Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called "Uncircumcision" by the so-called "Circumcision," which is performed in the flesh by human hands--
Remembering that we were dead, and now we're alive in Christ, Paul is bringing out the main differences between the Gentiles and the Jews.
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.
Remember before you were saved, while you were still dead, and were without any future or prospects.
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
These Gentiles who were so far away from God and God's people and His ways; now they have been washed clean in the blood of Christ and brought close to the heart of God.
For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,
Christ Jesus Himself is our peace, who tore down the curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place where the Lord dwells--this is the wall that separated us from God. And the whole Law with the sacrificial system separated the Gentiles from Israel.
Now Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Law, has broken down all the barriers, and now welcomes all of Mankind into the chosen family of God.
by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,
Jesus' body and blood, on His altar, the cross, as the Lamb of God, fulfilled the sacrifices that were required; so we don't need to offer animals on altars any more, He finished it.
and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
And by offering Himself He became our total remedy for reconciling with God and with one another. We're not enemies any more. We are all one body, and Jesus is our Head.
And
He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near (Isaiah 57: 19);for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.
Christ Jesus proclaimed to both Jews and Gentiles that we are at peace with one another, and we have peace with God the Father; because we both, Jews and Gentiles, can now approach God the Father by the same Holy Spirit that lives in both of us.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,
Now both Jews and Gentiles are all saints, brought into the family of God together as His children, all one family.
having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,
Paul changes to another illustration, portraying us as a building. The foundation of this building is the apostles and prophets, and the corner stone that holds it together is Christ Jesus.
in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,
in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Where God dwells is His temple. When He puts His Spirit into each of us, making us alive, then He dwells in us, individually. So the picture here is that we are living "stones" that are being laid on the foundation to build a building in Heaven for God to live in.
Right now as we live our lives here, God lives in each of us as a little miniature temple, so we can talk with Him any time, He's right here with us all the time. And when He gathers us together into one structure, then we will be His holy temple in Heaven where He lives.
And we read the end of the story in Revelation that Heaven comes down to the New Earth for God to dwell with His people, His family, forever (Revelation 21: 1-3).
This is the final destination that God has planned for us, and when we get there, I imagine that He has a lot more adventures for us, so we will be busy working on His good purposes for us forever!
In the mean time, while we're still here, we need to pay attention to all the lessons He is teaching us, and pass all the tests He presents to us, so that we will grow up to be the adults in His family. We're children in school now. No matter how many years we've been in this world, we're still children spiritually. We need to remember this, as well as where we're headed.
O my Father, Your plans are so wonderful! You have planned out my life so that I will face all the situations that will grow my faith and trust in You, and I ask You for the strength and perseverance and faithfulness to pass all the tests You will prove me with.
Send me out, Father; use me and my words and my actions to show the world who You are, and how much You Love each one of us! Enable me to demonstrate to others how You have already met all of our needs, and that You want them all to turn to You for cleansing and new birth.
Grow Your family, Father, using my hands and feet; to help Your children grow up, and to add many more children to Your household.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, King of all Creation; to the everlasting glory of Almighty God the Father, for ever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come swiftly, Lord Jesus!
