Eph 2:11-19 Separate now Joined

Eph. 2:11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—

Eph. 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Eph. 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Eph. 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace;

Eph. 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.

Eph. 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;

Eph. 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Eph. 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

God, through Paul, is saying to the Ephesian believers “don’t take for granted this simple fact. You used to be outsiders to God’s home. (seeing movement through the windows from across the street). But through Jesus Christ, you now live in His home, each one of you, as one of His very own children (so much so that there is no difference those who has lived there all their lives and those who were adopted and moved in yesterday)”.  Jesus has made you all one family in the Spirit.”

let’s take a look

Paul writes this immediately following the “But God” entry 

(you were here but God has changed that and now you are here)

He did it, not you. He did the work and offered it to you in exchange for faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  So let’s approach this whole “follower of the way” thing with some humility and appreciation.

Eph. 2:11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—

uncircumcision vs circumcision = cultural separation of gentile vs jew based upon obeying this portion of the Abrahamic Convenant. (circumcision on the 8th day)

why on earth did he have to choose circumcision (Genesis 17)? What is with all the seemingly unnecessary pain? 

• Baptism makes sense (symbolizes cleansing)
• the rainbow makes sense (symbolizes peace)
• the Lord’s Supper makes sense (symbolizes body and blood). 
• But, does circumcision make sense? I can just picture Abraham’s face after God told him to cut off his foreskin. “Umm… you want me to… what?”

however, this was not something new.

Herodotus, writing in 500BC mentions that the egyptians were the first to practice it, then ethiopians , phoenicians, and more.

tribes in southern africa and australian aborigines  still use it as a ceremonial rite of passage from boyhood to manhood

Gen 12:1-2 God calls Abram

Gen 12:17 already in Egypt (famine)

Gen 17:9-14 Abraham Convenant

Facts:

1. Abraham spent time in Egypt before the God mentions circumcision as a covenantal sign.
2. Egyptians already practiced circumcision as a rite and initiation for those serving their king (who was treated and revered as a god-man.
3. This was an Egyptian way of marking royal servants and priests in that culture.
4. Yahweh takes this human rite and uses it to help Abram relate to the true King he has been called by into service. (you, Abram, and your descendants, are to be marked as my royal servants and priests)

so in this verse, he is saying

so remember, you, who were called the “unmarked ones” by those calling themselves “marked for God” a mark made by human hands

“so – called circumcision”  Paul elaborates more on this topic in Romans

Rom. 2:25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a violator of the Law, your circumcision has turned into uncircumcision.

Rom. 2:26 So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will his uncircumcision not be regarded as circumcision?

Rom. 2:27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a violator of the Law?

Rom. 2:28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.

Rom. 2:29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from people, but from God.

 

Col. 2:11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision performed without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ,

Col. 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

Col. 2:13 And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings,

Col. 2:14 having canceled the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

even back in the OT, those close to God understood it to be an outward sign of inward attitude

Jeremiah 9:25 “their hearts were not circumcised” (which aligns with Paul’s summary of the entire issue … attitude is the focus, not an outward mark)

Paul says “so called” because if someone is going to say they are God’s through the law, then you have to keep all of it, not just waving around with your circumcision card.

He then says that those who truly belong to God have been spiritually circumcised.

The flesh (old nature) has been cut away from their heart.

the irony being pointed out here is that the ones calling themselves “marked for God” are focusing on a mark made by human hands and ignoring what is supposed to be a mark made by God.

God’s mark counts far more than man’s mark.

make me wonder: “how often do I walk around waving my “born-again” card as a mark, and ignoring the real mark … a changed heart” ?

Yes, we are recipients of a new convenant, a circumcised heart.

(but that mark is meant to be visible in our lives, our choices)

let us not focus on “merely talking about this new covenant, but showing it

continuing with the “remember where you came from” , where you used to be:

Eph. 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

so you were:

• outsiders to God’s chosen people
• uncircumcised (in body and heart)
• separate from the Anointed One of God
• excluded from the culture of Israel
• strangers to God’s covenants (Abraham and Mosaic)
• had no hope
• living each day without God

but now, in Christ, have been brought near.

brought near how ?

