Ephesians 2

They have new life in Christ

And you he has made alive, you who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the children of disobedience. 3 Among them we also, all of us, had our life in time past in the cravings of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

2:5 God has made believers spiritually alive and brought them into union and fellowship with Christ – John 1:12-13; 5:21, 24; Rom 5:17; 6:4, 8; Col 2:13; 1 Pet 1:3, 23; 1 John 3:9; 5:1, 18. This was a gift of God – v 9; Rom 6:23.⚜

They are seated with Christ in the heavenly places

6 and raised us up together, and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

They have a glorious future

7 so that in the ages to come he might show the exceedingly great riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

2:7 Here is God’s grand purpose toward us. Who can even imagine what it will mean? God will satisfy His love toward us by pouring out on us the greatest blessings and gifts that even He cannot imagine. And He will continue to do so for all eternity.⚜

They are God’s workmanship

8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one should boast.

2:8-9 Salvation from beginning to end is a gift of God to unworthy people. Human merit has nothing whatever to do with it – Acts 15:11; Rom 3:24; 4:4; 5:15; 6:23; 11:6; Titus 3:4-7.⚜

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good deeds, which God ordained beforehand that we should be active in them.

2:1-10 In these verses Paul continues the theme he introduced in Eph 1:19 – “the exceeding greatness of his power toward us”. He showed in Eph 1:20-23 how this power was at work in Christ. Now he shows how it has been at work in and for believers. God raised Christ from death and exalted Him to heaven (Eph 1:20). He has raised believers from spiritual death and has exalted them also (vs 5,6). God’s great power made Christ the Head of the Church (Eph 1:22). That same power made believers a new creation united with Christ (v 10).⚜

2:10 The new spiritual birth of believers is not something they achieve, any more than their physical birth into the world was something they achieved. It is something God does in them. It is a work of creation – 2 Cor 5:17; Jam 1:18; John 1:13. Observe here one reason why God creates new life in us. We are not saved by good works, but we are saved so we will do good works – Titus 2:14; Matt 5:16. God has prepared us for good works and created good works for us. He places the opportunities to do good works before us all. Good works are a fruit of salvation. If we do not do good works we show that we are not God’s workmanship (Matt 7:16-20). The new life in us will bear good fruit as surely as a good tree will bear good fruit.

Since believers are God’s workmanship we should think that He will finish this work and not abandon it somewhere along the line – Phil 1:6.⚜

They are near to God and have access to His presence

11 Therefore remember, that in time past you were Gentiles according to the flesh, called “Uncircumcision” by those who are called “the Circumcision” in the flesh made by hands; 12 that at that time you were without Christ, were shut out from the commonwealth of Israel, and were strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

2:12 This is still the sad condition of all people on earth who are apart from Christ – they do not have the true God, and so they do not have a true and proper expectation of salvation (1 John 2:23; 5:11-12; Gal 4:8).⚜

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who at one time were far off are brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who has made the two one, and has broken down the middle wall of partition between us, 15 by abolishing in his flesh the cause of enmity, that is, the law of commandments with its regulations, so that from the two he might make one new man in himself, and so make peace; 16 and that he might reconcile both to God in one body by the cross, by which he destroyed the enmity. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off, and to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

2:18 See Eph 3:12; Rom 5:2; Heb 10:19-22. Now everyone whether Jew or Gentile can come directly to God through Christ. Observe the Trinity here – we approach God the Father through God’s Son by the Holy Spirit.⚜

They are citizens of heaven and members of God’s household

19 Now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but are fellow citizens with the saints, and belong to the household of God,

2:19 The exact opposite of v 12. “Fellow citizens” suggests a connection with a city or country. Compare Gal 4:26; Phil 3:20; Heb 11:16; 12:22.⚜

They are God’s holy temple

20 and are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God through the Spirit.

2:11-22 In the Old Testament the nation Israel was God’s special people. God gave them His word, His law, His covenants, etc – Rom 9:4-5. The other nations of the world (Gentiles) had no part in all that – v 12. They were far away – v 13. And there was an actual barrier of enmity between Israel and all other nations – v 14. Now, Paul says, God has changed all that. In Christ there is no longer any separation between people of Gentile and Jewish background – vs 14-22. All believers are one in Christ. Compare 1 Cor 12:12-13; Gal 3:28.⚜

2:20-22 Believers in Christ are also God’s house, God’s temple. Compare 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 1 Pet 2:4-5. See the many expressions Paul uses in this letter to reveal what believers are to God. They are

God’s sons (Eph 1:5),

God’s inheritance (Eph 1:18),

The Son of God’s “Body” (Eph 1:23),

God’s workmanship (Eph 2:10),

God’s people, citizens of God’s heaven, and God’s household (Eph 2:19),

And God’s temple (v 21).

A temple is a place where worship goes on and where offerings are made. So it is with God’s living temple composed of His people – Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15-16.⚜