Our Riches Found Through Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:11 – 3:21

• We are united
  • The Jews had a covenant which God gave first through Abraham
    • It was a promise they were God’s people
    • It was a promise He would be with them always
    • The physical sign of this promise was circumcision
  • The Jew pointed to this covenant with pride
    • They called themselves the circumcision
      • Gentiles were uncircumcision
    • This was a clear separation
      • The separation was obvious in the Temple as well
        • There was the Gentile court
          • A Gentile could not pass beyond this court upon penalty of death
  • Jesus destroyed the wall of separation
    • We are one in Christ
    • The cross makes the difference
  • The result
    • We have peace
  • Christ Jesus is the uniting factor
    • We are fellow citizens
    • Members of the family
    • We are a “building” in which Christ lives
• We are included
  • The mystery unwrapped
    • Jews and Gentiles share equally as heirs of God’s grace
  • Paul was the chosen messenger to bring this revelation to the Gentiles
    • His pattern
      • Jews first
      • If rejected by the Jews, then to the Gentiles
  • We appreciate this new understanding
    • It is for the whole family
    • This truth builds us up
    • It broadens our understanding
    • Makes us rich in our relationship with God