From Outsiders To God’s Inner Circle

By Eric Léveillé

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Sunday Morning
From the sermon series –

5 min read

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The message of Ephesians 2:11-22 offers a profound reminder of God’s redemptive work through Jesus Christ. In this passage, the Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of humanity’s separation from God and one another, only to reveal the transformative power of the cross. Christ takes those far from God, burdened by sin and division, and brings them into intimate fellowship with Him and His people. This sermon, titled “From Outsiders to God’s Inner Circle,” explores how Christ brings us near, makes us one, and builds us together into a dwelling place for His glory.

Christ Brought Us Near (Ephesians 2:11-13)

Paul begins by urging believers to remember their past: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11-12, KJV). Before Christ, Gentiles were spiritually destitute, separated from God, without a Messiah, and ignorant of His promises. They were aliens, outside God’s chosen nation, with no hope and no expectation of divine rescue. Imagine being stranded, seeing a hospital but separated by an impassable river. This was the state of those far from God, hopeless and cut off.

Yet, Paul delivers a glorious shift in verse 13: “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Through Christ’s sacrifice, those who were distant are brought near. The blood of Jesus bridges the gap, turning strangers into family. Like loved ones reunited at an airport, embracing after years apart, or refugees escaping danger to find safety, believers experience the joy of being brought into God’s arms. The story of Tass Sada, a former PLO sniper transformed by the gospel, illustrates this truth. Once filled with hatred, he found peace in Christ, becoming a servant of reconciliation. His life reflects the power of the cross to bring even the furthest heart near to God.

Believers must never forget what they were without Christ. Gratitude for His work fuels worship, rejects pride, and anchors us in the reality of His grace. We rest in the access we now have, no longer at arm’s length but abiding in His presence.

Christ Made Us One (Ephesians 2:14-18)

Beyond bringing us near, Christ unites His people: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14, KJV). In the first century, a literal wall in the Jerusalem temple separated Jews from Gentiles, barring outsiders from sacred spaces. Spiritually, a greater wall of hostility, built by sin and division, stood between humanity and God, and between Jew and Gentile. Christ demolished this wall through His death, abolishing the enmity and fulfilling the law’s demands: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace” (Ephesians 2:15, KJV).

Through the cross, Jesus reconciled both groups to God, creating one new man, one body in Christ. “And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:16, KJV). The gospel message of peace reaches both those near (Jews familiar with God’s promises) and those far off (Gentiles ignorant of them). As Paul writes, “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father” (Ephesians 2:18, KJV). The story of two East German families escaping over the Berlin Wall in a homemade hot air balloon captures this truth faintly. When the wall fell in 1989, they reunited with loved ones, free from hostility. Christ’s work is greater, tearing down spiritual barriers to unite all believers as one family, regardless of background. This unity demands that we reject prejudice, grudges, and pride. In Christ, there is no “us” versus “them.” All who trust in Him share equal access to the Father through the Spirit, leveling every distinction and calling us to live out this unity.

Christ Is Also Building Us Together (Ephesians 2:19-22)

Finally, Paul reveals that Christ is actively building believers into a spiritual dwelling: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19, KJV). No longer aliens, believers are citizens of God’s kingdom and members of His household, not just subjects but children in His family. This new identity rests on a firm foundation: “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20, KJV). Christ, the cornerstone, aligns and stabilizes the entire structure, with the apostles’ and prophets’ inspired teachings forming the foundation.

This building is no ordinary structure but a holy temple: “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22, KJV). Each believer is a living stone, added to this spiritual house where God’s presence dwells. Like the Kremlin, built over centuries with contributions from many, God’s church grows as each soul trusts Christ, becoming part of His eternal work.

Believers are not spectators but vital parts of this divine project. Every stone matters, and God’s glory resides in His people. We are called to live with purpose, reflecting His presence and inviting others to join this family through faith in Christ.

Conclusion

Ephesians 2:11-22 reminds us of our past as outsiders, separated from God and divided from one another. Yet, through Christ, we are brought near, made one, and built together into a holy temple. The cross changes not just our future but our identity, transforming enemies into family. If you have not crossed the bridge Christ built through His sacrifice, confess your sin and trust Him as Savior today. For believers, live in gratitude for His grace, in unity with His people, and with purpose as part of His eternal building. Jesus Christ, our peace, has broken down every wall, making us His own for His glory.

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