What do you Make of this Verse ?

Kosherboy · 03-20-2008, 10:13 AM

Therefore remember, that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "œUncircumcision" by the so-called "œCircumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands --- remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one, and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:11-18)
[/align]

The Rev · 03-20-2008, 04:15 PM

Makes us brothers.

OkieArcher · 03-20-2008, 06:59 PM

Those who were once "˜far away"™ were the *Gentiles. Sometimes a *Gentile might want to become a *Jew. Then the teacher would say that he would "˜come near"™. There is good news for the *Gentiles. They can now be in Christ Jesus. God has brought them to him by the blood of Christ. It was like a closed door. Now it is like an open door. *Gentiles were "˜far away"™ from God. Now God has brought them "˜near"™. The door is open to everyone. We are now "˜in Christ"™. We can now come near to God our Father.

he "˜wanted to make the *Jews and *Gentiles into one people"™. The *Jewish laws made *Jews and *Gentiles enemies. In his body, Jesus made them friends. Jesus has formed a new body, the *church. It consists of both *Jews and *Gentiles. He made the two into one. That made peace possible between them

yes its cut and paste but I think it pretty close

preacherbooney · 03-21-2008, 05:12 AM

first let me preface what I am going to say, by saying that with this verse and every verse, what we "get out of it" is irrelevant and useless, only what the author put into it. There is only one meaning of every verse which is found by context, though there are many applications.

IF you look at the verses before this, Paul talks of how the church in Ephesus, as we all were, was at one time dead in it's sin and following Satan, the "prince of the power of the air." He then tells how while they were yet in that sin , God being rich in mercy and great in love reached down and saved them by grace through faith which is a gift from God, it was nothing they did. So we have to look at these 8 verses in that context as Paul starts v. 11 with Therefore.

When Paul speaks of them being cut off from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenant of God, he is restating what he said in vv. 1-10, they were dead in there sins and cut off from God and the people of God, or the commonwealth of Israel. And before Christ, God's covenant was only for the people of Israel, but as Christ spoke and the apostles resonated, Christ death was for all people, enabling ALL who would believe in Christ the opportunity to come into the "commonwealth of Israel" and take the covenant of God. So basically what Paul is saying here is though these people were once cut off from God because of their sin and were once cut off from Judaism because of their nationality, thanks to Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, they, like us, have access to God and have been saved from their sins. Hope this helps.

edman · 03-21-2008, 07:35 AM

Well, if you disagree with LBR or TURKEY-FIRE, LBR will delete your post.

He let TURKEY-FIRE post about how wrong everyone is who isn't a member of the church of christ yet won't let you post against the church of christ.

Snooky · 03-21-2008, 09:46 AM

So basically what Paul is saying here is though these people were once cut off from God because of their sin and were once cut off from Judaism because of their nationality, thanks to Christ's sacrifice and resurrection, they, like us, have access to God and have been saved from their sins.

Preacher; You raise a question within your answer.
Acts 2:10 and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes (converts to Judaism). Were the converts saved?? If so why and how?? seeing they were not the seed of Abraham?

preacherbooney · 03-21-2008, 12:21 PM

good question, i will have to look into that more and then give you an answer

Snooky · 03-27-2008, 09:52 AM

And before Christ, God's covenant was only for the people of Israel, but as Christ spoke and the apostles resonated, Christ death was for all people, enabling ALL who would believe in Christ the opportunity to come into the "commonwealth of Israel" and take the covenant of God. So basically what Paul is saying here is though these people were once cut off from God because of their sin and were once cut off from Judaism because of their nationality,

Acts 2:10 and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes (converts to Judaism). Were the converts saved?? If so why and how?? seeing they were not the seed of Abraham?

Come on guys, Were they saved or not??

Snooky · 03-27-2008, 01:18 PM

OkieArcher;
Sometimes a *Gentile might want to become a *Jew. Then the teacher would say that he would "˜come near"™. There is good news for the *Gentiles. They can now be in Christ Jesus.

Does this mean that there was atime when one, because of his bloodlinage could not be saved? Or was all men everywhere able to be saved at anytime by the proper approach to God?
Acts 2:5 devote men, out of every nation under heaven were in Jersalem for to keep the feast. V10 Jews and proselytes.
Were they all saved?
If yes, Why? If not saved, Why not?

OkieArcher · 03-29-2008, 08:45 PM

Snooky,,God has always plan for Jews and Gentiles to be saved through Christ...Gods word was first given to Isreal,,the Jewish people,,the gentiles did'nt have the law or even know of God,,so they were separated in a since,,,Paul , in galations 2 talks about some false teachers from jerusalem saying the gentiles needed to become jews and follow the law to be saved,,Paul wanted everyone to know the true good news about Jesus that He makes people free from the law and traditions of religion.God accepts only the people who trust Jesus.. who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ...... hope this clears up everything for ya.