Ephesians 2:12-22

Eph 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 is building on verse 11 where it states that these Gentiles in Ephesus were their unsaved state which was called the “Uncircumcision.” In verse 12 it continues the thread that the Ephesians were once worshippers of idols such as Diana and because of that they had no hope because they did not know the real God. Diana was just a false god which was created by the imagination of man. Now Paul states that these Gentiles were strangers from the covenants of promise. This is not speaking of the first covenant of Sinai because that covenant could not save and the only promises made were based on works. If Israel was obedient to God, then they would remain in the land but their history shows that they were barely out of Egypt for a few weeks and already they were making a golden calf. The first covenant offered no hope for salvation only judgment because of their disobedience.

The covenants of promise were those given to Abraham which began the covenant of grace which was the eternal covenants and since the Gentiles were not part of the political nation of Israel, they were not privy to all the covenants. Since they were idolaters they had no hope and were without the real God since they worshipped false gods. Abraham received the covenant of promise 600 years before the nation of Israel was formed in Egypt.

For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. (Genesis 13:15)

And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. (Genesis 17:7)

Before the first covenant of law was instituted, the second covenant of grace was already in force as Abraham was saved by grace. So who is the seed of Abraham who would inherit the eternal covenants? That would be the Christian in Christ. No one is saved by the law and both those in the Old and New Testament are saved by Christ and by grace, no other way.

Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16)

And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29)

Here we see that the seed of Abraham is Christ and that those in Christ are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Paul is giving the Ephesians great hope that they do not have to belong to the physical nation of Israel to be saved. Those who are saved and in Christ are the spiritual descendants of Abraham.

{6} Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: {7} Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. {8} That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. (Romans 9:6-8)

The true Israel which is the body of believers in Christ are different than the physical nation of Israel which is here described as “not the children of God.” Those in physical Israel who became saved like Moses, David, Peter, Lazarus these are the true Israel within the political Israel.

On the surface this verse seems to be speaking of the history of Israel which were privy to the teachings and covenants of God in contrast to the surrounding heathen nations which did not have the law of God nor any of the commandments. In fact the surrounding nations were under the wrath of God because of their false gods and their treatment of ancient Israel.

At first glance it looks like the Gentiles could not have salvation because they were not tied to the physical nation of Israel but when we investigate the verse a little further we see that this is speaking of spiritual Israel. Christ was rejected by national Israel but He is King of the Jews. What Jews? Spiritual Jews as we see in the following verses:

{28} For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. (Romans 2:28-29)

For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)

Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7)

How much more plainer can the Bible be that the true Israel is not the physical nation of Israel, whether it is ancient Israel or the counterfeit modern nation of Israel.

The covenants were the eternal covenant that God made with Abraham which applied only to the true Israel, namely the elect. National Israel broke the covenant of Exodus 19:7-8 continually which caused God to send them into the hands of their enemies. This is why God refers to the eternal covenants as covenants of promise. Now some say that God still owes National Israel a homeland and that promise will be fulfilled at a later date. Let us see if that theory holds any truth:

The Promise of the Land Fulfilled

{43} And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. {44} And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. {45} There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. (Joshua 21:43-45)

And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you. (Joshua 23:5)

Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. (1 Kings 8:56)

{7} Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name of Abraham; {8} And foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed thy words; for thou art righteous: {23} Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it. (Nehemiah 9:7-8, 23)

In all these verses they stated that God fulfilled all his promises made to the fathers of Israel and that no promise went unfulfilled. Israel became rebellious, idolatrous, and disobedient to God and that meant they lost the land forever. 1948 was not God reneging on his promise to Israel that if they became disobedient they would lose the land. They lost it and there are no promises of some future fulfillment of a new Israel.

