ΠΡΟΣ ΕΦΕΣΙΟΥΣ

Ephesians 2:11-22

• "Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man,

•(Ephesians 2:11-22, NASB95)Ephesians 2:11-15, NASB95

Ephesians 2:15b-22, NASB95

• thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

Gentiles

• ἔθνος, ἐθνικός (→ Ἕλλην)

• Ethnos, from where we derive our word ethnic

• a similar word is Hellenistic

• in Hebrew ֹו�י� ’goy‘ ּג

• these were all the people that were not Jewish

Israel

• was chosen by God

• the name was given to Jacob

• meant to contend with God

• "He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” " (Genesis 32:28, NASB95)

Peace offering

• all offerings in the Ancient Near East were to feed the gods, as Bel and the Dragon

• only in Israel and in the peace offering was there fellowship with God, the participants could eat of the offering (Lev 7:16).

Fellowship

• Gentiles could not fellowship with Jews because they were unclean

• it was thought that Gentiles buried their children under their house, and anyone who walked across a grave was unclean

• to eat in the house of a Gentile, meant the Jew would be be defiled because of the dietary laws

"Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— " (2:11 NASB95)

• διό (dio): therefore, for this reason; a relatively emphatic marker of a result, usually denoting that the inference is self-evident

• circumcision was only for males

• it was practiced in other Semitic countries

• but only the Jews had infant circumcision

• circumcision was not practiced by the Greeks or Romans

"remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. “ (2:12)

• were the Jews in Christ?

• Romans 3:25-26, only in Christ was anyone justified

• Israel had the hope of the Messiah (Hoehner, 355)

• The Gentiles were not part of Israel

• The Gentiles had no covenant with God

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. " (2:13)

• the Jews were told to kill the Canaanites when they came into the Land after the Exodus including men, women and children as well as animals (Deut 7-19)

• This was because of their idolatries, the very snare that caused Israel to be expelled from the land

• Now we who were under sentence of death can be brought to Christ.

"For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, " (Ephesians 2:14, NASB95)

• the only peace we have comes from Christ• the Jews who were near to God have peace• and we, the Gentiles, who were far away have peace• .be complete, sound (šālēm) ָׁש� ֵל�ם• Derivative   ֵלֹו�ם .(šālôm) peace ָׁש�• Between the separation of the Court of the Gentiles from the

rest of the Temple precinct a sign read, “No Gentile 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.” (MacArthur, 76).

• The structure of the Greek words suggests that spiritual enmity between the Jews and Gentiles separated them. (BKC; Hoehner 371)

The Dividing Wall

In 1871 M. Clermont-Ganneau found one of the pillars mentioned in Antiquities 5:417/Jewish War 5:194 (cf. Acts 21:27ff). The inscription reads: “No man of another race is to enter within the fence an enclosure around the Temple. Whoever is caught will have only himself to thank for the death which follows.”

Ralph P. Martin, “Reconciliation And Unity In Ephesians” Review and Expositor, vnp.93.2.220-221, (Spr.,1996).

http://demo.lutherproductions.com/bibletutor/level1/program/start/books/grfx/wallruin.jpg

The Western Wall

"by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, “ (2:15)

• essentially the ceremonial law was abolished in His flesh

• 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. (MacArthur, 77)

• both Jew and Gentile are one under the headship of Christ

• Remember when Ephesians was written the Temple was still standing

"and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. "

• both Jew and Gentile are reconciled to God in Christ• there is only one means of salvation• the law is dead in regards to salvation• "having canceled out the certificate of debt

consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. " (Colossians 2:14, NASB95)

• but is the Law abolished by Christ?• "Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it

never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law." (Romans 3:31, NASB95; cf. Matt 5:17)

Application

• Gentiles had no hope of the ________.

• They had no _______ with God.

• Christ broke down the s______barrier between Jew and Gentile.

• If Christ is the one who now “sets us apart” makes us____, why would there need to be the ceremonial law?

Messiah

Covenant

piritual

holy

“And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; “ (2:17)

• we were far away from God, as those under the ban in the conquest of the land of Canaan

• peace only comes through Christ

• Believing Jews and Christians both have peace in Christ

"for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. “ (2:18)

• there is only one Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father (John 15:26)

• the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us (Rom 8:27)

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, “ (2:19)

• since we are reconciled in Christ

• share of the same Holy Spirit

• and approach the Father through the same Spirit

• therefore we are fellow citizens with believing Israel

"having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, “ (2:20)

• it is upon Christ the church is built (1 Cor 3:11)• and all those who profess faith in His Messiahship

(Matt 16:18)• we are all being built together as the temple of God

(1 Cor 3:16; 1 Pet 2:5)• the prophets are probably New Testament prophets

(Hoehner,2:20)

• "which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; " (Ephesians 3:5, NASB95)

"in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, “ (2:21)

• in Christ we are being built together

• "you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. " (1 Peter 2:5, NASB95)

"in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.“ (2:22)

• "Do you not know that you (pl) are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? " (1 Corinthians 3:16, NASB95)

• "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? " (1 Corinthians 6:19, NASB95)

How did Jews and Christians live together?• The Jerusalem Council proposed these restrictions on the Gentiles

Acts 15:20, 29; 21:25– πορνεία [porneia]- immorality not just fornication and

adultery which were clearly prohibited by the Jewish law.– The sacrifices in the temples were to idols, and such

practices bothered the conscience of many (1 Cor 8:9-10)– "For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out

the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. " (1 Peter 4:3, NASB95)

• Those who were Gentiles were not circumcised (Gal 2:3)• We who come into the church need not act like those of the world; our

idols should not be Britney Spears, Brad Pitt or even Clint Eastwood for that matter, but we should pursue Christ.

Summary

• Unity is the goal in Christ

• Racial or ethnic differences are not a barrier in Christ

• Christ sanctifies all races, there is no need for the ceremonial law.

• Christ establishes the Law in our hearts

• We should not live as the world

• 1 John 5:21

Next week Eph 3:1-7

• Readings– The Mystery of the Gospel Rom 11:25; 16:25; Eph 3:4, 9;

6:19; Col 1:26f; 4:3, what is the mystery Paul speaks of here?

– How could Gentiles be blessed before Christ? Lev 19:34, Deut 10:18-19, Jer 3:17

– Was there OT references to Christ and the Gospel? Psalm 22, 45