Because of His Great Love - Ephesians 2

May 25, 2024

Thank you for joining us as we continue to dig into our Keeping it Real series on Ephesians.

In Ephesians chapter 2, we start to get a glimpse of the Apostle Paul’s vision for the church

in Ephesus and how Christ’s work of salvation reconciles us to God and to one

another. Paul shows us how the gospel of Christ ministers peace to both pull

down and build up.

First, peace pulls down the dividing walls of hostility between God and one

other. Humans throughout history go about inventing new ways of dividing,

race, politics, class, sex and religion. The gospel says “no more”. We all stand

equally sinful, and we stand equally as recipients of grace if you ask for it.

Second, peace builds up, giving us a new way of building our identity. Rather

than building our identity on our achievements, gifts, or status, we build our

identity on the foundation of Christ, He is our cornerstone.

Here’s what this building up looks like. Firstly, we are fellow citizens. Then he

says, we are members of God's household. Thirdly, he says, we are stones

joined together in God’s temple. Each one gets more intense with regard to our

relationship with God. A king lives in a country with his people, but a father lives

under the same roof with his children and a temple is where God lives. The

images also get more intense regarding our relationships to each other. If you're

co-citizens, you may live kilometres from each other. But if you're are growing

up in the same home, you live just metres from each other. If your stones in a

building, there's no distance at all.

In summary, what Paul is trying to say is that if you want the surpassing power

of the gospel to be at work in and through your life, you have to deeply commit

yourself to His community. As we do, we together are formed into God’s

masterpiece, a gallery of glory declaring the testimony of God’s salvation

available to all.

Reflection Questions

1. What themes stand out to you in Ephesians chapter 2?

2. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal any walls of hostility that you need to pull down

(Hint: we all have them).

3. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of your life where your identity or self-

worth is based on your own efforts rather than Him. What areas of your life

need building up by the gospel of peace?

4. What is a personal application you can make based on some of the truths

revealed in this chapter? In other words, what does it look like for you to

“live this out” in your daily life.