Ephesians 2

Order of Service

• Prayer Requests
• Opening Prayer
• Sunday School Lesson — Ephesians 2:11-18
• Closing Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Peacemaking Work of Christ

Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-18

I. The Contrast: Far Off, But Now Brought Near (Ephesians 2:11-13)

A. Review of the five disabilities of the Gentiles from the previous lesson (Ephesians 2:11-12)

1. The Gentiles were separated from Christ, alienated from Israel, strangers to the covenants, without hope, and without God
2. Just as "but God" appears in Ephesians 2:4, so "but now" appears in verse 13 as the turning point

B. The language of far and near has Old Testament roots

1. Israel was near to God — Deuteronomy 4:7; Psalm 148:14
2. Gentiles were described as far off; God promised peace to both — Isaiah 57:19
3. That promise is fulfilled by Christ and quoted in verse 17

C. Nearness to God is gained in Christ Jesus and through the blood of Christ

1. "In Christ" signals union with him — Paul uses some form of this phrase 164 times in his writings
2. "By the blood of Christ" points back to Ephesians 1:7

II. What Christ Did: Breaking Down the Dividing Wall (Ephesians 2:14)

A. He himself is our peace — the emphasis is on Christ as both the agent and substance of peace

B. The dividing wall of hostility refers to the literal barrier wall in the Jerusalem temple

1. The temple complex had multiple courts — the Court of the Levites, the Court of Israel, the Court of Women — all restricted to Jewish people
2. A wall lower on the temple mount bore inscriptions warning Gentiles that crossing it was punishable by death
3. Archaeological stones from this wall are on display in museums today
4. This wall remained standing until the Romans destroyed the temple in AD 70, though Christ symbolically abolished it at the cross around AD 30

C. The hostility was not only between Jew and Gentile but also between Gentile and God

III. How Christ Did It: Three Actions in Verses 15-16 (Ephesians 2:15-16)

A. First — He abolished the ceremonial law

1. This does not contradict Matthew 5:17-20, where Jesus said he came to fulfill the moral law, not abolish it
2. Paul in Colossians 2:11-16 clarifies that the ceremonial regulations — food, drink, festivals, new moons, Sabbaths — were shadows fulfilled in Christ
3. Colossians 2:13-14 — the record of debt against us was canceled and nailed to the cross
4. The tearing of the temple veil at Christ's death — recorded in Matthew — symbolized the end of man's alienation from God

B. Second — He created one new humanity

1. Christ created a single new human race, removing everything that kept Jew and Gentile apart
2. This new humanity only comes into existence through union with Christ
3. All social distinctions are rendered unequal before God — Colossians 3:11; Galatians 3:28-29

C. Third — He reconciled both to God, killing the hostility

1. The hostility in verse 14 referred to hostility between Jew and Gentile; the hostility here refers to that between man and God
2. That hostility had two sides — man's rebellion against God (Ephesians 2:1-3) and God's wrath against sin
3. Armitage Robinson: Christ in his death was slain, but the slain was a Slayer too

IV. The Proclamation and Access That Followed (Ephesians 2:17-18)

A. Christ preached peace to those far off and those near — fulfilling Isaiah 57:19

1. This preaching follows the achievement of peace at the cross, not the pre-cross ministry
2. Christ's first post-resurrection words were "Peace be with you" — John 20:19
3. Every proclamation of the gospel is Christ preaching through his people

B. The result is trinitarian access to God — through Christ, in one Spirit, to the Father (Ephesians 2:18)

1. Reconciliation is a one-time event; access represents a continuing relationship
2. Romans 5:1-2 — justified by faith, we have peace with God and access into this grace
3. Believers have bold, confident, 24/7 access to the heavenly Father
4. The Holy Spirit regenerates, seals, indwells, intercedes, and assures us of our adoption
5. John Stott calls this trinitarian access the greatest achievement of the peacemaking Christ