2:11-18 THE ROOM Positional Relocation (2:11-18) The New Position in the Household (2:11-18) Welcome to the Audience Room explore it and let the Spirit of the house enlighten you. The Audience Room is a place where God announces His good news to His citizens, His victories, love, peace and covenant. The New Position in the Household (2:11-18) V.11 a) Sign - “ Uncircumcision” We were without covenant and the sign of God. V.12 In this verse Paul describes that we were outside the land and the people. In verse 14 Paul describes that we were outside the temple. b) Separation - (without Christ) We were without any hope of a saviour that could bring us to God and no connection to the Lord of lords. c) Stateless - “ Aliens” We had no citizenship with the people of God and no connection to the King of kings. d) Strangers - We had no promise given unto us but the curse of damnation. 4 covenants Gentiles were strangers unto: I. Abrahamic covenant. Gen. Ch.15 & 17 II. Mosaic covenant. Ex.20-40; Lev. 1-27; Num.1-10; 18-19; 28-36; Deut.1-34 III. Palestinian covenant. Deut. 8:1-7; 11:9-17; 26:15; 28:1-14, Lev. 26:3-13 IV. Davidic covenant. 2.Sam. 7; 1.Chr.17; Ps.89 & 132; Jer.33 e) Self-assurance - “ No hope” We had no self-assurance in the future and feared both life and the afterlife. f) Separation - (Without God) We were removed from the presence of God and eternally separated from Him, without any hope of ever experiencing His love. V.13 g) Space - I. “ Far off” We were far away from God and gigantic where the space between God and us, farther than from one end of the universe to the other, only God could reach us in His great love in spite of our ridicule of Him. II. We were not brought near or carried into His presence but we were made near, It’ s the new creation that makes us near to God and His inheritance. After Paul had described our former separation He then describes how peace were made. Christ not only made peace but He is our peace, peace is a person. V.14 a) Division - In the worship of God, the Gentiles and the Jews had a dividing wall between them, also between God and man was the greatest wall that divided man from God: Sin. Jesus removed on the cross this great wall of sin. V.15 b) Destruction - “ Abolished” The commandments of God condemned man and brought enmity between God and man, Jesus fulfilled the commandments for us and took our punishments upon Himself. Gal.3:13; Rom.8:3-4; Col.3:3-4 c) Design - “ One new man” God created a new man, the man Christ Jesus and brought all believers into His holy nature and thereby made peace. Gal.3:28 V.16 d) Disunion - “ One body” Jews and Gentiles were separated and dismembered, Christ united them into one body (His own) and to God. 1.Cor.12:12-27 e) Death - “ Putting to death” The enmity between Jews and Gentiles and even to God couldn’ t be healed, only putting it to death on the cross could reconcile. V.17 f) Declaration - “ Preached” Jesus declared this peace He would bring to the believers. John 14:27; 16;33 V.18 g) Director - We have access to God through 2 persons: One is the way and the other causes us to walk on the way, One is the direction and the other is the director, One is the Son in whom we are sons and the other causes us to cry out as sons. Rom.5:1-2; 8:15-16; Heb.4:14-16