Ephesians: Made Nigh By the Blood

Last week we were able to see that there is nothing that we can do to earn our salvation and we saw that it is only by the Grace of God that we are what we are today. And now that we are one of His we are to walk in His righteousness and work for Him.

Now we come to Paul's second paragraph in this section of his letter.

Paul is calling his readers to a place of remembrance.

In the previous paragraph of the letter, Paul had been trying to get across to them, that all men were dead and needed to be made alive in Christ and That it is only by God’s grace that this occurs.

Paul, now whats them to remember just how bad it was to be a Gentile.

He wants them to remember that not only were they dead in trespasses and sins, but they were also not a Jew and because of this they had no way of access to God.

These first few verses give a dark and terrible picture of the former heathen condition of the Ephesians.

That condition is first summed up in one expression.

They were “without Christ.”

And because of this, They had no part in God’s special covenant

and that, thus left in “the world,” they had “no hope” of spiritual life and immortality,

and were “godless” in thought and action.

I do not believe there are any Jews in here this morning, so that would make this Church full of Gentiles.

So, not only were we dead in our trespasses and sins, we were no better then the uncircumcised Philistines

We were living for self and not the saviour,

We were homeless and hopeless.

Our past had no future.

Just like the people at Ephesus, Paul is calling us to remembrance.

We once lived as aliens and strangers to God.

We were without hope,

Our past had no future,

But now in Christ we have been made nigh unto the Lord through His shed blood.

I want to consider this morning:

I. The Despair of our Position (11-12)

– It is never good to live in the past, but it does us good to be reminded where we were when God came by our way and what we have been delivered from.

Like the Gentiles that Paul is talking about, we were in great despair.

we had our own god’s, the god of self and pleasure.

We had no thought of the God of heaven nor did we honor Him with our lives.

Romans 1:21–25 KJV 1900

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

We were in great despair!

Paul speaks of:

A. The Identification We Had

– Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.

The Jews enjoyed a covenant relationship with God evidenced by their physical circumcision. Gen 17:9-14

Genesis 17:9–14 KJV 1900

And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you. And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he hath broken my covenant.

Many of the Jews looked down on fellow Gentile believers because they had not been circumcised.

Acts 15. Jerusalem Council

Paul used this to illustrate a greater spiritual truth.

We are reminded of the time in life when we were not part of the family of God, being outside His covenant and blessings.

Each of us lived outside of a relationship with Christ, not enjoying His benefits or being made part of the family.

We are either in Christ or remain apart from Him, identified with the body of Christ or alienated from it. There is no in between. All are either saved or lost! That is our identification, circumcised or uncircumcised, saved or lost, a child of the devil or a child of God.

Next we see:

B. The Isolation We experienced

– That at that time ye 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.

Again there is a physical application concerning the Gentiles and Jews, but the spiritual application is Paul’s focus.

Prior to a spiritual circumcision within the heart (the new birth), they remained without Christ, alienated from the blessing of God and considered strangers concerning the covenants of promise.

There was no way they could obtain the righteousness necessary to be acceptable to God.

They could gaze upon the blessings enjoyed by those who knew the Lord, but they would never be partakers apart from Christ!

I remember the isolation I felt being apart from Christ.

I saw those who were born again in Christ, enjoying the blessings He offered and living for Him, but I knew nothing of it.

All I could do was look on from the outside.

I fear there are many that know that they are in isolation. They are on the outside of Christ looking in. They know it, but will not admit it because of their pride. Pride is not some special month for the alphabet movement. Pride is what got Satan kicked out of hell and your pride will be what sends you to hell friend. Humble yourself before the mighty hand of God.

Next I want us to notice:

C. The Condemnation We Deserved

– having no hope, and without God in the world.

It may not have been evident for others to see, but those apart from Christ were without hope and without God.

Literally they were condemned in their sin.

John 3:17–19 KJV 1900

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

They had no help when faced with difficulty in life and no hope or assurance for life eternal.

They wander aimlessly along apart from God, separated from Him and the marvelous grace He bestows.

Our world is filled with those who appear happy and content on the outside, but deep within they are miserable and hurting.

They live in a continual search for peace and contentment.

They live in fear of death, having no hope of life beyond the grave. In fact, each of are like that prior to Christ.

Some may be in that dreadful condition today.

There is no hope apart from Christ. He alone secured the means of salvation and He is the only way of acceptance to God and salvation.

i.The despair of our Position

II. The Deliverance from our Past (13)

– Thankfully there is a remedy for being alienated from God and apart from Jesus Christ. The Lord is able to deliver from condemnation.

Consider:

A. The Transition from Our Past

– But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Paul was speaking to those who were born outside the commonwealth of Israel.

They did not know Christ as their Lord and Savior and were condemned in their sin.

However, through Christ, those who were once far off have been made nigh.

Romans 2:29 KJV 1900

But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Those who once were unacceptable to God, in sin, have been brought into the beloved.

Their sin has been forgiven and they are now partakers of the divine inheritance!

We all were in this sad condition at some point and some remain there today.

We were far away from God because we lacked a relationship with His Son.

However, in Christ we too have been brought into fellowship with the Father!

As v14 will show us, Prior to the cross, there was a veil of separation.

Man could not enter the presence of the Lord, and the Gentiles were hindered from even being in the Holy place within the Temple.

