Letter to the Ephesians – Chapter 2
Ephesians 2 highlights the transformation that comes through grace, contrasting a life defined by sin with the new life offered in Christ. This chapter celebrates God’s saving work, uniting Jews and Gentiles into one body. From a Wesleyan perspective, this passage beautifully illustrates the journey of salvation—from God’s prevenient grace awakening sinners, to justifying grace reconciling them to God, to sanctifying grace empowering holy living.
Verses 1–10: Salvation by Grace Through Faith
Paul begins by describing humanity’s state apart from Christ: spiritually dead in sin (v. 1), enslaved to the world, the flesh, and the devil (v. 2), and subject to God’s wrath (v. 3). However, “because of His great love,” God intervenes, making believers alive with Christ (v. 5). Salvation is described as entirely by grace (charis) through faith (pistis), not from works, so no one can boast (v. 8). Believers are created anew for good works, which God prepared beforehand (v. 10). This term poiēma (v. 10), translated as “workmanship,” suggests artistry or craftsmanship, emphasizing God’s intentionality.
Verses 11–22: Unity in Christ
Paul shifts to address the division between Jews and Gentiles, reminding Gentile believers of their former alienation. They were “strangers to the covenants of promise” and “without hope” (v. 12). Through Christ’s death, however, the dividing wall of hostility is broken down (v. 14). The “dividing wall” (mesotoichon, v. 14) likely refers to both the physical barrier in the Jerusalem temple and the spiritual division between Jews and Gentiles.
Christ’s death katargeō (abolishes) the law’s dividing ordinances, creating peace and reconciling both groups to God, creating one new humanity (vv. 14–16). This term katargeō implies rendering something ineffective or powerless, indicating the law’s inability to save or unify after Christ’s work. Believers are now members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone (v. 20).
General Discussion Questions
Use any or all of the following questions, depending how much time you have:
How familiar were you with this week’s reading? Was there anything that surprised you?
What did you learn about God and/or human nature from the reading?
What aspects of the reading give you comfort or assurance? What aspects of the reading do you find difficult to accept?
Which verses stood out to you as significant in this chapter?
Discussion Questions
Verse 6 talks of God “seating us with him in the heavenly realms.” If we take this literally, we could think of it as changing our vantage point of the world…changing our perspective to be more like Christ’s because we are with him. How do you think that your perspective would change if you saw things and people the way that Jesus did?
In verse 10, Paul describes us as God’s “workmanship” or otherwise translated as “masterpiece.” Do you find it hard to think of yourself as God’s masterpiece – why or why not? Why is it important to continually remind ourselves that God thinks of us in that way?
Verse 14 speaks of the “dividing wall, that is, the hostility,” referring to the division that existed between Jews and Gentiles. What are some divisions that exist in our world and community today? How might Jesus challenge and bring peace to these divisions?
Closing Prayer
O Lord, we give you our lives. May our heart, our minds, and our desires be yours. May our hands and feet and voices move as you would choose. May our moments and days flow in endless praise. Amen.