Paul reminds the Ephesians of being alienated from
God before they heard the Gospel
Ephesians
2:11-12 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision
in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being
aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of
promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: KJVPaul having completed his discourse, dissertation, or disclosure of God’s salvation to sinners in general now reminds these Ephesians of their previous status in the world as compared to that of Jews. First, he refers to them as “Gentiles in the flesh” (Ephesians 2:11). The English word Gentiles is not one commonly used to describe any people today, but back then this word was used exclusively (by Jews) to refer to any person or group of people that were not Jewish. The word Gentile is translated by the Greek word ethnos meaning a race or a tribe of people specifically (non-Jewish) or foreign; by implication a pagan or heathen because the people did not know, recognize, or follow YAWEH. Paul wanted them to remember or recall their status in the world especially among the Jewish people that were around them in order that their present “faith in Christ” would be strengthened and their gratitude to God the Father would increase seeing how He has brought them out of such dark spiritual practices into His Presence through the Messiah Jesus Christ.
Paul writes this to them to bring back to their remembrance the degrading, debasing, and demeaning way they were recognized in the world by many Jews as merely the “Uncircumcision” which meant nothing more than a dog to many Jews at that time. It was a term of reproach when used by the Jews in speaking of Gentiles. However, it was not YAWEH’s desire, design, and determination for the Jewish Nation to respond to the Gentile Nations in such a negative manner because He spoke these words through the Prophet Isaiah, “He said to Me, ‘You are My Servant, Israel, In Whom I will show My glory.” (Isaiah 49:3) and also these words, “And He said, ‘It is a light thing that thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.’” (Isaiah 49:6). It was God’s plan and purpose that Israel be a light to all Gentile Nations to show them the way to YAWEH, yet they thought they were chosen by YAWEH because they were a special people or better people than the Nations around them and so they developed a superior attitude and mentality.
Paul wants the Ephesians to be reminded that during that period of time of being alienated by the Jews and looked down on by them that that was not the worst part of their condition, but the fact that “ye were without Christ” (Ephesians 2:12). The English word without Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word choris which is an adverb having the idea of a chasm or vacancy (impassable interval), a gulf between, an empty room or a space that is separate or apart from others. In other words, these Ephesians and all other Gentiles were not privy to or at that time informed about the oracles of God or the utterances of God or more plainly the Word of God that prophesied of the coming of the future Messiah that would take away the sin of the world (Isaiah 9:6-7). Paul reminds these Ephesians that they did not even know themselves to be sinners having the wrath of God upon them (John 3:36) and certainly they did not know that there would be someone who would become sin for them and atone for or make up for, compensate or make reparation for their wrongdoing or causing offence (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Paul also refers to them as “being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” (Ephesians 2:12). The English phrase “being aliens” is translated by one Greek word apallotrioo meaning off, that is, away from something near, that is, another’s or not one’s own; to be estranged or passively and figuratively to be a non-participant. In other words, these Ephesian were shut out, locked out, or closed out of all the promises that belonged to Israel because of God’s Covenant with Abraham (which these Gentile Ephesians knew nothing of). Paul’s use of the English word “commonwealth” (not one normally used today to refer to a Nation of people) is translated by the Greek word politeia meaning citizenship or community. In other words, these Ephesian believers (before hearing the Gospel) were not a part of the community or Nation of the Jewish people who had God’s Word at their disposal to Govern their lives by, that is, they had no citizenship in Israel and therefore, could not know the Governing rule of the Law of God in their lives.
Likewise this fact made all of their worship vain and empty and even wicked because it was not worship of the One True God (YAWEH) and this is why Paul wrote these words to the Roman believers (speaking of the Jewish Nation), “Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God.” (Romans 3:1-2). We know now that the Jews rejected the Messiah (Jesus Christ) and because of their unbelief they are at the present time blind spiritually as a Nation (Romans 3:3 & Romans 11:25). This is why Paul wants them to see how blessed they are now that God the Father has given to them the gift of repentance to life (Acts 11:18).
Because they were at one time “strangers from the covenants of promise” (Ephesians 2:12) (that is they were completely ignorant of them) that Israel took for granted and it caused Paul to lament (strongly express his grief and regret for his Nation Israel) with these words, “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants and the giving of the Law and the temple service and the promises, whose are the fathers, and from whom is the Christ according to the flesh, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.” (Romans 9:1-5).
Paul concluded them at the time prior to hearing the Gospel of “having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12), which meant they were living under false hope of better things to come when worshipping their idol the goddess Diana (which was no god at all) and they were in essence godless or practical atheist, even though they carried on in their pagan worship as Paul said in this manner to the Corinthian believers, “You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.” (1 Corinthians 12:2) and in this manner to the Galatian believers, “But at that previous time, when you had not come to be acquainted with {and} understand {and} know the true God, you [Gentiles] were in bondage to gods who by their very nature could not be gods at all [gods that really did not exist].” (Galatians 4:8).
My own Personal Note: Paul has done a masterful job in reminding these Ephesian brethren of their ignorance, darkness, and alienation from God, and so is it for all of us before we hear the Gospel of Grace and are born again. This was my spiritual condition before Grace came in as I described in this Excerpt from my Book Entitled, “Silent Assassins of the Soul: Finding Freedom from Sexual Impurity through the Lord Jesus Christ, A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs, “I was not willing to give honor to God as God. I was far from the Grace of God and the Blood of Christ. I was a carnal natural man through and through. I wanted to be in control of my own life. In fact, I thought I was in control. I thought I was having fun and living the good life. My mind became fixated on pornography, masturbation, strip clubs, and fornication. My heart was given over to the free indulgence of these sinful desires. Proverbs 5:22 (AMP): ‘His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked man and he shall be held with the cords of his sin.’”
“The CONJECTURES of heathen philosophers as to a future life were at best vague and utterly unsatisfactory. They had no divine ‘promise,’ and therefore no sure ground of ‘hope.’ Epicurus and Aristotle did not believe in it at all. The Platonists believed the soul passed through perpetual changes, now happy, and then again miserable; the Stoics, that it existed no longer than till the time of the general burning up of all things.” JFB Commentary
“When the Apostle says ‘without God in the world,’ this qualification is both reproachful and sorrowful. To be without God in the world that He has made, where His ‘eternal power and Godhead’ have been visible from creation, argues a darkened and perverted heart. To be without God in the world is to be in the wilderness, without a guide; on a stormy ocean, without harbor or pilot; in sickness of spirit, without medicine or physician; to be hungry without bread, and weary without rest, and dying with no light of life. It is to be an orphaned child, wandering in an empty, ruined house.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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