The Difference

The Difference

Ephesians 2:11-13

Ephesians 2:11-13Purpose

Summarizes – The Pre-conversion Gentile Condition

Consequential Command of Salvation – Remember

Transition – From Individual to Corporate Implications of Salvation

Ephesians 2:11Pre-Conversion Gentile Condition

Without Circumcision à I was deemed worthless

Ø Purpose: Simply a Sign (Gen. 17:9-12)

Ø Misused: Circumcision Replaces Faith = Salvation

Ø Gentiles in the Flesh – Made in the flesh by hands

In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, (Col. 2:10)

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. (Rom. 2:28-29)

Ephesians 2:11Pre-Conversion Gentile Condition

Without Circumcision à I was deemed worthless

Ø Purpose: Simply a Sign (Gen. 17:9-12)

Ø Misused: Circumcision Replaces Faith = Salvation

Ø Gentiles in the Flesh – Made in the flesh by hands

Ø Before Christ – Us versus Them

Ephesians 2:11Pre-Conversion Gentile Condition

Without Citizenship à I didn’t belong

Ø Commonwealth: Excluded from God’s blessings to Israel

Ø Alienation is a pre-Christ trait

Ø Before Christ – Kept out of privileges

John 13:34-3534 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Ephesians 2:11Pre-Conversion Gentile Condition

Without Covenants à I had no guarantees from God

Ø Covenants of Promise: Ø Land – Abraham (Gen. 12:1-4) (Jer. 16:15)Ø Seed – Continued Existence & Messiah through David (Ps. 89:

3-4)Ø Blessing – New covenant written on hearts (Jer. 31:31-34)

Ø God made zero covenants with Gentile nationsØ Before Christ – God had no commitment to me

Ephesians 2:11Pre-Conversion Gentile Condition

Without Hope à I had nothing to look forward to

Ø All-encompassing hope

Ø Purpose of Pagan gods

Ø Before Christ – No future

Ephesians 2:11Pre-Conversion Gentile Condition

Without God à I was lost

Ø ἄθεος – origins of atheist

Ø Worshiped many gods

Ø Suppression of Truth (Rom. 1:18-23)

Ø Before Christ – fulfillment was in emptiness, idolatry (Act. 19:26)

Remember Because We Forget

Your Life Before Christ

Ø Without Circumcision à I was deemed worthless

Ø Without Citizenship à I didn’t belong

Ø Without Covenants à I had no guarantees from God

Ø Without Hope à I had nothing to look forward to

Ø Without God à I was lost

Consequences of Forgetfulness

Forget à Create division, push others away from Christ

Forget à you earned your spot, “that of yourselves” or pride

Forget à visually no commitment to God

Forget à apathetic, despair or live as no hope

Forget à idolatry

But Now!In Christ Jesus

Ø Spiritually United with Christ

You who once were afar offØ Reference to dead in sins (2:1) Ø Reference to 5 Lacked PrivilegesØ Reference to OT Gentile Nations (Deut. 28:49)

Have been brought nearØ God’s activity Ø Equally Included and Accepted (2:19)

Through the blood of Christ Ø Instrumental means Ø Messiah Ø Intentional Saving Act

But now!

I was deemed worthless à Now, I’m a Saint

I didn’t belong à Now, I’m adopted

I had no promise à Now, I’m His Inheritance

I had no hope à Now, I’m sealed with the Spirit

I didn’t have God à Now, I’m in Christ

In Christ • Redeemed • Chosen • Accepted • Adopted • Saints• Without Blame• Loved • Faithful• Holy• Forgiven• Predestined• United

• Alive• His workmanship• Created for Good

works• Abounding Grace • Brought Near • Sealed with the

Spirit • Blessed • God’s Inheritance• Obtained an

Inheritance

• Mysteries made known

• Power that raised Christ from death

• Sit together in Heavenly Places

• Boldness and Access with Confidence

• Partakers of the promise