How can Ephesians 2:11 inspire unity within the church community? Remembering Who We Were “Therefore remember that formerly you who are Gentiles in the flesh, and called ‘uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘circumcision’ (that done in the body by human hands)” (Ephesians 2:11) • Paul’s opening word—“Therefore”—links back to 2:1-10, where every believer is shown to have been “dead in trespasses.” No one begins with an advantage. • The command to “remember” keeps us mindful that any privileged standing we now enjoy is sheer grace, not personal merit. • When every member recalls the same hopeless past, arrogance melts and room is made for mutual respect. From Outsiders to Family Though verse 11 highlights division, verse 13 completes the movement: “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” • “Brought near” is covenant language (Isaiah 57:19). God’s welcome bridges every cultural and ethnic gap. • Unity, then, is not something we manufacture; it is something we steward. The Wall Is Gone “For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). • Christ removed the “wall” (likely the temple’s Gentile barrier). Any wall we rebuild—cliques, politics, cultural preferences—contradicts His finished work. • 1 Corinthians 12:13—“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free.” What Christ joins, let no ministry philosophy separate. Identity Reframed: One New Humanity • Galatians 3:28—“There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” • Colossians 3:11—“Christ is all and in all.” • Our primary identity marker is no longer ethnicity, income level, age, or ministry role but “in Christ.” Seeing one another through that lens fosters deep, lasting unity. Practical Ways to Cultivate Unity • Tell your redemption story often. Personal testimony keeps grace fresh and comparisons weak. • Form mixed-background small groups; shared Scripture study dissolves cultural divides. • Celebrate Lord’s Supper frequently. One table, one loaf, one cup (1 Corinthians 10:17). • Practice deliberate hospitality—invite brothers and sisters unlike you into your home (Romans 12:13). • Address conflict quickly (Ephesians 4:26-27). Unity is preserved, not assumed. • Speak blessings, not labels (James 3:9-10). Words either rebuild walls or confirm peace. Supporting Passages for Daily Reflection |
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