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But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.<\/strong><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n God has made a new covenant for us.<\/p>\n \u201cNow<\/span>\u201d is translated from nuni<\/em><\/span>, which is a strengthened form of nun<\/span><\/em>, meaning \u201cnow.\u201d The strengthened form adds emphasis on the present.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce<\/span>\u201d is from the Greek word pote<\/em><\/span>, which has several nuances of meaning and is used of both the past and the future. It can mean \u201cat some time,\u201d \u201cone time or another,\u201d \u201cwhen,\u201d \u201cformerly,\u201d or \u201cat last.\u201d<\/p>\n The Greek word translated \u201cfar off<\/span>\u201d is makran<\/em><\/span>, which is derived from makros<\/em><\/span>, meaning \u201clong.\u201d Makran<\/em> means \u201ca great distance away.\u201d<\/p>\n The words \u201chave been brought<\/span>\u201d are from the verb ginomai<\/em><\/span>, which means \u201cto begin to be\u201d or \u201cto come into existence.\u201d Thus, Paul is really saying, \u201cyou \u2026 have become near.\u201d<\/p>\n Paul\u2019s current train of thought began back in verse eleven where he reminded us that previously we were Gentiles in the flesh and we were called \u201cthe uncircumcision\u201d by the Jews. So what\u2019s the big deal about circumcision? Back in Genesis chapter fifteen, Abraham was declared to be righteous because he believed God\u2019s promise that the Messiah would be one of his descendants. Fifteen years later (Genesis 17) he still had no children by his wife Sarah. At that time God promised him again that He would be a father of many nations, telling him that in one year Sarah would give birth to a son. He then made another covenant with Abraham, promising him that He would be God to Abraham\u2019s descendants and that He would give him and his descendants the land of Canaan. This covenant required Abraham and his entire household to be circumcised.<\/p>\n The fact that we were not descendants of Abraham means that we aren\u2019t part of the Commonwealth of Israel. Therefore, we were not included in the promise of the coming Messiah or the promise that Jehovah would be our God. And, as a result, as Paul said in verse twelve, we were without hope. Now that Abraham\u2019s descendant, the Messiah, has come and shed His blood as payment for our sins, things have changed. We, who were aliens and far away from the promises and covenants, have been brought near by a new covenant. Luke recorded the following words of our Lord at the Last Supper:<\/p>\n This cup is<\/em><\/span> the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.<\/span> (Luke 22:20<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n In other words, by shedding His blood, he was making a new covenant. And, in the book of Hebrews we are told:<\/p>\n In that He says, “a new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete.\u201d<\/span> (Hebrews 8:13<\/strong><\/span>)<\/p>\n Because of this new covenant, sealed with Christ\u2019s blood, we who were once far off have now become near to God.<\/p>\n If you believe that the blood of Christ saved you from your sins, then God has declared you to be righteous. Because you are righteous, you can stand (actually, we will sit) in His presence. All who refuse to believe are unrighteous and can\u2019t stand in His presence; they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.<\/p>\n In God\u2019s service, for His glory,<\/strong><\/p>\nTruth to Learn<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Behind the Words<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Meaning Explained<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
Application<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n
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