The Good News begins with the statement that God is rich in mercy!!! - compare it to Ex 2:23–25; Mercy is love’s second name. God loves all and those who became Christians have experienced that amazing love (Rom 5:8).
We were also dead in our trespasses (2:1).
Together with Christ. Notice this fact:
1. together with Christ we were brought to life.
2. Together with Christ we are raised;
3. together with Christ we sit in heavenly places “in Christ”.
Again we have here reference to baptism (see Rom 6:3–5).
However, there is still a future aspect (the ages to come) when we experience the exceeding riches of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. Thus, we have already gain plenty - but there is still more to come (perhaps 1 Cor 2:9; 1 John 3:2).
Salvation comes to us as God’s grace - we do not deserve it (Rom 3:28; Gal 2:16); - time to give up pride and learn humility and thanksgiving;
Through faith - faith means trust - we trust Him and entrust ourselves to that grace of salvation (here comes the first commandment of love - Deut 6:4–5).
Grace comes to us - with the message of the Gospel;
We - with the help of God’s grace - believe in that Gospel and are baptized. We move from the old Adam to new Adam [Jesus Christ]. In Christ, God has created us anew (2 Cor 5:17; Gal 6:15; Col 3:19).
Good deeds/works. Notice that before we could not boast of our works - they were useless in gaining us salvation. But now, after coming to faith, we do works (good) that are not ours but God’s. These good works God has prepared for us to do or “we might walk in them”.
Before we walked according to the age of this world (2:2), now we walk in good works that God has before prepared for us (2:10).
The division into Jewish and Gentiles from the Jewish point of view. The world was divided into circumcised - Gentiles and uncircumcised - the Gentiles. The circumcision seen as the sign of the covenant - since the time of Abraham (Gen 17:10).
This situation is present as:
Indeed, a tragic situation.
The blood of Christ - brought the Gentiles near. By being in Christ all those five points above are being negated. The Gentiles are now participating in the commonwealth of Israel.
The division into two is nullified - the dividing wall is broken (think about the wall between East and West Germany). The author seems to have in mind Acts 21:28–29 - the wall that separated the Gentiles and the Jews from worshipping together in the Temple. There were special warnings written in Greek saying that entering into the Jewish court of worship was punishable with death.
Another “wall” dividing the Jews from the Gentiles was the law of Moses. It protected the Jews from being contaminated by the outside world. They could not get married with the Gentiles and not eat with them as well. After coming from “outside world”, they should purify themselves - different types of washing (Mark 7:2–4).
Christ is our peace - shalom - the fullness of blessing. This fullness of blessing is seen in uniting the Jewish and Gentile world (see Rom 11:12.15).
One New Man - the idea of Christ as New Adam is also seen Romans. But, here we have to see it as the Church - the body of Christ composed of Jewish and Gentiles Christians worshiping God together. The Church is the fruit of Christ’s death.
Notice the fact, that both the Jews and Gentiles needed to be reconciled with God.
The Cross abolishes the enmity between the Jews and Gentiles. That is particularly evident in the Eucharist celebration - see Gal 2:11–14.
After the Cross comes Christ’s resurrection (2:17). Christ [came] refers to the resurrection. The risen Christ preaches peace (see John 20:19; See Is 52:7; Zach 9:10).
v 2:17 is a quote from Is 57:19. Apparently this peace refers to the access to the Father in the same Spirit. The same Spirit is given to everyone who receives baptism - Jew or Gentiles - and this Spirit united us.
From strangers and sojourners (notice the word parokoi- from which the English derives the word “parish”) to fellow-citizens with the saints and members of the family of God!!
In this case, they have access to all the promises of God.
The Church is seen as the continuation of the Israel of the Old Testament - the prophets; but there is also the new aspect - the apostles. Thus, in our liturgy of the word, we have the readings from the Old Testament and the letters of the apostles, before the Gospel.
“Christ” is presented as the “cornerstone” - that holds everything together. You remove this stone and everything collapses.
2:21–22 has parallels in John 15:1–15 and Rom 11:17–24;
Notice also, the stress on “in Him [Christ]” - and compare with John 15:5 - without Christ we can do nothing.
In Christ the Church can grow. The Church is presented as the dwelling place of God through the Spirit.