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EPHESIANS 2:11-22
Lesson #07
CONDITIONS OF THE GENTILES
- Memory verse: Ephesians 2:13
- In the first 10 verses of Eph 2, Paul covers the salvation of sinners in general. Now he talks about the salvation of the Gentiles specifically. The Ephesian church consisted mostly of Gentiles.
- Read Eph 2:11-12 Separation
- From the time of Abraham God began to make a difference between the Gentiles and the Jews. Prior to Abraham man continually neglected God and turned against Him. Therefore, God decided to separate a group of people through which He could work. They became the Jews.
- The Jews were chosen by God for a purpose:
- =1= They had the responsibility to witness for God among the pagan nations (Deu 6:4 1Sam 43:10-12)
- =2= They had the responsibility to illustrate the blessedness of serving God. (Deu 33: 26-29 1Chr 17:20-21 Psa 144:15)
- =3= They had the responsibility to receive, preserve, and transmit the scriptures (Deu 4:5-8 Rom 3:1-2)
- =4= They had the responsibility to be the human blood line of the Messiah (Gen 3:15;12:3 2Sam 7:12-16 1Sam 7:14:9:6 Mat 1:1 Rom 1:3)
- God told the Jews to be separate from the Gentiles. He meant morally and spiritually.
- Unfortunately, they kept the separation nationally and ritually,
- But they did not keep it morally and spiritually.
- The Jews were chosen by God for a purpose:
- A description of the Gentiles:
- Gentiles were without Christ:
- The Jews failed to bring the light to the Gentiles and therefore failed to receive Christ when He came.
- Therefore, the Gentiles were lost in darkness. Remember the Ephesians worshiped the goddess Diana.
- Gentiles were without citizenship:
- The Jews had a nation of people called Israel, but the Gentiles had no earthly citizenship in a nation created by God.
- And because they did not know Christ, they had no citizenship in heaven.
- Gentiles were without a covenant:
- God had made many covenants with Israel,
- God made no covenants directly with the Gentiles.
- Gentiles were without hope:
- Philosophies and traditions of men were empty and meaningless.
- Therefore, the Gentile people were without hope of eternal salvation.
- Gentiles were without God:
- Because of all the foregoing conditions, the people did not know God.
- They were distanced from Him because of sin.
- Gentiles were without Christ:
- From the time of Abraham God began to make a difference between the Gentiles and the Jews. Prior to Abraham man continually neglected God and turned against Him. Therefore, God decided to separate a group of people through which He could work. They became the Jews.
- Read Eph 2:13-18 Reconciliation
- The word, reconcile, means “to bring together in peace”.
- The two fold reconciliation of Christ:
- =1= Jesus Christ reconciled all men to God at the Crucifixion.
- Anyone (Jew or Gentile) who believes that Jesus died for his sins on the cross, repents, and receives Him into his heart is reconciled to God.
- In other words he now has peace with God.
- =2= Jesus Christ reconciled Jew to Gentile.
- In the Jewish temple there was a wall that separated the court of the Gentiles from the rest of the temple. The inscription on Herod’s temple read:
- “No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.”
- =1= Jesus Christ reconciled all men to God at the Crucifixion.
- Once Christ came, there was to be no more difference between Jews and Gentiles. God does not show partiality. While He separated the Jews at the beginning for a purpose, that purpose was fulfilled when Christ came.
- Therefore, there is no longer a purpose to the separation between Jews and Gentiles.
- Today that separation is perpetuated by hatred and misunderstanding.
- The early church in the book of Acts struggled with this issue. There were some early Jewish Christians who thought the Gentiles must first become Jewish proselytes before they could become Christians.
- Acts 15 settled that issue.
- We are all saved by faith.
- Therefore, there is no longer a purpose to the separation between Jews and Gentiles.
- The contrast of the old position and the new position of the Gentiles:
| Old position: Eph 2:12 | New position: |
| Without Christ Aliens Strangers No hope Without God |
In Christ (Eph 2:13) A holy nation (1Pe 2:9) No more strangers (Eph 2:19) Called in one hope (Eph 4:4) The God and father of us all (Eph 4:6) |
- Read Eph 2:19-22 Unification
- Paul gives three illustrations that demonstrate the unity of believing Jews and Gentiles:
- =1= One nation (2:19)
- Israel was God’s chosen nation, but they rejected Christ. Therefore, the church is God’s new nation of believers. Read 1Pe 2:9
- Incidentally we have some of the same responsibilities as Israel did in the Old Testament.
- -1- We have the responsibility to witness For God among the heathen nations.
- -2- We have the responsibility to illustrate the blessedness of serving God.
- -3- We have the responsibility to receive, preserve, and transmit the scriptures.
- =2= One family (2:19)
- Faith in Christ causes us to be part of one family of believers where we have one Father, God, and one temple (2:20-22)
- In Genesis, God walked with people (Gen 5:22,24). However, the people did not stay true to God.
- In Exodus, God decided to get more personal and dwell in the tabernacle. (Exo 40:34-38) Still the people were unfaithful and the glory of God departed from the tabernacle (1Sam 4).
- Under King Solomon, God dwelt with the people in a beautiful new temple. (1Ki 8:1-11) However, sin caused the glory to depart in Eze 10:18-19.
- In the Gospels, the glory of God dwelt in Jesus Christ. (Joh 1;14) However, man killed Him.
- Today, God’s presence dwells within the New Testament believer (1Co 6:19-20) and in the church collectively (Eph 2:20-22)
- The building blocks of this new nation, family, and temple:
- -1- Jews and Gentiles saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (2:18)
- Believers become the building blocks of God.
- As He places us in His family to become a new nation; we possess the in-dwelling Holy Spirit inside the temple of our bodies.
- 2. The foundation of the apostles and prophets: (2:19)
- This refers to the unity of the message in the Old Testament with that of the New Testament.
- All of the Old Testament points to Jesus Christ in the New Testament of which the prophets prophesied and the apostles spoke and testified.
- -1- Jews and Gentiles saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. (2:18)
- Faith in Christ causes us to be part of one family of believers where we have one Father, God, and one temple (2:20-22)
- =3= Christ the corner stone (2:19)
- (1Co 3:11 (1Pe 2:5-8)
- No building is foundationally sturdy without a True cornerstone by which everything is squared.
- =1= One nation (2:19)
- Gods purpose is always reconciliation and unification.
- Paul gives three illustrations that demonstrate the unity of believing Jews and Gentiles:
HOMEWORK
EPH 3:1-13
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework to the teacher for correction.
- Application of Eph 2:11-22
- Do you know someone today who is without Christ, without citizenship, without a covenant, without hope, and without God? Write the person’s name here.
- Pray for this person every day this week to find Jesus as his personal savior.
- We learned in this past lesson that we have certain responsibilities:
- -1- We have the responsibility to witness for God among the heathen nations.
- -2- We have the responsibility to illustrate the blessedness of serving God
- -3- . We have the responsibility to receive, preserve, and transmit the scriptures
- How well are you fulfilling your responsibilities?
- How can you improve?
- Preparation for Eph 3:1-13
- Read Eph 3:1-13
- Explain in your own words the great mystery Paul talks about in these verses.
- Memory verse: 1Cor 12:13
- Read Eph 3:1-13
