The Letter to the Ephesians Chapter 2

Transcription

1 The Letter to the Ephesians Chapter 2 This chapter begins with and which connects it to the first chapter. Man has added the chapter and verse designation, not Paul, and not God. We should understand this chapter as continuing what was started in the first chapter. There is no interruption in thought. Our spiritual inheritance is further explained, so is our background (what we once were) and our intended design now and in the future. In this chapter Paul reveals to us our past, present and future. Paul contrasts what we (all humans) were by nature, and currently are by God s grace. He also continues to list our spiritual inheritance, still to be claimed in the future. The list of blessings first started in chapter 1, continues in bounty here in chapter 2. Chapter 2 is about God s ongoing construction project, the rebuilding of the Temple, His dwelling place. This is not a physical building, not a place built with human hands. It is the spiritual place where He dwells today, and it is not constructed from just one people, but all believers united as one in Jesus. This is the one new man chapter, where God details a new creation, a new relationship, between Jews and Gentiles, united as one Body of Christ, the Church. 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Paul continues with his list of blessings, the gifts and treasure of all believers. He also very colorfully describes what we were before these gifts. This is a pretty shameful condition: a. Dead in sin b. Living like the sinful world, like the enemy taught us c. Disobedient to God d. Lustful, selfish, fulfilling every sinful desire e. Children deserving God s wrath These verses indicate we were full of the enemy, full of the world, and full of ourselves. We were empty of God. This is what all of us were before God, and the blood of Jesus, transformed us, and where the rest of the world still are. The Greek word for trespasses is paraptôma meaning to slip, fall, stumble, deviate or go the wrong direction. The Greek word for sin is Hamartia which literally means to miss the mark. Like an arrow shot at a target, it is the idea of falling short of any goal, standard, or purpose. Sin is the falling short of God s standard of holiness....for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)...the prince of the power of the air... The atmosphere or environment of the world is controlled and directed by the enemy:...and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. (1 John 5:19). This environment operates in direct contrast to God s will. This force is at work in unbelievers, and also works to tempt and destroy those who believe. RockofAges.org 1 Ephesians Chapter 2

2 ...sons of disobedience... The phrase implies distinctly disobedient people, those in fact who enjoy being disobedient. This is a conscious rebellion against God. Verses 1-7 in this chapter are one long sentence in the original Greek. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. Notice that this passage begins with But which indicates that although what he just wrote is true, the terrible natural condition of man, something is completely in contrast to that which Paul is now revealing God s mercy, and our restored position with Him. The Greek word for mercy used here is eleos, which means undeserved kindness. Not only does God show us his unmerited favor, grace, but also His kindness. The reason? Because of His great love for us. God s Word is so consistent. This message Paul is bringing here is found throughout the scriptures from beginning to end. Here Paul brings the entire message of God s goodwill to men in one place, a treasure trove of blessings....show the exceeding riches... The word used for show here is endeixētai, which means to display or demonstrate. God s love will be fully demonstrated to us when we are home with Him. Paul has now shown us what our past was (dead in sin, disobedient), what our present is (alive in Christ), and our future (the beneficiaries of God s grace and kindness to be demonstrated to us). This amazing list of blessings continues from the previous chapter: 16. God has made us alive (instead of dead in our sins) 17. We are not only alive, but together with Christ. He raised His Son Jesus, and He will raise us. We are already alive, according to this verse. 18. We are saved from the penalty of our sins (death) by His grace 19. He has raised us back to our intended position together in the heavenly place (notice in Christ again!) 20. He will show us the amazing richness of His grace and kindness (also in Christ ); some seen here, but most seen in the age to come, the age of reunion with Him. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. One of the most well-known and well-loved scriptures in the Bible. It is a standing reminder that we did nothing to earn all these blessings, including our salvation. The only means by which we gain our salvation is through our faith, not through any work we might do. This and it in this verse do not refer to either grace or faith. It refers to the previous section and references our salvation. RockofAges.org 2 Ephesians Chapter 2

