"Second-Class Citizens"
Series: Talking Through Ephesians
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We think of ourselves as an egalitarian society, but when you board a plane, airlines literally categorize people into different classes. "First class" passengers lie in a bed or eat fresh-cooked meals. On the other side of the curtain, we second-class citizens squeeze in like sardines, happy to get a cup of water. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld jokes about the little look flight attendants give before closing the curtain, like, "Maybe if you worked a little harder, I wouldn't have to do this."
In Ephesians 2:11-23, Paul tells Gentile Christians to remember that they once stood outside looking in. Before Christ came, the temple, the covenant, and all its privileges belonged to Jews. But now God has brought Jews and Gentiles near him, creating one new humanity in Christ.
The Big Idea
People who once couldn't enter the temple have now become God's holy house. The temple structure provided a way to draw near God, but its walls, courts, and curtain veil also blocked access. One temple wall divided the Court of the Gentiles from the inside, keeping them afar. By abolishing the "law of commandments" Christ tore down the "dividing wall" (Eph. 2:14-15). In his flesh, he eliminated the distinction between circumcision and uncircumcision (cf. Eph. 2:11,14; Phil. 3:3).
Our last lesson featured a "before and after" story, going from death to life (Eph. 2:1,5). But Gentile Christians have also gone from "separated ... strangers" (Eph. 2:12) to family (Eph. 2:19). We weren't second-class citizens — we were aliens, distant from God and hopeless (Eph. 2:12). "But now" Christ's blood has brought us near (Eph. 2:13), offering us full-citizenship (Eph. 2:12, 18-19). God lives within his church — a new multi-ethnic community living like Christ. We're living stones (1 Peter 2:5) in this ever-growing temple, built on the apostles' and prophets' teachings, all aligned to our cornerstone and life source, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:20; cf. Acts 2:42; Ps. 118:22).
The Big Question
How should we worship and serve before God now that he's made us his home?
