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I think what really jumps out at me in Ephesians 2:1-10 is how hopeless and helpless we were without Christ and how much God did/does for us. We were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked (vv1-2), sons of disobedience (v2), living in the passions of our flesh (v3), carrying out the desires of the body and the mind (v3) and were children of wrath (v3). A pretty bleak picture indeed!
But look at all that God does/did for us! Because he is rich in mercy and because of his great love for us (v4), he made us alive together with Christ (v5), and raised us up with him and seated us with him (v6). We were created in Christ and he has prepared good works for us to do (v10). But we see that it is by grace that we have been saved (v5 and 8), it is all in Christ or because of Christ (v6), it is through faith, not our own doing (v8), the gift of God so no one may boast (v9), not a result of works (v9), and we are his workmanship (v 10). Let us rejoice in all that God has done for us, helpless as we were!
WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR!
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2 ESV)
So now we see that not only have we been brought from death to life and reconciled to God on a personal level (since we have all personallly sinned), but if we are Gentiles (not ethnic Jews), we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God when we didn't before. In Old Testament times even though not every Israelite was saved, it was only the Jews or Israelites who had the opportunity to be saved. They had the covenant from God (v12 and Genesis 17), they had the law of God given through Moses (Exodus 20), and they had the presence of God dwelling with them in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). Other nations did not have these things. They "had no hope and were without God in the world". And that was most of us!
But now, in Christ, those who were far off have been brought near! Those who had no hope of believing in God can be members of God's household! (v19)
CONFIDENT ACCESS TO GOD
I love the picture that God has given us when Jesus died. In the Old Testament times, God commanded Israel to construct a tabernacle so that his presence could go with them while they wandered around in the wilderness. But he dwelt in the Holy of Holies, a place where only the high priest could go once a year and not without the blood of a sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7). But when Jesus died, the curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom, showing us new access to the presence of God through Christ! "18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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. (from Hebrews 10)
Hebrews 4:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
All scripture quoted is from the ESV (English Standard Version) unless otherwise noted.
Some of my thoughts have been influenced by the sermon notes of my pastor, Timothy Greene. You can access his notes on the book of Ephesians here:
I think what really jumps out at me in Ephesians 2:1-10 is how hopeless and helpless we were without Christ and how much God did/does for us. We were dead in the trespasses and sins in which we once walked (vv1-2), sons of disobedience (v2), living in the passions of our flesh (v3), carrying out the desires of the body and the mind (v3) and were children of wrath (v3). A pretty bleak picture indeed!
But look at all that God does/did for us! Because he is rich in mercy and because of his great love for us (v4), he made us alive together with Christ (v5), and raised us up with him and seated us with him (v6). We were created in Christ and he has prepared good works for us to do (v10). But we see that it is by grace that we have been saved (v5 and 8), it is all in Christ or because of Christ (v6), it is through faith, not our own doing (v8), the gift of God so no one may boast (v9), not a result of works (v9), and we are his workmanship (v 10). Let us rejoice in all that God has done for us, helpless as we were!
WE HAVE BEEN BROUGHT NEAR!
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2 ESV)
So now we see that not only have we been brought from death to life and reconciled to God on a personal level (since we have all personallly sinned), but if we are Gentiles (not ethnic Jews), we have the opportunity to be reconciled to God when we didn't before. In Old Testament times even though not every Israelite was saved, it was only the Jews or Israelites who had the opportunity to be saved. They had the covenant from God (v12 and Genesis 17), they had the law of God given through Moses (Exodus 20), and they had the presence of God dwelling with them in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38). Other nations did not have these things. They "had no hope and were without God in the world". And that was most of us!
But now, in Christ, those who were far off have been brought near! Those who had no hope of believing in God can be members of God's household! (v19)
CONFIDENT ACCESS TO GOD
I love the picture that God has given us when Jesus died. In the Old Testament times, God commanded Israel to construct a tabernacle so that his presence could go with them while they wandered around in the wilderness. But he dwelt in the Holy of Holies, a place where only the high priest could go once a year and not without the blood of a sacrifice (Hebrews 9:7). But when Jesus died, the curtain to the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom, showing us new access to the presence of God through Christ! "18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father."
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 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. (from Hebrews 10)
Hebrews 4:16 English Standard Version (ESV)
16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
All scripture quoted is from the ESV (English Standard Version) unless otherwise noted.
Some of my thoughts have been influenced by the sermon notes of my pastor, Timothy Greene. You can access his notes on the book of Ephesians here:
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