ALIEN 35

Col. 1:21.

That were sometimes alienated.

The references in Ephesians 4 and in Colossians 1, belong to the practical and doctrinal sphere of revealed truth,

the passage that interests us is Ephesians 2:12.

The structure of Ephesians 2:11-19 divides the subject-matter into three time periods:

(1)

In time past ... What we once were.

(2)

But now ... What grace has done.

(3)

No longer ... The complete reversal of the past.

Each part of Ephesians 2 deals with a time past in contrast with a time present, with its accompanying change. It

is important to observe the distinctive features of these two parts, the former dealing with death and life, the latter

with distance and nearness. Ephesians 2:1-10 uses such words as `dead', `trespass', `sin', `disobedience', `wrath',

`quickened', `saved', `faith' and `walk'. Ephesians 2:11-22 uses an entirely new vocabulary. Instead of sin and

death we have `Gentiles', `uncircumcision', `aliens' and `far off'; instead of being quickened and raised, we have a

`middle wall broken down', `ordinances abolished', `one new man created' and the thought of `fellow citizens' and

a `holy temple'. Instead of trespasses we have dispensational distance; instead of the flesh with its lusts we have the

flesh in its uncircumcision and enmity. In the first section we have a new creation, and in the second the creation of

a new man; in the first, believers are seated together in the heavenlies, in the second builded together as an

habitation of God.

These differences are important, for if the section before us deals with dispensational distance rather than with

sin and death, this will materially colour the meaning of the reconciliation referred to here by the apostle. The trend

of the two parts of this chapter may be seen if set out as follows:

A Doctrine.

Once. Walk. World and flesh.

b 4.

But God. Mercy. Love.

Made alive together.

Raised together.

Made to sit together.

Once. Gentiles. In flesh. In world.

But now. Nigh. One.

Citizens together.

Fitly framed together.

Builded together.

The Gentiles who composed the majority of the members of the One Body had no Scriptures full of promises

made unto their fathers; they were not only alienated from the life of God, but were also aliens from the

commonwealth of Israel. The structure of the epistle as a whole (see article entitled EPHESIANS p. 275) throws into

prominence two features - the new man and this twofold alienation. For the moment our attention is to be directed

to the dispensational alienation, the dispensational disability of being a Gentile as contrasted with the dispensational

privilege of being a Jew.

What was the position, dispensationally, of those who are now members of the One Body? This passage bids us

remember that we were once:

Gentiles in the flesh.

A

B

Without Christ.

C

Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

Strangers from the covenants of promise.

Having no hope.

Godless in the world.