Ephesians 2:11-22
A New Humanity
11Therefore
remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called "the uncircumcision"
by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that
you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel
and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood
of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in
His flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments expressed
in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making
peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing
the hostility. 17And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to
those who were near. 18For through Him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So
then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and
members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined
together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In Him you also are being built together
into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Introduction
What do a highly educated businessman and an immigrant working 60 hours a
week at a small struggling retail shop have in common? How about a supermodel and a
housewife with three kids? A university professor and a secretary? Though there are
many “divisions” in our society, these divisions are minor compared to the division that
existed between the circumcised Jews and the uncircumcised Gentiles. In Gen. 17, God
gave Abraham circumcision as a sign of the covenant God made with Him. This sign
pointed to the particular and exclusive relationship that Israel had with God over and
against the rest of the world. Because of this, Abraham’s children were to be a light to
the nations (see Gen. 12:1-3), but instead they twisted their privileges into favouritism
and superiority. One scholar writes,
“The Jew had an immense contempt for the Gentile. The Gentiles, said the Jews,
were created by God to be fuel for the fires of Hell. God, they said, loves only
Israel. ... It was not even lawful to render Help to a Gentile mother in Her hour of
sorest need, for that would simply be to bring another Gentile into the world. 1
However in the passage before us, Paul states that in Christ both believing Jews and
Gentiles have become a new household and a new family. Review
1 William
Barclay, “The Letters to the Galatians and Ephesians” in the Daily Study Bible, (St. Andrew
Press, 1954), p. 125.
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In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul depicts humanity as “dead in trespasses and sins.” Paul
describes mankind as hell-bent zombies in bondage to three things: First, we are in
bondage to the “course of this world” (v. 2) or the zeitgeist of our day. Second, we are in
bondage to the leadership of Satan, the “prince of the power of the air” (v. 2). And third,
we are in bondage to the “desires of the body and mind” (v. 3). But God refuses to allow
His children to continue in this path of destruction. Because of His great mercy and
love, He delivered us by making us alive with Christ, raising us with Christ and seating
us with Christ. And this was all of God’s grace, not a result of any work done by us! We
are God’s masterpiece; set out to display His grace and beauty before a watching world.
Key point
Though there was great hostility between Gentiles and Jews, in Jesus, the
Gentiles have become part of the new people of God. In Jesus, we have been delivered
not only from our alienation with God, but also from our alienation with other people.
Questions
1. In verse 12, Paul encourages the Gentile reader to “remember” five things about
their former state.
(a) What are these five points and what does each point mean?
(b) Why would it be important for these Gentile Christians to remember each
one of these points?
2. (a) How often do we (as predominately Gentile Christians) take time to “remember”
these five points in our lives? (b) What is bound to happen if we fail to remember
these points?
3. In verse 14, we read that Jesus has become our peace and that He has broken down
in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility. Verses 15-16 show us three ways that Jesus
broke down this dividing wall. (a) What are they and (b) what do they mean?
4. In verses 19-22, Paul uses three metaphors to describe this new unified society
created by the work of Jesus. (a) What are they and (b) why is each significant?
5. If Jesus’ life, death and resurrection have created a new unified humanity, what
are some divisions within our church and the Church universal that we ought to be
working to break down? What are some practical ways we can work to break down
these barriers?
Gospel Conclusion
The truth is that all of us are alienated from God, and like the Gentile Ephesians are
strangers to God’s promises. But in Christ God has brought all of us near - not just the
religious, but the irreligious as well. Peace is preached to all of us. The peace of Christ
brings reconciliation with God and reconciliation with our fellow humans leading to
one new humanity, animated and built up by the Holy Spirit. Let us pursue what has
been accomplished for us in Christ.
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