Brought Near and Changed by God: Ephesians 2 Mission

Jul 19, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Remembering Our Spiritual Homelessness Before Christ

The Bible paints a vivid picture of humanity’s condition without Christ: spiritually homeless, strangers to God’s promises, and adrift without hope. This stark reality isn’t just ancient history—it’s the story of every heart left to itself. To “remember” isn’t mere nostalgia; it’s a deliberate act of confronting who we were before grace intervened. Like the Ephesians, we once lived as outsiders, defined by separation. Yet this memory isn’t meant to shame—it’s the fertile soil where gratitude, humility, and compassion grow. [46:02]

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.”
(Ephesians 2:11–12, ESV)

Reflection: What specific memory of your life before Christ stirs gratitude today? How might that memory soften your heart toward someone still far from God?

Day 2: Christ Tore Down the Wall We Could Never Climb

The temple’s dividing wall wasn’t just physical—it symbolized humanity’s irreparable separation from God. No amount of effort could breach it. But Jesus didn’t reform the system; He demolished it. Like the Berlin Wall’s fall, Christ’s cross shattered the barrier between holy God and broken people. His blood didn’t make a path—it became the path. Our role isn’t to rebuild what He destroyed but to point others to the open space where grace now flows. [53:43]

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.”
(Ephesians 2:14, ESV)

Reflection: What “wall” did Jesus tear down in your life that you could never have overcome alone? Who needs to hear that story this week?

Day 3: Reconciled Accounts: From Estranged to Embraced

Reconciliation isn’t negotiation—it’s a divine transaction. Jesus didn’t meet us halfway; He closed the entire gap. The Greek word for “reconcile” implies restoring what was owed but could never be paid. Like unbalanced ledgers suddenly cleared, Christ’s cross resolved our debt and God’s justice in one act. Now, we don’t just visit God’s presence—we belong there. This isn’t a truce; it’s a family reunion. [57:26]

“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.”
(2 Corinthians 5:18–19, ESV)

Reflection: When have you felt the weight of being “estranged” lift? How could you extend that same reconciliation to a fractured relationship?

Day 4: Access Through the Spirit: Union Over Isolation

Salvation isn’t a ticket to a divine help desk—it’s adoption into the Trinity’s fellowship. The Spirit doesn’t just give occasional access; He becomes our permanent connection. Like a child bursting into a parent’s room without knocking, we approach God not as visitors but as heirs. This access reshapes everything: prayer becomes conversation, obedience becomes partnership, and isolation gives way to belonging. [56:55]

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.”
(Ephesians 2:18, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you still act like a stranger to God’s presence rather than a child at home? How might your prayers change today if you believed the Spirit is your unbroken connection?

Day 5: Changed People Uniting Around a Common Purpose

The gospel doesn’t erase differences—it redeems them. Jew and Greek kept their cultures but shared a mission. Like varied instruments playing one anthem, our diversity amplifies the gospel’s melody. The church isn’t a uniformity of preferences but a unity of purpose: making disciples who make disciples. When changed people lock arms around this goal, even stubborn Asheville becomes a harvest field. [01:02:30]

“That he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross.”
(Ephesians 2:15–16, ESV)

Reflection: What difference in your church family used to bother you that you now see as strategic for mission? How will you leverage that difference for gospel impact this month?

Sermon Summary

Ephesians 2:11-18 anchors the mission in the word of God, not in a clever document or a good idea written in a back room. The mission is big on purpose, because any mission that can be achieved without God is not big enough. The word of God tethers the church to Jesus, to the cross, and to the gospel, and the power of God must do what human effort cannot do.

Paul begins with one command, “remember.” The human condition is that people are far from God, and Paul stacks bleak reality on top of bleak reality to show how desperate that condition really is. “Without Christ,” “aliens,” “strangers,” “having no hope,” and “without God in the world” describe spiritual homelessness. The heart is postured to stray, not to stay, and left unattended it will drift.

Remembering that far-off condition is meant to produce gratitude, humility, unity, and compassion. Gratitude comes because hopeless people have been given hope, a home, a future, and an inheritance. Humility comes because salvation is not a resume, an achievement, or proof that one person is better than another. Unity comes because Jew and Greek, once separated, have been brought together in Christ, and compassion comes because messy people still need grace from those who remember being messy too.

Christ changes the story with the words, “But now.” Christ does all the work. Through his sacrifice, his death, and his blood, Christ brings near those who could never get near on their own. The middle wall of separation, like a spiritual Berlin Wall, stood as a sign that there was no access, no way in, no peace. Christ tore down that wall through the cross and brought an end to the war.

