Spiritual Gentiles
SPIRITUAL GENTILES
Ephesians 2:11-13
Introduction: Perhaps the best comparison between the times of this passage and modern times would be: People who grew up in the church are like the Jews of this passage; people converted later in life are like the Gentiles. Like the Ephesian Jews, sometimes we who grew up in the church don’t understand those converted later; and those converted later don’t understand those of us who grew up in the church. [Contrast what we were with what we are.]
I. Gentiles before Christ
A. Being called “the uncircumcised” by (ὑπὸ - agent) the being called “the circumcised.” vs. 11
1. This amounted to calling names (See Matthew 5:22)
2. This would be like using the word “nigger” in Wichita in the 1940’s
3. This helps us understand why everyone hated the Jews; they had their own “inner ring” (CS Lewis) and despised everyone else
4. Of course the Gentiles before Jesus could be saved by faith without knowing “the Law” because “the Law” was for the Jews
B. Without Christ vs. 12
1. χωρίς: without, not with, no relationship to, apart from, independent of.[1] With genitive of the person: separated from someone, far from someone, without someone [2]
2. The Ephesians worshiped the goddess, Diana, and, before the coming of the Gospel, knew nothing about Christ. Those who claim that pagan religions are just as acceptable to God as the Christian faith will have a problem here, for Paul cites the Ephesians’ Christless state as a definite tragedy.[3]
C. Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel vs. 12
1. ἀπαλλοτριόω: estranged, alienated, excluded. 3 times in NT, here, 4:18, Col 1:21
2. πολιτεία: used in Eph. 2:12, which says of the readers that during their pagan period they had been ἀπηλλοτριωμένοι τῆς πολιτείας τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ καὶ ξένοι τῶν διαθηκῶν τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες καὶ ἄθεοι ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ. Here the expression πολιτεία τοῦ Ἰσραήλ does not refer to the state of Israel, which had not existed for a long time and membership of which the Greeks of Asia can hardly have thought worth seeking. Nor can it refer to citizenship in the literal sense, since Christian status would be no true counterpart to this. It is rather used in the figurative sense of the privileged religious position of Israel as the recipient of the promise. Once excluded from the promise, the readers also now have access to the Father through Christ. They are now no longer ξένοι and πάροικοι but συμπολῖται τῶν ἁγίων. They share the spiritual citizenship which belongs to the ἅγιοι, the believers of Israel. They have access to God. They have become members of God’s household and partake of salvation, 2:19.[4]
D. Strangers to the covenants of promise vs. 12
1. ξένος: pertaining to not being previously known and hence unheard of and unfamiliar; unknown, unheard of, unfamiliar, surprising.[5] Stranger, foreigner
2. διαθήκη: the verbal content of an agreement between two persons specifying reciprocal benefits and responsibilities; covenant, pact.[6]
Promise.
3. ἐπαγγελία: the content of what is promised.[7]
a. The writer probably has in mind a series of covenants—with Abraham (Gen 15:7–21, 17:1–21), with Isaac (Gen 26:2–5), with Jacob (Gen 28:13–15), with Israel (Exod 24:1–8), and with David (2 Sam 7). All can be seen as based on promise: the promises of God’s presence, of descendants, and of the land, which were so essential to Israel’s existence. … Previously, then, the Gentiles were outside the line of promise, but, as the writer will point out in 3:6, they now participate in the promise through Christ [8]
b. Most of these promises were for the Jews only; only those about the Messiah were for Gentiles also.
E. No hope vs. 12 because they were not looking for a Messiah
F. Without God vs. 12 ἄθεος: without God, godless, atheistic
G. Far off vs. 13
II. Gentiles and Jews after Christ vs. 13
A. Been brought near to God
1. Agent “by” en
2. Blood of Christ
a. Metonymy for death of Christ
b. Romans 6:23 the wages of sin is death
1) I had to die because of my sins
2) God allowed Jesus to die in my place
B. In Christ Jesus
III. Applications
A. All of us were spiritual Gentiles
B. Much hatred existed between groups
C. Jesus died in your place; you would be headed toward Hell if He had not done that.
D. Spiritual eliteness should no longer exist
1. The choice part; the best of a class; the socially superior part of society; a group of persons who by virtue of position or education exercise much power or influence
2. Those who grew up in the church should not look down on those who didn’t
3. Those who did not grow up in the church should not be intimidated by those who did, but should serve God with whatever abilities He has given them
E. Separating into groups can lead to name-calling and division
Conclusion: Praise God; we are no longer spiritual Gentiles, but by faith through grace we have been added to the family of God. Let’s act like it and never hurt our brothers and sisters.
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[1]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament (1:792). New York: United Bible societies.
[2]Arndt, W., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (1996, c1979). A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature (890). Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[3]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[4]Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964-c1976. (6:534-535). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.
[5]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament. New York: United Bible societies.
[6]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament. New York: United Bible societies.
[7]Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament. New York: United Bible societies.
[8]Lincoln, A. T. (2002). Vol. 42: Word Biblical Commentary : Ephesians. (137). Dallas: Word, Inc.