← A Year in the Bible with Daily Grace
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- [00:01]
Alexa
Welcome to A Year in the Bible with daily Grace.
- [00:04]
Emma
This year we want to spend a.
- [00:05]
Alexa
Few minutes with you every day walking through our study Christ in All of Scripture. Each week we will dive deeply into two passages of Scripture, one from the Old Testament and one from the New, seeing how they connect and point to Jesus.
- [00:18]
Emma
Whether you are doing the study yourself or just following along with us here, we are hopeful that through studying these passages each week, you will see how Christ is not only present throughout the entire Biblical story, but the center of it. Hey everyone. Welcome back to A Year in the Bible. My name is Alexa and I'm here with my co host for the week, Emma.
- [00:37]
Alexa
Hi.
- [00:38]
Emma
So far this week we have looked at Ezra 3, 10, 11 in the old Testament and now we're going to turn to the New Testament and study Ephesians 2, 11, 22. So today we are discussing the annotation day on Ephesians 2, 1122. I'm going to read that for us and it's a long one, so stay with us, but it will be worth it. So then remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh, called the uncircumcised by those called the circumcised, which is done in the flesh by human hands. At that time you're without Christ, excluded from the citizenship of Israel and foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for He is our peace who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility in his flesh. He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and express in regulations, so that he might create in himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. He did this so that he might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by which he put the hostility to death. He came and proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens of the saints and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building being put together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you are also being built together for God's dwelling in the Spirit. So Emma, could you share with us your annotation takeaways?
- [02:17]
Alexa
Yeah. I love love this passage. I think this is such a Good passage. So super excited to dive into Ephesians today. So one of the phrases I was drawn to is in verse 14 and Paul writes, for he is our peace. And directly after he writes that, Paul goes into some verses about the things that Christ did on our behalf. So some things that Paul mentions is that Christ tore down the wall of hostility. He walked life perfectly. He brought us together towards the Lord. He was put to death on the cross. So ultimately we find peace in him, in him alone. And not only is he our peace, but he speaks peace to us. And so the good news of the Gospel is that Jesus is God's Son who has died on the cross for us. And that should bring peace to our hearts because we have the opportunity to be saved. And so I think seeing the language Paul writes about us prior to Christ, so words like foreigners and excluded, without hope, without God contrasts so well to the peace that is described in. I feel like you can kind of see the distinction between the two. And that really drives home Paul's point in the peace of Christ. And so getting to really just sit in, man, I was a foreigner. I was excluded, without hope, without God, but Christ is my peace. I feel like getting to see that that bridge gapped really just helps me to rest in the Gospel and the good news of what Christ has done.
- [03:46]
Emma
Yeah, I found that distinction just really powerful because, you know, we go from using words of distance to then speaking about being brought near, which is like what you're saying, Emma, that's what happens when we come to faith in Christ. Like outside of Christ. We are separated from God, but Jesus brings us near to God and he not only unites us to God, but also one another, which is just really beautiful. So is there anything else that you want to share from this passage?
- [04:11]
Alexa
Yeah, another area that I really loved from this passage is in the last couple of verses when Paul is talking about our current condition is the best way I feel like I can describe it it. And he basically talks about how we are being crafted and built with Jesus as our cornerstone. And basically, Jesus being the cornerstone means that he is the stone that holds every single thing together. And so Jesus holds the temple of believers together entirely. And you and I are literally being developed into a beautiful temple for the spirit of God to dwell. And we are being held together by Christ now. And I think that when I read passages like this where, you know, like Paul is just talking about what's happening in our hearts now, I always forget that that is happening right now. Like that is what, you know, the work of sanctification is absolutely going on in my life currently. And I think that is so cool that we get to read a passage like this that was written, you know, thousands of years ago. And yet the condition of our hearts and what God is doing in our lives and what he was doing in the believers then is the same. Right? Like they were being sanctified and we are being sanctified. And I think that it's really cool when we are actually observant to that and we pay attention that those things are currently going on in our lives and it shows that Christ is still at work in our lives today. And so I love that idea of Jesus being our cornerstone currently and that we are being developed into a temple for the Spirit of God to dwell in.
- [05:38]
Emma
Yes, absolutely. I think that's such an amazing truth. And we're actually going to talk more tomorrow about being developed as temple. So we hope that you join us then as we connect Ezra 3:10 11 and Ephesians 2:11 22 to Christ. Thank you for listening to today's episode of a Year in the Bible with Daily Grace. Be sure to check out our show notes for some helpful links and resources related to today's episode. And make sure you're following a Daily Grace podcast and hedaily Grace Co on Instagram for more Bible study resources and encouragement. We're looking forward to studying God's Word with you again tomorrow. Bye friends.
- [06:19]
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