Reconciliation means that estranged parties are brought into restored relationship, and in this case fallen man is reconciled to holy God by Jesus himself. The Holy Spirit now gives access to the Father, so salvation is not only forgiveness but union and fellowship with God. The Spirit also brings horizontal correction, making different people unified around a common goal. The mission, then, is plain: all people who are far from God are to be brought near to God and then changed by God.

Key Takeaways

1. Remember the far-off condition. [46:21] Paul’s command to “remember” is not meant to shame believers, but to keep the truth clear. Apart from Christ, the human heart is not slightly confused, it is homeless, hopeless, and without God in the world. That memory guards the soul from pride and gives compassion toward people still wandering down roads that look like hope but cannot save. [46:21]
2. Jesus did all the work. [52:04] The text gives fallen people almost no active role in being brought near, except receiving what Christ has done. Jesus made peace, broke down the wall, reconciled enemies, and preached peace to those far off and near. Grace becomes deeper when the heart stops pretending it contributed strength to a rescue it could never accomplish. [52:04]
3. The wall has been torn down. [55:34] The wall between Jew and Gentile showed that there was no access, no easy crossing, and no casual approach to God. Christ did not merely open a gate, he tore down the barrier through his own blood. The cross creates a nearness that human religion, cultural reform, and personal effort could never produce. [55:34]
4. Access becomes daily fellowship. [01:00:09] Through Christ, by the Spirit, believers now have access to the Father. That access is more than a status change on paper, it is union with the God who knows his people and draws them into fellowship. Neglecting that access is not harmless busyness, it is missing the gift Christ died to secure. [60:09]
5. Unity is different people together. [01:02:00] Christ does not make the church uniform, he makes different people unified. Differences are not threats when the cross becomes the common bond and the gospel becomes the common mission. A changed people can do far more together than separately because God uses differences for strength, balance, and support.

## [62:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:13] - Beginning Ephesians and Church Mission
[26:23] - Anchored in the Word of God
[27:21] - A Mission Too Big Without God
[30:49] - Reading Ephesians 2:11-18
[33:02] - Far, Near, and Changed
[34:35] - Core Values of the Church
[37:37] - Vision to Glorify God
[40:03] - The Human Condition Far From God
[46:21] - Remembering Produces Four Responses
[50:20] - But Now in Christ
[53:25] - The Wall of Separation
[56:11] - Changed by God
[58:56] - Jesus Fully Reconciles
[60:09] - Access, Union, and Unity

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 2:11-18

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.” [30:49]

Observation questions

In verses 11-12, what words and phrases describe the condition of people before Christ, and which of those descriptions stands out most? [40:23]
Paul gives the command to “remember.” What exactly are believers being told to remember in this passage? [45:43]
In verses 13-18, what actions are credited directly to Christ? Make a list from the text itself. [51:17]
What does verse 18 say believers now have through Christ and by the Spirit? [56:24]

Interpretation questions

Why would Paul tell believers to remember their former condition if they have already been saved? How does that remembering protect the heart from pride and coldness toward others? [46:21]
The passage says people were “far off” and then were “brought near by the blood of Christ.” What does that say about what human effort, morality, or religion can and cannot accomplish? [52:04]
Christ is called “our peace,” and Paul says he broke down the dividing wall of hostility. How should that shape the way believers think about deep divisions between different kinds of people? [55:34]
Verse 18 says believers have “access in one Spirit to the Father.” Why is that more than just forgiveness on paper? What does it suggest about daily fellowship with God? [01:00:09]

Application questions

Paul says to remember what life was like apart from Christ. What helps a person remember that honestly without living in shame? How could that kind of remembering produce more gratitude in this season of life? [46:30]
The heart is naturally postured to stray and drift. Where has drift shown up recently—in prayer, worship, obedience, relationships, or compassion? What would moment-by-moment renewal look like this week? [49:12]
Jesus did all the work to bring sinners near. Where is there still a temptation to act as if acceptance with God depends on personal performance, spiritual discipline, or being “better” than others? [52:11]
Christ tore down the wall of hostility. Is there any wall—personal, relational, cultural, or spiritual—that still tends to get rebuilt in the heart? What might repentance and peace look like there? [53:25]
Through Christ, believers now have access to the Father. What does it look like to actually use that access in daily life instead of neglecting it? What habits help a person lean into fellowship with God? [01:00:26]
Unity in Christ does not mean sameness. Where has it been hard to value differences among other believers? How could those differences become a strength instead of a frustration? [01:02:00]
People who are still far from God are often chasing small glimmers of hope in broken places. Who comes to mind right now, and how can compassion shape the way that person is seen, spoken to, and prayed for this week? [43:22]

