Alienation - appallotrioo (greek) estrange, exclude

Eph 2:14, 16

Jesus has created a new society, a new humanity in which alienation has given way to reconciliation and hostility, peace

1) portrait of alienated humanity v.11-12
1. Separated from Christ
2. Alienation from commonwealth of Israel
3. Strangers to the covenant of promise
4. having no hope
5. Without God

It is only when we rmb how deprived, how alienation and hopeless we were b4 Christ can we understand the magnitude of his grace and forgiveness

2) Portrait of peace making Christ v.13-18

"near" sums it up

Ps 148:14

The tangible presence of God we enjoy should not ve taken lightly

The dividing wall of hostility that was broken down symbolized the gentile alienation from God as well as Israel

a) the abolition of the law if commandments

Matt 5:17

His death bore the consequence of our disobedience

b) creation of a new single humanity

c) reconciliation of Jew and gentile to God

3) Portrait of God's new society
v.19-22

a) God's kingdom

b) God's family

c) God's temple

The church is a community of ppl. It used to be a physical building but now the foundation is Christ the cornerstone and the instructions of the prophets