text for today is the theological explanation of the primary consequence of Union with Christ creating Unity with Christians.
The rest of our texts, looking at the 40 different commands given in Ephesians 4-6, are all to be understood as how to live out Unity with Christians.
Here is the theological explanation:
Ephesians 2:11-22 - 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 without Christ, alienated from the citizenship 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.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups one and broke down the dividing wall of the partition
15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might create the two into one new man, making peace,
16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity.
17 And He came and preached 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 our access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, 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 joined together, is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
TS - there are vertical aspects to salvation…between you and God.
But there are also horizontal aspects to salvation…between you and all others who are ‘in Christ.’
THE ABSENCE OF UNITY (V.
11-12)
As he did with 2:1-10 talking about salvation by beginning with the bad news before the good news, Paul begins presenting these truths with the negatives.
The Gentiles, all the non-Jews, were v. 11 - the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands.
The Jews, who were virtually alone in their commitment to circumcision, had this physical marker to indicate they were recipients of God’s covenant love and promises.
To flesh out the stark contrast between the insider Jews and the outsider Gentiles, Paul summarizes their lack of unity with five deficiencies on the part of the Gentiles.
Verse 12, they were ‘without Christ.’
Due to their lack of knowledge of the Holy One of Israel, they would have no knowledge of who Christ is or even what that term meant.
Without any knowledge of the promised Messiah, they had no hope personally or nationally.
Secondly, they were ‘alienated from the citizenship of Israel.’
Again they are outsiders.
Paul only uses this term ‘alienated’ two other times, and both of them are in reference to alienation from God.
The implication is the same here.
Due to their exclusion from Israel and the Jew’s exclusive relationship to God, the Gentiles are excluded from God too.
Third, they are ‘strangers to the covenants of promise.’
God had promised in His covenants to work in and through Israel, to bless them, to protect them.
Outside of Israel, they are strangers to that reality.
Fourth, they have ‘no hope.’
Just like ‘without Christ’ this has Messianic overtones.
Because the Gentiles were ignorant of God’s Word, there is nothing and no one to place their hope in for salvation.
Lastly, they are ‘without God in the world.’
To explain this, Paul uses a term used only here in the entire NT.
Atheos, which comes into English as atheist.
Because God was only concerned with Israel, the Gentiles were so excluded from God, it is as if God does not even exist to them.
Just as 2:1-3 offers a comprehensive condemnation on humanity for their sin, 2:11-12 offers a comprehensive condemnation on the Gentiles regarding their lack of relationship with God and with God’s people.
There is a clear lack of unity between Jews and Gentiles.
These two groups could not be more opposite in every way imaginable.
All that divides them is absolutely insurmountable…until Christ steps in.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF UNITY (V.
13-18)
After the darkness of disunity in v. 11-12, verse 13 shines like a beacon of hope.
V. 13 - But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The Gentiles were ‘far off’, perfectly describing the deficiencies of v. 12.
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