Isn’t it lovely to have a place where you belong? Ah, what a
peaceful state that is. Paul shares in Ephesians 2:11-22 how it is possible to
belong to a new administration: the unity of Jews and Gentiles. In Day 1’s homework,
we were reminded that a Gentile is “a person who belongs to a nation other than
Israel”.
Day 1: Before &
After
The New Inductive Study Bible defines a metaphor as “an
implied comparison between two different things”.
What were some of the
metaphors you observed in Ephesians 2?
·
Uncircumcision vs Circumcision (11)
·
Strangers to the covenants of promise vs. the
commonwealth of Israel (12)
·
Those who were far away vs. those who are near
(17)
·
Strangers and aliens vs. fellow citizens with
the saints (19)
Everyone loves before and after pictures! You know those
makeover shows where they show you the amazing transformation after they tried
a brand of makeup, lost weight or a new clothes/hairstyle. Oh such fun! Well,
the truth is, we have great before and after pictures of our lives already if
we have trusted Christ. Paul lays out a verbal picture of who were were before
Christ and who we are after Christ.
Who we were before Christ
|
Who we are after Christ
|
Chart [38] [41] [46-47]
|
Redemption [21]
through His blood(1:7)
of God’s own possession (1:14)
|
Eph 2:1-19 [Chart 41] Eph 2:11-22 {Chart
46}
|
Forgiveness of our trespasses
|
Titus 3:1-8 [Chart 41]
|
He made known to us the mystery of His will
|
John 8:34
|
To obtain an inheritance (1:11)
|
Romans 6:16-23
|
Sealed with the H.S. of promise (1:13) as a
pledge of our inheritance (1:25)
|
Dead in trespasses and sins (2:1,5)
|
Made us alive together with Christ (2:5)
|
Walked according to the course of this
world (2:2)
|
Raised us up with Him (2:6)
|
Controlled by prince of the power of the
air (2:2)
{41-43}
|
Seated us in the heavenly places in C.J.
(2:6)
|
Sons of disobedience (2:2)
|
Not of yourselves, it is a gift of God’s
grace (2:5,8)
*our predestination, redemption, salvation,
adoption as sons are all gifts of God’s grace.
|
Lived in the lusts of our flesh (2:3)
|
Not a result of works (2:9)
|
Indulging the desires of the flesh and of
the mind (2:3)
|
We are His workmanship (2:10)
|
By nature children of wrath (2:3)
|
Predestined us to adoption as sons
Predestined to good works (2:10)
|
Separate from Christ (2:12)
|
Brought near by the blood of Christ
(2:13,17)
|
Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel
(2:12)
|
Access in one Spirit to the Father (2:18)
|
Strangers to the covenants of promise
(2:12)
|
Fellow citizens with the saints (2:19)
|
Having no hope (2:12)
|
Of God’s household (2:19)
|
Without God in the world (2:12)
|
Growing into a holy temple in the Lord
(2:21)
|
Far away (2:17)
|
Being built into a dwelling of God in the
Spirit (2:22)
I Peter 2:4-10 [57]
|
strangers and aliens (2:19)
|
Titus 3:5-7
I Cor. 6:19-20
I Jn. 3:1-3
I Cor. 15:50-54 [27]
I Thess 5:23-24 [34]
Chart [38]
|
|
Reconciliation [53]
Rom. 5:6-10
|
Memory Verse: Ephesians 2:14-15
Day 2: Remember
Gentiles,
remember that you were:
·
Once separate from Christ
·
Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel
·
Strangers to the covenants of promise
·
Having no hope
·
Without God in the world
What did you learn
from marking covenant and circumcision in Genesis 17?
·
Promise: multitude of nations
·
Name change
·
Promise: land
·
Circumcision: A permanent sign of the covenant.
No going back!
·
Servants were included in the covenant
Rom.
9:30-33: Passive Righteousness
Jews vs.
Gentiles
Works vs.
Grace
Day 3: Covenant
Chart:
Abrahamic
New
Davidic
Day 4: Christ
(12) The Uncircumcision were separated from
Christ
(13) now, in CJ, you who were far off are near
by the blood of Christ
(14) He is our peace
made both groups into one
broke down the barrier wall
(15) He abolished the enmity in His flesh
made the two into one, establishing
peace
(16) He reconciled them both in one body to God
through the cross
(17) He preached peace to you who were far away
those
who were near
(18) through Him, we both have access in one
Spirit to the Father
(20) CJ is the cornerstone of God’s household
2:21 the whole building is growing into a holy
temple in the Lord
abolishing (Ephesians 2:15, having abolished [KJV]) #2673:
katargeo
·
He rendered the Law of commandments to no longer
have efficiency, force, influence or power. He put an end to them and made them
completely inactive.
new
(Eph. 2:15) #2537: kainos
·
He did something unheard of!
