05.18.2025 | Ephesians pt 3
Connected
1. Outsider to Insider: Brought Near to Hope in God;
Eph. 2:11-13 (NLT) Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts.
12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope.
13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.
As soon as we start to think or feel better then, superior to, we have fallen behind in pride.
James 4:6 (NLT) And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
Luke 18:11 (NIV) The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
1 Cor. 6:11 (ESV) And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
2. Peace over Hostility. We are Peacemakers with the Father
Eph. 2:14-18 (NLT) For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups.
16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.
Made equal through our union with Christ – Brian Simmons translation
We have been provided with peace, but we can still choose to stay in hostility and forfeit peace!
Rom. 12:18 (NIV) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
3. Foreigner to family: joined together as His house!
Eph. 2:19-22 (NLT) So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.
21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.
People are one with Christ and one with each other in Him. Grace not only connects us to God and Christ, it connects us to each other. – Klyne Snodgrass
We are at home with God.
The point is not merely that all Christians are equal; rather, the point is that all Christians have been joined, which has far more significance and impact. – Klyne Snodgrass
We must be ready to tolerate disagreement as we enjoy unity. – Klyne Snodgrass
Eph. 4:3 (NIV) Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Eph. 2:22 (TPT) this means that God is transforming each one of you in the holy of holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the holy spirit living in you!
Questions for discussion/reflection:
1. Share a time when you felt like an outsider, why did you feel that way?
2. What does it mean to you to be an insider through Christ?
3. Do you find hope in Christ? Why or why not?
4. Share a time when you were robbed of peace, but then found it again in Christ?
5. What is the process to restore/return to peace in our hearts?
6. Talk about the difference between disagreement and unity… how can we have both?
7. What does it mean to be one with other believers through our union with Christ?
8. What should our view of other believers look like?