(Eph 2:11-12) The need for the reconciliation of Gentile and Jew. Paul's theme in this chapter continues to be the glorious blessings of the saved \"in Christ,\" as contrasted with their former state of being without any hope whatever. Why not? The race riots which followed Rodney King’s arrest and beating by police in Los Angeles in 1992 produced burning, looting, and destruction. Like the section found in Ephesians 2:1-10 where he taught that we were once dead and God brought us to life. “For He Himself is our peace…” (2:14). Reconciliation is his theme. Make sure your trust is in Christ alone! The priests alone could perform the sacrifices and ceremonies. Second, God has called a new people to himself based on the promised new covenant. Ephesians 2:15 "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;" Christ forever broke down (the Greek aorist tense signifies completed action), every dividing wall by; “abolished in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances”. Good works won’t gain access to the holy God. Ephesians 1 – The Work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in God’s Eternal... Ephesians 3 – The Fellowship of the Mystery Epistles: Ephesians 2:11-22 – The Divine Reconciliation in Christ. What an indescribable privilege, to be able to come into the presence of the Father, through the Son, in dependence on the Holy Spirit! Ephesians 2 – God’s Way of Reconciliation A. Yet through Christ they have been "brought near" (Ephesians 2:13). III. So, as Paul writes, because Christ bore the curse of the law on the cross (Gal. f. What is the implication of the fifth in regards to salvation? a. What implications does this have for Christian unity. Peace with God comes only through the cross of Jesus Christ. Sunday, January 10, 2021. God created us to have close, personal relationships with Him and with one another. At the start of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians [note we did Ephesians 3:1-13 yesterday, and the start of chapter 2 the day before], Paul described the beauty and power of the gospel. v. 12e. Also. Copyright, Steven J. Cole, 2007, All Rights Reserved. The Reconciliation of Man to God & One Another . In: Ephesians. This chapter contains an account, I. Lesson objective: To understand that the former world was divided into two hostile groups of Jews and Gentiles. Print this “Remember you were formerly heathens, deemed ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘circumcised.’ However, this is merely a flesh mark made by human hands. Worship Service for Harpeth Baptist Church in Kingston Springs, TN. Also. We have to view any and all conflict through the lens of the person of Christ. Based on Ephesians 2:1-10, evangelicals often define the gospel with reference to our reconciliation to God (see esp. He is saying. Here Paul 1 focuses on the reconciliation of Jew and Gentile, which falls within God’s bigger move of reconciling humanity from sin and death to life. There are helpful walls, and there are harmful walls. After having dealt with individual salvation in the first 10 verses of this chapter, Paul begins to show his readers the results of that same salvation. Neville Chamberlain made that mistake with Hitler. Our word for “reconcile” in Ephesians 2:16 – (apokatallasso): reconcile completely Used 3x in NT (E2.16 + 2x in Col 1) Colossians 1:19-22 : For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile [ apokatallasso ] all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace [ eirēnopoieō ] through the blood of His cross. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (NASB: Lockman).