v.1--10
1. Structure
1 And although you were dead
5 even though we were dead in offenses, made us alive together with Christ.., 6 and he raised us up together with him and seated us with him
(NET) Chapter 2 starts off with a participle, although you were dead, that is left dangling...The dangling participle leaves the readers in suspense while they wait for the solution (in v. 4) to their spiritual dilemma
2 in which you formerly lived...
3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives
(NET) The relative pronoun phrase that begins v. 3 is identical, except for gender, to the one that begins v. 2 (ἐν αἵς [en hais], ἐν οἵς [en hois]). By the structure, the author is building an argument for our hopeless condition: We lived in sin and we lived among sinful people. Our doom looked to be sealed as well in v. 2: Both the external environment (kingdom of the air) and our internal motivation and attitude (the spirit that is now energizing) were under the devil’s thumb (cf. 2 Cor 4:4).
Summary: We were hopeless and dead but God gave us new life and new living with a new position.
2. Repeated words
A. formerly lived according to... v.2 (BDAG to conduct one’s life, comport oneself, behave, live as habit of conduct...The sphere in which one lives or ought to live, so as to be characterized by that sphere)
formerly lived out our lives in...v.3 (behave) (BDAG) live in the passions of the flesh=be a slave to physical passion
for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them v.10 (NET) Grk “so that we might walk in them” (or “by them”). So that we may do them. Before the devil began to control our walk in sin and among sinful people, God had already planned good works for us to do
Summary: God does not just give us new life, but give us a new living. We might do good work now because He had planned ahead for us to do.
B. v.5 by grace you are saved...to demonstrate in the coming ages the surpassing wealth of his grace in kindness
8 For by grace you are saved through faith...so that no one can boast...10 good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.
Summary: Our salvation has dual purpose: 1. this is a demonstration of God's grace and kindness. To those who were hopeless God gave us new life, new living and a new position. 2. because of 1, it is all God's grace, our new living should be characterized humility and doing good works that God prepared for us to do. Not to repeated our former hopeless living.
Reflection: Do I draw a line with my former hopeless living or do I still submit myself to Satan and my flesh? Do I draw a line between what unbeliever will do and what I will do?
Am I characterized by being arrogant or being humble? Do I accept other people's advice? If I am still arrogant do I understand God's grace?
3. Questions:
1. dead in your offenses and sins
2. the air
3. energizing the sons of disobedience
4. But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us
5. Thankful
6. No longer under Satan's rulership, and the cravings of our flesh (new life, new living and new hope)
7. No longer the slave of lust, obedience to authority God gave me
v.11-22
1. Structure
11 Therefore remember that formerly you...But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ
19 So then you are no longer foreigners and noncitizens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household
Summary: Since you are saved and having a new life, new living and new hope, therefore live in unity and in peace with other (Gentiles with the Jews).
2. repeated word:
14 For he is our peace...both groups into one...destroyed the middle wall of partition, the hostility
v.15 making peace...16 and to reconcile them both in one body...the hostility has been killed
v.17 preached peace x2
Note this peace was not making Gentiles to become Jews nor the other way around.
15 when he nullified in his flesh the law of commandments in decrees. He did this to create in himself one new man out of two, thus making peace
(BKC) He rendered the Law “inoperative.” (katargēsas) in believers’ lives. Jews and Gentiles were enemies because the former sought to keep the Law with its commandments and regulations (cf. Col. 2:14, 21–23), whereas Gentiles were unconcerned about them. This difference was like a barrier between them. But now that the Law is inoperative (“Christ is the end of the Law” [Rom. 10:4]), Jewish-Gentile hostility is gone...Christ had two purposes in ending the hostility. The first purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace. The word “new” (kainon) means new or fresh in character or quality rather than new in the sense of recent in time (neos). This “new man” (Eph. 2:15), or “new humanity,” is also called “this one body” (v. 16), the church.
v.19b you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household, 20 because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone v.21b...a holy temple in the Lord...a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
(BKC) Paul explained that this new relationship is “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief Cornerstone” (v. 20). This began on the day of Pentecost, not in the Old Testament. True, Gentile believers become a part of the redeemed of all ages (v. 19). But their being incorporated with Jewish believers into the “one new man” distinctly began when the church came into being at Pentecost
Summary: The blood of Jesus Christ accomplished what the Law cannot do. Therefore, the Law is nullified. And because of that reason, Jews and Gentiles scan come together without violating the Law. Then a new man was created out of the 2 groups. Therefore, not only part of the Law (sacrificial) was nullified but also the social part or the whole Law. It is nullified. This new man also joined the household of God. We are built into a new building, called, the holy temple in the Lord, which is a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. We are holy because Jesus Christ, God and the Spirit dwells among us.
Reflection: God's salvation plan was to make Jews and Gentiles into a new group with no hostility, but with peace. No one has to become the other, but both will be created into a new unit. Also the new unit has firm foundation and cornerstone and God dwells in them.
How do I do in living in peace with others? When do I not doing that?
Do our church characterize by the One who dwells among us, i.e. peace, and holiness? Do we build on the NT and the salvation of JC?
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