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  12. What is God's eternal purpose for his new creatures in Christ?

EPHESIANS - LESSON FOUR

INTRODUCTION

One beautiful facet of the great wisdom of God is how Jews and Gentiles with

their diverse backgrounds and practices could be brought together as "one man" in

Christ. As we shall see in this lesson the focal point for uniting both Jews and Gentiles

unto God was not heathen philosophy or the Law of Moses, but Christ.

I. OUR NEW RELATION IN CHRIST (2:11-22)

A. The Gentiles' past relationships remembered (v.11-12).

1. Divided from Jews - "called uncircumcision" (cf.I Sam.14:6,17:26, 31:4,                 Acts 10:28).

a) Separated from covenants of promise (cf. Gal.3:15-16, 2 Sam. 7:12-                16).

2. Separate from Christ - without God.

B. Reconciliation for Gentiles and Jews made possible through Christ (v.13-18).

1. By His blood - through the cross.

2. By His fulfilling the Old Law of commandments.

3. By preaching the Christ of peace.

C. The new united relationship characterized (v.19-22)

1. as a united household or family.

2. as parts of a well founded building growing together into a holy temple - a

    habitation of God.

QUESTIONS:

1. What did Paul want the Gentiles to do regarding their past?  Why would this be      helpful?

2. What physical characteristic divided the Jews from the Gentiles?

3. What were the covenants of promise from which the Gentiles were strangers?

4. The Gentiles were _______________ hope and without _____________ in this

world when they were _________________ from ________________ .

5. By comparing verses 13 and 16 parallel the following, manifesting the new

relationship of Jew and Gentile with God:

V.13 V.16

"Made nigh" ________________________

"in Christ" _________________________

"in the blood of Christ" ________________________

6. Who is our peace?

7. What is the middle wall of partition that prevented peace?

8. In verse 17, who were those who " were far off" were ____________________ and

those who "were nigh" were ___________________ .

9. What did both of these groups need?

10. How does the Spirit give us access to the Father?

11. If we are no longer strangers and sojourners from God, what are we?

12. Who are "the apostles and prophets" in verse 20?  What have the provided us?

13. What is the function of a "chief cornerstone"?  WHO is the chief cornerstone?

14. "Each several building" in v.21 are (a) Denominations (b) local churches (c)

individual Christians.

15. In verses 19-21, give two descriptions of the church of Christ: