Ephesians 2:12
"That at the time ye were without Christ being"
"Aliens from the common wealth of Israel and"
"Strangers from the covenants of promise"
"Having no hope and without God in"
"The World"
Some people read this verse and say; If they did not have God or no hope what did they have? Well not to worry because God always makes a distinction between Jews and Gentiles racially, but not individually (1 Cor 10:32). The Gentiles were without Christ, that is, they had no promise of a Messiah. Why? Because they were not a part of the nation of Israel; in fact the OT laws put a wide gape of understanding between Jews and Gentiles. Instead of being 'the people of God," they were aliens. They were strangers, without hope and without the true God in the world.
Did they know God? Yes! Did they have access to Christ as the Jews? No! Contrast this sad plight with the privileged position of Israel in Rom. 9:4-5. Ephesians 2:13 sums it up in two words: "far off." While the problem of sinners in general (verse 1-10) was death, the problem of the Gentiles in particular was distance. Note in the Gospels that when ever Christ helped a Gentile, He did it at a distance (Mt. 8:5-13, 15:22-28). So yes Gentiles had access to Christ at a distance. They would seek out Christ for healing and to show there faith. Christ Said: "I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."
Even though Christ died on the cross for the sins of the world, We as sinners must go to Christ and in faith accept Him into our heart as our Savior. Love one another as Christ loved us.
May God Bless You
And Your Families
Minister: Robert A. Lail
The Cross Life Ministry
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