Paul has previously demonstrated how the Gentile world was outside God’s program, looking in on what He was doing with Israel. The promises and covenants and hope attached to the Messiah was not the world’s, but Israel’s, and to get that hope one had to look to the light found in Israel. Unfortunately, that light was often dimmed by Israel’s sin. But now the true light has come. Christ has, by His blood, made the way for all to find access to God by the Spirit. He has destroyed the wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile. He has made a new humanity in His church. So, after this radical work of Christ, what are we now?

United To One Another — What Christ Did-Three Things (Ephesians 2.14-18)

June 14, 2018 Nate Holdridge

Beautifully, Christ has killed the hostility, breaking down the wall of division by His blood. Gentiles can now be brought near by His blood. There is no level of divide Christ cannot heal. We rejoice. The wall has been dealt with. But how did Jesus break down that wall? Paul mentions three ways.

United To One Another — What Christ Did- Destroyed The Hostlility (Ephesians 2:13-16)

June 7, 2018 Nate Holdridge

who were once far off” — have been brought near by the blood of Christ. It is the blood of Christ at Calvary which levels the field, for none gain the righteousness of God without it. But what Paul is highlighting here is what the blood has done: it has brought far-off Gentiles into the family of God. God had predicted this day would come.

United To One Another — We Were Outside God’s Program (Ephesians 2:11-12)

May 31, 2018 Nate Holdridge

Paul went on to detail three disadvantages the nations (the non-Jewish world) were under before Christ came and died on His cross. He attached an exhortation to these disadvantages — remember them. He desired the grafted in Gentile believers in every generation of the church to recall the divide, the lostness, they were previously under.

3 Minutes / 500 Words