Are Gentiles made nigh to God by entering a covenant relationship or by coming under Judaism?
Gentiles are made nigh to God neither by entering a covenant relationship nor by coming under Judaism. The finished work of the cross, specifically the blood of Christ, is what brings them near. Formerly aliens, strangers, and without hope, they are now made nigh in Christ Jesus by His blood.
Les explains that Gentile forefathers were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in this world. But the flip side is that in Christ Jesus and in the finished work of the cross, those once far off are made nigh. Les emphasizes this is not by coming into a covenant relationship, not by coming under Judaism, but by the blood of Christ. The whole arrangement has been inverted: formerly it was Jew only with a few Gentile exceptions, but now it is practically Gentile only with a few Jewish exceptions. Isaiah is very bold, saying God was found of them that sought Him not and made manifest unto them who asked not after Him—the Gentiles. God sent Paul to those same people, fulfilling the rule that no one of the human race ever seeks God.
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.