Open the Eyes of Our Hearts
A Study Through Ephesians - V
Ephesians 2:11-22
March 02, 2008
John Ryan

"In peace the sons bury their fathers, but in war the fathers bury their sons." - Croesus
-- (Historical King of wealth and wisdom of the city-state of Lydia amongst the Greek city states - 595 BC – 546 BC)

Ephesians 2:11-12 11 Therefore remember ...
Paul reminds the people in the church at Ephesus that at one time they were on the outside looking in at the things of God. They were outsiders and nothing evidenced this more than circumcision. It was a sign that separated them racially and politically. (commonwealth of Israel - a term used in Greek history to denote those who were of the city state and had rights to vote. It denoted race and standing.) It was a sign that separated them spiritually (strangers to the promise). God revealed to the Jews His holy character and man's desperate need for a savior. The "blessing" promised through Abraham was the hope that all Jews counted on, but they misunderstood the blessing to be a place and prosperity and not peace and acceptance before God.
Today, the biggest mistake or false teaching in the church is the promise of place and prosperity in the "promises" of God's word. Rather, God promises something far different. Through the gospel, He promises complete acceptance before God and transformation into the image of Christ. This will involve persecution and suffering for all who follow, just like it did for Jesus. This is a far different message.

Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us.
-- HH The Dalai Lama – The Nobel Lecture – December 11, 1989

Ephesians 2:13-18 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one ...
Paul reminds the church in Ephesus, which was full of Gentiles and converted Jews who had become Christians, that there is unity in the body of Christ by Christ and Christ alone. The Jews considered the Gentiles "far" from God and had problems as they came pouring into the Christian church. The Gentiles, long the brunt of hatred and prejudice, did not quickly release the hurt or hatred they had built up for the Jews. Could they co-exist? Paul writes this passage directed toward the Gentiles because they were the majority in the church at Ephesus.

Paul tells them three truths.
1) Christ alone is our peace. This word literally means "to join". The idea is - division between God and man is mended and there is peace. The peace referenced here is an internal state of calm. However, the implication is that this peace leads to unity or oneness, which is peace on the outside. This is the second truth. 2) He "has made us both one". Unity in the body is never the result of common interests, cultural oneness, matching seasons of life, or even common vision. The Word makes it clear - our oneness is in Christ and Christ alone. One day in heaven this will be all we have in common with those who will be there from various tongues and nations. The Jews separated the Gentiles in Temple worship with a wall and a sign that read, "any alien who passes this wall will bring upon himself pain of death". The Court of Gentiles was intended to be a place where others could see God's people at worship and even hear the scripture. However, the wall, meant by God to separate His people from those who were not, became a visible reminder of the contempt the Jews had for all others. Every area of life reminded the Gentile that he was not liked or accepted. But now, walls of hate and stone have come down in Christ. Laws that separated life and hope have come down in Christ. The result is one body, one people. How?

The cross of Jesus Christ is the answer.
1) In the cross God creates. He creates "in himself" (lit. - Jesus' person and work) one man or body where many existed before. Only God can create and He does this as He rescues us into His body. He creates community -
community with Him and with other followers. Community - common unity in Christ-- involves many becoming one in direction and purpose.

2) In the cross God says we are completely wanted and love (reconciled). Reconciliation is the act of one pursuing another to make things right where things were wrong. The end result is peace. But in this God demonstrates His great love for us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8) God had done nothing wrong: we had. God did not have to pursue, but He did.

3) In the cross God says we are completely accepted and demonstrates our acceptance through access to the Father. Hebrews 4:16 says because of Christ's work we can draw near to the throne of God with confidence.
In the cross of Jesus, we are a walking miracle of the work of God. We are one body from many separate minds. We are wanted by God and completely accepted by God (reconciled / access). All these are possible because of the peace Christ brings to us in the cross.

I wish they would only take me as I am.
-- Vincent Van Gogh (Dutch Post-Impressionist artist, 1853 - 1890)

Ephesians 2:19-21 20 Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone ...
What has God created in one body? Paul gives three illustrations:

1) A country where there is equal status ("fellow citizens" in Greek culture were those who could vote) but differing important gifts.

2) A family where we are one unit with many members and different roles.

3) A house under construction, again with differing parts, all needed. The common denominator of the three of these is Christ Jesus. He alone joins us together as one. He alone transforms us into His perfect image reflecting His glory. He alone makes us a dwelling place for His overwhelming presence. It is all possible because of the cross -God effects all this through His Spirit and the power of His Spirit, which raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at the right hand of God the Father. (Eph. 1:19-20)

Implications for the Body of Christ
1) As a diverse group of people, what will unite us as one and why? Whether it be doctrine, rules, kind behavior, good people, vision... All of these things are good and needed, but only Jesus can unite a people with a few things in common and so much that is not in common. We all have this in common - we live in the same country and state and we all share a loose grounding in American culture. We have these differences-- in this body, we have different economic groups, sexes, races, political agendas, family backgrounds, religious backgrounds, philosophies on church, and beliefs within the Bible. We do not all agree on all these things or have agreement in status or physical traits. The Word says only Christ Jesus can unite a group this diverse, and His purpose in uniting us is

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