Ephesians 2:11,12To: Ephesians Main MenuTo: Grace Notes Home Page Ephesians 2:11 The Gentiles are being asked to recall a situation which previously existed, that they were totally alienated from God and were held in total disdain by the Jews who were God's chosen people. The Christian life was a great change of situation for Gentiles, and it required them to remember their former alienation from the things of God. There was a Legal Barrier; the Jews held up the Law of Moses to Gentiles as a basis for spirituality. There was a Moral Barrier; the Jews were highly moral (on paper), while the Gentiles had no moral code (by Jewish standards) and were regarded as lascivious. And there was a Ceremonial Barrier - circumcision, a false barrier which had nothing to do with the inner life. There was a great haughtiness toward those who did not have "the mark." Read Romans 2 regarding the differences between legalistic circumcision and the "circumcision of the heart". The Gentiles in local churches were being victimized by the false standards of the Jews, especially regarding ritual circumcision. The Jews were often superficial and unspiritual, speaking disparagingly of Gentiles as pagans, heathen, instead of thinking of them as people to share Christ with. But the Greeks and Romans, themselves, were just as guilty of racism. The Greeks despised those who live outside their city-states, even other Greeks. They called them pagans (ethnoi). Clashes were inevitable. There was tremendous antagonism. But everyone comes into life with a mass of prejudices. The problem is only cured by having one's viewpoint changed by the Word of God. Unity is one of the objects of Grace. By Grace, people can have a high regard for each other and work together productively, regardless of race or background. READ Eph. 4:11-16 The apostle Paul did not condemn circumcision. It was, after all, a God given sign of the covenant. But the outward sign was not matched by inward faith and obedience. Thus it was worthless, a "work of the flesh." Topic: CIRCUMCISION There are great lessons here for Christians today. We are highly prejudiced against other people, especially those who don't think the way we do or act the way we do. "Stronger" brethren despise "weaker" brethren. But the teaching of Romans 14 is vital here. We are all "weaker" brethren in our personal areas of weakness. And we all have "strengths". But it is self-righteous and unloving to despise others' weaknesses as if we ourselves have no areas of weakness. 1 Cor. 7:17-24
"Was any man called {already} circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised. "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but {what matters is} the keeping of the commandments of God. "Let each man remain in that condition in which he was called. "Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. "For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. "You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. "Brethren, let each man remain with God in that {condition} in which he was called."
"But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. "For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. "And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy {be} upon them, and upon the Israel of God. "From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen." Ephesians 2:12 "(Remember)" The KJV translator repeats the word "remember" here. It does not appear here in the Greek text. -------------------- "that you were at that time" - (ekeino choris). (ekeino) is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to a thing previously mentioned. This is speaking of the time when the Gentiles were unsaved, outside of the Plan of God. (choris) means "parted from" or "apart from". From (choridzw), "to separate; to disunite". -------------------- "excluded from" - nom. pl. masc. perf. pass. part. of (apallotriow), "to be alienated from; to be a stranger to; alien" -------------------- "the commonwealth" - (politeia) - "citizenship; a community; the state of being a citizen" The English word "commonwealth" is made up of "common" and "weal" ("good"), referring to citizens united in a community for the common good. Each of the American states of Kentucky, Massachussetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia is known as a Commonwealth. -------------------- "of Israel" - Gentiles were not citizens of Israel. They were, in fact ... -------------------- "strangers" - (zenoi) - "foreigners; barbarians" -------------------- "to the covenants" - God's promises to Abraham, Moses, David. Almost all Gentiles were almost unaware of the promises of God to Israel. So they had no way of knowing the teachings or the prophecies of the Old Testament, except in cases where Jews were faithful in communicating truth toGentiles. -------------------- "having no hope" - (elpis). Having no basis for confidence. Topic: HOPE -------------------- "and without God in the world." This passage is one of the most dire and gloomy in Scripture in describing theplight of a person without Christ. The hopelessness and despair thatunbelievers feel, when they think of the afterlife or the future, can becrushing. Thank God for the great hope and confidence which is available inChrist, as expressed in the remainder of this chapter. Summarizing the passage: Ephesians 2:11, "Wherefore, remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in theflesh, who are called Uncircumcision by the so-called Circumcision which isperformed in the flesh by human hands..." Ephesians 2:12, "that you were at that time alien from Christ, separated fromcitizenship in Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of promise, having noconfidence and without God in the world." End of Lesson 12 Warren Doud [ Grace Notes ] 1705 Aggie Lane, Austin, Texas 78757 Phone: 512-458-8923 E-Mail: wdoud@bga.com |
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