Ephesians 2:11
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; 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;
Paul calls Gentile believers to remember that they were once Gentiles in the flesh outside Israel, named Uncircumcision by those named Circumcision whose circumcision was only in the flesh made by hands. That former state meant being far off without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, without hope and without God in the world. Through Christ's blood the dividing wall is broken down and those once separated are brought near to God, made fellow heirs with Israel and partakers together of the blessings of the covenant of grace. This change was not their own doing and could not be wrought by themselves, yet God granted even those so separated the Holy Spirit and repentance unto life. Remembering what they once were apart from Christ corrects disunity among believers and urges that the despised and spiritually needy be sought where they are and invited to come in.
Former Separation Remembered
Wherefore remember calls Gentile believers to look back to the time when they were Gentiles in the flesh and stood outside Israel's covenant community. The distinction marked their former separation from Israel, recalling what they once were apart from Christ. In that former condition they were called Uncircumcision by those called the Circumcision, whose own circumcision was in the flesh made by human hands. Those so named knew nothing of circumcision, for the name was given to them by the Jews.
That former condition meant being in time past far off and without Christ. It meant being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, separated from Israel and the covenant of promise. It meant being without hope and without God in the world. It pictures the heathen near and far, including publicans and harlots and despised outcasts, as sunk in the lowest depths of spiritual wickedness. They did not realize their peril and great need of help.
Jewish prejudice counted everything Gentile as cursed and unclean and built a wall of nationality and religious seclusion. The setting of the verse shows God breaking down prejudice against Gentiles. Peter's vision corrected his view of Gentiles as unclean and excluded and showed God's plan extended to all nations.
Brought Near Through Christ
Through His blood the dividing wall is broken down and those once separated as uncircumcised from Israel are brought near, with Jew and Gentile both brought near to God. In that former condition they were without Christ, separated from Israel and the covenant of promise, without hope and without God, yet through Christ's blood they were made near. Their former separation did not prevent God from granting them the Holy Spirit and repentance unto life.
Through Christ's death Gentiles became fellow heirs with Israel and shared equally in God's blessings, being brought under the covenant of grace given to Abraham with the blessings given to the Jewish nation given equally to them. God appointed Paul to present Christ to the Gentiles so that the great redemption would go to all nations. In Christ Jesus they are made near by His blood and made one with the original branches, grafted into the good olive tree after the disobedient Jews were broken off, but they must not boast lest they also be broken off.
The change wrought by Christ's grace was not their own achievement and not something they could bring about in themselves. The larger passage of Ephesians 2:4-22 is given for comfort in depression and is to be read carefully as never before because it is full of instruction. Christ dwelling in hearts by faith means contemplating Christ, beholding Christ, and ever cherishing the dear Saviour as the very best and honored Friend so as not in any action to grieve and offend Him. The hellish shadow of Satan will always be cast athwart the pathway to obstruct faith and eclipse light from Jesus the Sun of Righteousness, so faith must not stagger but cleave through that shadow, resting not in feeling but in truth.
Being built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ the chief cornerstone means the church is builded for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Being rooted and grounded in love enables comprehending the breadth and length and depth and height and knowing the love of God which passes knowledge, with the precious Saviour dwelling in the human heart cleansed from moral impurity, ennobling and sanctifying the whole nature and making the person a temple for the Holy Spirit. Gentile believers have thus been brought into God's people and are themselves the temple of the living God.
Call to Remember and Invite
The call to remember is an instructive lesson for those who are not working in harmony, correcting disunity by recalling what believers once were apart from Christ when they were Gentiles in the flesh called Uncircumcision by those called the Circumcision. That former divided condition is to be remembered as the state before coming to Christ, a separation from Christ overcome only by being brought near through Christ's blood. The change wrought by Christ's grace was not their own achievement and not something they could bring about in themselves, and therefore those changed are to show that change in their lives without taking credit for it. They are to show it without claiming credit when others are led to Christ.
The distinction between Uncircumcision and the Circumcision in the flesh made by human hands marks former separation from Christ and from Israel's covenant promises, and it is not a reason to overlook or exclude Gentiles. Those so named are the heathen near and far, including publicans and harlots and despised outcasts, sunk in the lowest depths of spiritual wickedness without realizing their peril and great need of help, without Christ, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Like the despised and spiritually needy they must hear the Saviour's compelling invitation, and that invitation must now be presented to them so the Master's table may be filled. They must be sought right where they are and urged to come in, through the gospel invitation carried with kindness, long-suffering, and loving-kindness that lifts and elevates them.
Gentile believers have been brought into God's people and are themselves the temple of the living God, so a house of worship is precious in God's sight because of what He does with His people and not because of its size or splendor. Even the most splendid temple amounts to nothing if hearts are not right. The greatest concern and the greatest anxiety should therefore be in regard to spiritual condition. Reverence is to be shown on entering into the presence of God and angels, with children taught that God meets with His people and their thoughts directed heavenward.