3 No one can bring salvation on themselves, no one can earn it, so we have nothing of our own works to boast about in this regard. It is a gift, an undeserved gift, from God. Christianity is the only faith on the planet where man cannot assist or earn his or her salvation. Many people do not have faith because they say, as so-called intellectuals that they cannot believe the Bible. Here is an interesting commentary on this: I am weary of hearing folk say they don't believe because they have intellectual problems. Actually they have moral rather than intellectual problems if only they would face up to them. Sin is the real problem in the hearts of a great many folk today. (McGee) 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. For we are His workmanship... Workmanship is poiema, where we get our word poem. We are literally a work of art or masterpiece. This refers to the entire Body of Christ, not just the local churches of that day. This verse answers the age-old questions, Why am I here? What is my purpose? and What was I created for? We were created for good works, not to earn our salvation but to bring glory to God. And, the wonderful blessing in this verse is that we don t have to hunt and search for those things, wondering what good works we are to do. God has already prepared them in advance. We just have to show up each day and make ourselves available to Him. He will guide us into our purpose. This isn t about just a few good things we do. It is an entire path or lifetime of good living for God. This verse is such a relief, knowing that we don t have to wonder about what we are supposed to do. He s already planned the path. Although we do nothing to gain our own salvation, except believe and accept the free gift of His Son s work for us, we are to do plenty in response to His love and grace for us. 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from 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. Paul is speaking primarily to the Gentile church (which was most of the Ephesians), but also to the Jews, to make sure they also understood this great mystery of the Church being combined into one. Circumcision was the great mark of being a Jew, so Gentiles were called the uncircumcised or the uncircumcision as a group (this was a very disparaging label by the Jews, looking down on all Gentiles). He indicates this is in the flesh, but our union will be in the spirit. Gentiles were originally without Christ, alienated from Israel, and not partakers of the Covenant blessings of Israel. Without these things, Gentiles would have no hope, and have no God. Before God intervened, a huge spiritual boundary was established (also a social interaction boundary) between Jews and Gentiles. Not only this, but Gentiles would have been lost completely, as they were without Christ. RockofAges.org 3 Ephesians Chapter 2

4 Before coming to Jesus, the Ephesians worshipped the pagan goddess Diana. They knew nothing of Jesus. No matter how religious or moral that pagan may have been, he or she was still without Christ and still lost, dead in their sins. Jesus is the answer to this spiritual gulf between Jews and Gentiles, and the answer to the hope for Gentiles. He is the One who brings near those who were far off, away from any hope. His blood has atoned for their sins, and brings them near. When the Temple in Jerusalem was built, there was a provision for Gentiles who had converted to Judaism. They were not allowed access to the Temple, but there was a special Court of Gentiles. This court, however, was far removed from the Temple, the dwelling place of God. They were far off still. Now, Paul indicates they have been brought near, brought into the center of dwelling with Him. Our list of blessings continues: 21. Those of us (Gentiles) who were once far away from God, are now brought near, brought into the inner circle of cherished believers. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Paul boldly states that Jesus has broken down the middle wall of separation which was the enmity (active hatred or ill will). This enmity is defined as The Law, the thing that points out our sin and separated Jews from Gentiles. He now has created one new man out of the two, making peace between Gentiles and Jews. This new man is the Church. God originally separated the Jews from the rest of the nations (Gentiles), but the Jews became prideful and hated the Gentiles. Jew and Gentile are now both one in Jesus Christ, a new entity. Not only has He made peace between Jews and Gentiles (because they are now one), He has established peace between all of us and Himself. The good news is for all mankind. This peace is mentioned four times in three verses. This word for peace is eirēnē which literally means to make one again, to join together, a quietness of spirit because there is no longer any enmity between Jews and Gentiles. We are no longer separate, we are one in Jesus. Jewish Christians had been upset with Peter when we went to the Gentiles and ate with them (Acts 11:1-30), sharing the good news of Jesus, which Jews formerly thought was only for themselves. They also criticized Peter for breaking the Law and eating with Gentiles. But God appeared in a vision to Peter and corrected his thinking. He let him know that the Law was no longer an issue between them. Peter had to defend his actions to other Jews. Paul wants all Jews to understand there is no longer any difference between us. We are both dead in sin, until we are alive in our Messiah. And when we are in Christ we are one. The Law cannot separate us anymore. (see diagram next page) RockofAges.org 4 Ephesians Chapter 2

