Ephesians 2 describes the dramatic change Jesus has made through His redemptive work. Ephesians 2:1-10 addresses salvation provided through God’s love, kindness, and grace. When we respond to God’s offer of salvation in His Son Jesus Christ by faith (Eph. 2:8), we become God’s new creation, His workmanship created for good works (Eph. 2:10). Before we were dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1), but now we have been made alive in Him (Eph. 2:5). Before we served the devil, fulfilling the desires of the flesh (Eph. 2:2-3). Now we serve God by walking in good works (Eph. 2:10)
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul wrote of God’s plan to include the Gentiles with the Jews in the one body, His church made of His people (cf. Eph. 1:22-23; Acts 2:47). Particularly in Ephesians 2:11-13, Paul addressed the standing of unconverted Gentiles before Christ came. “That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12). What a deplorable state people are in without Christ!
But being “in Christ” made all the difference. “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Eph. 2:13). All spiritual blessing in heavenly places are found “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3). Redemption and forgiveness of sins are secured through the blood of Christ (Eph. 1:7). In water baptism, the sins that separated us from God (Isa. 59:1-2), are washed away (Acts 22:16) so that we can be near to Him once again. Paul took time to make sure that some in Ephesus were baptized in the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:5). Baptism puts one into Christ (Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27). The church, the saved body of Christ, is made up of those who have been sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water (Eph. 5:26).
The peace that comes through Jesus’ blood not only reconciles people to God, but also to one another, “that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near” (Eph. 2:16-17). Jews and Gentiles who had been at odds for generations were born again into a new family of God. “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19).
Readers of the book of Ephesians in any century can benefit from reflecting on God’s plan of salvation that He has worked through Jesus Christ. The church is an integral part of this eternal plan of God (Eph. 3:10-12). Let us not disparage the church, but instead grow in our appreciation of it as part of the divine plan of God—“to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Eph. 2:21).
