QT 28/02/2025 Fri. Ephesians 2:11–22. Remembering the past emptiness. Thank God now for privileges bestowed. 追忆过去的空虚.现在为上帝所赐的恩典而感恩。

QT 28/02/2025 Fri. Ephesians 2:11–22. Remembering the past emptiness. Thank God now for privileges bestowed.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/eph2:11-22

Ephesians 2:11–13 [11] Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—[12] remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (ESV)

Remembering the past might help the Ephesians and other Gentile believers today to be thankful and glorify God now. Firstly, their past was without Christ (2:12). Indeed, the Gentiles of the pagan world were without the covenants given to Israel and their forefathers. The Gentiles were waddled in sin and groping in the dark even though they did try to set up some form of worship rites for whatever deities their mind has made up.

Secondly, their past was without nationhood (2:12). There was no form of nationhood, no commonwealth to join and waddled in multiple identity crises.

Thirdly, their past was not friends with Christ (2:12). Even though the number of people grew, they felt like "strangers" (2:12) in their relationship with God. At that time, God revealed Himself to the Jews only, not to the Gentiles at large. Friendship with the LORD felt like a distant concept. The Jews of Paul's time did not function as God's revelation and demonstration of who God is to the Gentiles, the Ephesians at all. Fourth, their past was "hopeless." Fifth, their past was "godless" (2:12).

But now God has reversed all these "...lessness":

Ephesians 2:13–18 [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. [14] For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility [15] by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, [16] and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (ESV)

The Christless have been transformed to be "in Christ" (2:13). The stateless have become citizens (2:19). The distant strangers have been brought near because the dividing wall has been abolished—the Jews and Gentiles have been made into one people due to the killing of hostility between them (2:16). The hopeless have become members of the household of God (2:19). The godless ones are now standing on the foundation and tradition of the apostles and prophets (2:20). This foundation is secure because Christ is the "cornerstone" (2:20).

Ephesians 2:21–22 [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (ESV)

The last two verses capped Paul's exhortation to the Ephesians to remember the past, such that thankfulness and praise might well up in your hearts, resulting in much praise and better worship of this God. Won't you do that at the next worship service this weekend?

QT 28/02/2025 星期五. 以弗所书2:11–22. 追忆过去的空虚.现在为上帝所赐的恩典而感恩。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/eph/02

以弗所书2:11-13 [11]  所以你们应当记念，你们从前按肉体是外邦人，是称为没受割礼的，这名原是那些凭人手在肉身上称为受割礼之人所起的。12 那时你们与基督无关，在以色列国民以外，在所应许的诸约上是局外人。并且活在世上没有指望，没有神。13 你们从前远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了。

回忆过去可能会帮助以弗所人和今天的其他外邦人信徒心存感恩，并在现在荣耀神。首先，他们的过去没有基督（2：12）。事实上，异教世界的外邦人没有赐给以色列人及其祖先的圣约。外邦人在罪中蹒跚，在黑暗中摸索，尽管他们试图为他们心目中的任何神灵建立某种形式的崇拜仪式。

其次，他们的过去没有国家（2:12）。没有任何形式的国家，没有任何可以加入的联邦，在多重身份危机中蹒跚而行。

第三，他们的过去无法称耶稣为朋友（2:12）。尽管人数增加了，但在与神的关系中，他们感觉自己是 “局外人”（2：12）。那时，上帝只向犹太人启示自己，而不是向外邦人启示自己。与耶和华的友谊就像一个遥远的概念。那时，保罗所处时代的犹太人根本没有起到上帝向外邦人、以弗所人启示和展示上帝是谁的作用。第四，他们的过去 “没有指望”。第五，他们的过去是 “没有神” 的（2:12）。

但现在，神已经扭转了所有这些空缺：-

以弗所书 2:13-18 [13]  你们从前远离神的人，如今却在基督耶稣里，靠着他的血，已经得亲近了。14 因他使我们和睦，（原文作因他是我们的和睦）将两下合而为一，拆毁了中间隔断的墙。15 而且以自己的身体，废掉冤仇，就是那记在律法上的规条。为要将两下，藉着自己造成一个新人，如此便成就了和睦。16 既在十字架上灭了冤仇，便藉这十字架，使两下归为一体，与神和好了。17 并且来传和平的福音给你们远处的人，也给那近处的人。18 因为我们两下藉着他被一个圣灵所感得以进到父面前。

没有基督的人已经转变为 “在基督耶稣里 ”的人（2:13）。无国籍者已成为同国的公民（2:19）。遥远的陌生人变得亲近了，因为分隔的墙已被废除--犹太人和外邦人之间的敌意已被消除，从而成为一个民族（2：16）。无望的人成了神家的人（2:19）。不信神的人现在站在了使徒和先知的根基和传统之上（2：20）。这个根基是稳固的，因为基督是 “房角石”（2:20）。

《以弗所书》2：21-22  各（或作全）房靠他联络得合式，渐渐成为主的圣殿。22 你们也靠他同被建造成为神藉着圣灵居住的所在。

最后两节经文总结了保罗对以弗所人的劝勉：要记念过去，这样，感恩和赞美就会涌上你们的心头，从而对这位神产生更多的赞美和更好的敬拜。在本周末的下一次崇拜中，你们会这样做吗？