Eph. 2:14 For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,

Eph. 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the hostility, which is the Law composed of commandments expressed in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two one new person, in this way establishing peace;

Eph. 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.

some people might think this “hostility” in verse 14 is the one between gentile and jew.

verse 15 indicates that he is referring to “the hostility”, (the enmity of primary importance)

it is the hostility between God and man

• verse 15 says it is based upon the law
• verse 16 says the reconciliation is to God (reconciliation being the hostility put to death)

the peace spoken about here is the peace that God declares when we cease being His enemies

(we cease being His enemies when we place saving faith in Christ and are born again , becoming His children)

Luke 2:14  Glory to God in the highest,   And on earth peace among people with whom He is pleased.

(is God pleased with those who reject the gospel?)

no, then this peace is only for those for those accept the gospel

because only those who are saved can be at peace with God

because they are the only ones God declares peace with

Eph. 2:17 And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;

who was far away ?

who was near ?

message given to both gentiles and jews

Rom. 2:10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who does what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

according to this verse, who receives glory, honor, and peace?

but

Rom. 3:12 THEY HAVE ALL TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME CORRUPT; THERE IS NO ONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

so no one does good, which means no one can receive glory, honor or peace ?

Rom. 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

peace with God is granted by the Father when we do what is good 

(believe in the testimony of the Spirit and have faith in our heart that we are saved by the Son)

Eph. 2:18 for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

Eph. 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Eph. 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

Rom. 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery ¹leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

Gal. 4:6 Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”

Eph. 2:19 So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

fellow citizens συμπολίτης, sympolitēs, n.  [5250 + 4484]. fellow citizen

CITIZEN

The concept of citizenship has special meaning in NT times: particularly when Paul uses it to affirm our position as citizens of heaven (Php 3:20; cf. Eph 2:19). 

Paul was a Roman citizen and was deeply aware of the privileges of that citizenship. The importance of being a citizen of the Roman Empire is illustrated by incidents reported in Acts (16:16-40; 22:22-29).

The citizen of Rome had a completely different legal standing in the empire than did a resident alien or citizen of one of the provinces. 

• Only a citizen of Rome could hold office. 
• Citizenship carried the right to free travel
• guarantee of protection wherever a person went within the empire. 
• Citizens were not subject to local laws without their consent: they were governed only by the laws of the nation of which they were citizens. 
• Roman citizens alone had access to Roman courts anywhere in the empire. They came under Rome’s protection. 

 

Paul’s statement that we believers hold citizenship in heaven has exciting significance. 

As citizens of heaven we have a standing in God’s empire that is above this earthly province: 

• we hold office as believer-priests, with spiritual gifts enabling us to minister to others. 
• Wherever we may live or travel in this world, our heavenly citizenship guarantees us the protection of God himself. 
• While we live as resident-aliens in human society, we are bound to obey the laws of the country in which we stay (Ro 13:1-7). Yet we can bring every need and every issue to the higher court of our citizenship, the divine court, appealing to God in prayer as the one power higher than any earthly authority.

 

Understanding our heavenly citizenship brings us a sense of confidence and security. We can live boldly, committed to carry out our citizens’ duty of obedience to heaven’s laws.

So God says, 

1. you were my enemy and I was at war with you because you covered yourself in your sin
2. now I declare peace with you because you choose to be covered by the blood of my Son
   1. you are now my adopted son/daughter
   2. you have all the rights, privileges, authority, and inheritance as my natural son
   3. you also have become a citizen of the same empire that I am of
   4. oh yeah, did I mention that I am the emperor of the empire ?

Think what that would have meant for a poor jew, oppressed by Roman soldiers to suddenly become a son of the roman emperor.

we have been translated from one kingdom to another but because we physically look the same or eat the same food

we dont think about the difference that is supposed to be there.

we have this spiritual adoption granted to us when we become christians, in Christ ,  but do we live it ?

Do we live like sons of God and ambassadors of His empire in this little province called earth  that is at war with our empire ?

Do we use the weapons given to us to grant victory ? (do we know what they are ?)