I. Their Despair, Ep.2:11-13

“You Gentiles…” (11)

Remember your past “Called”

Uncircumcision (a label) Circumcision (Ro.2) – (“so called”)

“Therefore” (12) links to 2:1-10Fivefold descent into despair

1. Christless. 1:3

2. Stateless. Alienated, estranged

“Excluded from the corporate life of Israel”

Commonwealth: state, government that ruled Israel (theocracy). Ac.22

“Therefore” (12) links to 2:1-10Fivefold descent into despair

1. Christless. 1:3

2. Stateless. Alienated, estranged

3. Homeless. Alien; excluded from covenant people. Ro.9:3-5

4. Hopeless. 1 Th.4:13

5. Godless. ‘Atheist” (Ro.1:18)

“Far off” (v.13)

Is.57:19 Ps.148:14

I. Their Despair, Ep.2:11-13

II. Their Deliverance, Ep.2:13-22

“But now” (2:13)

Dead (1-3)

But God (4)

Alienated (11-12)

But now (13)

Far off; now near (13, 17) Acts 2:39

He is our peace (v.14)

He (emphatic) – our peace . . .

Middle wall: dividing wall, barrier In Temple, 4½ ft. high; divided court

of Gentiles from Temple proper 1871; 1935

With God Jew with Gentile

Temple warning to Gentiles

Ac.21:27-32 Literal wall fell in AD 70

“Let no one of any other nation come within the fence and barrier around the Holy Place. Whoever is caught doing so will himself be responsible for the fact that his death will ensue.”

Abolished in His flesh… (15)

Ordinance: small section of law. Lk.2:1

Create (v.10) one new man (no hybrid)

Both become a new being, like

God (4:24)

This makes peace

(14, 15, 17)

Results of His death (16)

Blood, 13 Flesh, 15 Cross, 16

Onebody

Preached peace (17)

Hb.1:2

First:achieved peace

Then:preached peace

Access (18)

Fellow citizens… (19)

Foundation, joined together (20-22)

“The right or opportunity to address someone, implying higher status of the person addressed—‘approach, access”

I. Their Despair, Ep.2:11-13

III. Their Description, Ep.2:16,19-22

II. Their Deliverance, Ep.2:13-22

1. Body of Christ, 16

One body, from ‘both’ (14); new man, 151. What? Reconcile 2. Who? Both (18)3. How? Cross4. Where? One body (1:22-23). Ac.20:28

(Turn from hostilityto friendship)

Reconciliation in Christ (2 Co.5:19)

Reconciliation in one body (Ep.2:16)

In ChristEvery

spiritual blessing

(1:3)

In one body

Baptized into, Ga.3:27Saved added, Ac.2:47Added to Lord, Ac.11:24

2. Kingdom of God, 19

Christ is King; we are fellow citizens Israel of God, Ga.6:16

Roman Empire, at peak of its glory Greatest kingdom: Theocracy. Dn.2

Ex.19:6Israel

1 Pt.2:9Church

3. Family of God, 19

Household (Ga.6:10; 1 Tim.5:8) Adopted, 1:5 Father, 3:14-15; 4:6

4. Temple of God, 20-22

1. Foundation, Is.28:16; 1 Co.3:10-11

2. Apostles and prophets (3:5). Ac.2:42

3. Cornerstone –

a. Joins together two sides

b. Determines direction of walls; line up

c. Being built upon. 1 Pt.2:4-8.

4. Holy. Not in Jerusalem… (Ac.7:48-50)

5. Dwelling place of Godhead

Other temples are gone

Christless In Christ, 13Stateless Wall down, 14;

Access, 18Homeless Fellow citizens, 19;

one body, 16Godless Reconciled;

no enmity, 16Hopeless Peace, 14-17