How are far-off Gentiles made near to God according to Ephesians 2:13?
According to Ephesians 2:13, Gentiles who were once far off are made near to God in Christ Jesus. This nearness is not achieved by the Law or covenants but by the blood of Christ—His finished work on the cross.
Les explains that Paul does not leave us hopeless in verse 12. The 'but' of Ephesians 2:13 is crucial. In Christ Jesus, Gentiles who were sometime far off are made nigh—that is, brought near to God. This is not by the Law, not by the covenants, but by the blood of Christ, the finished work of the cross. Les notes that the Jew was under covenant promises while the Gentile had no part, but when Israel refused and rejected it, God set them aside temporarily and turned to the Gentile in grace.
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
More Questions
How are the far-off Gentiles brought near to God?
In the next verse, Ephesians 2:13, the glorious hope for us Gentiles is that those who were once far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Why were the Gentiles described as 'far off' in Ephesians 2:13?
The Gentiles in Ephesians 2:13 were 'far off' because they were steeped in paganism and had no knowledge of the God of Abraham, and they are brought near by the blood of Christ.