Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12-13 NIV
In Ephesians 2:11-22, Paul described what Christ had done to destroy the dividing wall of hostility between Jews and Gentiles. He had taken the two and produced one new humanity out of them. A humanity that has been reconciled to God and built together to become a dwelling place for God. This new humanity is composed of all who have been saved by grace through faith, regardless of their ethnic background.
But this passage also describes the transformation each of us experiences when we come to faith in Christ. We were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel, foreigners to the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God. But now, because of the blood of Christ, rather than being separate, we have been brought near. We have become fellow citizens with God’s people and are no longer foreigners and strangers to the covenants of promise. We are members of God’s household.
Where once I was excluded and without hope, I am now included and have a glorious hope. Because of what Christ has done for me, I have membership in the kingdom of God and am a part of God’s family. Praise God for the love and mercy he has shown to one such as I. How can I not give him all that I am to use as he sees fit?
