ESOCS Devotional 21 October 2025 – United in Christ into God’s Household
MEMORY VERSE: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19ESV
TEXT: EPHESIANS 2:11-22
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having 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, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
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In the first ten verses of Ephesians 2, the apostle Paul describes what God has done for us through Jesus. We were dead but God made us alive. But this is not the end of the story. There is so much more; and the rest of chapter 2 teaches the continuing blessings found in Christ. In Ephesians 2:11-22 the apostle Paul teaches us about our new position corporately. We have been brought into salvation to be united with other believers. The scriptures regularly speak of the corporate relationship that we have.
To appreciate what we have, we must first understand where we came from. (1) We were without Christ. (2) We were excluded from the citizenship of Israel. Israel was the privileged community chosen by God, as the recipients of the promise. (3) We were strangers to the covenants of promise – the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants. (4) The Gentiles had no hope. Without access to the covenants and promises, there was no hope to live under like Israel lived under. (5) The Gentiles were without God in the world.
We were separated, without hope, and without God. “But now in Christ Jesus” all of that has changed. In Christ Jesus, a dramatic change has occurred. Now we have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Jesus is the meeting point with God for all of humanity. We the Gentiles who were excluded from the promises of God have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The law lost its power and is now rendered inoperative by Christ. Now there is one people in Christ and under his covenant. A new race has been formed. The cross became the defining moment, so that the Law could be nailed to it.
Verse 18 tells us that it is equal access to the Father. The one body receives equal access and equal privilege to the Father. It is the same Spirit, one Spirit, for equal access and equal reconciliation. We were completely separated and excluded from God, his covenants, and his promises. But now through Christ he has made us fellow citizens in this glorious kingdom. God has made us family in the household of God, with all the privileges and rights of family members. You are reconciled to God. You have been given a glorious life purpose with that reconciliation. You are built on Christ. Grow into the temple of God.
CHALLENGES
- Do you reckon that you are a fellow citizen by grace?
PRAYER POINT
- Thank you Lord for the restoration of my rights and privileges in Christ Jesus. Amen.
FURTHER READING: 2 Kings 19:21-37; 20:1-12; Ephesians 3:1-12
ESOCS Devotional 21 October 2025
