Ephesians 2:11-13

If you had visited the temple in Jerusalem during the days of Jesus and Paul, you would’ve seen a barrier that separated the court of the Gentiles from the rest of the temple. And on that barrier was written this sign, “No foreigner may enter within the barricade which surrounds the sanctuary and enclosure. Anyone who is caught so doing will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.” In other words the Gentiles could go only so far, and then they had to stop. All of that has been changed in the Lord Jesus Christ. In Ephesians chapter 2:11 Paul says this, “Wherefore, remember that you being in time past Gentiles you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.”

In the first 10 verses of Ephesians 2 Paul says all sinners were dead. All sinners are dead in trespasses and sins and you trust Jesus Christ and you experience resurrection. Now in the last verses, verses 11-22, he talks especially to the Gentiles and says. “You Gentiles, not only were dead but you were distant. You were afar off. You had no hope. God never promised you a Savior. God never gave you a covenant. You were not citizens with the people of Israel.” Verse 13 says, “But now.” I like that. Back in verse 4 he said you were dead, “but God.” Now he says you were distant “but now…you who were afar off are brought near.”

You see the Lord Jesus Christ when He was on the cross not only rent the veil, but he broke down the wall. That wall of partition was broken down and now all sinners can come and trust the Savior of the world and can draw near to God. We have been brought near by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a privilege! What a responsibility. What a joy there ought to be in our hearts!