August 2, 2022
Ephesians 2:11-16 (HCSB)
Unity in Christ
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.
Trey Manor
Paul opens by asking the Ephesians to remember their condition as unsaved Gentiles. He reminds them of the time when they were separate from God and the Jews looked down on them. He does this to call attention again to God’s grace and the measure to which God has elevated and redeemed the Ephesians. Paul reminds them that prior to salvation they were separate from Christ with no way to save themselves, outside of God’s chosen people (the Israelites), unaware of God’s covenants, and without hope of salvation. “But now in Christ Jesus” the Gentiles are brought near, made God’s chosen people, educated, and included in the covenant, and full of hope due to salvation. What a change! Through Christ’s sacrifice, He reconciled Jew and Gentile, breaking down the wall separating Jew and Gentile - the ceremonial law. When Christ fulfilled the law, He removed the barrier between Jew and Gentile. Removing this wall that separated the two people, Jesus made one united church. Christ made peace between the two groups when He became the head of both of them. He joined them and brought them together with his sacrifice and then gave them a common goal: glorify Him.
HOW CAN I APPLY IT?
Unity in Christ
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.
Trey Manor
Paul opens by asking the Ephesians to remember their condition as unsaved Gentiles. He reminds them of the time when they were separate from God and the Jews looked down on them. He does this to call attention again to God’s grace and the measure to which God has elevated and redeemed the Ephesians. Paul reminds them that prior to salvation they were separate from Christ with no way to save themselves, outside of God’s chosen people (the Israelites), unaware of God’s covenants, and without hope of salvation. “But now in Christ Jesus” the Gentiles are brought near, made God’s chosen people, educated, and included in the covenant, and full of hope due to salvation. What a change! Through Christ’s sacrifice, He reconciled Jew and Gentile, breaking down the wall separating Jew and Gentile - the ceremonial law. When Christ fulfilled the law, He removed the barrier between Jew and Gentile. Removing this wall that separated the two people, Jesus made one united church. Christ made peace between the two groups when He became the head of both of them. He joined them and brought them together with his sacrifice and then gave them a common goal: glorify Him.
HOW CAN I APPLY IT?
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