A STUDY OF EPHESIANS
From Exclusion to Inclusion – 2:11-22
Thought Questions
1. Paul said in 2:1 “You were dead.” We tend to think
of ourselves as just needing a little help. How do
you see that difference?
2. Why was God rich in mercy? How does knowing
that affect the way you treat others?
3. Why do you think we talk about being raised with
Christ, but not much about being seated with him?
4. What thoughts come to you when you think about
being God’s workmanship?
1:9-10
God’s Intention
He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to
His kind intention which He purposed in Him 10 with a view
to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times,
bringing all things back together again in Christ, things
in the heavens and things on the earth.
• All things in heaven...
• The obstacle? – subjugating the powers
• The answer? – Christ’s ascension as head over all
• All things on earth...
• The obstacle? – Gentiles were separated
• The answer? – 2:11-22
2:18-19
Three Things to Understand
so that you will know
• what is the hope of His calling,
• what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance
in the saints,
• and what is the surpassing greatness of His power
toward us who believe.
Chapter 2 – Two Parallel Sections
How will they know those 3 things?
2:1-10
From Death to Life
2:11-22
From Excluded to
Included
Each section helps Gentile Christians know the
three things Paul prayed that they would know
2:11-22
From Excluded to Included
They were in a desperate situation – without God,
without hope, as excluded as one can possibly get.
They became fellow-citizens, members of God’s
household, a holy temple in the Lord.
• 2:11-13
• 2:14-18
• 2:19-22
The far away are brought near
How the cross brought them near
What this means to Gentiles
2:11
Contrast – in the flesh
Therefore remember that you formerly,
the Gentiles
in the flesh,
those called uncircumcision
by
those called circumcision
in the flesh, hand-made
• Paul is dealing with a practical problem – Gentile ethical
behavior!
• Translations may incorrectly insinuate a disparagement!
• The problem is a distinction in the flesh!
2:12
What Exclusion Meant
remember that you were at that time
• separate from the Messiah,
• excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and
• strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the world.
• The Jews did have a huge advantage (cf. Rom 3:1)
• This is not merely a separation from Jews.
• It is a separation from Christ, from the promises, from God.
2:13
From Far to Near
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them.“ – Isa 57:19
2:14-15a
Peace Needed
The Messiah
Separate
Citizenship in
Israel
Excluded
Covenants of
Promise
Strangers
Peace is getting rid of the things that kept them apart,
alienated them, and created hostility.
2:14-15a
Peace Brought
The Messiah
Separate  On the Cornerstone
Citizenship in
Israel
Excluded  Fellow Citizens
Covenants of
Promise
Strangers  God’s Household
Peace is getting rid of the things that kept them apart,
alienated them, and created hostility.
2:14-15a How Jesus Brought Peace
For He Himself is our peace,
having made both one and
having torn down the dividing wall, that is, the fence,
having nullified the hostility, in his flesh, the law of
commandments in decrees
This section is about peace. He uses peace 4x, along with
reconciled, made both one, one new man, access to the Father.
2:14
Having Made Both One
• There were two distinct groups – 2:12
• Gentile in the flesh
• Circumcision in the flesh
• One group is far. How does he bring them near?
• He makes the two one
• He brings all things back together again –
anakephalaiō – 1:10
2:14
Torn Down the Dividing Wall
Gentiles
• Separated
• Excluded
• Strangers
2:15a
The Hostility that Separates
having nullified the hostility, in his flesh, the law of
commandments in decrees
• The hostility or enmity was not personal animosity between
Jews and Gentiles
• It was the law of commandments in decrees that made them
separate, excluded, and strangers
• It is an odd phrase – what does it mean?
2:15
The Law Was Not Abolished
• Jesus did not come to abolish the law – Matt 5:17
• Paul supported the Law – Acts 24:14; 25:8; 28:17; Rom.
3:31; Rom. 7:12; Eph. 4-5
• The righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled
in us – Rom. 8:4-5
Acts 15 The Jerusalem Council
• Some Judeans – Unless you are circumcised you
cannot be saved.
• The Answer = NO. We are saved through the
grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they
also are.
Jews
Gentiles
{ Saved the Same Way
The dividing wall of commandments
in decrees was torn down.
2:15
Purpose 1: One New Man
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,
• To make sons of disobedience into children of wrath really
doesn’t solve the entire problem!
• To make both into one new man establishes peace
2:14-15a
Peace Needed
The Messiah
Separate
Citizenship in
Israel
Excluded
Covenants of
Promise
Strangers
Peace is getting rid of the things that kept them apart,
alienated them, and created hostility.
2:14-15a
Peace Brought
The Messiah
Separate  On the cornerstone
Citizenship in
Israel
Excluded  Fellow citizens
Covenants of
Promise
Strangers  God’s household
Peace is getting rid of the things that kept them apart,
alienated them, and created hostility.
2:15
One New Man
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,
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all
one in Christ Jesus. – Gal. 3:28
This is bringing all things back together again in
Christ...on earth, the anakephalaiōsis – 1:10
2:16
Purpose 2: Reconcile to God
and might reconcile them both in one body to God
through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
2:17
Peace to Those Far and Near
And he came and preached peace to you who were far
away, and peace to those who were near;
Peace, peace, to those far and near," says
the LORD. "And I will heal them.“ – Isa. 57:18
2:18
Access Through One Spirit
for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to
the Father.
• The original difference in the flesh back in 2:11:
• The two have been made into one new man!
• The two have been reconciled in one body to God
• The two have access in one Spirit to the Father
2:19
Fellow-citizens and Family
you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded
from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the
covenants of promise – 2:12
then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are
fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's
household,
2:20-22 Part of the Inner Sanctuary
Built on the foundation...Jesus..being the corner
A holy temple in the Lord
A dwelling of God in the Spirit
You have become part of the
formerly off-limits building!
Conclusion
• Gentiles were not raised to walk holy and blameless
• They were raised in religion as a ritual
• Now they’re in the family and need to learn
• How to live as part of it.
• How to walk worthy of that calling.
• They went from dead to alive; from excluded
to included.
Assignments
1. Read Ephesians 2 again.
1. Meditate on your own transition from death to
life. On what it means for you to be seated with
Christ.
2. Read Ephesians 3 again.
1. Meditate on how your own life has gone from
exclusion to inclusion.
2. Think about what practical difference that made
for you.
3. Pray Paul’s prayers daily.
A STUDY OF EPHESIANS
From Exclusion to Inclusion – 2:11-22
© 2015 Dale A. Lundy
For information contact Dale.Lundy@gmail.com
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