Ephesians 2:11-13 - Homiletics

Contrast between the past and the present.

The Ephesians are here called to look back, to remember what they were; not, however, with the feeling of a man who has raised himself in the world , and whom such retrospect usually fills with pride, but with the feeling of those whom God has raised, a feeling that ought to produce the deepest humility and gratitude.

I. THE PAST is presented under two aspects—one having respect chiefly to their outward condition, the other chiefly to their inward.

1. Outward condition. They were Gentiles— " the Uncircumcision " (verse 11).

2. Inward condition, denoted by five negatives:

What an accumulation of miseries! Yet men often ignorant of their misery and without desire for change. Need of Holy Spirit to convince us of our sin and misery .

II. THE CHARGE . (Verse 13.) This is one of the brightest verses in the Bible, as verse 12 is one of the darkest. From being "far off," they are "brought nigh."

To be nigh or near to God is to be in a blessed relation to him, to be restored to an orbit in which we get all the blessed influences of his presence, so that the light of his countenance falls richly upon us, and we become changed into the same image, from glory to glory.

III. THE GROUND AND MEDIUM OF THE CHANGE . "In Christ Jesus." "By the blood of Christ." Great difference between God's dealings with us in nature and in grace. The blood of Jesus omnipotent to save. "All hail the power of Jesus' Name!"