The Twelfth Sermon, the Fourth on the Second Chapter - Ephesians 2:11-13

"Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.." - Ephesians 2:11-13

Although the general teachings about God's grace should inspire us to praise His name and acknowledge the blessings we have received from Him, when something is done specifically for us, we should be even more deeply moved. In the morning, we heard how Paul stripped away all aspects of human nature to reveal only one foundation for salvation: the pure goodness of God. Now, he applies this principle directly to the Ephesians, urging them to reflect on their own condition when God found them. It's as though, after speaking about all of humanity, he directs each one of us to examine our own experiences.

Indeed, what he speaks to the Ephesians applies to us as well. Imagine someone telling us about the abundant blessings we inherited due to Adam's fall, and then asking us to consider what we were like and how we lived in our beastly ways before God called us to know Him. The key point here is that although the circumstances might differ from our time, Paul's message remains relevant and serves a meaningful purpose. While we may have been baptized since infancy, we must acknowledge that we, like the Jews who were set apart as God's chosen people, were once heathens in terms of our forefathers, before the gospel was preached to the world.

However, the confusion that has arisen among us through the ungratefulness of those called to the truth of the gospel is evident. Many have strayed from the path and, in essence, have been cut off from God's church. Our childhood baptism did not save us from double guilt, for those who fell into the superstitions of popery essentially renounced their baptism and became renegades. We cannot excuse ourselves by claiming we were forced to swear to God when we strayed from His commandments. Instead, we must humbly confess that we were once God's deadly enemies, deserving to be wholly abandoned by Him. His reaching out to bring us back onto the path of salvation is a testament to His mercy. Therefore, we should refrain from boasting or seeking excuses to mask our wretchedness but freely admit that we were unworthy enemies of God, saved only by His outstretched hand. Thus, we first apply this text to the Ephesians and then extract its lessons for ourselves.

Now, let's delve into the content and essence of these words: "Remember how you were sometimes Gentiles." Firstly, Paul draws a distinction between the Jews and those whom God allowed to continue in their ignorance. It was a unique privilege for Abraham's descendants when God adopted them, saying, "You shall be My people, as though you were of My own household." Those who did not come from Abraham's lineage were effectively exiled from God's kingdom and church. Paul goes on to emphasise that this separation was not merely a spiritual one; it was also visibly evident. Circumcision served as a ritual to cleanse people of their impurity and highlighted that all human seed was cursed. It demonstrated that true holiness and purity could only be attained by cutting away the natural elements. In essence, just as baptism today teaches us to renounce our natural state, circumcision was a sign that everyone was unclean and impure until they rejected their inherent nature. Paul's message is clear: this physical sign made it evident to all heathens that they were unworthy to approach God and that He did not receive them into the community of believers. The Jews had not created circumcision on their own; it was instituted by God to distinguish them from the rest of the world. This separation was due solely to God's grace and goodness.

Paul adds that at that time, they were without Christ, underscoring that mankind was lost and helpless until God united them in the body of His Son and adopted them as His children. For Jesus Christ is the light of the world, the source of all righteousness, and our redemption and life.

As long as we remain unfamiliar with God, we are like blind individuals stumbling in the dark, akin to the spiritually dead, stripped of all holiness, righteousness, power, and goodness. Since our freedom depends on Him, we are subjected to the tyranny of the devil and sin until He redeems us. This is why both Paul and I implore you through the voice of the Ephesians to turn to Jesus Christ. Those who are not partakers of God's Son should understand that it would be better for them to be drowned a hundred times than to persist in such a state. Why is this so? Because we can possess neither life nor spiritual well-being, righteousness, nor anything commendable apart from Jesus Christ. In essence, we possess nothing but sinfulness and destruction within ourselves.

Furthermore, he alludes to the commonwealth of Israel, underscoring that all the promises made to the Jews were rooted in Jesus Christ. Consequently, those who do not belong to His body are immediately excluded from God's promises and cannot harbor hope of life except through delusion, which only deceives them. He also mentions the instruments, covenants, and conveyances of these promises, signifying that God did not choose the Jews haphazardly; rather, He established a formal covenant, a binding document, which placed all others under condemnation. Thus, when God exalted the lineage of Abraham, it necessarily meant that the rest of the world was left in greater confusion. It is as if some princes or cities were to form an alliance, leaving all others outside, effectively depriving them of the benefits contained within.

