A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 6

 

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 2:11–13 ESV).

 

Since I have begun to have a bit of problem with my memory, I asked my primary care physician at the last visit if he thought I should do some sort of testing for early memory loss. He seemed a bit surprised, though at my age I’m not at all surprised at that. He said the first step would be to take a short verbal test. The nurse came in after the doctor finished his exam and began to ask questions. I’ve done similar tests before, though this one was a bit longer and more detailed. I must confess I did not score a 100. When given five words to remember and asked later in the testing, I only got four of them. And I became a bit flustered that it seemed difficult to name very many animals in a 60 second time period; I only got 45 different animals! Well, after drawing an analog clock reading the time of 10:50, she began to score the test. I confess that if she told me score I don’t remember it at this writing. Though she did say it was well into the normal range for someone of my age. So, I suppose my memory loss is just age-related.

 

Remembering is important. This is the reason the Apostle Paul begins our reading today with a “Therefore, remember.” The “remember” command begins verse 12 as well. “Therefore, remember.” That is, in the light of the glory of what God has done for you in the gospel, outlined in the preceding verses, removing your status as objects of wrath, pouring out grace upon you so that you have faith to believe.… “Therefore,” he says, “in the light of the glory of what has happened to you in the gospel, it is imperative that you remember what you have been saved from.”

 

That point is made implicitly a little earlier (v. 3). “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.” So, here he again says, “Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.”

 

When you work through biblical passages on remembering and forgetting, it’s remarkable that the Bible tells us there are certain things we should remember and certain things we should forget. For example, in Philippians, Paul says he forgets certain things. He determines to forget certain things. “Forgetting those things which are past,” he says, “I press on for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus.”

 

In the context, the things he wants to forget are, in fact, the things he might be puffed up with pride over. He wants to forget all his intrinsic advantages. He wants to forget something of the spectacular triumphs he has seen in the gospel, because he knows full well that in the end we’re not more than unprofitable servants. We could all have done better, done more, been more consistent. We’re all debtors to grace.

 

Knowing that brings us to the incredible reality of being chosen in Christ! That prompts us to gratitude and wonder! Then we are truly moved by the Gospel! I am very grateful I have not forgotten that I once was lost and now I am found!