5 EPHESIANS 2:14-18 One New Man RockofAges.org 5 Ephesians Chapter 2

6 We can add more to our list of blessings here: 22. We have been united into one (Gentiles and Jews) body of believers 23. The Law which separated Gentiles from Jews and all from God has been abolished. 24. Through Jesus we have peace, we are reconciled to God. 25. All of us now have access to the Father, through the Spirit. 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Paul described the old condition (our past) of Jews and Gentiles, now he describes the new condition (our joined present and future). Gentiles are not aliens or strangers anymore. We are fellow citizens, considered saints and members of the household of God. That s pretty cool. We are in God s household. We are meant to be with Him, in His house! Our inclusion in this household is not one of slaves, but family. Although we are His servants, we are also His family. This reference to saints is not to mean Old Testament saints. This is a new designation for the one new man, those Jews and Gentiles who have accepted Jesus as Savior. Our citizenship is in heaven, the household of God, not of Jerusalem or the earthly Israel. What we WERE (past) What we ARE NOW (present) without Christ in Christ (Ephesians 2:13) aliens a holy nation (1Peter 2:9) fellow citizens (Eph 2:19) strangers no more strangers (Ephesians 2:19) no hope called in one hope (Ephesians 4:4) without God (Ephesians 2:12) access by one Spirit to the Father (Eph 1:3) This household, or this house of believers, is built on Jesus, the chief cornerstone. The whole building, this household of God, is standing on Him, and grows into a holy temple in Him. The temple is God s dwelling place, where He lives. God has erected a new dwelling place that is built from both Jews and Gentiles, and rests solidly on Jesus Christ. The foundation for this new dwelling place is the work of the prophets (old covenant or testament ) and apostles (new covenant). God is revealing more of the mystery called The Church, that united new man in Jesus. The New Testament (the work and message of the apostles) is a revelation of what had long been concealed in the Old Testament (the work and message of the prophets). This is not some new idea or sudden new concept. God has been building this Temple for Himself from the beginning....being fitted together... Being fitted implies currently under construction. It is not yet complete, but it will definitely be finished one day. In Paul s day Herod s temple was and had been under construction for many years. It was never really completed before the Roman armies destroyed it in 70 AD. God s temple, the Body of Christ, will most definitely be completed, and never destroyed. RockofAges.org 6 Ephesians Chapter 2

7 Paul said elsewhere that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). This lets us know that God currently, in this earth and age, dwells in us (through His Holy Spirit), so that we might reveal His glory to the world. We are that Temple now! This entire passage indicates that God has created an entirely new relationship not only between Jews and Gentiles, but between all mankind and Himself, through His Son. This does not mean than Gentiles are merely grafted in as a separate part, but there is an entirely new relationship. The Church has not become Israel, and has certainly not replaced her. God still has a separate plan for the Jews, especially regarding His covenants with them (the land, etc.). This is an entirely new relationship, with new promises of joint inheritance. The Church is a very unique entity, with a unique relationship with God, different than that of the Jews. We can add more to our list of blessings here: 26. We are not foreigners or aliens anymore, on the outside. We are citizens of God s household. 27. Jews and Gentiles are being constructed into God s current dwelling place, the Church. He abides in us! In the next chapter we will learn that this household of God exists in two places currently, both in heaven (as the saints who have gone there before us) and on earth (in those saints who are still living here). We are still one new man, one Body, one Church. Paul is drawing heavily on the history of God dwelling with His people, through the Tabernacle and the Temple. He has always made a way to dwell with us, from the very beginning. That is His delight, and His ultimate plan and purpose for us. From the very start, God has wished to dwell with His people, and has made a way to do that. The Tabernacle, and the Temple, were a physical representation of God's Presence with His people. This structure is also a symbol of the history of the Jewish people. The condition of the Tabernacle or Temple was always an indicator of the condition of the Jews. Their history is the Temple's history. The history of God s dwelling place with man on earth actually began in the Garden of Eden, before the Jews were called out. It is important for us to understand that this is God s heart, to dwell with His people. Here are the highlights of God s earthly dwelling place with His creation: EARTHLY HISTORY OF GOD S DWELLING PLACE WITH HIS PEOPLE: It has always been God s desire to dwell with His creation. God walked with His first children in the Garden. He desired their fellowship. We were created for His pleasure, for fellowship with Him. But man broke this communion with God through disobedience. Man was banned from the garden, but God did not abandon them. He could not, however, dwell with them because God is perfection and holiness. He cannot tolerate, or be in the presence of, sin. God knew in advance about man's rebellion. He always had a plan, with provision that still enabled man to dwell with God. That plan is still in motion. God chose a people (the Jews) to use as an example to the whole world about His desire for fellowship with us. RockofAges.org 7 Ephesians Chapter 2

