The second half of Ephesians 2, from verse 11 to verse 22, is one of those passages in the Bible that actually allow us to track the whole gospel story. It begins by Paul reminding his readers that once upon a time they were not part of the people of God. He uses three important biblical themes to illustrate his point: before we were saved, Paul says, we were ‘without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise’. Putting it as pithily as he can, Paul continues, we were, essentially, ‘without hope and without God in the world’. That’s as bleak as it gets. Thank God that the passage doesn’t end there! Immediately, Paul reminds us, ‘but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ’. Proximity to and from God is a repeated image in Scripture. We’re encouraged to draw near to him, to return to him; others are cast away from him or sent out of his presence. At the same time, the Bible repeatedly reveals that God is everywhere, omnipresent. The earth is full of his steadfast love, says the Psalms; the earth is full of his glory, Isaiah heard the heavenly host declare. David asked, ‘where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?’ knowing that the answer was: he couldn’t! And yet the miracle in our new birth is that, thanks to the blood of Christ, the spiritual gap created by sin and death that could never be crossed by mankind in our own strength and ingenuity has been dealt with by God himself. The cross of Christ and the resurrection that followed changed everything.
The rest of the passage shows us how, in Christ, not only have we been reconciled to God as individuals, but that God has taken it upon himself to reconcile the whole of mankind in himself. I don’t mean by that that everyone ever created will be saved; the Bible does not teach that. But the Bible does make plain that God’s intention was and is and always will be to gather people from every part of the world, every language ever spoken, every colour of skin, and unite them as one people under the lordship of his Son, Jesus Christ. So, Paul says, Christ is now ‘our peace’ – not merely my peace or your peace. The cross of Christ, Paul continues, brings an end to all hostility. This is why Paul summarises Jesus’ message here in the single word ‘peace’. That doesn’t mean that all Jesus ever talked about was peace: the gospels show us that clearly wasn’t the case. Nor does it mean that Jesus never said anything controversial or offensive. Again, read the gospels: there’s a case to be made that Jesus’ message is the most controversial anyone could ever hear. Yes, he declares God’s rule and reign; his compassion, love and care for all mankind is on display in word and deed throughout the gospels. But Jesus doesn’t shy away from confronting mankind’s selfishness and hypocrisy and greed. He calls us to take up our cross and follow him, to love him more than family and friends. It’s a radical message from a radical God; and yet the fruit of this message, the totality of this message, is that it produces peace in those who accept it.
Paul concludes the passage with a vivid depiction of the church that Jesus is building. No longer are we ‘strangers’ or ‘aliens’. Now we are ‘citizens’ and ‘members of God’s household’. We are part of a spiritual house that God is building through everyone who has put their faith in him. It begins, Paul says, with the right foundation: Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. Why Christ Jesus? Why does Paul frequently reverse, as it were, Jesus’ first and second names? Because ‘Christ Jesus’ is the name, from Acts 2 onwards, that the New Testament gives to the Son of God in his risen and ascended state. So when Paul says ‘Christ Jesus’ is the cornerstone of the church, he is reminding his readers that from its foundation upwards the whole of the church is built upon resurrection life. There is no room for the old life of death and sin in the church Jesus is building: it’s resurrection life from start to finish. That’s why the foundation also includes two of the five gifts the ascended Christ gave to the church. The church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. These gifts are twinned together again in Ephesians 3 where Paul marks them out as the primary revelatory gifts in the church. The revelation apostles and prophets receive and share with us is safe and strong ground under our feet to stand upon. Finally, Paul explains that this house is not only a house. It’s a temple as well It’s a house and a temple that is joined together, growing together and is becoming more and more a place that God can dwell by his Spirit. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a church like that?
