Ephesians 2:17-22

Eph 2:17

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

 

Preached - Euangellion (Evangelized) = announced the good news

 

Those who were far off were the gentiles who were involved in all kinds of idol worship and religious debauchery.  As we read before Paul stated that the Gentiles were without God and without hope in the world but now the good news is that we have peace with God and peace with other Christians whether they be Jew or Gentile.

 

Those who were nigh were the Jews whom the Scriptures were first given to as we read in the first five books of the Bible namely the Pentateuch.  {1} What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?  {2} Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.  (Romans 3:1-2)  They were privy to the law and the prophets given to them over a period of 1100 years.  No other people group in the surrounding nations received anything from the LORD in the area of the covenants.  The only ones outside Israel who heard the gospel was Nineveh when Jonah went there to preach to them.  Other than that the only nation privy to the true word of God up until the time of the Messiah was national Israel and on Pentecost in 33 A.D. the gospel would now be preached to the world, no longer was Israel to be the only nation to hear the gospel.  In 37 years Israel was to be destroyed because of their incessant rebellion toward God. 

 

Notice it was both groups that needed to hear the gospel.  It is the same in contemporary times.  Those who are involved in religion and dead churches must hear the gospel as well as those who are involved in cults and world religions.  Those who are near to our homes as well as those who live in other countries around the world.

 

Eph 2:18

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

 

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.  (John 14:6)  Through the Lord Jesus Christ, all his elect have access to the Father.  {11} According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  {12} In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.  Ephesians 3:11-12     In the Greek it states that we actually have “The” access which means that the only way to God is through the Lord Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.  You can’t come to God the Father through any other way, religion included.  Once you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit you now fulfill the requirements of John 4:24.  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)  To worship God in spirit means we must have a living spirit.  Before we are saved, we have a dead spirit but after salvation, we have a living spirit in us which is the Holy Spirit and only then do we access the Father.  John 4:24 is not an endorsement of modern tongues otherwise known as gibberish.

 

Eph 2:19

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

 

Strangers - Xenoi - we get word xenophobic “fear of strangers”

Foreigners - Sojourners - Hebrews 13:11; 1 Peter 2:11 - Exodus 6:3-4 foreshadow

Fellowcitizens - Revelation 3:12

Household of God - Galatians 6:10

 

Now because of the sacrifice of Christ, all those who are elect to salvation will become

members of the local community of Saints as well as the world wide household of God.  Once a person is saved they no longer carry with them the moniker of “Gentile” but that of Christian or child of God.  You have now become part of the world wide family of God and are on an equal footing with every other believer.  Those who are saved out of national Israel have no superior position in the kingdom of God.  All are equal at the foot of the cross.

 

Eph 2:20

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

 

Foundation of the Apostles and prophets:

1. is the word of God itself because this is where all the teachings of these men

    are found

2. It is also the salvation succession which went down from the time of the first

    Pentecost to today.  It is faithful men preaching the gospel to faithful men and

    committing it to faithful men down through the ages. And the things that thou hast

    heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall

    be able to teach others also.  (2 Timothy 2:2)

 

This verse speaks of building the spiritual temple of the church as Christ who is the chief cornerstone. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?  (Matthew 21:42)   The cornerstone is the stone which brings stability to the entire building but the Lord Jesus Christ brings a total foundation and under girding to the temple of the household of God.

 

Eph 2:21

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

 

Fitly Framed Together - “being fitted together” which means the work is progressive and will continue until the last stone is put in place - As a building is completed, so will the body of Christ be someday.

 

Groweth – Increases until the time it is completed on the last day.

 

Holy Temple – When one reads Ezekiel 40-48, it looks like a physical temple is in view but God is typing the building up of the church.  Many of those who believe in dispensationalism believe that this is speaking of a third temple in Jerusalem which will not happen. The temple in view is the body of believers.  Always keep in mind that everything changed at the cross, even the meaning of temple as it is no longer looking at a physical building but the entire body of believers.

 

{16} Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  {17} If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

 

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  (2 Corinthians 6:16) 

 

Eph 2:22

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

 

Builded Together - “being built together” - a continuing building till the last one is saved

 

Habitation of God – It was in Jerusalem where God chose to place his name under the old dispensation.  And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.  (1 Kings 9:3)

 

Paul is comforting the Ephesians in that they might have thought since they were not in Jerusalem that they would not be included in the habitation of God.  Paul is telling them that if they are saved and have the Holy Spirit indwelling them, even if they are not in physical Jerusalem, they are part of the habitation of God.  In the New Testament God does not place his name in any building whether it be temple or church building.  God has placed his name in the body of believers and there he will dwell among them for eternity.  Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.  (Revelation 3:12)  God is going to write his name on the believer forever which means that as part of the New Jerusalem, no matter where they live, will be part of the greater body of believers which are found worldwide.  Notice that the habitation of God is not a physical building but it is a spiritual building discounting the idea of a millennial temple.

Back