8 God brought His people into the wilderness (delivered from the bondage of slavery in Egypt) to learn about Him. God still wanted to dwell among His people. He told them to build Him a tent (Tabernacle), but not just an ordinary tent. This was to be His dwelling place with them, and was built to very exact specifications, because every single dimension, material, color and furnishing was an object lesson to point the people to the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus, whose blood would remove their enmity with God, and restore fellowship with Him. The people did exactly as God had commanded, and God's glory filled the Holy of Holies. It was a visible sign of His Presence among the people. God eventually moved the people into the land, and the Tabernacle went, too. The Tabernacle traveled wherever the people went. As the people built permanent houses in the land, they wanted God s house to be permanent as well. After the period of the Judges, Israel began a monarchy with kings, beginning with Saul, then David, then Solomon. David wanted to build a permanent house for God's Presence, called the Temple. But David was told he could not do this, because he had too much blood on his hands. David s son Solomon would eventually build the Temple. The Temple is the same as the Tabernacle, only it is a permanent building. The word Tabernacle means portable tent, the word for Temple is HEYKAL, which meant a large public building, like a palace. This was God's palace, His dwelling place among the people. The time of Solomon s reign and the days of the Temple were the glory days of the kingdom of Israel, but they didn t last long, and neither did the physical temple. The United Kingdom of Israel lasted only through Solomon's reign. His son, Rehoboam, caused a division in the Kingdom shortly after Solomon's death. The kingdom was divided into the 10 tribes of the North (northern Kingdom of Israel), and the 2 tribes in the South (southern Kingdom of Judah). A progression of evil kings in the north led to their destruction by Assyria around 722 BC. They went into captivity and did not return. There were many evil kings, and a few good ones, in the south, but they too were disobedient and strayed from God. This led to them being conquered by Babylon and led into captivity for 70 years. We do not hear anything more about the Ark of the Covenant after the building of the Temple. No one knows for sure where it is today, but God may reveal it Himself soon. The Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to Babylon in 606 BC, and 19 years later Solomon s Temple was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar (587 BC) on the 9th day of the month of Av (or Ab, known as Tisha b'av, or the 9th of Av). This is still a day of mourning for Jews today. Shortly before the destruction of this Temple, the prophet Ezekiel (who had been taken in the second wave of captives to Babylon) saw in a vision the glory of God (the Skekinah) departing from the Temple and returning to heaven. God no longer dwelled in the midst of His people. The Jews were removed from their land and taken into 70 years of captivity in Babylon. No Temple meant they could not worship or offer sacrifices to God. This is where the concept of synagogues, local places of worship, teaching and assembly, was born. But the office and duties of the priests were no more, including sacrifices. After the prescribed 70 years was over, God returned a remnant of the Jews to the land of Israel. It took them awhile, but they finally managed to rebuild the Temple. This temple was much smaller and quite a bit less ornate than Solomon's. This is referred to as Ezra's Temple, or the Second Temple, complete about 515 BC. RockofAges.org 8 Ephesians Chapter 2

9 About 500 years later King Herod, the Jewish ruler appointed by Rome in this region, decided to "leave a legacy" by renovating the Temple. This was a massive enlargement and renovation project, the pride of Israel, in process for 47 years by the time of Jesus. Jesus had plenty to say about this Temple. He used the building project as an object lesson regarding his resurrection. (Mark 13:1-2). But now the Messiah had come, and He was the dwelling place of God in their midst. The Shekinah Glory dwelled in the Body of Jesus. And the Jews rejected this Temple of God. Therefore, what came to be known as Herod's Temple had a very short future after Jesus returned to heaven. In the year 70 AD, Titus and the Roman army rolled into Jerusalem after a long siege during which many Jews died. In a so-called "accident" the Temple was completely destroyed and burned to the ground. Just as Jesus predicted, no stone was left upon another (the soldiers removed the stones to get to the gold that had melted down in the fire). Not so coincidentally, the day on the calendar of this destruction is the 9th day of the month of Av. Again, the second temple is destroyed on Tisha b'av. Coincidence? Hardly. This destruction and subsequent scattering was a fulfillment of prophecy from Deuteronomy 28. God did just as He said He would. In 132 AD, after yet another Jewish rebellion, the Romans came in and plowed the entire city of Jerusalem under. They enslaved and dispersed the remaining Jews, and redrew the land on their maps with a different name - Palestinia (a direct slap in the face, since it is the Greek rendition of Philistia, one of Israel's biggest enemies). To the rest of the world the Jews did not exist anymore. Neither did their Temple. The timing of all of this is very interesting from a spiritual point of view. The Messiah had already come - some knew this, some rejected this. He fulfilled all of the intended promises that the Temple signified - the priestly system, the access to God, the sacrifices, everything. Spiritually, in God's plan, there was no more need of the Temple. The ultimate sacrifice was given. God allowed the physical temple to be destroyed and the people to be scattered, as He said He would. About 40 years before the Second Temple was destroyed, a new Temple was created. This Temple, however, was not built with the hands of men. On the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) after Jesus' resurrection, the Holy Spirit came to not just dwell WITH men, but to dwell IN believers. The apostle Paul tells us that WE are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). God still dwells in the midst of His people. A physical Temple is not needed. WE are the spiritual Temple of God today. Here in Ephesians, Paul makes both Jews and Gentiles understand that they (together, united as one) are now the new Temple, the new dwelling place of God. Today the only Temple on earth exists spiritually in the hearts of believers. It is likely another physical temple will be rebuilt for end time prophecies to be fulfilled (the Third Temple) Another temple will be newly constructed in the Millennium (the Fourth Temple) And eventually the history of God s dwelling place with man will end in the Garden, just where it began. The Temple is not needed in eternity. God will dwell permanently with His people made holy by the blood of His Son. One new man = Jews and Gentiles united together in a new relationship with God, the Church, where God dwells with His people by His Spirit RockofAges.org 9 Ephesians Chapter 2