When God declared that the Jews were His chosen people, His flock, and that He would be their Father and Saviour, He simultaneously conveyed that no part of this privilege extended to the Gentiles, whom He had forsaken and not shown a similar mercy. Lastly, He states that they were without God, the ultimate measure of all calamity. When one's God has cast them off to the point of no return, they descend further into the abyss of hell, waging war against God as if in defiance. This rebellion arises from their stubborn and rebellious nature, opposing all that is good. Thus, what St. Paul emphasises here, to aid the Ephesians in benefiting from his morning discourse regarding the sole cause of our salvation, is that there is nothing for us to rely upon except God's sheer grace.

Now, let us turn our attention to ourselves. I've already briefly stated that our forefathers were in the same condition that St. Paul describes here.

Therefore, we have no reason to boast, considering our lowly origins. If the Jews, who were chosen by God, stand as a testament to His wrath and terrible vengeance for their unbelief, then we, as those grafted into their place, should have even greater cause for humility. If God did not spare the natural branches, how much more should we, who have been grafted in contrary to nature, humble ourselves? Paul encourages us to humility so that we may always submit ourselves to God's goodness and freely acknowledge that our well-being depends on it.

I also mentioned earlier that not only were our forefathers estranged from the hope of salvation because they were not adopted like the Jews, but also the widespread scattering of humanity, which still persists today, was intended to crush all pride and presumption. This allows God's grace to shine more brightly upon us. Therefore, although we have been baptised and bear the mark of God's goodness and free adoption, we have been wretched idolaters who strayed from our Lord Jesus Christ. The things we held in high regard turned into our greater damnation rather than contributing to our welfare. Hence, we have ample reason to consider ourselves further. Even though we may lack the wisdom to fully magnify God's grace, let us carefully ponder the word that St. Paul uses here to remind us of what we might forget.

When we are endowed with God's grace, when He grants us good desires to walk in His fear, and when He works in us through His Holy Spirit, demonstrating some goodness within us, we may quickly forget what we were before. This can bury God's grace, preventing us from continually praising and appreciating His goodness and grace as they deserve. Despite the transformation in our present state, reducing us to mere mortals, we must always remember that before God had mercy on us, we were like lost sheep and utterly doomed creatures. Without His intervention and the remedy He provided for our cursed state, we would have been damned countless times. Therefore, we should reflect on St. Paul's words, which he used to remind the Ephesians of their past, because even though God has removed the cause for their shame and marked them with His Holy Spirit, making them as precious pearls, He still wants them to remember their former sins.

This remembrance is a sign of repentance, as Scripture emphasizes that when God reaches out to us and brings us back from our straying, we should continue to recall our past sins, feeling sorrow, shame, and remorse for them. When he mentions that the Gentiles had good reason to lower their heads because they were once without assurance of God's goodness and love, he reminds us that we receive a unique blessing from God when we partake in His sacraments. These sacraments serve as tokens that God acknowledges and accepts us as part of His household and church. It is true that if we misuse them, we will pay a heavy price, but the outcome of this is yet to be determined.

When the sacraments are administered for their intended purpose, they are truly invaluable treasures. As I mentioned before, although God has promised to consider us His children from the moment we emerge from our mothers' wombs, our flesh remains tainted with impurity. Baptism, however, reveals that God washes and purifies us from all our filthiness, rescuing us from the confusion in which we existed in Adam and clothing us with Jesus Christ, allowing us to share in all His blessings as if they were our own. Therefore, we must recognise the importance of baptism and how greatly we should esteem this gracious act of God's approach to us. The same applies to the Lord's Supper, where it is visibly demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the true sustenance of our souls, just as our bodies are nourished by bread and wine. We find our spiritual life in the very substance of God's Son, as our Lord Jesus presents His body and blood to us as spiritual food and drink. Is this not far more valuable than all the things in this world?

