Ephesians 2:11-22 (Part 2)

I. Being apart from Christ results in alienation.
a. They were without Christ.
b. They were outside of God’s community.
c. They had no relation to the covenant promises.
d. They were without hope.
e. They had no relationship with God.


II. Being in Christ results in unity.

a. Christ is our peace, breaking down all barriers.
-barrier = phragmos = fence, wall, hedge;
-dividing wall = mesotoichon = wall that separates one area from another.

i. Abolishing the enmity caused by the ordinances.
-Rom. 3:31
-abolished = katargeo = nulligy, invalidate, make of no effect.
-What has been abolished?
1) The ceremonial law
-MacArthur "The feasts, sacrifices, offerings, laws of cleanliness and purification, and all other such distinctive outward commandments for the unique separation of Israel from the nations were abolished."
2) The law as a code
-F.F. Bruce "It is not the law as a revelation of the character and will of God that has been done away with in Christ…But the law as a written code, threatening death instead of imparting life, is done away with in Christ, as Paul argues in II Cor. 3:6-15.”
-ordinances = dogma = rule, regulation, decree, law

ii. Making one body through reconciliation.
-Kent Hughes "Jesus didn't Christianize the Jews or Judaize the Gentiles. He didn't create a half-breed. He made an entirely new man."
-reconciling = apokatalasso = to exchange, to change, turn from hostile to friend.

b. All in Christ are given access to the Father.
-access = prosagoge = freedom to enter, entrance, access
-2 Cor. 5:17-21