For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we
should walk in them. Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles in the
flesh—called the uncircumcision by what is called the circumcision, which is
made in the flesh by hands—remember that you were at that time separated from
Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the
covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in
Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ. Ephesians 2.10-13
The glories of the gospel and the
life which it opens are seen only against the backdrop of remembrance that
apart from Christ, we are entirely hopeless and utterly helpless to partake of
God’s redemption. The key to unlocking the life and work of the Christian in
verse 10 is being brought low in humility, a rejection of self-dependence, a
denial of self-righteousness—fruit borne by a remembrance of the gospel of
grace. In other words, remembrance of the gospel is the sowing of the seeds of
humble dependence upon God that grow up into the life of good works in verse
10.
There is no room in the Christian
life for gospel-forgetfulness. To fail to remember the gospel of God’s grace in
Christ is to sow the seeds of prideful arrogance that grow up and choke out
affection for God with the weeds of self-love. The apostle Paul, therefore,
labors to remind us that we were once “Gentiles in the flesh… separated from
Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants
of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” We had no status or privilege
as God’s people. We had no right or claim to God’s salvation. We had no access
or means commune with God. And as such, we had no grounds or reason for hope.
The apostle Paul again leaves us to reckon with the reality of our deplorable condition
apart from Christ. At the beginning of chapter two we are forced to know our depravity.
In these verses, we are forced to know our exile—we are those who rightly stand
removed from God’s promise of redemption.
What we could not do nor willed to do, God has willed and done for us, bestowing on depraved exiles the benefits of beloved heirs.
And into the hopelessness of our
exile there resounds the glorious announcement of the gospel, “But now in
Christ Jesus you who were once far off have been brought near by the blood of
Christ.” Unable, unfit and undeserving to partake of the blessing of God’s
presence, we are brought near by the God who, in Christ, graciously fashions
our redemption. What we could not do nor willed to do, God has willed and done
for us, bestowing on depraved exiles the benefits of beloved heirs. Once
separated from Christ, now brought near. Once alienated from God’s people, now
adopted as sons and daughters. Once strangers, now citizens. Once hopeless, now
hopeful. Once without God, now God is with us.
Unable, unfit and undeserving to partake of the blessing of God’s presence, we are brought near by the God who, in Christ, graciously fashions our redemption.
This is the gospel we must
remember. To assume or neglect it will not do. We must remember it. This
is the only imperative given in chapter two—remember. Remember that though we
are utterly depraved and exiled, God has saved us. Remember that our redemption
is only and ever through the blood of Christ. We must cultivate the discipline
of remembrance. It is such remembrance of the gospel of God’s grace that will
uproot the weeds of self-love that flower works of self-righteousness. And it
is such remembrance that will sow seeds of humility that blossom into a life of
good works that glorify the God who worked our redemption.
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