Unfortunately, many people are ignorant or malicious when it comes to the Lord's Supper. Some approach it thoughtlessly, not understanding its purpose, while others treat it as a mere custom. Even if they have been taught its significance, they do not fully comprehend it, treating it lightly once it is over. Some even profane it deliberately. As for baptism, it is similarly disregarded. Instead of meditating on it daily, or even hourly, and using it to strengthen ourselves in God's grace, people rarely think about it. When baptism is administered in the church, it hardly registers with most. It is difficult to find even one person among a hundred who can properly articulate the significance of this sign of our adoption. This disdain and ignorance should not go uncorrected. God, in His patience and longsuffering, cannot tolerate such dishonour when His grace is treated so lightly among us. Therefore, it is crucial for us to pay close attention to what St. Paul tells us here – that the Gentiles, deprived of the sacraments given to God's children as tokens of His goodness and love, are in a pitiable condition. This should prompt us to cherish the privilege we have been granted, not to boast arrogantly, as hypocrites often do when they misuse God's name, but to encourage us to better appreciate this invaluable gift. We should recognise that we are no better than those poor, starving souls against whom God has closed the gates and to whom He has not given these tokens of His grace and witness that He will be our Father.

Consider that the Turks also practice circumcision, just as the Jews did, yet it holds no value because it lacks the accompanying promise of God. Despite our common ancestry with them, we have baptism, but only because God intended to demonstrate greater compassion towards us and display the abundance of His goodness. Similarly, there are others, like the Papists, who are called Christians and also have baptism, yet they have rejected the death and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ in favour of an abominable mess. What sets us apart from them? It is because God intended us to be mirrors of His boundless mercy. Therefore, we should walk in reverence and awareness and hold in high regard the things that God has shown us to be so precious and excellent, so that we may derive greater benefit from them. This is why St. Paul emphasises circumcision and uncircumcision here. Although he states elsewhere that circumcision is nothing, this is because it has been abolished, and its use has ceased, along with all the other Old Testament figures. However, when God ordained it, and as long as the Jews used it correctly, it was a reliable token of their adoption by God, as if He had cleansed them from all the impurity inherent in Adam's race and set them apart for Himself.

After he made this statement, he added that they were without Christ and without promises. Here he demonstrates that the sacraments derive their power from God's Word. If they were mere empty signs, they would hold little significance. If circumcision had been given to the Jews without any doctrine or instruction, what purpose would it have served? Surely, it would have been of no benefit to them. However, when God said, "I am the God who sanctifies you; you shall be my children, I will receive you and, with all, take you for my heritage," and on the other hand, "I give myself to you and will be your life," circumcision had such promises attached to it. Therefore, it became an invaluable treasure to the Jews because it was the foundation upon which our Lord Jesus Christ was laid, and upon which the promises were established and confirmed. This is why St. Paul here joins the commonwealth of Israel, the instruments of God's promises, and our Lord Jesus Christ all together.

However, in speaking of the commonwealth of Israel, he shows that God had chosen one particular lineage, which He intended to be holy. This implies that all others were considered unholy. When speaking of the instruments of the promises, he emphasises that we must not view circumcision in isolation; rather, we must understand its intended purpose. It is necessary for us to know why God ordained its use among the Jews. Otherwise, it would be nothing more than a meaningless toy, just as the Gentiles had countless superstitious practices that they believed would bring them holiness, all in vain since they lacked God's promise. Similarly, in the papacy, they claim to have many sacraments, but without God's word to sanctify them, they are but worthless trinkets.

Therefore, we must understand that to benefit from the sacraments, we must always be taught by God's doctrine. This leads us to the conclusion that many who are considered high in the Church today are, in fact, cut off from it because they lack the necessary instruction to partake in God's offered blessings. They may point to their baptism or claim to have received the Lord's Supper, but if they do not understand their purpose, it renders the sacraments powerless. Therefore, it is crucial for us to return to the Gospel to learn the purpose of baptism, the fruits it yields, and its proper use. We must also understand the significance of the Holy Supper. Without God's Word, as our Lord Himself has said, the sacraments we receive are mere empty symbols, containing nothing but falsehood.

Additionally, we must note that Jesus Christ is associated with the commonwealth of Israel, the sacraments, and the promises to illustrate that we all depend on Him. It is certain that God never approaches humanity without a mediator. Since He abhors unrighteousness and all humans are cursed in Adam, it was necessary for our Lord Jesus Christ to intervene, providing us with access to God. This is why St. Paul also states that Jesus Christ is the "yea and amen" of all God's promises. There can be no certainty in God's promises without Jesus Christ.

