The Transition of the Gentiles to a Life in Christ: Separated,

Reconciled, and Unified

A Look at Eph 2:11-22

Introduction

In the first 10 verses of chapter 2 Paul discusses the salvation of sinners in general

Paul is now focusing on the work of Christ for the Gentiles

This morning we will focus on the three key concepts of:Separation (vs 11-12)Reconciliation (vs 13-18)Unification (vs 19-22)

Separated: what the Gentiles were (vs 11-12) From the moment God called Abraham, He made a

difference between the Jew and the Gentile This difference was not so Jews could boast but rather

that they might be a blessing and help to the Gentiles God’s intent was to separate out the Jews that they may

be used a channel of revelation and goodness to all (even heathen) nations

Sadly, Israel kept the difference nationally and ritually, but not morally Israel became like the lost nations around her God often had to discipline the Jews for not maintaining

a spiritual separation and ministering to the other nations in the name of the one true God

Separated: what the Gentiles were (vs 11-12) One word that described the Gentiles: Without…they were “outside” in

several respects

Without Christ

The Ephesians worshipped the Goddess Diana before the coming of the Gospel and really knew nothing of Christ

Paul describes this situation as, “Having no hope and without God in the world”

Important note: Every unsaved person, Jew or Gentile, is “Outside Christ” and that means living in condemnation

Without citizenship

God called the Jews and built them into His nation

He gave them His laws and His blessings

A Gentile could enter the nation as a proselyte, but he was not born into this very special nation

Israel was God’s nation in a way that was not true of any Gentile nation

Separated: what the Gentiles were (vs 11-12) One word that described the Gentiles: Without…they were “outside”

in several respects

Without Hope

Historians speak of a great cloud of hopelessness covering the ancient world

Philosophies were empty, traditions were disappearing, religions were unable to help men face life or death

People were in search for a message of hope but could not find one (1 Thes 4:13-18)

Without God

The Gentile nations had plenty of “gods” (Acts 17:16-23; 1 Cor 8:5)

The issue was they lacked the one true God

Psalm 115 offers a contrast between the one true God and various false “gods”

Separated: what the Gentiles were (vs 11-12) God called the Jews, beginning with Abraham, that through

them He might reveal Himself as the one true God

God gave us His Son, our Savior, through the Jews (Rom 9:1-5)

Israel was to be a light to the Gentiles that they too be saved

Sadly, Israel became like the Gentiles causing their light to burn dimly

This truth should be a warning to the Church today

When the Church becomes just like the world, its light burns dimly or is snuffed out and does not help the world

When the Church becomes less like the world, its light burns brightly and it does most to help the world

Reconciled: What was done for the Gentiles (vs 13-18) The term “reconcile” means: to bring together again

The “But now” parallels the “But God” in 2:4

Both speak of the gracious intervention of God on behalf of lost sinners

Enmity is the key word of this section and involves both the enmity between Jews and Gentiles (vs 13-15), and between sinners and God (vs 16-18)

Enmity between Jews and Gentiles

God has put a difference between Jews and Gentiles that His purposes in salvation might be accomplished

Once these were accomplished, there was no more difference…It was God’s purpose that these differences be erased forever and they were through the work of Christ

Reconciled: What was done for the Gentiles (vs 13-18) Enmity is the key word of this section and involves both the enmity

between Jews and Gentiles (vs 13-15), and between sinners and God (vs 16-18)

Enmity between Jews and Gentiles

In Christ Jew and Gentile became one

Through the blood of Christ the far off Gentile is made near

Enmity between sinners and God

Not only did the Gentiles need to be reconciled to the Jews, but both Jew and Gentile needed to be reconciled to God

This is the conclusion that was reached at the Jerusalem Conference (Acts 15)

It was not a question of a Gentile becoming a Jew to become a Christian, but the Jew admitting he was a sinner just like the Gentile (Rom 3:22-23)

United: What Jews and Gentiles are in Christ (vs 2:19-22) In the closing verses of this chapter Paul gives three pictures that

illustrate the unity of believing Jews and Gentiles in the Church

One nation (vs 19a)

Israel was God’s chosen nation but they rejected their Redeemer and suffered the consequences

The Kingdom was taken from them and given to, “A nation bearing the fruits of it” (Mt 21:43)

This new nation is described in 1 Pet 2:9

All believers, regardless of national background, belong to this new nation with citizenship in Heaven (Phil 3:20-21)

One family (vs 19b)

Through faith and obedience to Christ we enter into God’s family, and God becomes our Father

We are all brothers and sisters in the one family, no matter what racial, national, or physical conditions we may possess

United: What Jews and Gentiles are in Christ (vs 2:19-22) In the closing verses of this chapter Paul gives three pictures that illustrate the unity of

believing Jews and Gentiles in the Church

One temple (vs 20-22)

In the book of Genesis, God “Walked” with His people (Gen 5:22, 24; 6:9)

In Exodus God is said to “Dwell” with His people (25:8)

God dwelt in the Tabernacle (Ex 40:34-38) until Israel’s sin caused, “the glory to depart” (1 Sam 4)

God then dwelt in the temple (1 Kngs 8:1-11) but Israel once again sinned and the glory departed (Ezek 10:18-19)

Today God, though His Spirit, dwells in the hearts of men (1 Cor 6:19-20; Eph 2:20-22)

This reference to the temple would be meaningful to both Jews and Gentiles in the Ephesian Church

The Jews would think of Herod’s temple in Jerusalem

The Gentiles would think of the great temple of Diana

Both of these temples were destined to be destroyed, but the temple of Christ will last forever

Conclusion

Have you personally experienced the grace of God?

Are you spiritually dead?

Are you distant from God?

Have you trusted Christ and received the eternal life only He can give?

Jesus Christ died to make reconciliation possible…we must share this message with others

God has given to us, “The ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor 5:18)

We are His, “Ambassadors of peace” (2 Cor 5:20)

Our feet are to be, “Shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace” (Eph 6:15)

God has said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Mt 5:9)