2026-05-10 From strangers to God’s dwelling

 (Eph 2:12-22)

Sometimes we can be doing everything right on the outside, but inside we still feel something is missing. Have you ever experienced that?  There is a reason for it. The Bible actually explains why. Today, let’s explore why, through Eph 2:12-22, remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

1 Separated from God. (v.12)

Paul begins by saying, “remember that you were…separated from Christ...This doesn’t simply mean you didn’t go to church. It means you were cut off from the source of life. Why does the Bible speak of God as Father? not a mother? In the Bible, Father speaks of the source of life, the one who provides, protects and covers. So, to be separated from Christ means to be separated from the source of life. Without covering and provision, we strive on our own, we become like spiritual orphans, “I have to make it on my own.” “I have to control everything to feel safe.”

Paul also says, you were excluded from citizenship. Imagine your application for NZ citizenship is rejected. How would you feel? You would feel like don’t belong. You’re excluded. That’s what our spiritual condition was like. You were strangers to the covenant, without hope, without God. In the OT, Israel was God’s chosen people. God made covenant promises with them. He was their God, they were His people. But we, the Gentiles, were outsiders. Separated from God, no covering, no belonging, no promises, no life purpose, no hope. We were not just lost; life without God could never satisfy. Something is missing.

2. Reconciled Through the Cross (v.13–18)

But Paul says, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Notice this: we are not brought near by our works, but by the blood of Jesus. We cannot restore our relationship with God by serving more or trying harder, only through Christ’s blood. So when we fail, feel guilty, or frustrated, don’t try to fix yourself. Come to God and pray, “Lord, forgive me, cleanse me through the blood of Jesus, and renew me…” Only the blood of Christ can bring us near to God. Then Paul says, “For He Himself is our peace.”  Have you ever prayed, “Lord, please give me peace,” but still felt no peace? Because it says He Himself is our peace. True peace does not come from circumstances or from having everything under your control. It comes from Jesus ruling in your heart. When you lose peace, you need to pray, “Who is ruling my heart? Pride? Fear? Control? Pressure?” When you confess, and allow His truth to guide your heart, His peace begins to rule in you.

Then Paul says, “He has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.” Originally, the two groups were Jews and Gentiles. One group believed they belonged to God; the other was seen as outsiders. In the Bible, when Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman, she was shocked. She said, “How can you, a Jew, ask me for a drink?” because Jews didn’t associate with Samaritans. There was not just distance, but hostility. Even Peter the apostle, years after the revival in Acts 2, pulled back from eating with Gentiles when other Jews arrived. Why? Because the wall was still in his heart. The wall was not just visible, but invisible. The wall of the heart can be pride, “I have the final say.” Or rejection: “I don’t belong.” Both create distance and division. We see this in marriages, workplaces, and churches. But Jesus did not come to manage the wall. He came to destroy it.

In order “to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility . Jesus came to put something to death. Through the cross, He put division, distance, and hostility to death, and made unity possible for us. But if we want unity in marriage or in church, there is a cost. Something must die. Pride must die. Offence must die. Fear must die. Control must die. Romans 6:8 says, “Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him.” This is why unity is hard. Because unity always feels like losing something. Something in us is being asked to die. Isn’t that difficult? But Paul says, “For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.”

It says, we don’t strive for unity in your own strength. We come to God through Jesus and by the Spirit. As we read His Word with humble hearts, and seek His will, The Spirit will show us where pride, fear, offence, or control still remain. And as we surrender those things to Christ, unity begins to grow. Unity is not something we force. It grows as we align ourselves with Jesus.

3. Built Together - God’s Dwelling (v.19–22)

Paul says: “You are no longer strangers… but members of His household.” Now you belong. And “Christ Jesus Himself is the cornerstone.” A cornerstone is the foundation everything else lines up with. If Christ is our cornerstone, then our relationships, decisions, thoughts, and actions should align with Him. And then: “in Him the whole building is joined together.” People from different cultures, backgrounds, personalities, and ways of thinking are brought together into His Kingdom. He is shaping and moulding them. It is not always comfortable, but it is intentional. Why?? It isn’t just for unity, but “to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit”. In other words, the goal of unity is not unity itself, but that the Church would become the living temple of God, where the Triune God – Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, dwells among His people. This fulfils God’s original purpose in creating humanity, why we were created.

I read a story about a lion in the Maasai Mara, Africa named Notch. In a lion pride, when male lions grow up, they are usually driven out by their father, because the father fears losing his position. It reflects the natural way of the world: protect yourself and push others away. But Notch did something different. He raised his five sons, nurtured them, and trained them. Instead of casting them out, he shared leadership with them. They stood united, and no enemy could defeat them. When Notch grew old, he was honoured even by other animals, and he died peacefully.

In the wild, lions rarely die peacefully of old age. Now his legacy continues. His grandson, Osupaat, is raising his sons in the same way. Osupaat is now twelve years old, yet his sons still respect him. They share leadership together. They stand united. They are not only surviving, but also helping bring ecological balance to the land. The legacy Notch passed down was not fear, control, or insecurity, but trust, unity, and shared strength. And this week, we thank God that the Elders unanimously ratified the shared leadership structure. That is a blessing. Now, at personal level, what legacy are you passing down? Are you building a legacy of fear, holding onto money, control, position, or your own rights? Or are you building a different kind of legacy? One shaped by trust in God, humility, unity, and surrender to Christ? Through the blood of Christ, you can leave the old behind and begin a new legacy, one that won’t only bless your children, but your children’s children, generation after generation. Because the Bible says God shows His love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His ways.

If today Notch’s story stirs your heart, and you want to respond to Jesus, please come, come, and say: “Lord Jesus… You have brought me near by pouring out Your blood. You did not hold back. You poured out Your life for me. You have left a legacy for me to follow.

I don’t want to hold onto the things that leave me empty. I don’t want to live in fear, control, or my own way. I want to follow You. I want to walk in Your peace. I want to be part of what You are building in me, in my marriage, in my family, in the church, and through my life. I confess…Thank you for loving me, by Your stripes, I’m healed... Forgive me. Cleanse my heart through Your blood… Jesus… I surrender.

Show me where I need to change. I’m willing to algin my thoughts and action with Yours…I let go of pride, of offence, of the need to control, of the need to protect myself… Holy Spirit… come and work in me…Make me part of what You are building, in my life, in my family, in this church. Jesus… I choose to follow You. In Your name, Amen.”

Lord Jesus, Thank You that through Your blood, You brought us near to the Father. Thank You for tearing down the walls of fear, pride, control, and division. Today, we surrender our lives to You again. Build in us a new legacy, a legacy of faith, peace, humility, and unity. May our lives become a dwelling place for Your presence and may the generations after us be blessed because we chose to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1.    What stood out to you most from Ephesians 2:12–22 today? Why?

2.    Have you ever felt like something was missing in life, even when things looked fine on the outside?

3.    What does it mean to you that Jesus Himself is our peace?

4.    What “walls” can divide people today in families, friendships, or churches?

5.    Is there anything in your heart that God may be asking you to surrender — such as fear, pride, offence, or control?

6.    What kind of legacy do you want to pass on to others or the next generation?

7.    What does it mean for us to become a dwelling place for God together?