INTRODUCTION
Paul’s first visit to Ephesus is related in Act_18:19-21. The work commenced then was carried on by Apollos. On Paul’s second visit he remained three years. Later, on his way to Jerusalem, he held an affecting interview at Miletus with the elders of the Ephesian church. This Epistle was addressed to that church about four years afterward, during the early part of his imprisonment at Rome, and immediately after that to the Colossians, to which it bears a close resemblance. The foundation, course and destiny of the Church are the sublime subjects with which the Epistle deals, and the style is of a correspondingly elevated character.
{e-Sword Note: The following material was presented at the end of Ephesians in the printed edition}
OUTLINE OF THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESSIANS
The High Calling of God in Christ Jesus
CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS
PAST AND PRESENT CONTRASTED
The Former Character of the Ephesians
How They Have Been Transformed
4. How is the present condition of the Ephesians contrasted with their former condition?
ONE IN CHRIST
Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands–
remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.
now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups–[Jews and Gentiles]–into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us],
by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.
And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility.
AND HE CAME AND PREACHED THE GOOD NEWS OF PEACE TO YOU [Gentiles] WHO WERE FAR AWAY, AND PEACE TO THOSE [Jews] WHO WERE NEAR. [Isa_57:19]
For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone,
in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord].
In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Comments by
F.B.Meyer
On
Ephesians 2:11-22
RECONCILED AND UNITED BY THE CROSS
The state of the unconverted must be described by a series of negations. Shut the sun out of the world, love out of the home, liberty out of the state! The unsaved know not of their infinite loss; but if they could see what we inherit through union with Jesus, they could cease to wonder that we run not with them into the same excess of riot. Does a maiden need much persuasion to cast aside paste jewels when real ones are offered her!
There was no natural affinity between Jew and Gentile. This arose partly because of diverse nationality and genius; but in addition the whole code of Jewish customs as to eating clean meats and ceremonial pollution, prevented it. All these party-walls of division were swept away by Christ. In Him, as the cornerstone, two walls, running in different directions, met. Two sections of humanity, East and West, became united to each other, because each was united to Him, and thus was formed a new unit of humanity.
What a noble conception is given of the Church and ultimately of the redeemed race, growing slowly through the ages and becoming God’s dwelling-place! Notice the Trinity; through Jesus, the Eternal Father comes by His Spirit to dwell in the heart of man.
Pastor Jeff Arthur.
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