Ephesians 2:11-13

The Power of God’s Grace to the Gentiles, Part 1.

Just as problematic as being dead in our trespasses is the legacy of the Gentiles. We are a problematic people outside of the grace of God. Grace is so powerful and so necessary that God saved us even while we were His enemies.

Grace to a Problemed People (Ephesians 2:11-13)

Label

In verse 11, we see the label “Gentiles.” This label is sometimes used to refer to a nation (see Acts 2:5). This word “nation” is the same term used in Ephesians to refer to people as Gentiles in contrast to the Jews who have come to worship and submit to God. Jews viewed Gentiles as outsiders. They specifically called them “the fore-skin” because they were uncircumcised.

We know that the majority of the church today is filled with Gentiles. But in the church, we are no longer of a different nation or people group. The Bible divides the earth into 2 groups. Throughout the Old Testament, the labels “Jew” and “Gentile” denoted those who feared God and those who did not. The New Testament clearly divides people into two categories: belief and unbelief.

Humanity is very good at dividing people into all sorts of categories. Regardless what groups the world comes up, with we know there will always be hostility and bias. The only pathway to true peace will be through Jesus Christ alone. The greatest peace that we need is with God, the Creator of the Universe.

God choose to bless Abraham and make the Israelite nation out of him. Though God did not choose many others of Abraham’s relatives, the church today worshipping God is mostly descended from these other family members. What a wonderful thing to know that God has chosen you and called you to worship Him!

Many of our neighbors and friends are trusting in some religious work to get them to Heaven. But they only need to trust in the saving work of Jesus Christ.

Liabilities (of the Gentile)

Ephesians 2 rehearses liabilities that existed since Genesis 12. As Gentiles,

• We were separated from Christ.
• We were excluded from the commonwealth of Israel. We were aliens without rights.
• We were strangers to the covenants of promise.
• We had no hope.
• We were without God in the world.

As we have friends who raise their fists against the God of Heaven, know that these liabilities have been washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ. They can have a hope in Jesus Christ. Don’t focus on the labels and groups the world creates. None of that matters. What matters are these liabilities and the only Person who can remove these liabilities—Jesus Christ.

Application Points

• We have a new privilege to approach God in worship that pleases Him, so our priorities must change. Grace doesn’t just erase our Gentile identity — it changes it. Our identity is now found in being the Church. We are now one people in Jesus Christ.

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore:

• Acts 2:5
• Genesis 10:1
• Genesis 11:10, 27
• Genesis 12:1-4
• Colossians 2:11-12 — circumcised spiritually
• Romans 4:13-24
• Galatians 3
• Ephesians 3:5 — no hope
• Psalm 2