FRAMEWORKS:
Ephesians 2
In
this ‘Framework' we use our usual text PLUS comment style to enable
you, as simply as possible, to catch the sense of his writing.
For the alternative 'light-weight' paraphrase version of this
chapter, please CLICK
HERE
[Chapter
Synopsis: The wonder that evokes praise and worship is
that although in our old disobedient lives we were spiritually
dead, deserving God's anger, but now by the work of Christ on
the Cross we have been made alive and united with Christ as he
rules at his Father's right hand. Previously we had been separated
from the people of God but have now been united so that believers,
whether Jew or Gentile, have been made one, a temple where God
dwells and is worshipped.]
v.1-10
We have been made alive in Christ
v.11-22
Jew and Gentile have been reconciled through Christ
v.1-10
We have been made alive in Christ
[Passage
Synopsis: Further
explaining the reasons for his thanks for them, he reminds them
of what they had been and then what had happened to them, the
product of the work of Christ who is now seated at the Father's
right hand sharing his purposes for our lives.]
v.1,2
(Very
well, to understand this inheritance, remember first what you
used to be) As
for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
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.
v.3
(we were desire-orientated,
deserving judgment) All
of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings
of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like
the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
v.4,5
(but when we
responded to His calling, He made us alive in a new way in Christ
by His grace) But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made
us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it
is by grace you have been saved.
v.6,7
(and even as
Christ was raised to sit beside him in the throne room in heaven,
so in the Spirit we now sit with him, receiving more and more
of his grace) And
God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly
realms in Christ Jesus, 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.
v.8,9
(it's all about
grace, His provision, His riches, His resources for us, a pure
gift, not earned) For
it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not
by works, so that no one can boast.
v.10
(we're the product
of His work which He's planned for us) For
we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do.
v.11-22
Jew and Gentile have been reconciled through Christ
[Passage
Synopsis: once
Gentiles had been separated from the people of God but now by
the death of Christ on our behalf, we are made one, believing
Jews and Gentiles united, being formed into a temple (where God
is worshipped) with Christ holding it all together]
v.11,12
(so if you aren't
a Jew you were excluded from the things they had) Therefore,
remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called
“uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision”
(which is done in the body by human hands)— 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.
v.13
(but now Christ
has drawn us near through the Cross) But
now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought
near by the blood of Christ.
v.14-16
(on the Cross
he brought peace with God for both Jew and Gentile, now one new
people) For
he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has
destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by
setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.
His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the
two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them
to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
v.17
(he included
Jew who would believe and Gentiles similarly) He
came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to
those who were near.
v.18
(we both has
access to God by His Spirit) For
through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
v.
19,20
(as a result we're now
part of God's people, built on the teaching of the prophets and
apostles, Jesus uniting us) Consequently,
you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens
with God's people and also members of his household, built
on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus
himself as the chief cornerstone.
v.21
(we're all becoming
one holy temple) In
him the whole building is joined together and rises to become
a holy temple in the Lord.
v.22
(it's
a place where God now dwells by His Spirit) And
in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in
which God lives by his Spirit.
(CONTINUE
to CHAPTER 3)