We have said that Eph. 2 is about God’s work of salvation. To me, the key to this chapter are the words once (2:2,3,11,13) and now (2:13). In the first half of the chapter (v1-10) the salvation is personal; in the latter half (2:11-22) it is salvation applied to the Gentiles.
Verse 11 defines a
Gentile: one who is a non-Jew in the flesh, in their natural place in the world. They were called “Uncircumcision” by the “Circumcision.” In other words, they were considered outside
God’s people by the Jews. In fact, Paul
describes their once position in v12: they were …
o
… without Christ.
o
… aliens from the state of Israel. (Aliens: those shut out from fellowship and
intimacy with others.)
o
… strangers of the covenant of promise. (Strangers: a foreigner, stranger.)
o
… having no hope.
o …
without God in the world.
Paul then interjects a wonderful statement
about the now position of these Gentiles to whom he is writing, Gentiles
who had believed in Christ (Eph. 1:13).
This is the second such statement in the chapter (cf. 2:4) and both should
lead us to a great hallelujah! You
who once were far off have been now brought near in Christ Jesus by
the blood of Christ. By His blood Christ
made peace, taking away the wall of separation between Jew and Gentiles and, in
Christ, making one new man of the two.
Jews are still Jews; Gentiles are still Gentiles; but in Christ there is
no division between the two. They have
been reconciled in one Body, the Body of Christ, the Church. Not only did Christ by His blood make peace;
He preached peace, Himself, and in His continuing words through the Apostles.
Paul uses various pictures of the Church. The Church is “one man” in Christ. Those in the Church are of equal and full
citizenship. Then he speaks of the
Church as a holy temple, a building where Jesus is the chief cornerstone and
the Apostles are the foundation. Verses
19-22 have several “building” terms: household (v19), build,
foundation, cornerstone (v20), building, being fitted together, temple
(v21), build together, dwelling place (v22).
The idea of the “cornerstone” is quite
interesting and encouraging. This stone had
hidden within it various papers, documents, treasures to be revealed at some
time in the future. What do we know of
Christ? He is the One in whom are
hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). For you died, and your life is hidden with
Christ in God (Col. 3:3). Oh the
joys of a relationship with God, no longer separated from Him but having been
brought near by the blood of Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment