Brought Near by the Blood of Christ

Ephesians 2:11–13 NKJV

11 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.

Therefore remember

Paul had already told of the hopeless condition of mankind in

Ephesians 2:1–3 NKJV

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

Then in verses 8-10 he makes it very clear that our salvation is grace

Ephesians 2:8–10 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

So now he wants the Ephesians to remember just how distant they were form salvation.

Why remember such negative things?

Because it magnifies God’s grace and Paul is bringing these things up so that we will see the greatness of his power and grace in our calling to the praise of the glory of His grace vs 6

Paul is not dwelling on the negative here to bring us to discouragement. He’s heading towards vs 13 But now in Christ Jesus. So let us travel with Paul down memory lane in order to have a better vision of the grace of God.

Remember that you once Gentiles in the flesh. A heathen. This refers to anyone who was not Jewish. For the Jews you are either Jewish or you are everyone else who is not Jewish. As we will see later in ch 2 there was a division between Jews and Gentiles a wall of separation. But Paul had been given a revelation. A mystery which he is beginning to reveal but he will reveal in more fully in ch 3.

But here we start to see this enmity between Jews and Gentiles.

Ephesians 2:11 NKJV

11 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—

Who are called Uncircumcision as a derogatory name. It’s difficult to express just how little the Jews thought of the Gentiles. They were dogs, their only purpose was to be fuel for Hell’s fire. And yet they knew the scriptures regarding the Messiah such as

Isaiah 49:6 NKJV

6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

None the less they never saw the Uncircumcised heathen as worthy of outreach.

Paul says you were called the Uncircumcision by those who are called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands. Implying that there is another Circumcision not in the flesh. He also said that they were once Gentiles in the flesh. But Jews and Gentiles are in the flesh until we are untied together in the Spirit. as we find in vs 18

Ephesians 2:18 NKJV

18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

No access by flesh only through Christ and by the one Spirit.

Paul now gives us five disadvantages of the Gentiles in vs 12

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV

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.

In Rom 9:1-5 Paul give the advantages of being Jewish

Romans 9:1–5 NKJV

1 I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, 2 that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, 4 who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; 5 of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen.

Something that will be helpful for us to understand as we continue through Eph. is that Paul see two Israels. One is the nation of those who are genetical Jews and the other, true Israel.

Romans 9:6–9 NKJV

6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”

Back in our passage lets look at the disadvantages of the Gentiles

At that time- meaning before their conversion.

Without Christ

2. Aliens from Citizenship of Israel

3. Strangers from the covenants of promise

4. Having no hope

5. Without God in the world

Ephesians 2:13 NKJV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

You were dead in trespasses and sins

Walked according to the course of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air

Sons of disobedience

Conducting yourselves in the lust of your flesh

By nature children of wrath

Without Christ

Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel

Strangers of the covenants and promises

having no hope and without God in the world

But now in Christ you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ

How? By Grace through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast.

So remember this morning from where you came. Remember the grace of God and praise Him, remember and consider the exceeding great and mighty power of God which was able to save you.

And if you feel this morning that you are far off from God and far off from God’s people there is great hope for you. You don’t have to be able to fix yourself, in fact, thats imposable. Salvation is by grace through faith and that not of yourself it is the gift of God. Believe in Jesus Christ today repent and come to Him and even though you may be far off from God you will be brought near by the blood of Christ. In an instant you will no longer be alienated from God and God’s people you will become a fellow citizen and a child of God.