Ephesians 2:12 – In Flesh outsiders

Wherefore, remember that once you, the nations in flesh (…) that you were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world.

In these verses, Paul allows the believers from the nations to look back on the period that “according to flesh” they were devoid of all spiritual privileges. Paul is referring to the time when th were regarded as outsiders by “the circumcision” (Israel). Even if they visited Jerusalem, it was strictly forbidden to enter the actual temple site. The nations were only guests and strangers who “according to the flesh” could not claim the Christ, the covenants of the promise, the hope and the approach to God.

We read in Acts 21 that Paul had taken an uncircumcised Greek, a certain Trophimus, to Jerusalem. The Jews mistakenly believed that Paul brought them into the temple. This became the occasion for Paul’s imprisonment. According to the flesh, this Trophimus was outside. But spiritually he had approached into the presence of the Father (2:18), more intimately then the high priest in the sanctuary ever had. Jew or not, it doesn’t make any difference!

Delen: