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The apostle Paul wrote these words to show how Christ's death has turned those who were formerly outsiders into true insiders. First of all, this means that religious exclusiveness and antagonism have been abolished. But it also means that cultural and racial barriers have been "broken down." We're going to look at this passage through this latter lens.

Ephesians 2:11-22

1. Why is it tempting to be friendly only to people who are a lot like us?
   
2. What specific barriers could or do divide you from other Christians?
   
3. How exactly did God bring unity to people who were once hostile toward each other? (See especially vv. 13-16.)
   
4. Why must we realize that Christians of other races and ethnic backgrounds are also "God's holy people" and "members of God's family" (v. 19)
   
5. Through our unity in Christ, what exactly are we being turned into? (See v. 21.)
   
6. How could the truths of this passage be applied to your own church and Christian community?
   

Take a minute to praise God for saving "people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation"; ask him to help you take small steps to break down racial barriers.

Ephesians 2:11-22

Oneness and Peace in Christ

11 Don't forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called "uncircumcised heathens" by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death.

17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

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Prayer for the Week

Lord, if I'm part of the problem for unity in your church, make me willing to take action so that I become part of the solution.

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