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; 12 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: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
The transition "wherefore" is significant. In essence, it tells us that what is stated here is a result or product of what came before. What came before was the Gospel (faith in Christ apart from works), and so now being nigh to Christ is the result. These three verses also continue the idea that there is a distinction between life outside of Christ and life in Christ. Without Christ, a person is a stranger and alien, far off without the hope or promises of God. In contrast, once a person is in Christ (by faith without works), that person is nigh unto God – he is in Christ, and therefore seated at the Father's right hand (Ephesians 1:20 and 2:6). He has promises to him from God, and hope.
Verse eleven makes an important distinction about circumcision. The verse specifically notes the “Circumcision in the flesh made by hands,” which would imply that there is a circumcision not made with hands. The kind made with hands is what we read about in the Old Testament, which is the literal, physical removal of the foreskin of a male. The Jews and Gentile proselytes practiced it as a sign of their separation unto God as a nation. This would then correspond to an earthly, visible, physical kingdom. However, circumcision is no longer a requirement in the Church age, because believers experience a spiritual circumcision which affords them a place in a spiritual, heavenly kingdom. Whether physical or spiritual, circumcision is still a separation from the flesh.
Verse thirteen presents those crucial prepositional phrases again: "in Christ" and "by the blood of Christ." Continue noting how often phrases like these appear. Because of verses 12-13, any Calvanist attempting to wrest Ephesians 1:4 and 2:1 to their private interpretation would need to wrestle with the plain truth stated here.
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