For the same reason, all things in the law were consecrated with blood, including the book of the law itself. When the covenant was publicly read and solemnly proclaimed to the people, the book was sprinkled with the blood of the sacrifice. This signified that all the teachings contained in the law and all the promises by which God adopted those whom He admitted into His church must be confirmed by the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we desire the promises to be sure and infallible, and if we want to be assured of them so that we may freely call upon God and resist all temptations, we must always turn to Jesus Christ. It is significant when God, with His own holy mouth, tells us that He will reserve us for His own. Still, we must continually tremble in His Majesty's presence until we cast our eyes upon our Lord Jesus Christ and understand that God, for His sake, regards us as forgiven, burying our sins so they will never be held against us.

Therefore, you can see that the promises, the sacraments, and everything we have must be ratified by Jesus Christ. In short, to make a human comparison and speak plainly, He is the true source that imparts savor to everything related to our salvation. Without Him, we would remain as if in a stupor, unable to hope or have our minds settled enough to turn to God for refuge. Therefore, St. Paul tells us that those without circumcision, or other sacraments by which they are consecrated to God, or any promises of salvation without Christ, are without God.

Now, he adds something that may seem challenging and strange at first glance when he says that the Ephesians were without God. It is certain that even though they were wretched idolaters, they held a certain belief that the world did not create itself. All humans have continuously possessed some semblance of religion, and even those who attempt to bury all knowledge of God in the depths of their minds are still pricked by the conscience. They cannot escape God's hand. However, when it comes to this matter, they are naturally inclined to acknowledge the existence of a God. But those who are not taught by God's word, the law, the prophets, or the gospel are led astray, wandering aimlessly and bewildered. They create distorted images of God based on their own misguided imaginations.

So, when St. Paul says here that they were without God, it means that they wandered in their own imaginations and erroneous beliefs. This is why Simple says that those who desired to worship unknown gods were merely worshipping idols and fanciful delusions, and God had no part in it. They had utterly forsaken Him, renouncing Him in the process. Therefore, it is essential for us to strive diligently to know which God we should worship. It is not enough for someone to claim they had good intentions and meant to worship God; this will not suffice. We must approach God with humility, allowing Him to show us the way to come to Him, lest we go astray and suffer harm.

Furthermore, since God has given us a testimony of His Majesty in Holy Scripture, we must focus our attention there and not seek to know anything beyond what is revealed. Our guiding star to know God should be His Word, and we must be wise enough to accept everything it contains without contradiction. We should not presume to add anything to it. Moreover, because we know that whoever has the Son has the Father, we should seek to know God through His Word. Therefore, as I mentioned before, because God has revealed Himself in His Word, we must seek Him there. Likewise, since our Lord Jesus Christ is His living image, we should not engage in excessive speculations to comprehend what God is. Instead, we should turn to Jesus Christ, acknowledging that it is His role to lead us to God the Father, and He is the one who will guide us. By doing so, we can be certain that we will not be without God in this world.

Now, if those who exert great effort to serve God are condemned here as being without God because they have not adhered to the true path and have been deceived by their superstitions, what shall we say of the dogs and swine who have no knowledge of God, especially when they have deprived themselves of all understanding and have descended into a beastly state after having some exposure to the truth, with their ears exposed to Holy Scripture? We see a great number of such people in the world today. They take advantage of the times, indulge in worldly pleasures, and willingly extinguish or obscure the light that God has caused to shine upon them.

They openly defy God's majesty, as if there were no instruction at all. This cursed seed is now scattered throughout the entire world. However, as I mentioned earlier, if the poor and ignorant, who never had any clear direction but have wandered aimlessly, are condemned by God for not having a true foundation, what shall become of the wealthy who reject God in this manner and rebel against Him, claiming not to understand the true doctrine and religion?

Therefore, we must humble ourselves and acknowledge that since God has revealed Himself to us, joined us with an inseparable bond, shown Himself as a Father to us, and deigned to make us members of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ, uniting us with Him, with the condition that everything belonging to Him now belongs to us, we should learn to magnify this grace and recognize what we were and what we would still be if God had not shown us mercy. It becomes us to give thanks for His grace.

