Read Ephesians 2:13–22
Questions from the Scripture text: What are they now in Ephesians 2:13 (as opposed to when they were in the flesh in Ephesians 2:11)? What has happened to them, in contrast to their being far off? By what had they been brought near? What is the peace between the Jews and Gentiles (Ephesians 2:14)? What has Jesus done to them? What has He broken down? What did He do to the enmity (Ephesians 2:15)? How? What had sealed this enmity? What has Christ done to it? What has He created in Himself? To Whom has He reconciled them (Ephesians 2:16)? How? What did this put to death? What did He come and preach (Ephesians 2:17)? To whom? What do we both have (Ephesians 2:18)? Through Whom? By Whom? To Whom? What are they no longer (Ephesians 2:19)? What are they now with the saints? Of what are they now members? Upon what were they built (Ephesians 2:20)? Who is the chief cornerstone? What role does He have in the building (Ephesians 2:21)? Into what does the building grow, in Him? Who else is being built together in this building (Ephesians 2:22)? For what? For Whom? In Whom?
Next week’s Call to Worship, Prayer for Help, Song of Adoration, and Prayer of Confession all come from Ephesians 2:13–22, so that we will see that we are singing God’s thoughts after Him with My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less.
We have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13)! His blood has atoned for us so that we can come near. His righteousness has merited the blessedness in which we do come near. So our peace is more than just a position or status, but a Person (Ephesians 2:14) in Whom we have it.
Many of the ordinances of the Mosaic law (Ephesians 2:15) existed to show the separation between Israel and the nations, which was necessary because God was near Israel in a way that He was not to other nations (cf. Deuteronomy 4:7, etc.). But it turned out that what the tabernacle, temple, and sacrifices couldn’t do, Jesus Himself has done in His flesh (Ephesians 2:15-16), which He makes a reality in our lives by His Spirit (Ephesians 2:18).
What could man ever add, whether by his efforts or his feelings, to the reality that we have in Jesus Christ Himself? The Father has brought us to Himself in the Son by the powerful working of His Spirit. To what the Triune God plans, accomplishes, and applies, man the creature can never add.
Christ is the Solid Rock, the sure foundation, the Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20). Any other ground—whether for any of us personally, or for the church corporately (Ephesians 2:21)—is sinking sand. When other things threaten to stir up discord in the church, we must have recourse back to Christ Himself, Who has killed that enmity (Ephesians 2:16). When circumstances seem to say that God has turned against us, we must have recourse back to Christ Himself, Who has killed that enmity (verse 16). How marvelous to know one another as fellow members of God’s family, and to know ourselves as God’s children (Ephesians 2:19)—which we can know only in Christ Himself!
How do people think and act, when Christ is the foundation of their getting along? Where should our minds and hearts go, when we are afraid that things have gone wrong between us and the Lord?
Suggested songs: ARP51B “From My Sins, O Hide Thy Face” or TPH459 “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
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