Ephesians

His Glory s His Church s My Life

RECONCILIATION

Past, Present, Future

Ephesians 2:11-22

PAST - 2:11-12• “Remember”

• Exodus 12:14 (NIV) - "This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the LORD--a lasting ordinance.

• 1 Corinthians 11:25 (NIV) - In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."

PAST - 2:11-12• “Uncircumcised”• 5 Effects of Uncircumcised

1. Separate from God

2. Excluded from Citizenship

3. Unable to Participate in God’s Covenants

4. Without Hope

5. Without God

PAST - 2:11-12• “Circumcised”• God required circumcision:

–As a sign of obedience–As a sign of belonging to his covenant

people–As a symbol of “cutting off” the old life of

sin, purifying one’s heart, and dedicating oneself to God.

PAST - 2:11-12• Romans 2:25-29 (NIV) - 25 Circumcision

has value if you observe the law, but if you break the law, you have become as though you had not been circumcised…29 No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man's praise is not from men, but from God.

RECONCILIATION

Past, Present, Future

Ephesians 2:11-22

PRESENT - 2:13-18• “But now in Christ Jesus” (v 13)• Atoned (2:13)• United (2:14)

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Redeemed (2:15)• Romans 3:19-20 (NIV) - 19 Now we know

that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Reconciled (2:16)• Romans 5:10 (NIV) - For if, when

we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Reconciled (2:16)• Colossians 1:20 (NIV) - and

through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Reconciled (2:16) • John 14:6 (NIV) - Jesus answered,

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Preached (2:17) • Isaiah 56:3-8 (NIV) - 3 Let no foreigner who has bound himself

to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely exclude me from his people." And let not any eunuch complain, "I am only a dry tree.“ 4 For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant--5 to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off. 6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD to serve him, to love the name of the LORD, and to worship him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant--7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." 8 The Sovereign LORD declares-- he who gathers the exiles of Israel: "I will gather still others to them besides those already gathered."

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Accessed (2:18) “by one Spirit”

• Romans 5:2 (NIV) - through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

• Ephesians 3:12 (NIV) - In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

PRESENT - 2:13-18• Access to God through Christ by

His Holy Spirit• Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) - Let us then

approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

RECONCILIATION

Past, Present, Future

Ephesians 2:11-22

FUTURE - 2:19-22• Building Foundation (2:20)• Building Formation (2:21)• Building Function (2:22)

FUTURE - 2:19-22• Galatians 4:6 (NIV) - Because you are sons,

God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”

• 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (NIV) - 16 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.