Ephesians Series Called To Walk In Christ

Part 4 Called To Be A New PeopleEphesians 2:11-22

EphesiansReview: Chapter 1 God Calls Us to Spiritual Blessings

Chapter 2:1-10 We Were Called From Death To Life

For Today:Chapter 2:11-22 We Are Called To Be A New People

Ephesians 2:11-22 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)--remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians Chapter 2:11-22Called To Be A New People

We are a new people: I. Called From Separation (2:11-12)

Paul lists 5 ways in whichwe Gentiles were separated

(Verse 12)

1.Without Christ2.Without citizenship

3.Without covenants of promise4.Without hope5.Without God

Ephesians Chapter 2:11-22Called To Be A New People

We are a new people: I.Called From Separation (2:11-12)

II.Called To Reconciliation (2:13-18)

Isaiah 59:1-2

“Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But

your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from

you, so that he will not hear.”

1 Peter 3:18

For Christ died for sins once for all…that he might bring you to God.

Acts 21:28-9 (an angry Jew speaking about Paul)

"Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man (Paul) who preaches to all men

everywhere against our people, and the Law, and this place; and besides he has

even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place."

Ephesians Chapter 2:11-22Called To Be A New People

We are a new people: I. Called From Separation (2:11-12)

II. Called To Reconciliation (2:13-18)III. Called to Unification (2:19-22)

1 Corinthians 3:16

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and the God’s Spirit lives in you?”

Summary:

We are no longer – without Christwithout citizenshipwithout covenants of promise

without hopewithout God

Now we have all these things because through Christ we are reconciled:We have been brought near The dividing wall of hostility has been removedThe Law has been abolishedWe have access to God

Now that we are reconciled we have become a new people – the ChurchWe are citizens of God’s Kingdom and members of God’s family We are a holy temple in which God lives.We are a holy temple through which God reaches the world.