Ephesians 2:11

Ephesians 2:11 says, 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 said that those Gentile Christians had not been considered a part of God's people before they came to God by faith in Christ.  They were looked down on by the Jews, who considered themselves to be God's only people based on things of the flesh, such as birth and circumcision.  Verse twelve adds, 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:  Paul reminded the Christians at Ephesus that as Gentiles they had been aliens from those who were identified as God's people.  They were strangers to the covenant of God and without God in their lives.  I don't believe that this means that all people who were not a part of the nation of Israel before the coming of Christ were lost forever, any more than being born physically into the nation of Israel meant that they were automatically saved.  Through Christ, all have hope.  Verse thirteen continues, But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  Paul declares that those who had been far away from God, the Gentiles in particular, were made close to God through the blood of Christ.  This in no way depended on anything that they did other than accept salvation through Christ alone, and that has always been and always will be the only way to salvation.  Verse fourteen states, For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Christ allows us to find peace with God by breaking down the wall of partition that separates us from God.  We do not need anyone or anything else to give us access to God, the heavenly Father, except Christ.  As followers of Christ, we have total access to God.  Verse fifteen adds, 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;  Paul tells us that Christ, in His flesh or human nature abolished the enmity between God and man, which the commandments could not do.  Christ was a new Man, one that lived in total obedience to the law and thereby fulfilled the requirements of the law once and forever.  Verse sixteen continues, And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:  Paul said that by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross that the enmity between God and man was slain.  Through Christ alone can we have a right relationship with God.  Verse seventeen says, And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.  Jesus did indeed preach peace to the Jews and the Gentiles, and Paul had continued to do the same, as we must also.  Christ died for the sins of everyone, but it is up to each individual to accept that gift of salvation.  Verse eighteen adds, For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  Through Christ we all have the same access to the Father under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse nineteen continues, Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  As fellow citizens in the kingdom of God, we do not need visas or green cards.  We are all equally citizens of God's kingdom.  Verse twenty states, And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;  Paul said that the apostles and prophets had built the foundation of the church through preaching Christ as Savior and Lord, and Christ was and is the cornerstone of salvation.  If the cornerstone is not laid correctly, then what is built will be faulty.  If salvation through Christ is not the cornerstone of our faith, then whatever we build will ultimately fail. Verse twenty-one adds, In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:   Verse twenty-two continues, In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  Paul was continuing to emphasize that all spiritual growth comes through the cornerstone of Christ.  We are all a part of God's church, but we can only be a part of that church, or body of believers, by faith in Christ alone.  The law or the nature of our physical birth, whether we are Jew or Gentile, can never save us.