We have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ.
Eph. 2:11-13
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
My eyes are first drawn to the end of verse 13, the amazing nature of the gospel that we have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ.
Jesus’ death on the cross means that God is with us. We can pray to Him at any time, without the need to go through a priest at a temple. He is near us at all times.
It wasn’t always this way. As verse 12 says, we were once separate from Christ and foreigners to the covenants of the promise – the covenants and promises made to Abraham, Moses and David in the Old Testament.
We were excluded from citizenship in Israel, not a part of God’s people, the Jews, who called themselves ‘the circumcision’. My ESV study Bible says that to be ‘uncircumcised’ was a Jewish term of derision for the Gentiles.
The fact that God is near to us always is, to me, an amazing, central part of the gospel. We are not alone in this world. We now have hope – hope that, regardless of what happens in this life, we will be healed, all wrongs will be made right, and we will live in perfect joy and peace with our Creator for eternity.
Praise the God who is near to us.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you that you have brought us into your family. That you have brought us near to you by the blood of Christ. That we now have hope. I pray to always remember that you are present with me wherever I am, and to have the boldness to invite others into your family. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
A song to listen to: You Are My King (Amazing Love)
David Lather
Living Church – Creek Road
