Ephesians 2:11-13 (English Standard Version)
One in Christ
11Therefore 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— 12remember 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. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Like Eph 2:1-10, 2:11-22 also speaks of the past, present, and future.
v.1-10 – Speaks of anyone who has become a Christian
v.11-22 – Speaks of the gentile Christian
Although both Jew and Gentile are dead in their sins pre-Christ, the state of a Gentile is worse because they do not have the unique advantages of the Jews.
Paul “makes light” of the labels used by the Jews for distinction (circumcised and uncircumcised)
From Romans 2:29 we see that Paul desires people’s “circumcised of the heart” which is an internal change.
There are real differences between the condition of a lost Jew and a lost Gentile.
Gentiles were at a disadvantage in 5 areas:
1. Separate from Christ
“Christ” “means the anointed one” or “Messiah”, so Paul most likely has a similar thought as in Romans 9:5.
“5To them belong(A) the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ(B) who is God over all,(C) blessed forever. Amen.”
The Messiah came to the Jews and was perceived by Jews. Since Gentiles are not Jews they were cut off from this advantage.
Since Gentile’s religion was completely pagan, they didn’t have a chance to know Christ and didn’t have the expectation of a Savior.
2. Excluded from citizenship in Israel
God had chosen to be know in Israel as he had chosen to be known nowhere else.
An individual had to become a Jew, a member of the commonwealth of Israel to be saved.
See Ruth 1:16
See 2 Kings 5:17
In both stories of Ruth and Naaman they were saved by becoming Jews first. Apart from this prior conversion they were “excluded from citizenship in Israel” and the Jewish blessings
3. Foreigners to the covenants of the promise
This is similar to #2 (citizenship), but Paul takes this point further.
“promise” is singular and refers to the promise from God to Abraham (see below)
The Gentiles didn’t have a share in the promise given by God to Abraham in Gen. 12:1-3
“ 1Now(A) the LORD said[a] to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2(B) And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3(C) I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and(D) in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."[b]“
This idea of being foreigners to God’s covenant is still true of unbelievers
Read D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote on page 79
4. Without hope
Without hope = all is lost, there is nothing, beyond useless
In all ways the Gentiles were without hope apart from Christ
“Without the God of Israel none of us can have any real hope that things will be good or get better…Apart from revelation, apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, no one can have any true hope of anything beyond this life” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
5. Without God in the world
“17(A) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from(B) the Father of lights(C) with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.[a]
If we are without God, we are without everything
Similar to 2:4 “But God…” v. 13 – “13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were(F) far off have been brought near(G) by the blood of Christ.”
We have been brought near to God b/c of Christ’s atonement for sin
Where we were “separate from Christ” (cut off), Now we are united with Christ (1:13)
Where we were excluded from citizenship in Israel, now we are fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household (2:19)
Phil. 3:20-21
Where we were foreigners to the covenants of the promise, now we are heirs together with Israel. (3:6)
Where we were without God, now we are members of God’s household (2:19-20)
Application
Paul uses the word remember twice in this section. We cannot take these things we now have for granted. (v.11-12)
We can easily become insensitive to this great news.
Read John Newton quote on page 81.
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