BROUGHT NEAR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST

Passage: Ephesians 2:11-22

Key verse: 2:13

NIV

Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ

11 Therefore, remember that formerly(A) you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)(B)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners(C) to the covenants of the promise,(D) without hope(E) and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once(F) were far away have been brought near(G) by the blood of Christ.(H)

14 For he himself is our peace,(I) who has made the two groups one(J) and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh(K) the law with its commands and regulations.(L) His purpose was to create in himself one(M) new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross,(N) by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace(O) to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.(P) 18 For through him we both have access(Q) to the Father(R) by one Spirit.(S)

19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers,(T) but fellow citizens(U) with God’s people and also members of his household,(V) 20 built(W) on the foundation(X) of the apostles and prophets,(Y) with Christ Jesus himself(Z) as the chief cornerstone.(AA) 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple(AB) in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.(AC)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

One in Christ

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called (A)the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember (B)that you were at that time separated from Christ, (C)alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to (D)the covenants of promise, (E)having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were (F)far off have been brought near (G)by the blood of Christ. 14 For (H)he himself is our peace, (I)who has made us both one and has broken down (J)in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in (K)ordinances, that he might create in himself one (L)new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might (M)reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and (N)preached peace to you who were (O)far off and peace to those who were (P)near. 18 For (Q)through him we both have (R)access in (S)one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer (T)strangers and aliens,[a] but you are (U)fellow citizens with the saints and (V)members of the household of God, 20 (W)built on the foundation of the (X)apostles and prophets, (Y)Christ Jesus himself being (Z)the cornerstone, 21 (AA)in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into (AB)a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him (AC)you also are being built together (AD)into a dwelling place for God by[b] the Spirit.

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Footnotes
  1. Ephesians 2:19 Or sojourners
  2. Ephesians 2:22 Or in
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

First, Jesus is our peace (11-18). Jews had the covenant of circumcision, but Gentiles had no covenant with God, so were separated from Christ, without hope and without God in the world. But God saved all in Christ, having brought those near and far together on the basis of his holy blood alone. In this way Jesus is our peace, destroying the barrier of sin between God and man, and therefore between man and man. He has created one new humanity in Christ, access to one Father by one Spirit. Second, God's holy temple (19-22). Therefore, in Christ, Jews and Gentiles share one citizenship and one household, founded on the Word of God, with Jesus Christ as the chief cornerstone. Together we are a holy temple and the dwelling of God's Spirit. We are being built together, so we need one another for the continuing work of sanctification in our lives and in our world.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for drawing me near to you by the blood of Jesus, and making peace. Let me live as your holy people, where you Spirit may dwell.

One Word: Christ himself is our peace