Promises of Israel’s Dispossession for disobedience

And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. (Deuteronomy 28:63)

I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. (Deuteronomy 30:18)

{25} Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes toward your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land? {26} Ye stand upon your sword, ye work abomination, and ye defile every one his neighbour's wife: and shall ye possess the land? {27} Say thou thus unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword, and him that is in the open field will I give to the beasts to be devoured, and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence. {28} For I will lay the land most desolate, and the pomp of her strength shall cease; and the mountains of Israel shall be desolate, that none shall pass through. {29} Then shall they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because of all their abominations which they have committed. (Ezekiel 33:25-29)

How much clearer can the Bible be that Israel lost the land because of their idolatry and disobedience and there is no promise of a new Israel.

Eph 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Now the emphasis shifts to the Gentiles that now those who were saved were no longer strangers from the Covenants of promise, in fact, they were now beneficiaries. They received the same salvation as those Jews who became saved. The Blood of Christ is the only way a person can become saved at any time in history.

Far off - Distant - It shows a separation between God and man

Nigh - Near - Those that were separated from Christ are brought near

Those who worshipped idols and involved in false religions were now brought to the truth. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9) Here in Ephesus was one of the largest idolatrous cults in the ancient world which was Diana or Artemis. Because of the blood of Christ those elect were now brought to the true God.

Eph 2:14

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

Christ is the one who gave us peace between God and the elect. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1) Jesus brought both Gentile Christians and Jewish Christians together as one because each group stands on exactly the same footing. There is no such thing as one group being in better standing with God. The middle wall of partition types the veil of the temple being torn in two. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (Luke 23:45) This means there is no longer a veil of secrecy privy to only to the physical Jews but now the way to God has been paved through the Lord Jesus Christ for all the elect who would be chosen down through the ages until the last day. Once the veil was rent in two, it meant God no longer dwelled in the Temple but He now dwells within His people, the redeemed Elect. The age of the temple was now over and this was why Christ sent Titus in 70 AD to destroy the city as the physical temple was no longer the place where God placed His Name. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. (Daniel 9:26)

Eph 2:15

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

{25} Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. {26} Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. (Matthew 5:25-26)

Here in the Sermon on the Mount the Lord Jesus Christ gives some great legal advice. He is speaking to the people about making an agreement with the adversary because even though a person might think they would win in court, the tables will turn and see them as the guilty party. This is particularly true about those who think they can die and get to Heaven based upon their record of works and achievements in their earthly life. They may go to the Judgment Seat of Christ in confidence but the tables will turn on them when they find out that no works could save them.

Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. (John 5:45)

The criteria for judgment will be whether you broke any of God’s laws or if you kept them perfectly? The reality is if you broke just one law of God then you have broken them all. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10) Then the only way to agree with thine adversary which is the law is to fulfill the law because you cannot keep it. Confusing isn’t it? Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. (Matthew 5:17) Christ came to fulfill all the righteous demands of God’s law and the only way to fulfill the law is to receive Christ as personal savior which means that if you are in Christ, then it is like you have fulfilled all the requirements of the law and are considered righteous enough for Heaven and you have agreed with your adversary before you went to see the judge.

{13} And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; {14} Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:13-14 This means that Christ completely abolished all the judicial decrees against us, in other words, no indictments can be handed down against us.

This resulted in making the body of believers one cohesive whole and culture or nationality does not have any place in the body as all are on the same footing. In the early church the cross gave a mending between the Jewish and non-Jewish believers. Those Jewish believers were coming out of 1500 years of tradition and grace was something new to them. The Gentiles were becoming saved without having to keep any aspects of the law and this was the big rift in the early church. This was why Paul penned the Book of Galatians which delved into the controversy of whether one must keep the law plus grace to become saved.

If you notice in the verse that one new man was made “in Christ” without any keeping of any law since Christ, in his sacrifice, completely fulfilled the righteous demands of God’s law. The cross made the way of peace between the two groups.

Eph 2:16

And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

The enmity between groups does not exist because it was killed. The only reason it still exists is because it is resurrected by either group. This is what was happening in the early church and continues down to today as there are plethora of ethnic and cultural churches. Unfortunately, in many ethnic churches, culture is raised to the same level as Christ. The reconciliation comes not only between both groups but also both groups as one unto the Lord. Since man was the one who departed from God by sinning, it is God who is reconciling a remnant of the human race known as Christians unto Himself.