One New Humanity: Mission in Ephesiansنموونە

Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:1–22

Ephesians 2 contrasts our former bleak spiritual condition with the wonderful new identity we have in Christ, the privileges of salvation that are ours, and the new relationships we have been given. It presents this from two different angles. In each situation, we can say things were once a certain way (vv. 3, 11), but now they are different because of God and his Son, Jesus (vv. 4, 13). In verses 1–10, Paul focuses on the state of each individual without Christ and the spiritual life that believers now enjoy. You could say the stress is on the “vertical” relationship between you and God. In verses 11–22, the emphasis is on people (Jews and Gentiles). Here, there is a bit more emphasis on the “horizontal” relationship between us and others, as well as with God.

What can we learn from this chapter about God’s mission? Those we seek to reach are spiritually dead because of sin (vv. 1, 3) and the influence of spiritual forces of evil (v. 2). It is not our job to raise the spiritually dead—we cannot “convert” them, but God can! God does this out of his great love, mercy, and grace toward people (vv. 4, 7), and that should be our motivation, too. We need to show others that salvation is a gift from God; we cannot earn it. I can give you a present, but you haven’t received it unless you open your arms to take it. A person must respond to God’s offer with faith if they are going to come alive.

One unique feature of Ephesians is the way Paul uses many phrases that begin with “together with.” For example, resurrection life is only possible together with Christ (v. 5), and we have been raised and seated together with him in the heavenly places (v. 6). Because we are joined to Christ, we share in what happened to him. We also share in this new life together as his people. He has prepared good works for us to do (v. 10), including participating in his mission, but our spiritual life can only be sustained through his life.

We need to help people see that without God, there is no hope—only alienation (v. 12). Yet, in Christ, the barriers between peoples come down. Warring groups are reconciled to each other and to God, and peace reigns, since Christ—the King himself—is our peace (vv. 14–17). Whatever a person’s culture, background, race, or religion, God has created one new humanity (v. 15) that transcends all those differences. This is wonderfully good news for the people of a divided planet. In a world where many are lonely, isolated, and alienated, those who were once strangers to God can become citizens of his kingdom and members of his family together with his people (v. 19).

They are joined together and built together with him into an ever-expanding temple in which God dwells by his Spirit, and Christ is at the center (vv. 20–22). Once without God, we can now experience community with the Trinity: through Jesus, in the Spirit, brought near to the Father (v. 18). This is a message that all people need to hear.