Yes—before Christ, Scripture says Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from Israel, strangers to the covenants, having no hope and without God.
Ephesians 2:12 states the Gentile condition before Christ: without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Les Feldick emphasizes that this was the actual lot of Gentile forefathers while God was dealing with Israel. He insists God was fair in this arrangement and points to the change that Christ would bring.
Ephesians 2:11 — Shows how Jewish people designated Gentiles as 'Uncircumcision' in the pre-Christian era.
Ephesians 2:12 — Directly states that Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from Israel's commonwealth, strangers to the covenants, having no hope and without God.
Ephesians 2:13 — Shows the contrast after Christ: those who were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
The text reminds Gentile believers of their former condition. They were called 'Uncircumcision' by those who were called 'the Circumcision.' At that time, they 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 2:11-12). The very next verse announces the change: 'But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ' (Ephesians 2:13). The condition of being without hope and without God belonged to the time before Christ, and the gospel of Christ changed it.
Les Feldick teaches that Ephesians 2:12 is a snapshot of where Gentile forefathers stood before Christ. While God was dealing with His covenant people, Israel—including during Christ's earthly ministry—Gentiles were outside, having no hope and without God in the world. They were not part of the commonwealth of Israel, and the covenants of promise did not belong to them. He repeatedly points out that this arrangement was God's doing and therefore fair. God is always fair, just, and righteous. Les also reminds readers not to stop at verse 12: the very next verse shows the change that came through Christ.
The Bible says Gentile forefathers were strangers from the covenants of promise. Since the covenants belonged to Israel, those promises did not apply to them, leaving them 'having no hope, and without God in the world' (Ephesians 2:12). Les points out that the text says this plainly and that this was the lot of Gentile forefathers, but the condition changed when Christ came.
No. Les teaches that while God was dealing with Israel, the Gentile was out there without hope and without God because he was not part of the nation of Israel. He uses the illustration of citizenship: a person who is not a citizen has no right or access to the benefits of that government. The covenants were for the Jew, not the Gentile, so a Gentile could not say, 'That's for me.'
Les acknowledges that people get 'shook up' by the idea that Gentiles had no hope and conclude that God was not fair. His answer is that we can never accuse God of not being fair because He is always fair, just, and righteous. The hopelessness applied to the period before Christ, and the next verse introduces Christ's death, burial, and resurrection as the turning point for the Gentile's condition.
The Abrahamic Covenant: Why God Chose Israel & What It Means For Us
the human race as we come into Genesis chapter 12. But before we start that, I would like to address a few remarks to our television audience that it's going to be so hard to cover as much as I would like to cover in just one thirty minutes, and I'm always afraid that if I'm not rightly understood, and if these things don't really come by us in an understandable way, that you'd be prone to just tu…
The Lot of the Gentile: No Hope, Without God
Les applies Ephesians 2:12 directly to Gentiles and says the Gentile's lot was 'having no hope, and without God in the world' because God was then dealing with Israel.
Gentiles Called Uncircumcised While God Dealt With Israel
Les shows that during the time God was dealing with His covenant people, including Christ's earthly ministry, Gentiles were without Christ, aliens from Israel's commonwealth, strangers to the covenants, without hope and without God.
Ephesians 2:12 Describes the Lot of Gentile Forefathers
Les says this is what the Bible plainly says about our Gentile forefathers—having no hope and without God—and points to the 'flip side' in the next verse.
God's Fairness in the Gentiles' Pre-Christ Condition
When people object that God wasn't fair, Les insists God is always fair, just, and righteous, even in the pre-Christ Gentile condition.
The Hopelessness Was Not Final
Les explains the Gentile lot before Christ was without hope, but that was soon changed by Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.
Israel Had the Covenants; Gentiles Were Aliens
Les uses citizenship to show Gentiles had no rights or access to Israel's commonwealth and covenants; the covenants were only for the Jew.
Paul's Verse Confirms It Was 'Jew Only' with Exceptions
Les says Ephesians 2:12 confirms that while God dealt with Israel, the Gentile was out there without hope and without God because he was not part of the nation of Israel.
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;
Shows the Jewish designation of 'Uncircumcision' that separated Gentiles before Christ.
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:
The central verse that directly states why Gentiles had no hope and were without God before Christ.
Ephesians 2:13: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Shows the contrast after Christ and why the hopeless condition was not permanent.
Yes, according to Ephesians 2:12, they were without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Les explains that this was the lot of Gentile forefathers while God was dealing with Israel. But it was not a permanent condition, because Christ's death, burial, and resurrection changed that.
Les answers this directly by saying we can never accuse God of not being fair. He is always fair, just, and righteous. The Gentiles' hopeless condition changed at Christ's death, burial, and resurrection, when those far off were made nigh by the blood of Christ.
It means Gentiles were non-citizens with no rights or access to Israel's government and its covenant privileges. Les emphasizes that the covenants belonged to Israel, not to the Gentiles, so a Gentile could not say, 'That's for me.'
Watch the Teaching: The Abrahamic Covenant: Why God Chose Israel & What It Means For Us