Free Bible Commentary
“Ephesians 2:11-13”
Categories: Ephesians“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded 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 formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
--- End of Scripture verses---
Verse 12 tells the tragic story of what our lives looked like before we believed in Christ and obeyed the Gospel and had our sins forgiven. It has been said that the people who refuse to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. It is profitable to, periodically, recollect what it was like to be dead in our sins (verse 1) and enslaved by “the prince of the power of the air” (verse 2), just to remind ourselves that we never want to go back to that lost, dark, distressing place of anguish again. To be clear, Paul is recalling the condition of the Gentile world before Christ came to save the world, but we can make application to each person’s life individually, before they came to Christ.
“Separate from Christ” – We were once the “walking dead” (verse 2), living without a Savior. We were alive, but only because our heart was pumping blood through our arteries. A life severed from Jesus is no real life at all.
“Excluded from the commonwealth of Israel” – We were without a “country” so to speak. “Commonwealth” is the Greek word “politeia” and it is where we get our English word “polity” from. Now, in Christ, “our citizenship (politeuma) is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20). Before Christ, we just wandered aimlessly about the Earth with no real permanent residency.
“Strangers of the covenants of promise” – We were also once without a home. It is true that we are considered “strangers and pilgrims” on the earth while in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:11). But before we came to the Lord, we were estranged from Him and all the great and precious promises that accompany being in a covenant relationship with Him (2 Peter 1:4),
“Having no hope” – Without Christ we were completely hopeless! No hope of a peaceful present and no hope of a blissful eternity! The hope that we have in Christ is called “an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within” heaven itself (Hebrews 6:19). Without that hope we are just aimlessly drifting in a sea of senselessness and sin, darkness and confusion.
“Without God in the world” – Before we came to Christ we were just Godless people! What a horrific, forlorn and depressing existence!
But now, in Christ Jesus we who formerly were far off have, in the greatest hope, been brought near to the God that we were estranged from, and united with Christ in an everlasting covenant filled with eternal promise. “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.” (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Please read Ephesians 2:14-17 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
- Louie Taylor
Share
