Ephesians Chapter 2
Most of this information comes from the NIV Disciples Study Bible and the Holman Commentary. These are notes from my small groups bible study on Ephesians.
Victory in Christ
A Study in Ephesians
Ephesians Chapter 2 – Our Spiritual Union with God
What is an alien? What does it require for us to become citizens rather than aliens?
In a Nutshell
Paul tell the Ephesians that they were once spiritually alienated from God; but now, because of God’s grace, they have been spiritually united with Him. He tells the Gentiles that they were once spiritually alienated from Israel, but now they have been spiritually united with them into a living spiritual temple of God.
Dwight l. Moody said, “I must die or get somebody to die for me. If the Bible doesn’t teach that, it doesn’t teach anything. And that is where the atonement of Jesus Christ comes in.”
Our Spiritual Death
Verses 1-3: God’s grace gives you life and unites you with Him and with people from whom you have been alienated. We were all once spiritually dead and were objects of God’s wrath.
In Ephesians Chapter 1 Paul lists God’s spiritual blessings.
• Spiritual Blessings in the Father (chosen and adopted by God)
• Spiritual Blessings in the Son (redeemed, forgiven, enlightened and enriched)
• Spiritual Blessings in the Spirit (secure)
In Ephesians Chapter 2 Paul explains in more detail why those are such blessings.
• We were spiritual dead
• Separated (alienated) from God because of our sins
Later he explains the consequences of this, but for now he just establishes this fact.
In verses 2-3 Paul describes how we acted while we were spiritually alienated from God.
Who is the ruler of the kingdom of the air? (Satan has power on earth, represented here by this phrase, but he does not have any heavenly power.)
The Bible refers to the ruler of the air rather than the ruler of the heavens.
• First heaven – the atmosphere
• Second heaven – space
• Third heaven – where God lives
Why do we deserve God’s wrath? Explain this in a way that a non-religious person could understand.
Christians often wonder why God does not seem to punish the evil people of the world. But God’s wrath is not only held for the final judgment. Look at the many sufferings around our world that are a direct result of sin. Even with Christians, while sin can be forgiven, we are always left with the consequences of our sin.
Give some examples of the consequences of sin. (STDs, addictions, guilt, etc.)
Our Spiritual Life
Verses 4-10: because of God’s rich mercy, He has provided salvation for us by grace through faith, not through our good works, so that we cannot claim credit that belongs to God.
Why did God go to so much trouble to make us alive in Christ? (Because of His great love for us, verse 2)
I once heard someone say that they did not like the way the song “Above All” ends because of the words, “He thought of us above all.” This person believes that this is contrary to the Bible’s teachings that God does everything for His glory. However, we need to understand that God’s great love for us brings Him the utmost glory. When He died on the cross, I doubt He was saying to Himself, “Now they will give me the glory that I am due.” I believe that He was thinking about us above all, and about how His act of love would restore the relationship that He so craved. And through the restoration of that relationship, He receives glory when we turn to Him and love Him back above all.
What does it mean that God raised us up with Christ? (Like Christ we were dead, and like Christ we have been brought back to life)
What does seated with Christ mean? (Like having nametags placed at the table in preparation of the banquet. It means that God has already decided who will sit there and we are just waiting for our physical death to be present with Him.)
Verse 7: God’s love toward us does not end with our salvation. He plans to show for eternity the riches of His grace toward us.
Verse 8-9: It is important that we understand that our salvation did not come about by anything we did or can do. It is only through the grace of God that we have been saved. Paul stresses this redundantly so that there is no doubt that we did nothing to gain our salvation.
Verse 10: We are His workmanship (Greek word poiema from which we get the word poem). It is not a result of just labor, but from artistic skill and craftsmanship.
Our Spiritual Union
Verses 11-22: We were once separated from God and His people the Jews, but now, in Christ, both Jew and Gentile have been united with God as well as with one another.
