In Christ I can draw near to God

“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13

Have you ever felt like an outsider? No matter how hard you tried, you could never seem to fit in with others? It is like you felt others were more blessed than you are? You always felt “less than” others?

Or have you ever felt this way with God? No matter how hard you tried to live a good moral life, God always seemed to be distant from you? Others seemed to find favor with God, but not you? It is like having leprosy. Both God and others seemed to want nothing to do with you. Does this resonate with you?

If it does, please take heart because you are not alone. The apostle Paul wrote to Gentile believers who once felt the same way about God and the Jewish people. Paul writes of Gentiles before they became Christians “that at that time you 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” (Ephes. 2:12).

Before Jesus, these Gentiles “were without Christ” in that they had no corporate hope focused on a Messiah, as did the Jews (2:12a). They were also “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,” having no part in what God planned to do in and through Israel (2:12b). These Gentiles were “strangers from the covenants of promise” that God had given to Israel (2:12c). They had “no hope” as a race of people as the nation of Israel did (2:12d). And these Gentiles were “without God in the world,” unlike Israel whom God had reached out to and drawn to Himself (2:12e). This is why a Jew despised Gentiles in the time of the apostle Paul and wanted nothing to do with them.

Two very important words begin verse 13 – “But now…” In the past, Gentiles were outsiders who were far from God and His chosen people, “But now in Christ Jesus,” Gentile believers “who once were far off have been brought near” to God “by the blood of Christ” (2:13).

Our sin separates us from God (cf. Rom. 3:23, 6:23a), but the death of Christ provided the basis for Gentiles (and Jews) to be “brought near” to God. Notice that it is the “blood of Christ” that brings us “near” to God, not our church membership, prayers, water baptism, good works, or associations with others.

In the past you may have felt like an outsider, like no one, especially God, could accept you or love you just as you are, “but now” you can come near to God through the blood of Christ if you will simply believe or trust in Him alone and His full payment for all yours sins on the cross and His resurrection. If you do this, Christ will save you forever from hell and give you everlasting life so you may draw near to God in heaven as His forever child (Ephes. 2:8-9; John 1:12; 3:16).

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for the blood of Jesus Christ which paid the full penalty for all of my sins. Although I was once far off from You because of my sin and shame, I can now come near to You and Your family, the Church, through the blood of Your only Son, Jesus Christ. May Your Holy Spirit renew my mind with this marvelous truth so that when I am tempted to medicate my loneliness or pain with worldly counterfeits, I will draw near to You instead for the comfort and security I long for. In Jesus’ name. Amen.