What is the meaning of Ephesians 2:11? Therefore remember Paul begins with a command that invites a pause for gratitude and honesty. • Remembering keeps believers humble, much like Israel was told: “Remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you” (Deuteronomy 8:2–3). • It fuels worship, echoing the Lord’s Supper: “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Corinthians 11:24). • It frames the stunning shift that will be detailed in verses 12-13, moving from alienation to nearness. that formerly The word points to a definite “before” and “after.” • “You were dead in your trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1-3). • “Once you were alienated and hostile in mind” (Colossians 1:21). • This contrast magnifies grace; what we once were highlights what God has now done. you who are Gentiles in the flesh A physical distinction had spiritual weight. • Gentiles lacked Israel’s covenant privileges (Romans 9:4-5). • Peter acknowledged the historic divide: “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with a foreigner” (Acts 10:28). • Yet God always planned to bless “all nations” through Abraham (Genesis 12:3), paving the way for their inclusion. and called ‘uncircumcised’ The label carried scorn, marking outsiders. • David’s words about Goliath show the contempt: “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine?” (1 Samuel 17:26). • Such name-calling fostered pride on one side and exclusion on the other—barriers Christ would abolish (Ephesians 2:14-15). by the so-called circumcision Paul gently exposes misplaced confidence. • Physical circumcision was meant as a sign, yet many turned sign into badge (Genesis 17:10-11; John 8:39). • “A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly” (Romans 2:28-29). • True covenant standing rests on faith, the very lesson Abraham modeled (Romans 4:11-12). (that done in the body by human hands) Here Paul contrasts external ritual with the internal work God now performs. • Salvation involves a “circumcision not done by hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh” (Colossians 2:11). • Christ’s cross accomplishes what human effort never could, bringing both Jew and Gentile into “one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). summary Ephesians 2:11 calls believers to look back so they can look up. Gentile Christians once stood outside God’s covenant, branded “uncircumcised” by those relying on outward marks. Paul exposes how shallow such distinctions are compared with the heart-level transformation God now offers through Christ. Remembering that former alienation fuels humility, unity, and praise for the Savior who dismantled every wall and welcomed all who believe into His family. |
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