No Longer Divided | Ephesians: Your Life In The Family Of God, Part 4

“No Longer Divided”, Ephesians pt 4

We love to divide people into groups for all sorts of reasons.
-Some groups we like.
-Some groups we do not.

The Ephesians divided into groups that could not stand each other.

Ephesians 2:11-12
11 Therefore remember that at one time you  in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time ,  from the commonwealth of Israel and  to the covenants of promise, having  in the world.

The Jews and the Gentiles were absolutely opposed to each other.

A diagram of the temple is a visual example of how the Jews viewed the Gentiles.
Gentiles could be punished by death for simply entering the Sacred Enclosure.

Jesus creates one new group out of the two.

Ephesians 2: 13-18
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For h, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself  in place of the two, , 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached  to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

In verse 15 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, 
This new man was not a Jew made to be like a Gentile or a Gentile to be made like a Jew. It was according to the original Greek word used “a new man” – the first of its kind, not like anything else that ever existed.

Action Steps

Ephesians 2:19-22
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are  with the saints and , 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a  in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being  into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Become that new creation.
– Have you trusted Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and made him the Lord and cornerstone of your life?
– Live in such a way that describes that new person.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his , , which God prepared beforehand, that we should .
– – Do the work of showing grace, choosing unity, encourage others on their spiritual journey.