One might wonder what St. Paul meant by the word "world" here. It would seem that those outside of the world were not without God. However, St. Paul uses this phrase to emphasize that the Ephesians had enjoyed the benefits of the world: the light of the sun, the service of all the elements, and the many blessings of God's creation. Yet, they did not know Him. The world serves as an open stage where God intends His Majesty to be seen. When we look up at the sun, the moon, and the stars, do they not lead us to the One who gave them their virtues? Consider the sun, so distant from us, yet it provides us with light. It calls forth fruit from the earth. It follows its appointed course, shifting from one side to the other, maintaining its path without fail. Though immense in size, it is upheld by the secret power of God. Its vastness surpasses that of the entire earth. It rises and sets, never missing its course. When we gaze upon the heavens, our hearts should be filled with a longing to approach God.

Moreover, when we contemplate the things near us—the variety of God's blessings poured upon us—we should feel the same desire. Without venturing far, if we simply examine our own bodies, we can marvel at the workmanship and goodness of God. We live in a world where God displays an abundance of miracles, intending to be known and worshipped. However, many of us behave like beasts, lacking understanding and failing to recognise the God who created and fashioned us, the same God who reveals Himself in all His creatures, both above and below. Isn't this enough to strip away all excuses for those who act foolishly in their ignorance, living solely to consume God's blessings and failing to honour Him or offer Him their service? Therefore, it is not without reason that St. Paul adds further that those who were destitute of the knowledge of the gospel were without God in the world.

Now, on the other hand, he presents the grace of God that they had received so that they would understand it was not obtained by their own efforts or wisdom. They ought to recognise how greatly they are indebted to God for lifting them up from the depths of hell to heavenly heights. If God had not extended His hand to lift us up when we were prone to fall, we should acknowledge that we have no grounds for boasting.

So, let us consider our state; if we had been left alone, we wouldn't owe Him anything. However, when someone helps us up after we've fallen, we come to thank them. Likewise, we ought to do the same with God. Look, God has not only lifted us from the ground but also rescued us from the depths of hell. He hasn't done this to keep us crawhng on the earth or to have us enjoy His blessings here alone. No, He has done it to elevate us to the kingdom of heaven. As we've seen before, we've already been put in possession of it through faith. We've been placed in Jesus Christ's glory, which He acquired for us by entering on our behalf. That being said, we should acknowledge and magnify God's grace all the more.

Now, let's understand what Paul means when he says that, through Jesus Christ, you who were far away have been brought near to God. To explain further, I should add a few words. Since I can't cover everything in one go, let's understand that those who seem to have some worthiness in themselves will inevitably wander to their own destruction as long as they are separated from God. This is because, by nature, they are strangers to Him and are completely cut off from Him. Let each of us recognise how we had forgotten God and turned away from Him until He called us back to Him. Knowing this, let us learn to magnify His grace for reconciling us to Himself, for removing all enmity between Him and us, and for transforming us from deadly enemies into His children. We should be assured that all of this is accomplished through our Lord Jesus Christ, with the goal that we should draw everything related to our salvation from that source.

Additionally, let us consider the help God has provided us to come to Jesus Christ and be established in Him. This way, we can have a firm and sure doctrine. For example, when the gospel is preached daily, Jesus Christ is offered to us, and He calls us to Himself. His arms are outstretched to embrace us. Let us understand this. Moreover, let us add the sacraments to this, considering that Jesus Christ not only commands the open preaching of the Gospel, revealing Himself as our Shepherd who desires us to be His flock, but also confirms it through baptism and His last supper. We must be careful not to render these signs ineffective through our own malice and ingratitude. Instead, we should ponder why God has ordained them and use them in such a way that we may grow in faith and be inflamed with zeal to dedicate ourselves wholly to God since He has also given Himself to us.

Now, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and praying to Him. We should not only ask Him to reveal our vices to us but also to cleanse us from them. In particular, we should recognise that from our mother's wombs, we bring nothing but sinfulness, and we continue to increase our iniquity. When we realise this, we should bless His holy name for granting us this knowledge and be spurred to turn to Him. We must maintain the right path in Christ, for without Him, we would be banished from the kingdom of heaven. Thus, let us persist on this path and call upon our good God incessantly, so that we may experience that His calling us to Him is not in vain. As we see the fruits of our prayers, we will be more encouraged to seek refuge in Him and offer Him thanks for all the benefits we receive from His hand. May He grant this grace not only to us but also to all people, etc.