Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:11 – 13

Paul is a Jew, from a very religious background, set apart by circumcision and by being born Jewish.  He reminds the Gentile believers of this.  He inherited, so speak, all the privileges and responsibilities of being a Jew, chosen by God.  So, how are people from the two groups going to live together as a loving family of God?  Should the Jews just ignore God’s hand on their culture?  Would it not be a good idea to have two churches, one for Jews, another for Gentiles?

The answer is profoundly simple, now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  Paul refers to Jews as near to God in contrast to the Gentiles who were “far away.”  Having made that point, Paul then discarded the distinction as without merit.  The atoning work of Jesus Christ saves Jews and it saves Gentiles, alike.  There is no difference at all.  Whether close or far away, the new and startling fact was that Jesus shed his blood to atone for the sins of both.

This is the basis on the new creation, the new family of God on the earth – Jesus’ sacrificial death that dealt with sin of all kinds, Jewish or Gentile.  One blood cleansed, one life invaded both!  That is called the Kingdom of God, made possible by Jesus.  It includes Jewish and Gentile lovers of God.