Think
- Ephesians 2:11-13
- Pastor Jerry Halbrook -PBC
- Jun 6, 2010
As Gentiles we were once separated from Israel’s Messiah, from Israel as a people, and from Israel’s God. But now—through the blood of Christ and in union with Christ—we have access to the God of Israel, as His Church, through the Jewish Messiah—Jesus Christ.
I. Think first about our former exclusion (2:11).
A. Apart from Messiah
Hoehner. “without Christ.” The Gentiles were not only separate from Christ personally, which was true also of many Jews, but moreover they had no national hope of the Messiah as did Israel. Israel had this hope because of OT revelation of the promised Messiah (e.g., Gen. 49:10; Deut. 18:15; Pss. 2; 45:3-5, 17 [MT 45:4-6, 18; LXX 44:4-6, 18]; 89:22-25 [MT 89:23-26; LXX 88:23-26]; 110 [LXX 109]; Isa. 7:14; 9:1-7 [MT & LXX 8:23-9:6]; 42:1-4; Mic. 5:1-4 [MT & LXX 4:14-5:2]; Dan. 7:13-14; Zech. 9:9-10). This hope continued among the Jews after the close of the OT canon. One of the privileges Paul claims that the Jews had was that Messiah would come from Jewish lineage (Rom. 9:4-5). The Jews felt that a deliverer would come and rescue them from their enemies. Hence, another possible translation of “without Christ” could be “without the Messiah.”
B. Alienated from Israel
1. Alienated from citizenship
2. Strangers to the covenants
Hoehner. It is best to consider that the covenants of promise refer to the unconditional covenants. The primary covenant of promise mentioned in Rom. 4 is the Abrahamic covenant which promises land, seed, and blessings (Gen. 12:1-4; 13:14-18; 15:1-21; 17:1-21). The other covenants of promise that enhance the Abrahamic covenant are the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7:12-17; 23:5; Pss. 89:3, 27-37, 49 [MT 89:4, 28-38, 50; LXX 88:4, 28-38, 50]; 132:11-12 ]LXX 131:11-12]) and the new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34; 32:38-40; Ezek. 36:23-36). These three specific covenants are unconditional and correspond to the covenants of promise mentioned in the present context. Thus, both the plurality and the promise aspects demanded in this context are taken into account. The reason the Gentiles in Ephesus were “strangers” to these covenants is because they were covenants that God made with the nation Israel that contained promises for that nation. The particular promises were land, seed, and blessing. First, Israel as a nation had been promised a land from the days of Abraham right until the last prophet in the OT (Jer. 16:15; 23:3-8; Ezek. 11:17; 34:13; 36:24, 28; 39:25-29; Hos. 1:10-11; Joel 3:17-21; Amos 9:11-15; Mic. 4:4-7; Zeph. 3:14-20; Zech. 8:4-8). Second, Israel was promised a continued seed whereby the nation of Israel would continue to exist, but more particularly the seed of David that would bring forth the Messiah who would head up that nation (Ps. 89:3-4, 34-36 [MT 89:4-5, 35-37; LXX 88:4-5, 35-37]; Isa. 9:6-7; Jer. 23:5-6; 30:8-9; 33:14-17, 20-21; Ezek. 37:24-25; Hos. 3:4-5; Amos 9:11; Zech. 14:3-9). And third, they were promised the blessing of the new covenant by which they would know God and have the law written in their hearts rather than on tablets of stone (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 11:19-20; 16:60-62; 36:24-28; 37:26-28; cf. also Isa. 59:21; 61:8-9). Gentiles did not have the covenants of promise and thus were alienated or excluded from them.
C. In the World
Hoehner. The prepositional phrase “in the world” probably has reference both to their lack of hope and to their unbelief in God. The Ephesians were in this world without any hope or trust in God, the creator and redeemer.
1. Having no hope
Hoehner. This logically follows the last deficiency, for if they lacked the contents of promise then they would also lack hope. A study of the word ejlpi/ß, “hope,” is made in 1:18 where it was concluded that believers in the OT as well as in the NT have an eager expectation of the future as they trust in the outworking of God’s plan. It was an objective hope based on the promises of God. They had no expectation that God would work in their lives. They had no knowledge of salvation that would include a future resurrection and life eternal. They had no idea of future messianic deliverance and blessings.
2. Having not God
Hoehner. Though they believed in many gods, they neither believed in nor desired the one true God (Rom. 1:18-23). They were without God in this world.
II. Think now about our current access (2:13).
A. In Christ Jesus
B. By the blood of Christ
Hoehner. The verb ejgenh/qhte, “have been brought,” is a passive which indicates that the Gentiles were recipients of God’s action rather than a result of self-effort as already discussed at 2:8-10.
The context speaks of Christ’s death on the cross (v. 16) as that which achieved the reconciliation. The significance of the “blood of Christ,” discussed in 1:7, speaks of the sacrificial death of Christ which was necessary to propitiate God’s demand of holiness (cf. Rom. 3:25; 5:9; 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:25, 27; cf. Heb. 9:12, 14; 10:19, 29; 13:12, 20; 1 Pet. 1:2, 19; 1 John 1:7).
Here again, as frequently in Ephesians, the article precedes the noun “Christ” emphasizing that by the blood of Israel’s promised Messiah, reconciliation was accomplished. As the sacrificial death of Christ is the only means of redemption, so also is it the only means of reconciliation. The cost of bringing the Gentile near was dear.
In conclusion, the Gentiles, in contrast with the Jews, were far off because they lacked privileges which God had given to the Jews. This status also affected the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. Yet God took the initiative to bring the Gentiles near to God.
Conclusion: Though we were once apart from Christ, alienated from God’s people, incorporated in and exposed to this fallen world . . .
A. We are in “Christ.” Jesus is now our Messiah. (Approach)
Heb. 10:19 ¶ Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,
Heb. 10:20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh,
Heb. 10:21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God,
Heb. 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb. 10:23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Heb. 10:24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Heb. 10:25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
B. We are now the people of God by virtue of the New covenant, and consequently we are aliens in relation to this fallen world. (Identify)
1Pet. 2:9 ¶ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1Pet. 2:10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1Pet. 2:11 ¶ Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.
Matt. 26:28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20)
1Cor. 11:25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Heb. 9:15 ¶ Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
Heb. 10:16 ¶ “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,”
Heb. 13:20 ¶ Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,
C. We now have God as our Father, and in light of that new relationship we have objective hope. (Adore / Anticipate)
1Pet. 1:3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pet. 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
1Pet. 1:5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.