Sandwiched between a beautiful description of God’s grace in Ephesians 2:1-10 and the blessings of being in Christ described in Ephesians 2:13-22, there is the bad news of what was missing in life as “must haves.”
Ephesians 2:11–12 (ESV) — 11 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— 12 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.
Although, people often look to national heritage, especially those of Abraham’s seed according to the flesh, the Bible is quick to make sure that God’s grace through the Lord Jesus Christ is what makes the difference.
John 1:11–13 (ESV) — 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
Galatians 3:29 (ESV) — 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Nevertheless, to demonstrate to the Ephesians how they were without hope before the Lord Jesus Christ came into their lives, Paul makes sure they knew that their national heritage would never bring them into a relationship with Christ. In fact, one of the benefits of the natural bloodline of Abraham was having the word of God, and particularly the exposure to the covenants of God’s promise. Even the covenant of God expressed in circumcision was that God would circumcise their heart.
Romans 3:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.
Romans 2:25–29 (ESV) — 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
The Ephesian believers, like all Gentile believers, understand that they were not exposed to the things of God all their lives as those from a Jewish background, including the blessing of the word of God and the testimony of God’s blessing in giving and fulfilling His covenant promises.
In addition, Paul goes on with his “must have” list describing the Ephesian believer’s past as having “no hope.” Hope in the Bible is an expectation of something that is real and sure, it’s just not yet. The example of living with hope for a person with a Jewish background would have been Abraham.
Hebrews 11:8–10 (ESV) — 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
Although the Jewish people had squelched the hope of Messiah and turned from God’s word in denial of God’s promises, their heritage lent itself to holding on to the sure promises of God.
Therefore, since the Ephesian believers before Christ had been without hope, Paul brings it to the deduction that they were without God in the world. What a sad state, missing out on the “must haves.” That is not, however, the end of the story.
Ephesians 2:13–22 (ESV) — 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 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, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Everything that was seemingly missed as a Gentile or a denying Jewish person, has been brought to each of the elect of God as they are brought to salvation by the one and only way – Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Think of it this way. You may not have a wonderful heritage through a blood line but being brought to God through Jesus Christ, you are called in the spiritual sense, “the seed of Abraham.”
Romans 9:7–8 (ESV) — 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.
As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, these Ephesians as well as all who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, are adopted children into the family of God, even given the family cry to God as evidence of His grace.
Galatians 4:4–6 (ESV) — 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”
Instead of focusing on our natural state of being without God, the clear teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and the writers of the New Testament is that believers have fellowship and communion with the living God through Jesus Christ.
1 John 1:5–7 (ESV) — 5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.
Considering these blessings, it is no wonder the apostle Paul considered it an honor to declare to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews, the riches that belong to those who have been blessed beyond compare with the “must haves” and much more.
Ephesians 3:8–12 (ESV) — 8 To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, 10 so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Godspeed
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
