The Power of the Love of Christ to Dissolve the Enmity in Our Hearts Against God

Ephesians Series, Message 13; January 4, 2026
"The Power of the Love of Christ to Dissolve
the Enmity in Our Hearts Against God"
Ephesians 2:11–22 Part 1, vv. 11-16

KeyWords: Alienation, Enmity, Reconciliation, The Power of Life in the Spirit, The Power of Love in Christ

11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12that at that time you 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. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

I. What We Once Were by Nature (11-12)

A. Gentiles in the flesh (11a)

B. Without Christ (12a)

C. Being aliens from the commonwealth (citizenship) of Israel (12b)

D. Strangers to the covenants of promise (12c)

E. Without hope (12d)

F. Without God in the world (12e)

II. Restoring the Love of God to Alienated Hearts; Or, Reconciliation— the singular grace that takes away our enmity against God and one another (13-16)