Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- {12} remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. {13} But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. {14} For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, {15} by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, {16} and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. {17} He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. {18} For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. {19} Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, {20} built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. {21} In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. {22} And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."
This passage has two primary messages:
1. Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ.
2. We are all part of the church of God with Jesus as the cornerstone and the teachings of the apostles and prophets as the foundation. Each of us is the temple of the Holy Spirit and as the temple we are called to be Holy.
*Jews and Gentiles are united in Christ*
As Gentiles we had no place in a relationship with God (verse 12). We were not included in the covenant with God. Without God we were without hope. Now, through the blood of Jesus we have been included in God's blessings (verse 13). Praise the Lord. I am eternally grateful that God chose to allow Gentiles to have a relationship with Him through Jesus.
Let’s look at another passage that brings this point home. "As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." {12} For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, {13} for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:11-13
There is one God and that same God is God for the Jews and the Gentiles. In fact, as believers we are now one in Jesus. We are not two different groups, but, one. Now, we have been speaking about unity and spiritual warfare so far in Ephesians. So, what is the significance
of Gentiles and Jews being joined together in Jesus.
1) Paul wanted the Gentiles to know that they are not second class citizens in the Kingdom of Heaven. In Jesus, they have the same rights and privileges as the Jews we are considered as one in Jesus. This is especially important for the Gentiles since Paul wants them to know who they are in Jesus.
2) This is true unity God is reconciling all people to himself and bringing them together in Jesus.
3) As part of the one Body of Jesus in the world we are called to warfare.
4) In warfare, it is vital that we know who we are and how we fit into the army. We are sons and daughters of the General.
We have the same rights and privileges as the Jews and as a result we have the same responsibilities. We are called to be a light shining in the darkness of this world. We are called to share with all we know the hope that we have in Jesus.
So, how did God take away the things that divide? Verse 14 gives us the answer. "For he himself is our peace..." Breaking down the dividing barriers was done through the work of Jesus. This verse speaks of things in the past tense and that is what we all need to do. Jesus has
already done what needed to be done to break down the barriers. Now, we have to do our part. We have to catch the vision for unity. We have to learn to accept all people regardless of the differences we have with each other. In Jesus, we can love and care for our brothers and sisters even when we don’t agree. In Jesus, we can get along as brothers and sisters rather than fighting and hurting each other. This is another form of spiritual warfare. Satan wants more than anything to take away the glory from God and to divide us. He has found many subtle ways to keep us separated but, in recent years he has been getting bolder. We must stand against him and this means standing together with brothers and sisters who have different beliefs than we do. We must resist his tricks and efforts to divide us. We must join together and kick Satan out of our churches and groups.
God’s purpose was to create one complete body in Jesus. He doesn’t want this group and that group all doing different things. He wants us all focused on Jesus and fulfilling our individual purposes in the Body of Jesus. Let me share an example that I read this week in my devotional time. An orchestra is made up of many different musicians. Some play similar instruments but still look different. Some play different instruments than others, in fact, there are a few that play the only one of their kind, such as, piano and tuba, timpani, etc. When they are doing their own
thing--warming up and tuning then it is easy to see that there are many differences. But, when they are all focused on the Conductor and playing according to the music in front of them, beautiful music is the result—music that could not be produced without everyone doing their part.
On a much larger scale, the same is true for the Body of Jesus -- the church. When we are all doing our own thing the result is sometimes dissonance and division. When we are all focused on the GREAT CONDUCTOR (Jesus the Messiah) then unity happens in a supernatural way
that has nothing to do with mankind's efforts but has everything to do with God working through us. As in an orchestra it is not important if the trumpet players like the violin players or if they agree about everything. It is ultimately important that they focus their attention on the Conductor and are obedient to His direction. When we focus our attention on Jesus and don't worry about the differences we have with others then God will work in our lives to bring unity--
supernatural unity.
God’s ultimate plan was to bring all people into His church since Jesus' gospel is for all--Jews and
Gentiles--far and near (verse 17). God wants us all united in Jesus. This is what he prayed for in John 17. "My prayer is not for them [disciples] alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23 NIV)
Did you notice what Jesus prayed? The reason He wants us to be one is so the world may believe that God sent Him into the world. So, the question is this, how well do you and your church display tot he world that Jesus came, that Jesus is in us and that we are in Jesus? Or,
do you give the world reason to doubt the existence of Jesus since you are all about division and yourself or your church?
It is only through Jesus that we have access to the Father and this relationship with the Father is made real through the Spirit dwelling in us (verse 18). Paul makes the point that Jews and Gentiles alike have access to the Father through Jesus.
Paul addresses verse 19 to those of us who are Gentiles and states through Jesus we are now part of God's children and members of His household. Before Jesus we had no place but now we have a place through Jesus. We are one with Jesus. Through Jesus, we are one with the Father. Are we one with each other?
The household of God is built on Jesus as cornerstone and the faithful witness of the apostles and prophets (verse 20). With Jesus as it's head the children of God join together to be the temple of God (verse 21). God gave us a glimpse of this in Exodus 25:8, "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them." God has built His temple in us and through us.
We are the temple of God (verse 22). As the temple of God we are to be Sacred.
A couple of related passages are:
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? {17} If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple."
2 Corinthians 6:16 "What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."
Through Jesus we have gone from no relationship to a very intimate relationship in which the Holy Spirit dwells in us. Jesus wants us to be one in Him and one with each other. Unity is part of our spiritual warfare. I have a few questions for you to think about. How seriously do you take that relationship? (See Romans 2:17-23.) How do you demonstrate that relationship to the world? Is God glorified when people see you and your actions? Why don’t you leave a comment and answer one of the questions above or just share a comment about your thoughts.
May the Lord bless you and keep you.
Tim Gray
