Ephesians 2:11-22
Rejected (vv. 11-12)
A.Hapless
B.Helpless
C.Hopeless
Reconciled (vv. 13-18)
A.What Christ did…
1.Brought us near
2.Broken down the barrier
3.Bound us together
What is the result?
1.Reconciliation with God
2.Peace through God
3.Accessibility to God
III.Rebuilt (vv. 19-22)
A.A new identity
B.A new foundation
C.A new temple
More to Consider
When Christ died on the cross, He broke down every barrier that stood between Jews and Gentiles. In the Jewish temple, there was a wall that separated the “Court of the Gentiles” from the rest of the structure; and on this wall was a sign giving warning that any Gentile who passed beyond it would be killed. Jesus Christ tore down that wall! He tore down the physical wall, for in Christ all are made one (v. 15, and see Gal. 3:28–29). He tore down the spiritual wall and brought the “far off” Gentiles near (v. 13). He tore down the legal wall, for He fulfilled the Law in Himself and ended the reign of the Mosaic law that separated Jews and Gentiles (vv. 14–15). Christ not only made peace between sinners and God (Rom. 5:1), but He also made peace between Jews and Gentiles. He took sinful Jews and sinful Gentiles and through His cross made a “new man”—the church. Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 543). Victor Books.
In securing peace through His death, Christ demolished all racial and ethnic barriers in the church. The church should be the world’s most racially integrated community. Cabal, T., Brand, C. O., Clendenen, E. R., Copan, P., Moreland, J. P., & Powell, D. (2007). The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p. 1765). Holman Bible Publishers.
For the sake of each of us he laid down his life--worth no less than the universe. He demands of us in return our lives for the sake of each other. St. Clement of Alexandria.
