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YAG 20th Retreat: Session 2

Text: Ephesians 1:3-14
15 November 2014

YAG 20th RETREAT
SESSION #2
Saturday, 15 November 2014
Time: 9.00am
Theme: “THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT”

THE ULTIMATE GOAL

Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
That… He might gather together in one all things of Christ,
Both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him

Ephesians 1:9-10

1. The mystery of His will

a) Having made known
b) Revelation of His will            Ephesians 1:9

2. Content of God’s will

a) To gather together in ONE

i) Prior dispersion
ii) To gather all under one head
iii) Diversity into Unity
iv) The Head… Christ Jesus the Lord            Ephesians 1:10

b) All things of Christ

i) In Heaven
ii) On earth

c) In Him (Christ)

d) This is a continuing work

i) Prophecy concerning this Oneness            Zechariah 14:9
ii) This prophecy will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ
iii) Meantime, the work of creating Oneness continues

3. The Ultimate Goal

a) To be borne in mind
b) To be prayed for
c) To be a source of motivation to promote oneness
d) A powerful means of drawing people to share the same goal

ONENESS- TRANSCENDING ALL RACIAL BARRIERS

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to
create in Himself ONE new man from the two, thus making peace,
And that He might reconcile them both to God in ONE body through the cross, thereby putting to death the
enmity.

Ephesians 2:14-16

BARRIERS

1. Gentiles and Jews

2. Wall of separation

THE GENTILE STATE WITHOUT CHRIST

1. Uncircumcision            Ephesians 2:11            ἀκροβυθςτια uncircumcised

a) Unclean
b) Not in Abraham’s covenant

2. Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel            Ephesians 2:12            ἀπηλλοτριωμζνοι (Perfect Passive Participle)
To be alienated

a) Estranged
b) Alienated
c) Separated from the citizenship (commonwealth) of Israel

3. Strangers            Ephesians 2:12            ξζνοι τῶν διαθηκῶν τῆσ ἐπαγγελίασ
strangers to the covenants of the promise

a) Foreigners
b) Not entitled to the covenants of the promise

4. No hope            Ephesians 2:12            μη ἐλπίδα No hope

a) No basis for hope
b) Hopeless

5. Without God            Ephesians 2:12            ἀθεοι without God

a) No relationship with God
b) God is excluded

THE NEW STATE IN CHRIST

1. The Role of Christ

a) He Himself is our peace            Ephesians 2:14            ἠ εἰρήνη the peace
b) Emphasis on Christ
c) The Peace! (Note use of the article with the predicate noun)

2. Who has made both ONE            Ephesians 2:14            τἀ ἀμφότερα ἒν both one

a) Jews and Gentiles
b) They are both ONE in Christ

3. Has broken down the middle wall of separation            Ephesians 2:14            μεςότοιχον τοῦ φραγμοῦ λῦςασ            Having destroyed the dividing wall

a) Dividing wall of separation
b) Jesus has destroyed/ broken down this dividing wall (completed action- Aorist Active Participle)
c) Separation

i) Israel and the nations
ii) Enmity between Jews and Gentiles

4. Abolished in His flesh the enmity            Ephesians 2:15            καταργήςασ Aor. Act. Ptc καταργζω            To destroy/annul/abolish

a) Abolished/ destroyed the enmity (ἒχθραν enmity, hostility)
b) In His flesh (through His death)
c) The following things destroyed

i) The law of commandments            Ephesians 2:15
ii) Ordinances            Ephesians 2:15

5. So as to create in Himself ONE new man from the two, thus making peace            Ephesians 2:15            ἒνα καινον ἂνθρωπον one new man

a) To create            κτίςη Aor. Act. Subjunctive
b) Purpose indicated ἲνα

6. That He might reconcile them both            Ephesians 2:16            ἀποκαταλλάξη τοὐσ άμφοτζρουσ ἐν ζνἰ ςὠματι            To reconcile the both in ONE body

a) Reconciliation
b) One body