Unfathomable Grace

Ephesians 2:11–22

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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 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 15 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, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 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.

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Paul is writing to Gentile believers living in the region surrounding Ephesus. Several times in this letter, he reminds them of their former, shared, depraved, universal condition. He and they were …

• Dead men walking in trespasses and sins. (2:1-2)
• Followers of the world. (2:2)
• Followers of the devil who is presently at work in the sons of disobedience. (2:2)
• Living in the passions of their flesh. (2:3)
• Carrying out the desires of the body. (2:3)
• Carrying out the desires of the mind. (2:3)
• By nature children of wrath. (2:4)

In another section of his letter, he continues focusing on the former characteristics of his non-Jewish friends. They were …

• Gentiles in the flesh. (2:11)
• Called the “Uncircumcision Group” because they were uncircumcised. (2:11)
• Separated from Christ. (2:12)
• Alienated from the covenant community — the commonwealth of Israel — God’s chosen church. (2:12)
• Strangers to the covenant promises (Gospel) presented by God. (2:12)
• Without hope. (2:12)
• Without God. (2:12)
• Far off. (2:13)

However, God proves not to be interested in leaving Paul and his Ephesian friends in their alienated and hopeless condition. God goes to work. Certain depraved individuals are his “workmanship.” For them he exercises his mercy, love, grace, and kindness through the person and work of Jesus Christ. And now, Paul and his saved friends …

• Have been brought near to God. (2:13)
• Have been granted peace with God. (2:14)

They have peace with God. And, in addition, they have peace with God’s people. Yes, radical changes are true for those in Christ’s family. Paul and the Ephesians, Jews and Gentiles, those not far off and those far away, those morally reputable and those morally disreputable, they all need to recognize God has already …

• Made them one. (2:14)
• Broken down the dividing wall of hostility — the temple wall [and curtain] separating Jews from Gentiles. (2:14)
• Abolished the Jewish laws, commandments, and ordinances separating people groups. (2:15)
• Created in Christ one new man. (2:15)
• Made peace; killed the hostility (2:16)
• Reconciled them to himself in one body and preached the same peace to all — those far and near. (2:16-17)
• Granted to both the Holy Spirit. (2:18)
• Granted to both access to the Father. (2:18)

Therefore, these Ephesian, Gentile, far off, and formerly disreputable Christians, they need to know they are …

• No longer strangers. (2:19)
• No longer alienated aliens. (2:19)
• Fellow citizens with the saints. (2:19)
• Members of the household of God … (2:19-21)
• Built upon the apostles and prophets — teachings and writings. (2:19)
• Built upon the cornerstone or foundation stone of Jesus Christ. (2:20)
• Built together as a holy and ever-growing temple. (2:21)
• Built together by the Spirit as God’s dwelling place. (2:22)

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So, what does this mean for legalists?

For those who are religious and without Christ, you need to know you are still without hope. You may go to church, partake of the sacraments, do good works, abstain from this and that, and have moral respectability. You may be close because you hear God’s Gospel promises regularly, however, God is still at war with you, and that is because you are at war with God. Lost religious friend, peace is not yet your possession and hell awaits. Please give up your self-righteous efforts. Please place your full confidence in the workmanship of Jesus Christ. Your only hope is for him to grant you his goodness and find that he died for your badness.

For those who are in Christ and still struggling to earn his favor, stop the insanity. He has done all the necessary work. He is already your peace. His peace is your birthright. So today, despite your remaining sin, turn again and look into his eyes. Hear his Gospel words of promise and remember his sufficient work on your behalf. His peace is yours — whether you are experientially enjoying it or not. The wall of division has been completely broken down. Better than this, the curtain of division has been torn from top to bottom. You are his Holy of Holies. You are the place in which his Holy Spirit already dwells. Right now, you have full access to the Father. Why live as if you are still at war. Sinful Christian saint, enjoy your peace and draw near — very near — to him who loves you so.

What does this mean for dispensationalists?

For those who imagine one way of salvation for the Jew and another for the Gentile, you are mistaken. Christ is the only hope for those near and those far away. There is only one Gospel, and it applies to Jewish men like Adam, Abraham, and Paul. The same applies to Gentile women such as Rahab, Ruth, and the Samaritan Woman. Jesus is the only possible Savior of all Jews and Gentiles.

For those who see Jesus with two bodies — Israel and the Church — understanding this passage should put to bed your false ecclesiology and eschatology. Jesus has one kingdom, one flock, one vineyard, one household, one army, one body, one people, one holy nation, one church, and one bride. Being Jew or Greek no longer has any relevance. Jesus prayed and prays that his church might be one. Friends, let’s cast aside such odd dispensational views and enjoy being the “Israel of God.”

What does this mean for racists?

The cross reverses the curse of Babel. The body of Christ is made up of men and women from every ethnicity, contentment, color, and cast. The church in heaven is proving to be Christ’s multi-cultural melting pot. Let us believe, enjoy, proclaim, and present the unified body of Christ.

What does this mean for denominationalists?

Some might wax eloquent on the good purpose of denominations. Perhaps they do serve to show the importance of doctrine to God’s people. Perhaps they are helpful in doing things decently and in order. Perhaps they encourage good connectionism and accountability.

However, that being said, let’s recognize our theological silos can grow to become unhelpful and unbiblical. Christ does not have his favorites (your preferred denomination) and his less favorites (those in the kingdom but not in your denomination.) It is true that when we get to heaven, all the earthly labels we have developed will disappear. Therefore, let us reach across denominational lines and treat our brothers and sisters as glorious members of God’s unified household. Maybe we can’t agree on the timing and amount of water, the mysterious presence of Christ in the elements, the titles and organizational structure of ministerial servants, the practical availability and usage of spiritual gifts, the place of America or Israel in the last days, the utilization of gifted women in the church, or our preferred liturgical presentations, but we can agree on the fundamentals:

• Law: God’s rules are gracious, wise, serious, and unkeepable.
• Death: God’s sentence is excommunication, death, earthly suffering, and eternal separation.
• Gospel: God’s solution is perfectly complete in the workmanship of Jesus Christ. From him we get all the merit we need. From him we get forgiveness of our sin and trespasses. And all of this is supplied in one fantastic transaction.
• Church: God’s people are to enjoy peace with him and one another. What goes on in our various communities of faith is a foretaste of heavenly glory. That which is the inheritance of some.
• Scripture: All of this because God has communicated such fantastic truths in his holy, inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word. The apostles and the prophets are the building blocks of our Christ-founded faith.