Why is it important to Paul that He points out that God’s grace unifies Jews and Gentiles? (Remind about the historical background for Ephesians)
Verse 11 – The Jews called the Gentiles the uncircumcised as a means of demeaning them spiritually. Paul is saying that their circumcision was by the hands of men and not a spiritual circumcision by the hand of God. Paul is setting the stage to show the unifying power of God to bring together both Jew and Gentile through the circumcision of the heart as fellow believers in Christ.
Verses 13-16 – Paul is explaining how God wants peace to be both horizontal and vertical. This is available through God’s grace.
Verse 17-19 – Paul quotes from Isaiah 57:19. Those who were “far away” were the Gentiles and those who were “near” were the Jews. Jesus preached the message of peace to both, and on the cross He reconciled both to each other and to Himself. We are all fellow citizens of His kingdom and part of His household.
Verses 20-22 – Paul switches to the metaphor of a building. We are all stones in the building that has been built on the foundation of the faith, testimony and life of Christ’s closest followers (His apostles) and on the prophets. The key is not the foundation, however, but the cornerstone or keystone.
What is the difference between cornerstone and keystone? (Isaiah 28:6 refers to cornerstone, Psalm 118:22 refers to keystone) Cornerstone is a foundational stone that keeps the structure together signifying that Christ is the foundation on which our faith is built. The keystone is the final stone that covers it all signifying that Christ is the head over all things.
Paul concludes by pointing out that the Gentiles have no room to complain or for self-pity as God included them in His salvation. Together the Jews and the Gentiles are being built together as God’s holy temple (or worship center) where God lives through the presence of His Holy Spirit.
This is part two in a series on Ephesians. Please read the other parts of this series:
1. Ephesians Chapter 1 - Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3. Ephesians Chapter 3 - Paul's Prayer for Power
4. Ephesians Chapter 4, part 1 - Our Call to Unity and Holiness
5. Ephesians Chapter 4, part 2 - Our Call to Unity and Holiness
6. Ephesians Chapter 5 - Our Life of Love
7. Ephesians Chapter 6 - Our Obedience Leads to Victory
Victory in Christ
A Study in Ephesians
Ephesians Chapter 2 – Our Spiritual Union with God
What is an alien? What does it require for us to become citizens rather than aliens?
In a Nutshell
Paul tell the Ephesians that they were once spiritually alienated from God; but now, because of God’s grace, they have been spiritually united with Him. He tells the Gentiles that they were once spiritually alienated from Israel, but now they have been spiritually united with them into a living spiritual temple of God.
Dwight l. Moody said, “I must die or get somebody to die for me. If the Bible doesn’t teach that, it doesn’t teach anything. And that is where the atonement of Jesus Christ comes in.”
Our Spiritual Death
Verses 1-3: God’s grace gives you life and unites you with Him and with people from whom you have been alienated. We were all once spiritually dead and were objects of God’s wrath.
In Ephesians Chapter 1 Paul lists God’s spiritual blessings.
• Spiritual Blessings in the Father (chosen and adopted by God)
• Spiritual Blessings in the Son (redeemed, forgiven, enlightened and enriched)
• Spiritual Blessings in the Spirit (secure)
In Ephesians Chapter 2 Paul explains in more detail why those are such blessings.
• We were spiritual dead
• Separated (alienated) from God because of our sins
Later he explains the consequences of this, but for now he just establishes this fact.
In verses 2-3 Paul describes how we acted while we were spiritually alienated from God.
Who is the ruler of the kingdom of the air? (Satan has power on earth, represented here by this phrase, but he does not have any heavenly power.)
The Bible refers to the ruler of the air rather than the ruler of the heavens.
• First heaven – the atmosphere
• Second heaven – space
• Third heaven – where God lives
Why do we deserve God’s wrath? Explain this in a way that a non-religious person could understand.
Christians often wonder why God does not seem to punish the evil people of the world. But God’s wrath is not only held for the final judgment. Look at the many sufferings around our world that are a direct result of sin. Even with Christians, while sin can be forgiven, we are always left with the consequences of our sin.
