July 11, 2021
Ephesians 2:11-22
Reconciled: Brought Near by the Blood of Jesus
Recap of Ephesians Chapter 2:1-10
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions— following the ways of this world … gratifying the cravings of our flesh… we were deserving of wrath— it is by grace you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ …by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
*Ephesians 2:11-12
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— 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. *
The best way to appreciate where you are, is to look back and remember where you were.
Mankind was made for relationship with God. Sin created a division, a separation.
God has a plan. His name is Jesus
*Ephesians 2:13
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. *
**
The blood of Christ sealed a new covenant between us and God.
*Salvation and forgiveness are yours when you call on Him by faith.***
*Ephesians 2:14-16
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and
has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances,
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. *
Differences cause the temptation of self-righteousness - the thinking that you are better than them.
*Where there is self-righteousness, there is distrust, resentment, and hostility.
Without Jesus, there is NO HOPE!
*
The world tries to reconcile the different groups so they can have peace and a relationship with each other. The Bible tells us we already have been reconciled in Jesus, so we can walk in that truth.
Jesus IS OUR PEACE.
*1- He has broken down the wall of separation between us.
We both need Jesus.*
*2- He abolished the law
Jesus fulfilled the law to abolish the law. *
3- He made one in place of two.
In one Spirit we were all baptized into one body – Jews or Greeks, slaves or free. (1 Corinthians 12)
4- He reconciled us to God in one body through the cross.
…they shall be my people…they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. (Hebrews 8:11)
**Ephesians Chapter 2:17-22
17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Do you see the progression from far to near? *
*
A building is closely held together.
• Each part is fastened tightly to the next.
• Each part has a role.
• Each part gets a makeover to perfectly fit together.
• Each part is related to the cornerstone.
*Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1:2)
When you believed God, you were made a fellow citizen with the saints and members of the household of God. Now brought near by the blood of Jesus.
Because of the grace of God, you’re a new creation and an important part of his Church.
*
Discussion Questions
1. Have you ever traveled out of the country? What did it feel like to be a stranger and a foreigner, compared to a fellow citizen at home?
Do you think that the blood of Jesus fully satisfied the price for your sin and reconciled you to God? Why or why not?
What is the difference between a “contract” and a “covenant”?
Read Psalm 139:14. How would you describe your “in-group” (the people you most identify with)?
Do you find yourself more comfortable, more patient, more willing to go out of your way, and having more grace for those people who are in your “in-group”? What do you have in common with those who are not in your “in-group”?
Read 1 Corinthians 12:12-27. Why do you think God made so much diversity in the people of the church?
Take a moment today and thank God for the blessings and advantages that you have.