Ephesians 2, Matthew 25-28

Through the New Testament Reading - Matthew 25-28

(see more notes on Ephesians 2)

Ephesians 2 (NIV 1984)
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

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My Reflection:

This whole chapter abruptly begins with a jarring statement about us, the readers. Immediately after an overwhelming affirmation of praise for the ultimate supremacy and transcendence of Christ, Paul immediately turns to us, calling us dead in our trespasses. Though we may not be literally dead in the sense of our physical bodies, it is no exaggeration to compare our (lack of) justice, peace, and prosperity to Jesus in this way. But the comparison is not meant to condemn. On the contrary, the writer immediately erupts with the excited proclamation that we have been made acceptable because of Jesus' grace and authority, and not our own. Because Jesus is supreme, and because he has conquered death, we are seated with him, by his will and power. This reconciliation and redemption is entirely by his grace, and is not dependent on our performance or worthiness in any way. This is awesome, and only serves to reinforce the freedom, grace, and justice of the king, and the kingdom in which we now hold citizenship.

In regarding and discussing the Gentile heritage of the readers, two things are emphasized. First, we are further reminded that there is nothing in ourselves that has made us worthy of redemption in our own strength. We are not descendants of Abraham by religion or birth. In the kingdom of God, this no longer matters. In Christ we are all adopted as full sons and daughters into the family of God, regardless of race, gender, or class.

Secondly, by reinforcing the reality of our adoption into a new family, one that had previously been closed and locked to outsiders, the writer reminds us that the reconciliation between peoples, the equality of humanity, and the redemption of all relationships is a demonstration of this good news on earth. We have been reconciled to God. We can now minister reconciliation between people. If peace can be made between humanity and the divine through Christ, the road to peace and reconciliation between peoples has also been opened. We can now speak peace and justice even to people once hostile and alien to one another. This is the kingdom of heaven.