Ephesians Chapter 2:11 to 3:13
This week Paul discusses the nature of the Church as a union of Gentiles and Jews.
Ephesians 2:11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men) — remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
If you see a “therefore” find out what it is there for. Because of the Grace of God that saved you and leads you to obey Him in God works … remember that …
The flesh ruled in your life and you were not a bar mitzvah; a Son of the Law. Before Christ then your position was separated from Israel which was to be sanctified and set apart for God. You were excluded because you didn’t obey the law so you couldn’t be a citizen of Israel or enjoy the promises God gave in His covenant. So you were without hope and without God in the world.
You can forget your failures. God tells us to forget those things that are behind and press on for the mark that he calls us to. However, He has commanded you to remember where you came from. Don’t have an elevated opinion of your origin. Don’t, “get above your raise’n” You were separated, excluded, foreign to the promises, without hope, and without God when He intervened. If you forget what God told you to remember then you’ll underestimate the Grace that saved you.
I think we forget sometimes that we as Gentiles are joined to the Jewish remnant and become one with the Jewish remnant in Christ’s body. The pattern of Grace was clear in the Old Testament as God by Grace saved Israel and kept Israel. It was by Grace also that He added us to Israel. His will His glory.
It is certainly an irritation to other nations for Israel to say that they are God’s chosen people. Well they were. They were chosen by Grace. You are chosen by Grace. God always told them that it was His Grace (undeserved blessing) that they were chosen and He tells us the same thing. He didn’t choose me because I was special in any way. He chose me because He has a plan. I am His possession.
Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
This was written to the Gentiles and Paul is constantly seeking to explain to them (an us) where we were and what God did to change or status. He set aside the Law for righteousness sake and joined Jew and Gentile in one body.
Stott describes the wall that separated the court of the Gentiles from the Temple. The penalty was death for trying to sneak into the temple. Paul nearly got killed because it looked like he brought at gentile into the temple. God has eliminated the barrier between us and Him. God has eliminated the barrier between us and Israel. We are in now. Not only did the Cross eliminate the barrier (that the old temple wall was a symbol of) but we are full members by His Grace.
The wall was physically destroyed about AD 70 when the Romans invaded. So while Paul was writing this the wall still existed. From about AD 30 to AD 70 the wall was obsolete. What it stood for had been destroyed by the work of Jesus on the Cross.
Ephesians 2:17-22 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
I was living in Eastern Oregon for a while and it is a part of the US with a significant Mormon population. In rural areas in particular the network of relationships has a significant effect on finances and how you get things done. Once I was with a Christian co-worker and we were discussing some project and which vendors would be used. The two guys were talking to knew that my coworker was not a Mormon and apparently they had figured out I wasn’t because they said, “Well you two are just Gentiles anyway” joking that we wouldn’t get to specify the vendor. We really could have but the politics was generally present anyway. I had a really negative reaction to that and told them that, “No I was not a Gentile that the Mormons were gentiles.” I made it clear that I didn’t like being called a gentile. So they quit calling me a gentile.
As part of the Body of Christ I am a part of Israel by Christ’s work and I’m not giving that up. I’m part of His household. It is better than just citizenship and a source of praise and worship as He dwells in us by His Spirit. The foundation that we are built upon is a rich foundation. Jesus is the chief cornerstone with a foundation of apostles and prophets. In a very practical way this means that we are built upon the scriptures.
This mystery was the union of Jew and Gentile to make a new Israel. The Jews were OK with God working with gentiles as long as they didn’t have to associate with them. Well God intended that we would be one body. The Jews didn’t like that. I don’t blame them and Paul was persecuted for that.
Ephesiand 3:1-6 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Where is God’s Israel? You’re looking at part of it. And the black Zulu’s I spent Easter with one year are Israel and many Jew’s are Israel but they are not all Israel that are called Israel. Do we have no interest in the Nation of Israel? No because we expect that God will move there too the way He moved in our hearts. However, don’t let anyone call you a gentile because, if you are a believer, you’re not and it was bought at a great price.
Ephesians 3:7-9 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Remembering Paul’s conversion this has to rate as a significant understatement. It was some gift and certainly the working of His power. Knocked down, yelled at, and blinded is here described as a gift of God’s Grace and so it is. My conversion was less dramatic but no less an act of God’s Grace. Paul to the Jews wouldn’t have been half the demonstration of God’s grace as sending him to the gentiles. He would have leaned on his own understanding if sent to the Jews but when sent to the gentiles he had to depend on God and His grace.
Ephesians 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
It is truly amazing when you pray and as we obey God that the manifold wisdom of God is made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. This is part of His eternal purpose. The way in which Paul was spent for the Gentiles is God’s blessing and their glory. When you see a person spent in service for you, like Stewart, it is your glory. It is God saying, “My will is going to be accomplished in your life and I’ll spend my servants for you.” Remember when those God is using in your life are under attack … it is for you. Don’t be a soldier who hides behind a bush and just says, “man he should have kept his head down that is really ugly.” Pray for those who God is using in your life that the enemy of your soul would not destroy them.
Coram Deo
You are a member of the Body of Christ. Remember what God tells you to remember and praise Him for the Grace manifested in making you part of His household.
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