Yes — the situation has changed: Gentiles are no longer far off but have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ.
Before Christ, Paul says, Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope, and without God. The turning point is Ephesians 2:13: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Les Feldick emphasizes that this change is not through the Law or covenants but through Christ's finished work on the cross.
Ephesians 2:13 — This verse directly states that Gentiles, who were once far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:12 — It defines the former condition from which Gentiles have been changed: without Christ, aliens, strangers, without hope, and without God.
Paul writes to Gentile believers in Ephesians 2:11–12: "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world." The next verse announces the change: "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." This is the scriptural answer to the question: the old standing is described, then the new standing is declared.
Les Feldick explains that before Christ, while God was dealing with His covenant people the Jew, Gentiles were "without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). He points out that this was the lot of the Gentile because God was dealing only with the Jew — a situation that continued through Christ's earthly ministry. For Les, the Gentile was steeped in paganism and had no knowledge of the God of Abraham. But the flip side is the change: in Christ Jesus, those who were at one time far off are now made nigh — not by the Law, not by the covenants, and not by coming under Judaism, but by the blood of Christ and the finished work of the cross. Les says this is what makes the difference, and it has completely inverted the situation: in the Old Testament it was Jew only with a few Gentile exceptions, and now it is practically Gentile only with a few Jewish exceptions. He also teaches that because Israel refused and rejected Christ, God set them aside temporarily and turned to the Gentiles in grace. The mystery Paul revealed is that Gentiles, as well as Jews, can be saved by believing on the finished work of the cross and become joint heirs with Christ.
Paul says that in times past, Gentiles were "without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). Les Feldick explains that this was their lot because God was dealing only with the Jew, and that this condition continued through Christ's earthly ministry. Gentile believers were also called "Uncircumcision" by those who were called "the Circumcision."
Les teaches that the change is found in Christ Jesus and in the finished work of the cross. The Gentile is made nigh by the blood of Christ — not by entering a covenant relationship, not by coming under Judaism, and not by the Law. In Christ Jesus, those who were once far off are brought near to God.
Les explains that when Israel refused and rejected Christ, God set them aside temporarily and turned to the Gentiles in grace. He describes the whole situation as inverted: whereas in the Old Testament it was Jew only with a few Gentile exceptions, now it is practically Gentile only with a few Jewish exceptions. The same gospel of the finished work of the cross now makes believing Gentiles joint heirs with Christ.
Gentiles' Past Condition Described
Les reads Ephesians 2:11-12, showing that before Christ, Gentiles were outside Israel's commonwealth and strangers to the covenants of promise.
Made Nigh by the Blood of Christ
Les says the change is found in Christ Jesus and His finished work: those far off are made nigh not by covenant relationship or Judaism but by the blood of Christ.
No Longer in That Position
Les repeats that the Gentile is no longer outside the covenants, without hope, or without God; in Christ Jesus the far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
The Flip Side of Israel's Rejection
Les explains that Gentiles are made nigh to God by the blood of Christ, not by the Law or covenants, and that Israel's rejection led God to turn to the Gentiles in grace.
God Now Dealing with Gentiles
Les emphasizes that on the basis of the finished work of the cross, God is now dealing with Gentiles, who were once far off and steeped in paganism.
The Lot of the Gentile and the Glorious Hope
Les explains that the Gentile's hopeless condition existed because God was dealing only with the Jew, and that Ephesians 2:13 gives the glorious hope of being made nigh by Christ's blood.
Before Christ's Finished Work
Les recounts that while God was dealing with Israel during Christ's earthly ministry, Gentiles remained without Christ, aliens, strangers, without hope and without God.
The Mystery Revealed
Les says the mystery is that Gentiles as well as Jews can be saved by believing the finished work of the cross and become joint heirs with Christ.
Ephesians 2:11: Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
This verse identifies the past status of Gentile believers as uncircumcised in the flesh in the eyes of the Jews.
Ephesians 2:12: That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
This verse describes the hopeless condition from which Gentiles have been changed.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
This is the key verse answering the question: Gentiles are brought near to God through the blood of Christ.
No. Les teaches that before Christ, Gentiles were strangers from the covenants of promise and aliens from the commonwealth of Israel. They had no part in those covenant promises. This is stated in Ephesians 2:12.
No. Les says it is not by entering a covenant relationship, not by coming under Judaism, and not by the Law. It is by the blood of Christ and the finished work of the cross.
Les teaches that when Israel refused and rejected Christ, God set them aside temporarily and turned to the Gentiles in grace. This is why the present age is predominantly Gentile, with only a few Jewish exceptions.
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