Ephesians 2:11-22
Steak is my favorite food, no question. And my favorite sauce to go with it? Bearnaise. There is something cool about things that shouldn’t go together (butter and water) mixing together so nicely into a delicious sauce, thanks to the egg acting as an emulsifier (bonding agent). It’s awesome when different things mix together and create such a beautiful flavor! If only people could mix together that easily!
As we continue through the letter to the Ephesians, Paul has just reminded them of the depth of their lostness, but with the centrality of Christ in the gospel (it was all Jesus). Everything that comes in the rest of chapter 2 is all based on and directly pulled from the main gospel message presented in the first part. THEREFORE is a key word here. In this passage we are blessed with what many consider to be the key treatise on the church in the NT. Because of the gospel, Paul is about to make some very strong statements about the church. Let’s look in together.
It is very important to note that, while the gospel is vertical (truth), this passage also speaks to it being horizontal (relational). Let’s look into some things the gospel speaks to in this passage.
Ethnic Diversity (v11-13)
Right away, Paul continues his command to remember certain things. In fact, that’s the only real command he gives until ch 4. This time, though, the command goes specifically to the gentiles. Not only does he call them out by name, but while in other letters, Paul uses the phrase “in the flesh” to discuss the sin nature, here the Greek usage refers to physical characteristics – literally the skin. Paul is identifying ethnic and racial diversity as a direct outpouring of the gospel message (v1-10).
Because of the gospel, other races are being brought into the kingdom. John said the same thing while exiled on Patmos (Revelation 7:9-12). God loves color and wants His kingdom to be filled with all of them! The goal of Christianity is not to clone each other into the other person’s image, but to enjoy and accept our differences and unite into one beautiful, colorful canvas, painted by God (Ephesians NIV Application Commentary). And that painting, in perfect harmony by the master painter; is the gospel which brings diversity as it creates unity.
Unity (v14-17)
A series of signs were posted along the temple wall to warn gentiles to stay away from the sacred space on pain of death. This was the message to the gentiles in Jesus’ day. I think part of the reason Jesus got so angry in the temple was not just the commerce, but also that they were taking up the gentiles’ allowed space, leaving them no room to worship God! Verse 14 draws imagery of that exact wall that would keep the gentiles out of the inner rooms to worship. Jesus broke down that wall that segregated the races and brought peace by allowing everyone in. In ancient Rome, the church was the only place where ethnically diverse people could commune in unity (Ephesians NIV Application Commentary). Those who were far off were finally and fully brought near! But they weren’t just brought near to each other.
Equality (v18-22)
With that wall down, everyone could run into the inner rooms to worship and be in God’s presence, all the way to the ripped open curtain of the holy of holies. Christ breaking down that dividing wall gave everyone the same access to God – putting everyone on the same level. We are no longer Jew or Gentile, but family members; equal heirs to the promise and recipients of the HS. Imagine what it would have felt like to have been a gentile during the original reading of this letter – no longer a stranger or an alien, but fellow citizen! That term would have meant everything in Rome – as citizenship was such a rare privilege.
Over time, Christians (universal) are growing into the temple of God as the body of Christ. This is the culmination, This equality was lost over time – simply consider how the AMEC church came to be (ame-church.com). Our American ideals have not lived up to God’s idea of equality and as difficult as this is to hear, it shows us the work we must do. LW is 60% white – those demographics should be reflected in God’s local congregations (worldpopulationreview.com).
Next Steps
The gospel is a vertical relationship between yourself and God, but it is also equally horizontal and Jesus summed it up perfectly in Matt 22:37-40. Since our evangelical tradition has always focused more on the vertical, here are two questions to ask yourself to put more focus on the horizontal:
- Remember the Bearnaise sauce – Are you letting Jesus mix you with diverse people? Are you avoiding or letting opportunities happen?
- The gospel is relational, therefore the best litmus test is at home – how diverse is your dinner table? Are you engaging the chances you have?
The gospel is both vertical and horizontal – both and, not either or. The image in Rev. 7 will happen – let’s join in that picture now.
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