From Far out to All in

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13).

An exclusive club.  A velvet rope.  A burly bouncer.  A long line of people hoping to get in wrap around the corner.  There are those waiting who know they're getting in.  They're clearly part of the "in" crowd.  Others wait and wonder.  Will they have whatever it takes to party the night away at the hottest of spots?  But there's another group of folks that you don't see.  People who are so certain they won't get in that they don't even come.  What's the point?  They wouldn't get in.  They couldn't get in.  So they just stay home.

Paul lets us know that Jesus specializes in bringing those folks to the party.  "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (v13).  Our Savior has gone out of His way to get us in.  Apart from Jesus, we're on the outside looking in.  But He lets the dude at the door know that we're with Him.  And we're in.  He doesn't just get us through the front door of the club.  He makes sure that we have absolute access to everything.

From far out to all in.

The apostle has just reminded his friends in Ephesus where they stood before Jesus invited them to the party.  They were Gentiles (Eph 2:11).  Non-Jews.  If Jews are God's chosen people, that pretty much makes them the Unchosen.  As members of the Unchosen, they were on the outside looking in.  Without hope of Messiah.  Illegal aliens in God's kingdom.  Strangers.  No hope.  No God.  Pretty bleak, wouldn't you say?  

But something crazy happened when the Apostle Paul hit town with the Good News (Acts 19).  After Jewish leaders gave God's man the spiritual stiff arm, he turned to non-Jews and told them about Jesus (Acts 19:9-10).  The Gospel went off and Ephesus was never the same.  Miracles.  Bizarre exorcisms.  Bonfires.  Riots.  But even more mind-blowing stuff was going on.  Non-Jews came to trust in the Jewish Messiah.  God chose the Unchosen.  Jesus had invited an entire new group of folks to the party.

From far out to all in.

The apostle begins this verse with five of the most powerful words you'll ever read anywhere.  "But now in Christ Jesus" (v13).  These words let us know that the radical and risen Rabbi from Nazareth changes everything.  Nothing is the same.  It doesn't matter one stinkin' bit what your situation was before.  "But now in Christ Jesus" (v13).  It's a game changer.  Paul uses the little Greek adverb nuni.  It means at this very moment and at a point of time simultaneous with the discussion.  It's in an emphatic form.  In other words, not just now.  But RIGHT NOW!!!  Even as we speak, Jesus has changed EVERYTHING!!!

If you've been reading through Paul's letter to the folks in Ephesus (and if you haven't, it's a MUST READ!), you've probably noticed the phrase "in Christ Jesus" before.  The author uses some form of it 28 times in this little note.  Don't blow past it.  It's incredibly important.  In many ways, it's a tiny form of the Gospel.  When we trust "in Christ Jesus," we place our trust in what He's done that we could never do.  He lived the perfect life that I failed to live.  He died the brutal death for sin that I deserved to die.  He rose to new life that I certainly don't deserve.  I can't do it.  He did.  I believe "in Christ Jesus" and what He's done for me.  That, my friends, is Good News!  VERY Good News!!

But before we were "in Christ Jesus," we were on the outside looking in.  As unchosen Gentiles, the Ephesians had a big problem.  They were "once were far off" (v13).  If we take a look at the original language, we see the adverb makran.   Dr. Luke used this very same word when Jesus told the story of the runaway son and his faithful dad.  "But while he was a long way off (Gr. makron), his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran to him and embraced him and kissed him" (Lk 15:20).  It simply means a long way off.  Far away.  At a distance. 

This is a common way that Jewish rabbis would describe Gentiles.  But throughout the Old Testament, God repeatedly told folks that while He handpicked Abraham and his descendants, He wasn't done.  "'Peace, peace to the far and to the near,' says the LORD, 'and I will heal him'" (Is 57:19).  There was a boatload of folks far away that He was going to bring close.  On opening day during his first sermon, Pete let folks known that Jesus was inviting more folks to the party than just the Jews.  "For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off (Gr. makran), everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself" (Acts 2:39).  And when Jesus mugged Saul and made him Paul, He had a special assignment for his one-time enemy.  "I will send you far away (Gr. makran) to the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21).  His brand new apostle had a mission.  Get out there and let outsiders know that they're now insiders.  

From far out to all in.

But the cost of extending these invitations didn't come cheap.  Take a look at the invitation in your hand.  Notice the blood stains.  We "have been brought near by the blood of Christ" (v13).  It's only because Jesus was willing to give His life that we're invited.  It's only because He shed His precious blood that we're inside.  That's how much He loves us and wants us to share in His goodness.  He was willing to die to make it happen.  Some folks think they would die if they don't get invited to the big party.  But there's only one Jesus who would die so that you and I could get in.  Or as it reads in the Message: "Now because of Christ--dying that death, shedding that blood--you who were once out of it altogether are in on everything" (v13 The Message).

From far out to all in.