Give some examples of the consequences of sin. (STDs, addictions, guilt, etc.)
Our Spiritual Life
Verses 4-10: because of God’s rich mercy, He has provided salvation for us by grace through faith, not through our good works, so that we cannot claim credit that belongs to God.
Why did God go to so much trouble to make us alive in Christ? (Because of His great love for us, verse 2)
I once heard someone say that they did not like the way the song “Above All” ends because of the words, “He thought of us above all.” This person believes that this is contrary to the Bible’s teachings that God does everything for His glory. However, we need to understand that God’s great love for us brings Him the utmost glory. When He died on the cross, I doubt He was saying to Himself, “Now they will give me the glory that I am due.” I believe that He was thinking about us above all, and about how His act of love would restore the relationship that He so craved. And through the restoration of that relationship, He receives glory when we turn to Him and love Him back above all.
What does it mean that God raised us up with Christ? (Like Christ we were dead, and like Christ we have been brought back to life)
What does seated with Christ mean? (Like having nametags placed at the table in preparation of the banquet. It means that God has already decided who will sit there and we are just waiting for our physical death to be present with Him.)
Verse 7: God’s love toward us does not end with our salvation. He plans to show for eternity the riches of His grace toward us.
Verse 8-9: It is important that we understand that our salvation did not come about by anything we did or can do. It is only through the grace of God that we have been saved. Paul stresses this redundantly so that there is no doubt that we did nothing to gain our salvation.
Verse 10: We are His workmanship (Greek word poiema from which we get the word poem). It is not a result of just labor, but from artistic skill and craftsmanship.
Our Spiritual Union
Verses 11-22: We were once separated from God and His people the Jews, but now, in Christ, both Jew and Gentile have been united with God as well as with one another.
Why is it important to Paul that He points out that God’s grace unifies Jews and Gentiles? (Remind about the historical background for Ephesians)
Verse 11 – The Jews called the Gentiles the uncircumcised as a means of demeaning them spiritually. Paul is saying that their circumcision was by the hands of men and not a spiritual circumcision by the hand of God. Paul is setting the stage to show the unifying power of God to bring together both Jew and Gentile through the circumcision of the heart as fellow believers in Christ.
Verses 13-16 – Paul is explaining how God wants peace to be both horizontal and vertical. This is available through God’s grace.
Verse 17-19 – Paul quotes from Isaiah 57:19. Those who were “far away” were the Gentiles and those who were “near” were the Jews. Jesus preached the message of peace to both, and on the cross He reconciled both to each other and to Himself. We are all fellow citizens of His kingdom and part of His household.
Verses 20-22 – Paul switches to the metaphor of a building. We are all stones in the building that has been built on the foundation of the faith, testimony and life of Christ’s closest followers (His apostles) and on the prophets. The key is not the foundation, however, but the cornerstone or keystone.
What is the difference between cornerstone and keystone? (Isaiah 28:6 refers to cornerstone, Psalm 118:22 refers to keystone) Cornerstone is a foundational stone that keeps the structure together signifying that Christ is the foundation on which our faith is built. The keystone is the final stone that covers it all signifying that Christ is the head over all things.
Paul concludes by pointing out that the Gentiles have no room to complain or for self-pity as God included them in His salvation. Together the Jews and the Gentiles are being built together as God’s holy temple (or worship center) where God lives through the presence of His Holy Spirit.
This is part two in a series on Ephesians. Please read the other parts of this series:
1. Ephesians Chapter 1 - Our Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3. Ephesians Chapter 3 - Paul's Prayer for Power
4. Ephesians Chapter 4, part 1 - Our Call to Unity and Holiness
5. Ephesians Chapter 4, part 2 - Our Call to Unity and Holiness
6. Ephesians Chapter 5 - Our Life of Love
7. Ephesians Chapter 6 - Our Obedience Leads to Victory
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