Ephesians 2:13 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
Verses 11-12 remind the Ephesians what they once were. This verse now proclaims what they have become in Christ. The significant shift is seen in the words but now. These are the words every person needs to experience. Every person needs a “but now” experience. The shift from the old to the new is possible because of the grace and mercy of God and is experienced through faith in what Christ has done for us on the cross.
There is an interesting comparison with the words far and near. In the context of the Old Testament tabernacle/temple structure, the closer one came to the Holy of Holies, the holier one needed to be. Those considered unclean had to go far away. In the Second Temple (first century), there was a Court of the Gentiles where Gentiles could come “near” but still not as near as Jews. This thought is developed also in the book of Hebrews and how the separation between God and humanity has been done away with through Jesus (Hebrews 10:19-22). The Gentile Christians used to be far off from God because of their unholiness see in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1).
The old life under the control of sin and self was far off and far away from God and God’s purposes for us. The basic biblical principle underlying Paul’s thought here is that sin cannot be near God who is holy. Paul echoes in this verse the alienation from Israel the Gentiles experienced in v. 12. This is not a political statement about Gentiles being far away from Israel but a soteriological statement that the Gentiles and unbelieving Jews are far away from God’s plan of salvation. The only way for anyone to be brought near to “covenants of promise” and “hope” (v. 12) is by the blood of Christ. Christ’s death on the cross altered all of time and history by opening a way to God and making it possible to experience God’s promises given long ago through Scripture. It is only through the cross that reconciliation with God and other people is possible.
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