Ephesians 2:11-22

Gentiles Were Separated From God

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

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 separate from Christ, aexcluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Prior to Christ, only Israel could have a relationship with God. He chose them to be His people. All other people group were alienated from God. God did not do this so the nation of Israel could look down on other nations. He did this to show other nations that God blesses those who are a part of His kingdom. We see in the Bible that gentile nations could be kind to Israel and have blessings of God as well.

Unfortunately the nation of Israel used this choice of God for a source of pride. Instead of desiring other nations to follow God, they looked down on other nations and called them names like “uncircumcision”. This fostered hate between Gentiles and Jews. The Gentiles made their own gods because they were not going to follow the God that the Jews followed. As a result they were:

Separate from Christ - The Ephesians worshiped Diana. They had their own god. This meant that they had an empty god that would cause them to be separate from Christ. This brings eternal condemnation on the Gentiles. There are many people that have their own gods and are separate from Christ. The danger in America is that many people believe that they are saved, but instead are worshipping other Gods.

Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel- This means to be a part of God’s Kingdom. The nation of Israel were God’s people. They had citizenship in God’s kingdom. Gentiles did not have citizenship of God’s kingdom. People today are either part of the kingdom of God or part of the kingdom of the world.

4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Strangers to the covenants of Promise - God made covenants to the nation of Israel. He made a covenant with Abraham.

5 And He took him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” And He said to him, “So shall your [i]descendants be.” 6 Then he believed in the Lord; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

This covenant of promise was only for the nation of Israel. God has given us a new covenant.

16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [a]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

The original covenant was exclusive to the nation of Israel. The new covenant is to whoever believes.

Having no hope - Apart from Christ there is no hope.

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a [c]shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive [d]and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Without God- The gentiles of Ephesus willfully chose to serve other gods and reject the one true God. Anyone that makes that rejects Jesus will find themselves without God.

Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

Christ has brought God to the Gentiles!

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near dby the blood of Christ.

God chose to receive all people into his Kingdom through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The penalty of sin has been taken away from the sinner and put on Jesus Christ. This is what happened on the cross of Calvary. There is no more separation between the Jew and the Gentile based on the old covenant. God has made a new covenant and fulfilled it in His Son Jesus Christ.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might cmake the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,

16 and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity

Not only did God bring peace to Himself through Christ, but he also brought peace among people. God has eradicated enmity between the Jew and the gentile and brought peace. God desires that all people live in peace with one another in Christ.

18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, 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 fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

We are now one nation in Christ. All the things Gentiles were before Christ, they can become in Christ. We have access to the Spirit of God who is building us into a dwelling of God. This is the church!