Sermon Clips

77s

#JesusDidItAll

“Not much. Accept the forgiveness of Jesus. That's implied in there. But I want you to understand, what did Jesus do? He did all. Everything. He did everything. He didn't do some. He didn't do most. He did it all. He did it all. Through His sacrifice, His death, His blood, Jesus brought us near. The only reason we're able to draw near to God is because of what Jesus has done. Jesus did all the work. He did the work that we could never do so that we could go where we weren't able to go before. Jesus carried us where we could never go by ourselves.”

54s

#JesusToreDownWalls

“And, if you've been alive long enough, you know what happened. The wall was torn down, the countries began to be reestablished, it is recognized as the beginning of the end of the cold war, and what was once designed to separate and keep people apart was dismantled and torn to the ground so that access could be available and accessible, and it brought an end to a war. That is what Jesus did for us. There was no access. There was no way. But Jesus, through his sacrifice, came and tore down that wall. And now, you and I can be brought near to God.”

46s

#NewCreationUnity

“And this new creation, which is possible because of salvation through Jesus, did what cultural reforms and policies could never do. It brought warring entities together in unity around a common purpose. And, we don't need policies or reforms only. What we need is for God to show up and change us again, And then for us, as the believers, that he has changed again, and he will change again, and he will change again and again, to then live as changed people on mission for God.”

78s

#RememberWhoYouWere

“I've never experienced homelessness. Maybe you haven't either. But could you imagine having nowhere to put your head at night? Having nowhere where you could rest? Nowhere that you could settle? That is the way that we are described apart from God. We are far from God. You see, our hearts are forever postured to stray, not to stay. Left unattended, we are naturally going to drift. That is why it is so important that we remember. See, verse 11. Paul begins by giving a command to remember, and what he is telling the hearers, the readers of this text to remember is who they were before they were saved. So now, we have that same command. We are also to remember what we were before we were saved. Who we are apart from Christ.”

77s

#JesusIsOurReconciler

“Now, if you've ever been in a conflict with another human being, and let's face it, who hasn't? Most of those don't end well. In fact, it seems to be more often abnormal to resolve a conflict than it is to continue a conflict. Because once people get involved, the process becomes far more difficult, it becomes far more nuanced. There are people who excel in this area, and they've got an entire industry built around finding ways to broker peace between two parties who don't get along. That is why this is so important that the Ministry of Reconciliation doesn't involve humans. It doesn't involve you and I. It involves only Jesus himself. Jesus did it all. He fully reconciled fallen man to holy God through the cross. He did all the work. We now get to live and to exist in his finished work.”

77s

#BringPeopleNear

“And so here we are. We exist to see all people who are far from God, brought near to God, and then changed by God. Church, this is why we exist. Because you and I were once far from God. But thank God Jesus came and did what we could never do. He tore down the wall and he brought us into fellowship through his blood, through the work of the cross. And that is the message of hope that we get to take to everyone who currently finds himself far from God. Christ brought us near by the blood, by his own blood, through his own sacrifice. The Holy Spirit is changing us into the people that God created us to be. So now, we have the opportunity to gladly spend the rest of our lives helping other people experience that same salvation and that same grace from God. That is our mission. That is why we are here. That is why West Asheville Baptist Church exists.”

68s

#UnityAndCompassion

“Gratitude, humility, the third is this, it's unity. Greek, now unified together in Christ. There's a unification, a unity that happens. Though we are different, we have a common goal, and a common bond, and a common target. We have a mission that unites us. And the fourth is this. It should cause us to experience and to give compassion to others who are also not yet saved. Because if we remember who we were, it should give us a reason to experience, to demonstrate grace, when sometimes people who don't know Jesus yet are messy. Guys, can I break it to you? We're messy too, and we know Jesus.”

68s

#AccessByOneSpirit

“We exist so that all people who are far from God can be brought near to God and then changed by God. And this is where the story gets so rich. Verse 18. For through him, that is Jesus. Now, I want you to notice in this verse, we see a really clear picture of the Trinity. For through him, that's Jesus, we both have access by one Spirit. If you'll notice in your Bible, that word is capitalized, that's the Holy Spirit. Through Jesus, we have access through the Holy Spirit to the Father. That's God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. See, the change that we gain is access to the Father. And it's summed up by this word reconciliation.”

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