“Near and Far”
Pastor Jason West
June 1, 2025
I. Echoes of the
Ephesians 2:11 “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—”
A. Remember the Life We Left Behind
Ephesians 2:12 “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
1. Without
Ephesians 2:12a “remember that you were at that time separated from Christ”
2. Without
Ephesians 2:12b “… alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise”
3. Without
Ephesians 2:12c “… having no hope”
4. Without
Ephesians 2:12d “… and without God in the world.”
II. The Dawn of a New Day
Ephesians 2:13 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
A. Jesus as the
1. Breaking Down Walls of
Ephesians 2:14 “For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”
a. Abolishing the
(Matthew 5:17-18; Hebrews 10:12)
Ephesians 2:15a “by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances”
b. Fulfilling the
Romans 3:31 “Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
c. Teaching Us the
(Matthew 5:38-42)
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
2. Creating in Us a Brand-New
Ephesians 2:15b-16 “… that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”
B. Jesus
(Isaiah 9:6; 57:19; Luke 2:14; John 14:27)
Ephesians 2:17-18 “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”
III. A Future Filled With Hope
A. Now You Are Part of a
Ephesians 2:19a “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints”
B. Now You Are Part of a
Ephesians 2:19b “… and members of the household of God”
C. Now You Are Part of a
1. A Solid Foundation
Ephesians 2:20a “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets”
2. A Cornerstone
Ephesians 2:20b “Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone”
3. Living Stones
(1 Peter 2:4-5a)
Ephesians 2:21-22 “in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”