As Christ died upon the cross the veil was torn in two. The wall of separation was removed and we now are made nigh in Him!

If you are here today and have never been born again, you to can enjoy this transition from uncircumcised to circumcised, from lost to saved, from death to life. Wont you come today?

Next we see:

B. The Transaction in the Past

– But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Paul reminds them of the price that was paid in order to secure their redemption and reconcile them to God.

In order for condemned sinners to be reconciled to God, a price had to be paid.

There had to be a sacrifice offered to fully appease the righteousness of God.

Jesus fulfilled that demand as He offered Himself the sacrificial atonement for sin.

He bore our sin in His body and suffered the righteous judgment of God on our behalf.

He shed His precious blood in order to atone for our sin! 1 Pet.1:18-19

1 Peter 1:18–19 KJV 1900

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

It is only because of the transaction that happened in the past, that we are even able to be saved by the grace of God through faith.

Then we see:

C. The Totality of our Present.

– But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

The Gentiles were worried about circumcision and other works being done.

Those three words are made nigh carry with them a sense of complete security.

Paul adding to his previous statement in verse 8, reveals there is nothing else that needs to take place.

They were not saved by their works or their merit, but in Christ alone.

There was no need to wonder any longer.

Once faith had been expressed in Christ, grace was extended and salvation was complete.

Their salvation was an immediate and eternal event!

I rejoice in my salvation today! I am thankful that it doesn’t require jumping several hurdles or working through an arduous process.

Simple, childlike faith is all that the Lord requires and He offers immediate salvation. I am as secure in Christ today as I was the moment I was saved and that will never change!

I am resting in the fulfilled, satisfying work of Christ!

i. The despair of our position

ii. The deliverance from our past

And finally we see

III. The Delight of Our Peace (14-18)

– Here Paul focuses on the peace that we have now recieved by being in Christ.

By being in Christ it has brought about three wonderful provisions.

He speaks of:

A. The Barrier Was Abolished

– For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; [15] Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.

Again Paul refers back to the Temple.

The Gentiles were not allowed within the Holy Place.

There was a court for the Gentiles and wall of separation, warning the Gentiles to remain outside.

As Christ offered Himself on the cross, He removed the wall of separation.

The Gentiles were no longer outcasts and strangers.

They enjoyed equal access through salvation.

Paul reminded them their salvation was not based on Jewish law or ordinances, but by faith in Christ alone.

The ground is level at the foot of the cross; salvation is available for all men regardless of their heritage or social status.

We too ought to rejoice that Christ has removed the barrier between God and men.

We now have access to the throne of grace through Christ our Lord.

We are no longer on the outside looking in, having to wonder how it must feel to be accepted of God.

This access is available to whosoever will come to Christ by faith!

We are not required to keep the Jewish law or adhere to certain ordinances.

Christ said in Matt. 5:17

Matthew 5:17 KJV 1900

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

Then on the Cross Jesus cried out.

IT IS FINISHED!!!!

Jesus finished it. There is nothing you or I could do to earn it.

B. The Body Was Established

– And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

For centuries there had been tension and fighting between Jews and Gentiles.

The Jews felt they alone were worthy to approach the Lord, but most never realized their need for salvation as well.

The Gentile felt as if having many gods was superior to just having one God. They needed salvation as well

Regardless of whether one is Jew or Gentile, all stand in need of salvation.

Christ provided the means of salvation and all who are born again in Him become part of the body of Christ.

Christ bought the Church that day on calvary with His own blood, There is not two diffrent bodies, there is only one. Rom. 10:12

Romans 10:12 KJV 1900

For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

The body is not divided.

All believers, regardless of heritage, are placed within the same body. It is not divided by race or ethnicity. The body is not segregated and heaven won’t be either!

C. The Bridge Was Furnished

– And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. [18] For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

Jew and Gentile alike needed a means of salvation and reconciliation to God.

The Jews had the law, but were incapable of keeping it and securing the righteousness God demanded.

The Gentiles needed to be delivered from their sin as well.

Jesus became that sacrifice for all: Jew and Gentile alike.

He bridged the great divide sin had caused.

Through Christ we have access to the Father by the Spirit that abides in us.

Although the Jews had access to the Holy Place, only the high priest could go within the Holy of Holies, behind the veil, where the presence of God dwelt.

We all needed a means of access and

Christ provided that for us.

Every believer is placed within the priesthood.

We all have equal, unhindered access to the throne of grace.

Christ provided the means of communication with the Father through the Holy Spirit.

We can go to Him at any time, with any need, fully assured that He is aware of our needs. Heb.4:16

Hebrews 4:16 KJV 1900

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Conclusion:

I hope you have taken the time to reflect upon your life as we have considered the text today.

We have discovered the dread and fear of life without Christ.

It is a dead-end, with no hope of life or acceptance to God.

We were all at one point just like the believers in Ephesus

We had many gods but were without hope.

If you are still in your sins and have not given Christ your life by placing your faith in His finished work, then you are still without hope.

I am thankful that I have been made nigh by the blood of Christ. I am thankful that I have hope I have an eternal hope.

Have you been delivered from the condemnation of sin?

Are you within the body of Christ?

If not, there is but one way: through Christ.

If you remain in sin, I have good news for you. Christ died that you might be saved.