Ephesians 2:11-22

          To understand the point of this passage, keep in mind a couple of truths from Eph. 1.  In 1:10 Paul said that it was God’s will to gather together in one all things in Christ.  The mystery of His will is that He would do this through the Church, which is His (Christ’s) body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all (1:23).  All of this anticipates the bringing together of Jew and Gentile in the Church.  Eph. 2:11-22 shows that the work of God in 2:1-10 is extended to all.

          Paul’s application of the work of God to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews is again given in the form of a testimony, describing the Gentiles as they once were (vs11-13), how God worked in Christ to bring them to Himself (vs14-18), and what they have now become in Christ (vs19-22).

¨     The Gentiles before Christ, 2:11-13.

          Gentiles, called Uncircumcision by the Jews, were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel.  Though Israel was to be God’s witnesses to the world in the end the Jews separated themselves from the Gentiles.  Thus the Gentiles had no access to the covenants through Abraham and David wherein the Savior was promised.  They were without Christ, without hope, and without God.

¨     The provision of peace in Christ, 2:14-18.

          The Gentiles who were far off had now been brought near by the blood of Christ (v13).  In the temple area there was a wall that separated the court of the Gentiles (the outer court) from the middle court where Jews could go.  This wall was a symbol of the enmity between Jews and Gentiles.  The wall was there because the Old Testament law demanded separation in temple worship but it became a source of enmity whereby the Gentile was denied access to God who dwelt in the Holy of Holies of the temple.  

          What Christ did was to fulfill the law and it’s righteous demands through His perfect life.  Then by His death He abolished the dividing wall, giving all men access to God.  This was demonstrated powerfully when, at the very moment of Christ’s death, the veil that separated all men from the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom (Matt. 27:51).  Thus, in v17, the gospel was preached to those far off (Gentiles) and those near (Jews).  All men now could have access to the Father.

¨     The Gentiles after Christ, 2:19-22.

          The Ephesians, and all Gentiles, now need to know that in Christ their position has changed.  They are no longer far away.  They are fellow citizens with Jewish believers in one nation.  They belong to one household of God.  All are part of the holy, spiritual temple that is being built of which Christ is the chief cornerstone and the apostles and prophets are the foundation.  

          This is the mystery of God’s will (Eph. 1:9); He has brought together all believers in Christ.  And He continues building this temple until the day comes when people of every nation, tribe, people-group and language proclaim, Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Rv. 7:9f).