Ephesians 2:11-16

1. Title Layout

2. Tear Down the Wall
EPHESIANS 2:11-16

3. June 12, 1987: Berlin’s 750th Birthday
•Since 1961, the wall stood as an icon of
separation; physical, ideological, political
•Separated the world into two minds:
Communism and Freedom
•2 years Later, Gorbachev
accepted the challenge
•Jesus accomplished more!!

4. “11 Therefore remember that formerly you,
the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called
“Uncircumcision” by the so-called
“Circumcision,” which is performed in the
flesh by human hands— 12 remember that
you were at that time separate from Christ,
excluded from the commonwealth of Israel,

5. and strangers to the covenants of promise,
having no hope and without God in the
world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who
formerly were far off have been brought near
by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is
our peace, who made both groups into one
and broke down the barrier of the dividing
wall, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity,

6. which is the Law of commandments
contained in ordinances, so that in Himself
He might make the two into one new man,
thus establishing peace, 16 and might
reconcile them both in one body to God
through the cross, by it having put to death
the enmity.”
Ephesians 2:11-16,NASB

7. Separated– What Gentiles were
•Vv 11-12, Circumcision was a
Jewish mark of “faith”
•Yet no proof of actual faith

8. “… For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a
new creation.”
Galatians 6:15, NASB

9. Separated– What Gentiles were
•Vv 11-12, Circumcision was a
Jewish mark of “faith”
•Yet no proof of actual faith
•Believers in Christ received a
“spiritual” circumcision in
the heart– made w/o hands

10. “… In Him you were also circumcised with
the circumcision made without hands, by
putting off the body of the sins of the flesh,
by the circumcision of Christ...”
Colossians 2:11, NASB

11. Without Christ…
•Paul first characterized the
Gentiles as separate from
Christ
•The Jews had always a hope of
Messiah, the Christ– even their
Scriptures revealed this from
the beginning

12. “And I will put enmity Between you and the
woman, And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise
His heel.” Genesis 3:15, NASB
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is
given; And the government will be upon His
shoulder. And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting
Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6, NASB

13. Without Christ…
•Paul first characterized the
Gentiles as separate from Christ
•The Jews had always a hope of
Messiah, the Christ– even their
Scriptures revealed this from the
beginning
•God promised them salvation,
conquered enemies, Heaven
•Gentiles got no such promises

14. Also being aliens…
•Paul added that the Gentiles were
aliens from the commonwealth of
Israel: No Spiritual Home
•This wall of exclusion stronger
than the Berlin Wall kept them
apart from Israel’s privileged
relationship with God
•It took literal form in Herod’s
temple

15. Strangers from the Covenants of Promise
•The Gentiles hadn’t received
any of the promises God made
to the Jews: Abrahamic, Mosaic,
Davidic, & the New Covenant
•They all pointed to Messiah and
the blessing thru Him: (Nation,
Land, King, Spiritual
inheritance) they had no claim
to any of them

16. No Hope…
•Without Christ, being aliens,
and no covenants of promises,
the Gentiles had no hope
•Since the promise of a future
rested with the Messiah, they
couldn't expect things to get any
better – in this life or the next

17. Without God…
•They had gods on every corner
•But these so -called deities were
powerless to save them from their
hopeless and God-less situation
•Keep in mind that every “not
born-again” person, Jew or
Gentile, is without God and
that means eternal condemnation

18. The Difference Christ made…
•Their lives were absolutely bleak
before God: but He tore down the
wall that separated Gentiles from
Him
•V13, Christ brought the far-off up
close!
•How? The Cross!

19. “… And according to the law almost all things
are purified with blood, and without shedding
of blood there is no remission…”
Hebrews 9:22 , NASB

20. The Difference Christ made…
•Their lives were absolutely bleak
before God: but He tore down the
wall that separated Gentiles from
Him
•V13, Christ brought the far-off up
close!
•How? The Cross! Now anyone can
believe and be Saved!

21. Christ brought peace to the divided
•Vv 14-16, Jesus not only created
Peace between God and Man,
He bridged the gap of Racism
•How? Anew group of Believers
who were Jew AND Gentile, now
Siblings in Christ!
•Access to God and unity in the
Church (Bible say that?)

22. “… And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice,
and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the
veil of the temple was torn in two from top to
bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks
were split …”
Matthew 27:50-51, NASB

23. Take Home!
•Don’t build any walls within
the Body of Christ Jesus