Ephesians 2:11-13 – Our hope in Christ

Here we see Paul describing the Ephesians before they became believers. He called them Gentiles. He told them that when they did not believe in Christ, they were not only dead in their trespasses and sin, and walking in disobedience, but also helpless and ignorant.

Firstly, they were referred to as the “Uncircumcision.” The Jews were known as the “Circumcision.” This act of circumcision marked the Jews out as God’s distinct people. They were given the privilege of knowing God, although for most of the time they had not discharged their responsibility as His people. In calling the circumcision made by hand, Paul was indicating that some of those Jews did not even behave like they belonged to God. However, the uncircumcised were people who did not have the privilege of knowing God, and thus did not enjoy the covenantal blessings.

Secondly, they were separated from Christ. The pagans were separated from Christ, the Messiah. Being separated from the Messiah meant being cut off from the Source of life, thus excluded from the life of God.

Thirdly, they were alienated from the commonwealth of Israel. As aliens, they were strangers and foreigners living in another country. Hence, they did not have the rights of the citizens of that country. In contrast, the Jews had the rights of a nation under the rule of God. Therefore, unlike the Jews, the Gentiles had no destiny; no sense of belonging as far as God was concerned.

Fourthly, they were strangers to the covenants of promise. The covenants were promises which God had agreed with the patriarchs. God promised to take care of them, and what they would inherit if they would respond to Him in obedience, and keep the covenantal requirements. God also covenanted to send them the Messiah to restore them. Hence, all Jews share this hope of the coming of their Messiah. In contrast, the pagans had no such covenantal hope. They were left to their own devices.

Finally, Paul told them that the Gentiles outside of Christ had no hope, and were without God in the world. Since they were without hope, they had no sense of purpose in life. Since they were without God, they had no sense of God in their life as they journeyed in a fallen world.

Praise God! He sent Christ Jesus to the rescue. And now in Christ, His shed blood and death, God reconciled sinful men to Himself. Through the blood of Christ, the Gentiles who were once far off had been brought near to God. In using the term “the blood of Christ,” Paul showed that it was not just the death of Christ but that it was His blood that allowed access to God. Notice that it was the blood of Christ that brought us near to God. For we know that without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. The death of Jesus was a violent and bloody death. We must remember that it cost God a great deal to break us free from the hold of paganism in our life.

Like the redeemed Ephesians, we have a great future in Christ. We have been reconciled and given citizenship in God’s eternal Kingdom to share the covenant promises. We now have the Lord Jesus as our Sovereign Master and in Him, a great hope awaits us. What a thought, Hallelujah!