ALL ONE IN CHRIST JESUS
Paul was writing to a gentile church.
PAUL REMINDS THEM OF THEIR PAST CONDITION
[Eph 2:11-12 “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— 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.”]
This was our state before God saved us. Earlier in this chapter, Paul describes this like this in Eph 2:1-3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”
Apart from the grace of God, we would still be in our sins, without Christ and without hope.
PAUL REMINDS THEM OF THEIR PRESENT CONDITION
[Eph 2:13-20 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 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, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,”]
Once they were without Christ and without hope, but now they are united to the Lord Jesus. They have been buried with Him and have been raised with Him in newness of life. They are joint heirs with the Lord Jesus. Jesus thought of us when He went to the cross, taking our sin upon Himself. He is our elder brother, and we belong to the family of God. We are not just acquainted with Christ, but we are in Him.
So, we who were without God have been brought near to God. How? Not through religion or our own righteousness but through the blood of Christ, which cleanses us from all sin. Paul wants us to see the wonder of this.
These gentile believers have now become part of a new nation, being united with Christ, united with the Triune God, and being united with all the children of God who were Jews. Peter put it this way (1 Peter 2:9-10) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”
Gal 3:26-27 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
Our world is a divided world. But Paul seeks to convey that when someone becomes a child of God, they become part of the one family of God. We are united together whether we be Jew or gentile, slave or free, male or female. We come from various backgrounds and cultures, and that can sometimes become a barrier. God has brought us all together in Christ.
Through Him we have access in the one Spirit to the Father. Here we have the holy Trinity. Jesus brought reconciliation and peace between the Triune God and man. But the other truth is that Jesus has also brought peace between man and man. So, we are no longer aliens and strangers to God, but we are fellow citizens with the saints.
We are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. He took us out of the pit and set our feet upon the Rock. The apostles and prophets are the New Testament writers, and the foundation they laid is Jesus Himself. We are built on the Rock that is Christ.
PAUL REMINDS THEM OF GOD’S WHOLE PURPOSE FOR THEM FOR TIME AND ETERNITY
[Eph 2:21-22 “in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”]
People from every nation are forming this great dwelling place for God. Down through history, all the saints—all the OT saints and all the NT saints—have been gathered together by His Spirit so that they may form a dwelling place for God. Like a skilled stone mason, the Lord is building His church. It is most majestic.
Rev 21:1-4 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
The burning question is WILL I BE A LIVING STONE IN THIS STRUCTURE. If I am part of this great structure, it is only because of Jesus. It has nothing to do with our colour or country of origin or culture but it’s only got to do because of our being in Christ and in Christ alone. “Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone.”