Study Four - Through The Cross

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

Study No. 4

THROUGH THE CROSS

2

11 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)— 12 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. 13 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, 15 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, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 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, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. In our earlier studies we saw the way in which Paul focuses on the resurrection of Christ – here the focus changes to the Cross. The paragraphs as set out in the NIV provide three sections: What you were… But now … through the cross What you are …

11-13 14-18 19-22

Paul’s main point is made in v13: 13 But

now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ If you like verse 13 is his text – and the text is expounded in those three paragraphs. It is not a popular message in these days – speaking as it does of the work of Christ in terms of “the blood of Christ.” Paul, who is writing mainly to Gentile Christians focuses first on what they were; then on what Christ did and finally what they are becoming.

1.

WHAT YOU WERE

vv 11-13

The keyword is “LOST” Paul lived in a world of clearly marked categories: slave or free; Jew or Gentile etc. The idea of an egalitarian society was foreign to him. Paul had first hand experience of the JEW-GENTILE issue. The fact that Jews were in a minority was not a problem – if you were a Gentile, then your were LOST. Once again our so called tolerant society is becoming polarised along similar lines. Paul’s first description of the unbeliever’s state is in terms of JEW and GENTILE – for which he uses the word “uncircumcised” – and those familiar with the OT narrative of David and Goliath will know the contemptuous way in which that word is used. (1Samuel 17 v 36) He goes on: SEPARATE from The Messiah EXCLUDED from citizenship in Israel FOREIGNERS to the covenants of the promise These are words full of alienation and outsider – what he later describes as “FAR AWAY” in v13. But, just in case we miss the point, he presses his argument home with: WITHOUT HOPE WITHOUT GOD in the world…..

TRULY LOST! Page 2 of 5

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

2.

BUT NOW … THROUGH THE CROSS

vv13-18

The Work of Christ is described in a set of powerful phrases: (a)

There can be no reconciliation without suffering and sacrifice

(i) (ii)

Through the blood of Christ through the cross

(b)

It is not so much the PROCESS of the Redeemer as the PERSON of the REDEEMER

These verses (13-18) are full of Christ He himself… his flesh … his purpose … He came … preached peace… (c)

The TRINITY is at work 18 For

through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Notice then how Paul variously describes this wonderful work: (d)

Making peace

He Himself is our peace v14 He came and preached peace to both parties v17 (e)

Breaking down barriers

Barriers due to sin hostility Barriers due to “class” Barriers between man and God (f) 15 by

Abolishing a law which found us guilty abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.

Once again it is the cross that is in view: “in His flesh..”

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ (g)

Creating a new man

His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, Paul seems to have two areas of the work of Christ in mind: REDEMPTIVE & RESTORATIVE

dealing with sin dealing with distinction

This emphasis lays the foundation for the teaching about CHURCH UNITY later. With that in mind he changes the metaphor in his third paragraph:

3.

BUILT TOGETHER

vv 19-22

19 Consequently,

you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. See how his phrases make the transition: v 19 fellow citizens … members of God’s household …

>> BUILDING

Once again there are three parts: A people A building A temple A permanent expression of what Christ has achieved (once for all) in His work on the Cross. (a)

No longer foreigners!

fellow-citizens members of God’s household

19 the broader picture the intimate family snapshot

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ (b)

Built on the ONE foundation

20 built

on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. historically and by Divine plan and destiny apostles … prophets …. Christ the chief cornerstone Fulfilling the OT expectations and the NT Gospel (c)

HELD TOGETHER IN CHRIST 21 In

him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. He beautifully blends the pictures of

building and temple habitation for the Spirit inorganic and organic stone and spirit

So Paul moves from what we were to what we are and what we will be. And all of it in Christ who suffered on the cross. ---------------

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