Ephesians 2:11-22
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2:13
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According to the “Population in Brief” released by the government on September 24, 2024, Singapore’s total resident population is approximately 6.04 million, with the non-resident population accounting for about 1.86 million. In Singapore, if you are a non-resident, you will feel deeply the big difference that exists between citizens/residents and non-residents.
In fact, it’s not just Singapore; it’s the same in any country in the world. Governments have an obligation to take care of their own citizens but no obligation to care for non-citizens according to the welfare standards of their country of origin. If one wishes to reside here, he must abide by the laws of his current place of residence, not the laws of his home country. That’s why foreigners can’t enjoy the same treatment as locals anywhere.
Today, in this passage from Ephesians, Paul mentions that Gentiles, after becoming Christians, can become God’s chosen people just like the Jews and enjoy the same grace that God bestows in Christ. All of this is due to the work Christ accomplished for us. The Apostle reminds us of this hard-won identity and what we were before. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh…” (v.11). He then lists down the plight of the Gentiles: “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (v.12). This is a desperate picture; all our dreams and goals in life, without God’s intervention, would have been hopeless and ultimately end in death, as it says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.” And no one can pay the price for their own sins.
In the history of the Israelites, God stipulated one day each year when they could be atoned of their sins through sacrifice, thereby restoring their relationship with God. By right, this grace should have had nothing to do with Gentiles. But according to Leviticus 16:29, which says, “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you,” on the Day of Atonement, Israelites and Gentiles alike, if they were living in that land, had to observe the law, keeping that day as a holy Sabbath and humbling themselves. Even then, Gentiles could not enjoy the benefits brought by the Day of Atonement—the restoration of relationship with God—because they were not part of the covenant people.
Later on in the Israelite Temple, there was a wall strictly separating Jews from Gentile proselytes. On the gate in that wall, there was a stone tablet inscribed with these words: “No foreigner is to enter, on pain of death.”
But today, Gentiles can enter God’s household and enjoy the blessing of being God’s children. This is all because Christ, for us, “broke down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,” (vv.14-15).
The Day of Atonement was a foreshadowing of Christ’s work. Now, both Jews and Gentiles can draw near to God through the precious blood of Christ. We are united in Christ, co-heirs, sharing in the blessings of God’s kingdom. This is a truth that every person who enters God’s family should remember.
Reflection:
How has the salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ for all humanity changed my life and the direction of my life? Today am I willing to proclaim Christ, who can bring abundant life, to those who live “without hope and without God in the world”?
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your great salvation. You used your own body to break down the barriers between peoples; you used your own precious blood to cleanse the sins of the world, restoring the relationship between humanity and God. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you’ve done. Help us always to remember your grace and to proclaim your salvation boldly, for in your name we pray. Amen!
Click to read
According to the “Population in Brief” released by the government on September 24, 2024, Singapore’s total resident population is approximately 6.04 million, with the non-resident population accounting for about 1.86 million. In Singapore, if you are a non-resident, you will feel deeply the big difference that exists between citizens/residents and non-residents.
In fact, it’s not just Singapore; it’s the same in any country in the world. Governments have an obligation to take care of their own citizens but no obligation to care for non-citizens according to the welfare standards of their country of origin. If one wishes to reside here, he must abide by the laws of his current place of residence, not the laws of his home country. That’s why foreigners can’t enjoy the same treatment as locals anywhere.
Today, in this passage from Ephesians, Paul mentions that Gentiles, after becoming Christians, can become God’s chosen people just like the Jews and enjoy the same grace that God bestows in Christ. All of this is due to the work Christ accomplished for us. The Apostle reminds us of this hard-won identity and what we were before. “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh…” (v.11). He then lists down the plight of the Gentiles: “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” (v.12). This is a desperate picture; all our dreams and goals in life, without God’s intervention, would have been hopeless and ultimately end in death, as it says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death.” And no one can pay the price for their own sins.
In the history of the Israelites, God stipulated one day each year when they could be atoned of their sins through sacrifice, thereby restoring their relationship with God. By right, this grace should have had nothing to do with Gentiles. But according to Leviticus 16:29, which says, “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you,” on the Day of Atonement, Israelites and Gentiles alike, if they were living in that land, had to observe the law, keeping that day as a holy Sabbath and humbling themselves. Even then, Gentiles could not enjoy the benefits brought by the Day of Atonement—the restoration of relationship with God—because they were not part of the covenant people.
Later on in the Israelite Temple, there was a wall strictly separating Jews from Gentile proselytes. On the gate in that wall, there was a stone tablet inscribed with these words: “No foreigner is to enter, on pain of death.”
But today, Gentiles can enter God’s household and enjoy the blessing of being God’s children. This is all because Christ, for us, “broke down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,” (vv.14-15).
The Day of Atonement was a foreshadowing of Christ’s work. Now, both Jews and Gentiles can draw near to God through the precious blood of Christ. We are united in Christ, co-heirs, sharing in the blessings of God’s kingdom. This is a truth that every person who enters God’s family should remember.
Reflection:
How has the salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ for all humanity changed my life and the direction of my life? Today am I willing to proclaim Christ, who can bring abundant life, to those who live “without hope and without God in the world”?
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your great salvation. You used your own body to break down the barriers between peoples; you used your own precious blood to cleanse the sins of the world, restoring the relationship between humanity and God. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for all you’ve done. Help us always to remember your grace and to proclaim your salvation boldly, for in your name we pray. Amen!