Ephesians 2:11-12
“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time 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.”
Paul describes the former social and spiritual alienation of Jews and Gentiles, and then goes on to describe their new spiritual unity in Jesus Christ. The radical message is that a person becomes a citizen of true Israel not through physical lineage, but through faith in Christ. Gentiles who trust in Christ are brought into true Israel and even receive “circumcision of the heart” as an indicator of their participation in the new covenant.
In Paul’s day, the historical enmity between Jews and Gentiles was a spiritual and social stumbling block to true fellowship. In particular, the Jews hated the Gentiles and did everything they could to keep themselves separated from Gentiles. Even the Temple in Jerusalem reflected this separation: A barrier was built in the Temple to keep Gentiles out.
In his book Wars of the Jews, the Jewish historian Josephus describes this barricade. There was, Josephus writes, “a partition made of stone all round, whose height was three cubits. Its construction was very elegant; upon it stood pillars at equal distance from one another, declaring the law of purity, some in Greek and some in Roman letters, that “’no foreigner should go within that sanctuary.'”
Unfortunately, the historical prejudice, enmity, and division carried over to the Christian community. In churches like the one at Ephesus, there were Jewish and Gentile Christians, and they didn’t always get along.
Paul’s message is that Jesus “breaks down the dividing wall of hostility.” As we shall see, Jesus removes all barriers. In Christ there are no walls, no classes, no castes, no races, no distinctions of any sort. Everyone who trusts in Jesus, whether Jew or Gentile, is joined together in a supernatural community.
“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3.28)
Jesus unites Jewish and Gentile believers in one body, the church.
Ironically, this passage also speaks to Jews who were not faithful to their covenant with God. The Lord created the people of Israel, and his purpose for doing so was quite clear: that through them all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 22:17-18). The Messiah would be born from a tribe of Israel.
But in addition to that, God intended Israel to be a community of people through whom he revealed himself to the world and by whom he would draw people to himself.
Sadly, the nation of Israel failed to understand their mission and became self-centered and prideful. They misunderstood the blessings that God had given them as being exclusively for them, not as blessings meant to be given to the world through them. Thus when Jesus revealed himself to be the promised Messiah, the religious leaders of Israel rejected him.
This means that like the Gentiles, the rebellious nation of Israel was “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.”
How could the nation of Israel be alienated from “the commonwealth of Israel”? The answer is that physical Israel is not the same as the true, spiritual Israel. More on that to come.