What caused enmity between the two?
Acts 11:1-18
Circumcised
vs. Uncircumcised
They were
harassing Peter about eating with the uncircumcised. Peter explains his vision
(sheet and animals)- the three men coming to his house- the man who saw an
angel who told him about Peter- Peter preaching and the HS baptizing the
Gentiles. When the Jews heard this, they fell silent and worshiped God.
Colossians
2:16-17
Let no one
pass judgment on you regarding food, drink and festivals. These are a shadow of
things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.
How was the enmity between Jew and Gentile
abolished?
Through the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
Peace
(14) Christ is our peace
(15) Christ established peace by abolishing the
Law
(17) Christ preached peace to the Jews and
Gentiles
Isaiah 9:6-7 Prince of Peace: His peace will never end
Reconciliation
He
reconciled completely so as to remove all brotherly hatred and leave no
impediment to unity and peace.
enmity #2189: echtra
reconcile
#2644: katallasso
·
While we were enemies to God, we were brought
back to a complete state of harmony by the death of Jesus Christ. Now that we are
restored, how much more shall we be saved through His life?
Colossians 1:18-23
·
In Christ, all things are reconciled to Himself
§
In Heaven and on earth
§
Making peace by the blood of His cross
§
He reconciled all who were once alienated and
hostile in mind, doing evil deeds
·
In His body of flesh/ by His death
·
In order to present you holy and blameless above
reproach before Him
II Corinthians
5:17-21
§
All reconciliation is from God!
§
God reconciled us to Himself through Christ
§
God have us the ministry of reconciliation?
§
God has committed to us the word of
reconciliation
§
God did not count our trespasses against us
§
As ambassadors of Christ, we beg you to be
reconciled to God
How are we reconciled to God? Through the death of JC
What are you to do according to II Cor 5:18-21?
Day 5: Cornerstone
What did you observe
about the building?
1. a stone uniting
two masonry walls at an intersection.
2. a stone representing
the nominal starting place in the
construction of a monumental building,
usually carved with the date and laid with appropriate ceremonies.
3. something that is
essential, indispensable, or basic: The cornerstone of democratic government
is a free press.
4. the chief foundation on which something
is constructed or developed: The cornerstone of his
argument was that all people are created equal.
Insights:
Ephesians
2:20, “having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ
Jesus Himself being the corner stone,”
Psalm 118:22 The
stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone
Isaiah 8:13-15 He will be a stone of offense
A
rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel
Many shall
stumble on it
Isaiah 28:16 I am the one who has laid as a
foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, precious cornerstone, of a sure
foundation
Matthew
21:42-44 this was the Lord’s doing
The one who
falls on this stone will be broken to pieces
When it
falls on anyone, it will crush him
Acts 4:8-12 This man was healed by the name
of Jesus
Jesus is the stone that you, the
builders, rejected and has become the cornerstone.
There is
salvation in no one else!
Romans 9:30-33 The Jews who tried to obtain
righteousness by works, stumbled over the stumbling stone.
I Peter 2:4-10
The Stone
|
The Recipients
|
Living stone rejected by men
|
Also called living stones
|
Builders rejected
|
Being built up into a spiritual house
|
Choice and precious stone in God’s sight
|
Built up for a holy priesthood to offer up
spiritual sacrifices
|
In Zion, is laid a choice stone: a precious
cornerstone
|
This value is for you who believe
|
The stone the builders rejected became the
very cornerstone of stumbling and a rock of offense to those who disbelieve
|
A chosen race
A royal priesthood
A holy nation
A people for God's own possession
|
|
That you may proclaim His excellencies
|
|
Called out of darkness into His light
|
|
You were once not a people now you are the
people of God
|
|
You had not received mercy, but now you
have
|
What came after the foundation built on the apostles and
prophets? God’s household (Eph 1:22-23)
Fitted
together (Ephesians 2:21) #4883: synarmologeo
Since it is
in present tense (meaning continuous action) we know that the house is in
process. We are not a finished state yet.
What role does the
Spirit play in what you’ve studied this week?
Sealed with
the Holy Spirit
Being built
together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit
It is
through the Holy Spirit that I am continuing to grow and be built
Application
