Yes — for Les Feldick, 'but now' is the crucial time-marker Paul uses to show the change from being lost and far from God to being in Christ and made nigh by His blood.
In Ephesians 2:13 Paul writes, 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' Les explains that 'now' is a time word: after thousands of years of being outside the covenant, everything has changed. In Galatians 4:9 the same phrase becomes a warning against turning back to the law, which he describes as weak and beggarly elements leading to bondage.
Ephesians 2:13 — This verse uses 'but now' to show how those who were far off have been made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Galatians 4:9 — Paul uses 'but now' to warn believers who have known God not to return to weak and beggarly elements.
Scripture uses 'but now' as a hinge between a past condition and a present one. In Ephesians 2:13, Paul writes, 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' The same pattern appears in Galatians 4:9, where Paul asks believers, 'But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?' Second Corinthians 5:17 describes the result of being in Christ: 'Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.'
Les Feldick calls the words 'but' and 'now' crucial for Bible study. He explains that 'now' is a time word: after thousands of years of Israel's history and the condition of being outside the covenant, things have changed. Quoting Ephesians 2:13, he says believers who were once far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For Les, 'but now' points directly to the cross — Paul constantly brings everything back to the work of the cross. When Paul uses the phrase in Galatians 4:9, Les applies it as a warning: these Galatian believers were saved by grace but were being tempted to go back under the law, which he identifies as the weak and beggarly elements that lead to bondage. The same change is seen in 2 Corinthians 5:17: if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.
Before 'but now,' Paul had described Gentiles as being without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without hope, and without God in the world. Then he writes the time marker 'but now': in Christ Jesus, those who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Les says it all points back to the cross.
Paul writes to Galatian believers who were saved by grace but tempted to go back under the law. 'But now, after that ye have known God... how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements?' Les explains that Paul is talking about the law, and going back to it would put them back into bondage.
Les says 'now' is a time word because it marks the difference between the old condition and the new. The former circumstances lasted for thousands of years; now, because of what God has revealed and accomplished through Christ, it is different. The phrase 'but now' tells the reader that things have changed.
Les describes the former condition of the pagan world as full of rituals, sacrifices, superstitious acts, and fear of evil powers. These people knew the power of Satan but knew nothing of the power of God. That is the old state that believers have been brought out of, making 'but now' such a dramatic turning point.
Les quotes 2 Corinthians 5:17 and says that if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away and all things become new. He describes this as part of the new birth and salvation, where God has created within us a transformed mind.
The Former Pagan Condition
Les describes the superstitious, fear-driven worship of the pagan world as background for the former condition before the change.
The Time Word 'Now'
Les explains that 'but now' is a time marker; after thousands of years under the former condition, everything is now different.
Made Nigh by the Blood of Christ
Les says those who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, showing that 'but now' points to the work of the cross.
Revelation and Change
Les says the phrase 'but now' comes as a result of revelations and signals that things have changed.
Warning Against the Law
In Galatians 4:9, Les identifies the weak and beggarly elements as the law and warns against returning to bondage.
Why the Law Can't Save You — Romans 3:19-20 Explained
So now as we come into verse 19, you'll just glance at the verses ahead of it, and you'll notice it's not a very pretty picture. But that's what God sees whenever He looks at a human being still in old Adam. That's where He saw me, that's where He saw you, and that's where He still sees every lost person. We are an opulent sepulcher, our mouth is full of cursing, and we have no fear of God.
New Creature in Christ
Les uses 2 Corinthians 5:17 to describe the result of being in Christ: old things pass away and all things become new.
The Flip Side of the Old Life
Les points out the parallel transition from being children of wrath to receiving God's love and grace.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
This verse shows the exact 'but now' that changes the condition described in the previous verse.
Galatians 4:9: But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Paul uses 'but now' to warn believers against returning to bondage.
2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
This describes the new condition that comes with being in Christ.
Les says you have to understand 'now' as a time word. It tells you that the old condition is over and something new has begun. In Ephesians 2, the former state of being far off has changed to being made nigh by the blood of Christ.
In the passages Les discusses, yes. He points out that Paul constantly brings everything back to the work of the cross, and it is the blood of Christ that makes those who were far off nigh.
Les says Paul is speaking about the law. The Galatian believers were saved by grace but wanted to go back under the law, and that would put them back into bondage.
Watch the Teaching: The Service of God Explained: What Israel's Worship Meant — Romans 9:4