We saw the “Before and After” pictures as we went from death to life or from separation from God to relationship with God by grace alone through Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 2:1-10) Those verses showed how are the materials for building the church according to our outline of Ephesians from J. Vernon McGee. How amazing that He gives us life and relationship.

Now, from that same outline, we begin to look at the method and meaning of construction. As we looked at verses 11-12, we have seen the despair and hopelessness they were in and the ever important word “but” (verse 13) that turned to joy and hope in Christ.

As we look at the remainder of the chapter, we are going to focus on a few words or any form of these words:

• Peace.
• Both, two, hostility, stranger, foreigner, far away.
• One, tore down, near, access, reconcile, fellow citizens, members, together.
• Built, grows.
• Building, dwelling.

Do you see the theme of these verses starting to come through? Do you see that we are one in Christ? We all have worth and a part in His church, in His temple. He broke the dividing wall between Gentiles and Gentiles to bring them together as one church. He can break down other barriers in His church.

As I see the theme of these verses emerge, my heart rejoices. Just think… we are united in Jesus Christ. There are no outsiders amongst the believers in Jesus Christ! Amen and Hallelujah!