Ephesians 2:1-22

June 13, 2012 Everything up to this point has shown that were in Christ. Read verses 17-23 again. Now in chapter two were going to see not only that were in Christ, but how and why we got there. He starts by reminding us that, We have a wicked past (:1-3) And you hath he quickened, Now, this ties in to 1:20. Its not just saying that God has given us life; its saying God gave Jesus life, and you also He has given life. who were dead in trespasses and sins; This is a fact of the gospelwe were dead because of sins and trespasses (Rom. 5:12).
2Wherein

in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,

Being spiritually dead we lived our lives the same as the world with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (I Jn. 2:16). according to the prince of the power of the air, We lived as though we were controlled by Satan. the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; We didnt look any different than the children of disobedience. We did whatever our lust told us to do. and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Now I want to make a distinction here as I understand it. We are in Christ from the foundation of the world, by nature (according to our birth in Adam) were children of wrath. The devil doesnt have the same power over us as he has over his own, but theres no apparent difference from our perspective. Were not of the world, but we

looked just like them. We havent been appointed unto wrath, but by nature were children of it. The difference between us and others is only our position in Christ according to grace of God. And thats how we come to the next part: But God saved us for His glory (:4-10)
4But

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

The King James makes this a little hard to understand. I like the ESV: But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us Why does God have mercy on us? Its only because He loved us!
5Even

when we were dead in sins,

Put the emphasis on the word even. hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Put emphasis on the word together. Even when we were dead in sins God gave us life together with Christ! This is how grace is really grace. We were saved when we looked just like the children of disobedience. If not for being in Christ at His resurrection, we wouldnt have a single thing!
6And

hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Read 1:21-22 again. Why would He do this?
7That

in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace

(by which were saved) in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Gods kindness towards us is through Christ Jesus. Let me tell you, we can never lean hard enough on Christ. We really do believe that all other ground is sinking sand.

8For

by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. It doesnt have ANYTHING to do with me. Its not my hard work or good choiceit was settled before I was even born.
10For

(this will tell us why God saved us without our consent or prior knowledge) we are his workmanship, It makes everybody say, Look at what God has done! created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. He gets all the credit, and nothing is outside of what Christ has finished! This has an effect on us right now: He has made us into one body (:11-15)
11Wherefore

remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye 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: Look, the uncircumcised Gentiles didnt even have the Law. Its hard for us to remember that the Jews were blown away that God would save one of them (Acts 11:18). They didnt allow the Gentiles into the inner court for fear that they would pollute the holy place (Acts 21:28)! Paul says, you were aliens and strangers without hope before you were saved.
13But

now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. By nature we were children of wrath. We were spiritually dead, but God, who foreknew us and who decreed that we would do good works, brought us near by the blood of Christ

14For

he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Theres no need for hatred between Jew and Gentile because weve been made into one body. Now think of how this is played out in Scripture. Natural Israel was a shadow of what was to come. They had communion with God, and they were called His people. Now we see that God loves and saves His people who are scattered out all over the world. Were not different peoples: were one people who make up the body of Christ. Go back and look at 1:10 and 22-23.
15Having

abolished in his flesh the enmity,

All those old Jewish customs were fulfilled in Christs flesh! even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; The Israelites had the Old law and all the promises, but Christ came and fulfilled every shadow. We no longer say, I have the temple or I have the Sabbath or I have a priest. Now we say, I have Christ! The body is one because its in Christ Jesus who is our Head and our all in all. In addition to this, Jesus has reconciled us unto God (:16-18)
16And

that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: His body does away with the need for types and shadows, and it reconciles us to God the Father:
17And

came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Its not through Aaron or His priesthood and its not through bulls or goats. Its not through incense or robes or anything less than Jesuss body that we have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

So that we are being built up into a temple (:19-22)

19Now

therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, Were not of the commonwealth of natural Israel: were fellow citizens with the saints. and of the household of God; He is our Father!
20And

are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; Its not that the Old Testament prophets have no value or link to the Gentiles. Jesus is the chief corner stone and were all stacked together on top of Him in a way that forms a dwelling place for God:
21In

whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. What a blessing to be in Christ! http://newgracebaptist.blogspot.com/