As we continue our Bible study in chapter two of the Letter to the Ephesians, we see a proclamation of a radical idea: A New Creation Through Christ. According to Paul, there has been an amalgamation of the Jew and Gentile through Christ. Paul reminds the new believers of who they were prior to receiving Christ. Beginning with verses 11 through 13, Paul states the following: 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. Essentially, the old man is a new creation through Christ. Furthermore, Paul defines the state of the Gentile and explains the stark difference between those in the covenant and those outside of God’s promise. The explanation is done in the past tense, as it’s a reminder for the once Gentile who is now one in the family of God, where they were prior to their conversion. Of course, being a Jew doesn’t automatically grant you salvation, as a matter of fact, all who reject Christ will go to hell. However, what Paul is communicating is the distance factor by explaining that the Jew is close to God because they have the law and the prophets, whereas the Gentile is submerged in paganism. Moreover, when we further dissect Paul statements, it dwindles down to two states: pre-Christ and post-Christ (new creation through Christ). Regarding Paul’s comment on the “Gentiles in the flesh”, we can further explain it through the Galatians 5:19-22. Those without God, left to their own sinful nature will resort to the following actions: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like. Clearly, life without the Holy Spirit, which is life opposite of the Fruit of the Spirit produces mountain of despicable and lawless actions. Thus, the significance of being “brought near by the blood of Christ”, is that the Jesus has opened the door to the house of the Father, where all who repent and accept Christ will be adopted into the family of God.
Next, Paul shifts the focus on to the action of removing barriers, which is the starting point for unifying both the Jew and Gentile. Verses 14 through 18 state, 14) For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17) And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18) For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. What these verses proclaim is that both Jew and Gentile were enemies because one was in the covenant, and the latter lived a godless life outside of the promise of God. Yet, both were separated from God, each with a varying distance. As such, only Christ is able to bring both Jew and Gentile together in a harmonious transformation (through the Spirit), and into the House of the Father which is the transformation as the new creation through Christ. As Paul stated, the result is peace which was accomplished through the cross. In the Kingdom of Heaven, there is neither Jew or Gentile, even though there are many nations with their languages and cultures that receive Christ as their Lord. The key is repentance and accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Lastly, Paul elaborates on the relationship with both the Father and amongst each other (Jew and Gentile). In verses 19 through 22, Paul states the following: 19) Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21) in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22) in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. We are reminded of Matthew chapter 27 verse 50 through 51: 50) And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51) Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. As the veil was torn apart, so was the difference between the Jew and Gentile. At that critical point, Jesus has joined both in brotherhood and oneness in the Lord. In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter states, The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. It’s clearly God’s objective to bring all to salvation, and in 1 Peter 2:9, we are told the following: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Those that accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, join the priesthood, unified as Jew and Gentile in Christ.
If you haven’t taken the step to join the family of God, to rid yourself of the Original Sin and the Old Man, the time is now to be saved. Take this opportunity to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Pray this prayer and sincerely repent of your sins, and you will be saved. Lord Jesus I know that I am sinner and I ask you to forgive me of my sins. I believe that you were crucified for my sins and through your blood I have redemption and salvation. Please come into my heart and I receive you as my God. I pray in Jesus name. AMEN
