We Are Reconciled – Jesus Removed the Barrier – Eph 2:11-22

[Eph 2:11-12]

In the first half of this chapter, Paul has been telling us what God has done for sinners in general, now its about Jews and Gentiles in particular. God had made no messianic covenants with the Gentiles, but God had promised the Jews a kingdom.

What the Gentiles were (vv.11-12).

Eph 2:11-12 (NKJV) –[11] Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh–who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands.

Therefore remember – Paul refers to the previous 10 verses. Now that we know our new position in Christ, we must never forget where we came from and what we were like before God saved us and changed us.

Called Uncircumcision – This racial slur goes back a long way. David called Goliath an “uncircumcised Philistine.”

Real circumcision is of the heart, spiritual (Gal 5:6) – not physical.

[12] that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Verse 12 is Paul’s list of five things that the Gentiles lacked by being separated (spiritually dead) to God.

What God did (vv.13-16).

[13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

“But now” in v.13 parallels “But God” in v.4. These are glorious pivotal words where separation and death turned to life and unity in the body of Christ.

Here (v.13) the Gentiles are regarded as “far off” was spiritual distance from God and His blessings. I find it interesting that, in the Gospels that whenever Jesus helped a Gentile, He did it at a distance (Mt 8:5-13; 15:22-28).

The blood of Jesus has brought me near to the Father. I was spiritually dead – separated from God. I could have no fellowship with Him. Jesus came and removed the barrier between God and me.

All the Glory goes to Jesus who executed the plan, and to God the Father who originated the plan. I can receive no glory at all for becoming a Christian.

[14] For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Jesus is called “our peace.” This is a reference to the ministry of reconciliation. Jesus has reconciled us to God. This peace destroys the separation and strife. Peace means “to be united with” as well as “to bring an end to hostility.”

He “has made both one….” All races are now one in Christ. “The middle wall of partition” is the barrier between God and man and also between the races of the earth.

Eph 2:15-16 (NIV) –[15] by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

“Setting aside in his flesh” = His death. What did the death of Jesus do to get rid of the enmity, hostility, the barrier, this animosity between the Jew and the Gentile, the people of God?

Jesus broke down the wall, the hostility, “by setting aside in His flesh the law with its commands and regulations.”

What the Gentiles and Jews are now (vv.17-22).

[17] And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. [18] For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

Both have access to the Father in the Spirit. Under the Jewish tradition, only the high priest could go into the presence of God, and that only once a year. But in the new creation, every believer has the privilege of coming into the holy of holies (Heb 10:19-25).

[19] Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20] having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner[stone,]

Household literally means “members of the family” of God.

Apostles and prophets here are the founding apostles the Church is being built upon (cf. Acts 2:42). In 4:11 it is understood to be the ongoing mission of the five ministry gifts for the equipping of the saints. Saints today still need to be equipped, so we still have apostles prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

[21] in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, [22] in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

The metaphor of the body (1:22,23) being filled by Christ is complemented by the building… into a holy temple being inhabited by God through the Holy Spirit.

Each believer is a living stone set into the temple (1Pet 2:4-8). Christ is the foundation of the local church (1Cor 3:11) and the chief cornerstone of the whole building. The church today is a living, growing temple. When it is completed, Jesus will return and take the temple to glory. What a privilege to be the very habitation of God through the Spirit!

God bless you my friend,

— Dwight Hammond