Charles Spurgeon Commentary Ephesians 2:13

"But now in Christ Jesus ye that once were far off are made nigh in the blood of Christ." — Ephesians 2:13 (ASV)

But now

The apostle has turned over a new leaf in the book of our history: "but now." Oh, what a change from the past to the present!

"But now" –

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

Oh! rejoice in this. You far-off ones made near, lift up your hearts now in thankfulness for what the Lord Jesus has done for you by his blood—made near by the blood of Christ.

In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

You are brought near to Israel. You are brought nearer still to Israel's God. Now you are not aliens. You are not strangers from the covenant. You have a hope, you have a God.

You who once were far off are made near by the blood of Christ.

Paul can never have too much of Christ. It is Christ, Christ, Christ, Christ; like the harp of Anacreon. He wished to sing of Cadmus, but his harp resounded love alone; and so the harp of Paul resounds with Christ alone, Christ alone. He always comes back to that theme.

It was said of one eminent commentator that he could not find Christ in the Scripture where he was; but it was said of Cocceius that he found Christ where he was not. I would rather find Christ where he is not, than not to find him where he is. There are plenty who err in that second direction nowadays.

In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

What a power there must be about that blood, that God not only hears it speaking in heaven, that it makes a way of access for all the saints, that it cleanses from all sin, but that it brings the far-off ones near! We will never cease to speak of the precious blood of Jesus.

There are certain people who cannot bear to hear it mentioned; but a bloodless theology is a lifeless theology, and a ministry that can do without mentioning the blood of Christ has no power to bless the sons and daughters of men.

In Christ Jesus

See how Paul keeps harping on that one string. Note how he links us with Christ Jesus. There is nothing for us without Christ and his cross.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

That is the great attracting power, which draws us from our natural distance, and brings us into nearness to God. How we ought to prize that precious blood which does so much for us! It cleanses us from sin; it pleads for us before the throne; and here, you see, having made a way of access for us, it also conducts us along that way, and brings us near to God.

But now—

Oh, what a blessed "but"! How much hangs upon it! Think of what God has done for you by his grace: "But now"—