Lesson 6.
Ephesians 2:11-22, One new man in Christ
VV 11-13, 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.
We were once Gentiles, uncircumcised, without a Jewish pedigree, without the promise of the covenant, without Christ, without hope, and without God. All these had been reversed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
VV 14-18, 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.
Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace united Jews and Gentiles by demolishing the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles. Uniting the Jews and Gentiles, He created “one new man in Christ”, a new entity called the Church. Jesus Christ reconciled Jews and Gentiles to God and each other through the cross. Both Jews and Gentiles could experience peace with God, peace from God, and peace of God. Through Jesus Christ, Jews and Gentiles had access to the Holy Spirit and the Father.
Romans 5: 1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God”.
Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”.
Galatians 5: 22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness’’.
VV 19-20, 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,
Through Jesus Christ, we, the Gentiles, had become citizens and members of God’s family. The foundation of our faith is the apostles and the prophets but the chief cornerstone is Jesus Christ. The chief cornerstone is one special stone that stabilized an entire stone building. The whole weight of a stone building is supported by the chief cornerstone. Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone of our faith. He is the only way to God.
John 14:6, Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”.
Isaiah 28:16, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation, A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; Whoever believes will not act hastily”.
V 21-22, 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.
The whole building with the apostles and the prophets as the foundation and Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone is the Church, the one new man in Christ. The temple of God is our body where the Holy Spirit resides.
1 Cor 6:19, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”
1 Cor 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”.