The phrase 'but now' marks the dramatic turning point in God's dealings when Gentiles, once far off and without God, are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Les Feldick teaches that 'but' sets up a contrast and 'now' is a time word: after roughly two thousand years of the Gentiles being aliens, strangers to the covenants, and without God, the situation has changed. In Christ Jesus, those who were far off are brought near — not by the Law or Judaism, but by the finished work of the cross. This is exactly what Ephesians 2:13 declares.
Ephesians 2:13 — This is the verse in question, where Paul declares that Gentiles who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Ephesians 2:11–13 gives the immediate setting for the phrase 'but now.' Paul tells Gentile believers to remember that they were in time past 'Gentiles in the flesh,' called Uncircumcision by the circumcision made by hands. Then he describes their former state: '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 following verse begins with the contrast — 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' The biblical text itself shows that 'but now' introduces a completely new standing for those who were formerly far off.
Les Feldick calls 'but now' a crucial phrase for Bible students. 'But' is the contrast; 'now' is a time word. He explains that for roughly two thousand years — from Abraham until Paul — the Gentiles had been outside the covenants, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without hope and without God. 'But now,' in Ephesians 2:13, that situation has ended. In Christ Jesus, those who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Les emphasizes that this nearness is not accomplished by keeping the Law, by temple worship, by animal sacrifice, or by coming under Judaism — it is solely by the blood of Christ, that is, the cross. He also points out that this 'but now' reflects a total inversion in God's dealings: in the Old Testament it was Jew only with a few Gentile exceptions; now it is practically Gentile only with a few Jewish exceptions. And this revelation came in God's timing, through Paul, after the finished work of the cross.
Paul reminds Gentile believers that 'at that time' — when God was dealing only with the nation of Israel on those covenant promises — they were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Les describes them as foreigners with no rights because they were not citizens of Israel; everything God was doing for the Jew did not apply to a Gentile. He also notes that before God touched Abram, there was not a single person on earth who had a knowledge of the one true God.
Les teaches that the phrase points to the finished work of the cross. Once a person is in the body of Christ through God's salvation, they are bought out of the slave market of sin, cleansed, and brought into a new relationship. Paul says those far off are made nigh — but not by entering a covenant relationship, not by coming under Judaism, and not by keeping the Law or practicing temple worship or animal sacrifice. It is only by the blood of Jesus.
Les emphasizes that 'now' is a time word. Although the Gentiles' former lot lasted for two thousand years and more, 'now it is different.' We are no longer under those circumstances. 'But now, in Christ Jesus' declares that things have changed — God is no longer leaving the Gentiles outside the covenant promises. This change was revealed in God's own timing through the apostle Paul.
Les points out that the Old Testament was Jew only with a few Gentile exceptions, but now, after the work of the cross, it is practically Gentile only with a few Jewish exceptions. The whole thing has been totally inverted. Being made nigh is not about joining Israel; it is about being in Christ Jesus and made nigh by His blood.
Gentiles' Former Condition
Les describes the Gentiles as aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants, and without God in the world — the condition that 'but now' overturns.
Why 'But Now' Matters
Les calls 'but' and 'now' crucial — 'now' is a time word showing that after thousands of years, the Gentiles' condition has changed.
Made Nigh by the Blood of Christ
In the body of Christ, believers are bought out of the slave market of sin and those who were far off are made nigh by Christ's blood.
The Blood of Christ Refers to the Crucifixion
Les connects 'made nigh by the blood of Christ' to the crucifixion and notes God reveals things in His own timing.
Not by Judaism but by Christ's Blood
Les explains that Gentiles are made nigh not by coming into covenant relationship or Judaism but by the blood of Christ — and that Jew/Gentile roles are now inverted.
When It Was Jew Only
Les reads Ephesians 2:11–12 to show that at that time — when God dealt only with Israel — Gentiles were without Christ.
Not by Law or Temple Worship
Les stresses that being made nigh is not by keeping the Law, temple worship, or animal sacrifice, but by the blood of Jesus.
Things Have Changed
Les shows that God left the Gentiles in that state during Israel's program, but now, Paul can write 'but now' because things have changed.
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;
Paul reminds Gentile believers of their former identity in the flesh before the 'but now' of verse 13.
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 'far off' condition that the phrase 'but now' overturns.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
The key verse: 'but now' marks the change from far off to nigh through Christ's blood.
Les Feldick explains that 'far off' refers to the condition Paul describes in the previous verse — outside the covenants, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, without hope and without God in this world. It is a description of being separated from God and from the spiritual relationship He offers.
According to Les, it is not by keeping the Law, practicing temple worship, animal sacrifice, or coming under Judaism. It is by the blood of Jesus — the finished work of the cross — that believers in Christ are brought near.
Because it signals a dramatic change in God's dealings. For two thousand years the Gentiles were far off; now, in Christ Jesus, they are made nigh. It shows that the old situation is no longer the final one.
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