Ephesians 2:11-22

(Ephesians 2:11-22)

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye 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: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

『 hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances』 However, the Israelites misunderstand the past, the present and the law. They regard the law as a great thing, and believe that it must still be observed. However, today, most of the church people lack knowledge of the law. They think that Jesus must come to complete the law and keep it, but they say that Jesus came to abolish the law and keep it, even though they say that it is not necessary to keep it. The law was completed by Jesus' death on the cross, and those who are in Christ have no effect. But to those outside of Christ, God will condemn sin through the law.

The Apostle Paul told the Ephesians, who were Gentiles. So, he explains the law in detail to the Gentiles who did not receive it. In other words, both the Israelites who received the law and the Gentiles who did not receive the law are sinners before God. In Ephesians 2:1-2, 『you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:'It means that all humans were under Satan's control.

In Romans 8:3-4『 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 』 It is said that Jews and Gentiles cannot be saved without Christ. However, the Jews did not understand that the demands of the law were fulfilled by Christ. The law has acted as a barrier between the Jews and the Gentiles, and now the wall blocked by Christ has been destroyed.

The law is a barrier between God and man. But because of Christ, the wall was destroyed. However, the Israelites were still blocked from God by the law. Nevertheless, they think they are God's chosen people. "God told the Israelites to obey the law" was not to "keep being guarded to be righteous, but to realize that they were sinners who couldn't obey the law and try to keep it. To realize that without Christ, salvation is impossible. God gave the Law to the Israelites. Those who try to keep the law are the result of eating the fruit of the tree that keeps knowing good and evil. It is far from God. Trying to achieve righteousness on your own is no different from Eve, who wanted to become like God by eating the fruit of a tree that made herself aware of good and evil.

In Matthew 5:17-18, 『Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Jesus Christ fulfilled the law by dying on the cross. So, those who are in Christ have fulfilled the law. Those who are in Christ did not directly complete the law, but they are the perfectors of the law through relationships in Christ. So those who are in Christ are not judged by the law.

When Jesus died on the cross, he was a stone that was thrown away, but the resurrected Jesus became a corner stone. Likewise, the Saints are said to be built on the ground of Jesus. So, it is to make up the body of Christ. “You are also built together in Christ Jesus to be the dwelling place of God in the Holy Spirit.” Those who are in Christ are reborn as spirit bodies. The body of the spirit is the place of God. The Holy Spirit is led by those who have escaped the law and are reborn as spirit bodies. It becomes the transformation of God.