When we moved to Romania in 2000, my passport gave me a lot of confidence. Romania had only left Communism 10 years before and you could tell that there was still some of that same thinking that was in people’s minds. But my passport gave me a lot of confidence at 30 years old. I’m sure it was a naive view of things, but I felt that because I was an American citizen, I had this passport, that if something bad happened, my government – my state department – would do what they could to take care of me.
There are benefits and privileges – as well as responsibilities – that come with being an American citizen. There are also benefits and privileges – and responsibilities – that come with being a citizen of Jesus’ nation – the church of Christ. That’s the focus of this text of Scripture which will feed our spirits: Ephesians 2:11-22.
“THEREFORE” – 2:11:
What is the “therefore” for? Paul is drawing a conclusion. What has he just been saying? Go back and read chapter 1 and 2:1-10.
Therefore, Paul writes, with these things being true and understood…
YOUR CONDITION “OUTSIDE” OF CHRIST – 2:11-12:
These Gentiles, you and me, Paul writes in verse 12:
1. Were separated from Christ.
2. Were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel.
3. Were strangers of the covenants of promise.
4. Were without hope.
5. Were without God in the world.
That’s the situation you are in even today if you are not a Christian. That is the situation all of us were in when we were outside of Christ.
NOW OUR CONDITION “IN” CHRIST – 2:13-18:
First, Paul says now that we are “in Christ Jesus” – there are two passages in the NT which teach us how we are put into Christ Jesus and it is through immersion in water for the forgiveness of our sins: Rom. 6:3-4 and Gal. 3:26-27.
Secondly, notice the power of the metaphor in verse 14: “Christ is our peace!”
Third, Christ made both groups into one – the “uncircumcised” and the “circumcised,” or the Jews and the Gentiles.
Fourth, Christ has “reconciled” both – Jews and Gentiles – in one body (which he has already defined as the “church” in 1:22-23) through His death on the cross, putting to death the enmity – the Law of Moses.
Fifthly, it is through Christ that we have access “in” or “by” one Spirit to the Father.
This brings us to…
THE BLESSINGS OF CITIZENSHIP – 2:19-22:
This paragraph begins with the word “So,” where Paul is drawing a logical inference. Because we (Gentiles specifically) are reconciled to God in Christ Jesus, and along with Jews, are one body in Christ, then we have certain blessings. Observe:
First (ver. 19), we (Gentiles) are no longer strangers and aliens. Instead, we are “fellow citizens with the (Jewish) saints and are of God’s household.”
Second (ver. 20), we are God’s temple built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets – that is, their teaching – with Christ Jesus being the corner stone from which every thing is set.
Third (ver. 21), we are fitted together, placed alongside one another, to become the holy temple in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have been working on a walkway in my backyard, building a pathway of paving stones into my storage shed. The stone is shaped like an octagon at the top and a square at the bottom. All these paving stones have to be fitted together so that they form the walkway. That’s what Paul is saying here. We all – Jew and Gentile (remember the context) – are stones in God’s temple and we are being fitted together by Christ so we can form His spiritual temple.
Fourth (ver. 22), we are a dwelling of God in the Spirit. Isn’t that a wonderful, beautiful, awesome idea? That God dwells in us by His Spirit? God dwells in us? What are the benefits of being a member of God’s nation? God dwells in us!
When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, God drove their sinful beings out of His presence. Now, through Jesus Christ, God doesn’t just dwell near us, He dwells in us! All because of Jesus Christ!
The blessings of spiritual citizenship are available to everyone who will submit to Christ and be added to His body.
Paul Holland
