Delivered into God's Presence
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Introduction
Introduction
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
What if this was all of the story? What would our world be like? What would we be like? There is a great sadness and misery in a Christless world. Today, we will see how God pursues a global redemption, a deliverance of individuals from every tongue, tribe, people and nation.
PRAY
Therefore 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— remember 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Remember Who You Were
Remember Who You Were
Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh - Up until this point, Paul has addressed the church without any reference to human distinctions. Here, he writes to the Gentiles of the congregation. Here, he calls them to remember what used to be a primary human distinction. They were Gentiles by birth.
It is important remember that from a biblical perspective, especially from Paul’s view, the are two classes or types of people in the world. There are Jews and there are Gentiles. The nation of Israel was chosen by God in Abraham to be his own special people. All the other nations were considered Gentiles, though made up of many different ethnicities.
Called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision - According to the command of God all male Israelites were to be circumcised on the eighth day of life. Circumcision was a sign of the covenant they had with God.
Biblical circumcision refers to the physical removal of the foreskin of the male organ, practiced as a covenant sign between God and His people, beginning with Abraham.
This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your offspring after you: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised. Every male throughout your generations, whether born in your house or bought with your money from any foreigner who is not of your offspring, both he who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money, shall surely be circumcised. So shall my covenant be in your flesh an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.”
It was , but a of belonging to God’s covenant community, not merely a cultural practice spiritual symbol.
Eventually, the Jews became prideful and begin using “uncircumcision” as a jab. This word means “foreskin”. Jews sought to point out their importance. The Gentiles were called this by what is called the circumcision. You might sense some sarcasm, because the circumcision missed their Messiah. They failed to recognize him. They rejected him. They failed to bring about the purpose of God.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “But since the hour that God called Abraham, God made a difference between Jews and Gentiles. He made this difference, not that the Jews might boast, but that they might be a blessing and a help to the Gentiles. God set them apart that He might use them to be a channel of His revelation and goodness to the heathen nations. Sad to say, Israel kept this difference nationally and ritually, but not morally. Israel became like the lost nations around her. For this reason, God often had to discipline the Jews because they would not maintain their spiritual separation and minister to the nations in the name of the true God.”
I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
The Israelites disdained the Gentile world. Examples include Jonah’s original refusal to preach to Nineveh, Israel’s deep resentment of Samaritans. In Jesus’ day, the Court of the Gentiles in the temple complex was reduced to a marketplace instead of where foreigners had access to God.
Which is made in the flesh by hands - Circumcision was surely God-commanded, but it was performed by human power. In short, it was a physical mark, unless coupled with faith. Paul uses a word often referring to the fashioning of idols in reference to circumcision. He is alluding to the insufficiency of circumcision by human hands as it relates to spiritual realities.
In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Remember What You Lacked
Remember What You Lacked
Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ - This is the second time Paul has called the Gentile believers to remember. Here, we get to see why he tells them to recall their previous condition. The Gentile world was separated from the Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One. The were without him. They lived apart from him. Why?
Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel - They were excluded from God’s chosen, special people. They were foreigners, non-citizens. Paul recalls they did not belong to Israel.
And strangers to the covenants of promise - Not only were they without a citizenship, they were without covenant. They were not acquainted with special revelation. God made no promises to Gentiles. There were no special agreements with non-Jews. They were not friends in covenant with Yahweh.
They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Abrahamic Covenant - Genesis 12:1-3 - Land, descendants and blessing; Mosaic Covenant - Exodus 19-24 - Israel, a chosen people, pointed to need for relationship with God and holiness; Davidic Covenant - 2 Samuel 7:12-16 - There would be a King in the lineage of David on the throne forever; The New Covenant - Jeremiah 31:31-34 - Promises the new birth and forgiveness of sins.
Having no hope - There is an effect of being separated from Christ and alienated from God’s people, and ignorant of God’s Word. The result is hopelessness. Whatever the Gentiles expected from life and the future was baseless. It was all nothing. There was nothing real about it, connected to it, or coming from it. Gentile gods were vain, dead idols with an imaginary existence. The hope of the Gentiles rested on air with no reality. They possessed self-made dreams with no hope they would true.
And without God in the world - They were hopeless and without a relationship with God. In fact, their hopeless condition was rooted in that they did not know the true and living God. They had many gods and many hopes, but ultimately they were hopeless and godless. They did not know Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The had no relationship with the covenant keeping God of Israel.
Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Remember Where You Are Now
Remember Where You Are Now
But now in Christ Jesus you have who were once far off - Here, were see another beautiful transition. BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS, something has drastically changed. In contrast to the previous condition of separation, alienation and distance, there is something new. They were a long, long way from God. They were great distance from God. They were not in a covenant relationship with him. They did not have access to the information or revelation of this covenant. The people who were supposed to be sharing about God were not doing so, therefore the Gentiles were largely and perpetually apart from Yahweh and his saving grace. BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS, something has drastically changed in their position and experience.
Have been brought near by the blood of Christ - In the recent past with an emphatic act of power, the Gentiles of the church in Ephesus were made to be close to God. They were delivered into his presence in relationship to him. How? This nearness was secured by the blood of Christ. The Messiah’s blood shedding brought the believing Gentiles into relationship with Yahweh. His sacrifice has brought them near.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
Practical Application
Practical Application
How are we to respond to the story of God?
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”
We should overflow with thanksgiving because we have been blessed with an enormous abundance of light.
“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”
We should be careful not to neglect so great a salvation. There is a warning in the hardening of ethnic Jews. They had much truth, but were made no better for it. May we make the most of the opportunities afforded to us.
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
You are near to God, live with real hope. His nearness is our good.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
