But Now In Christ Jesus

Ephesians 2:13 - But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

How “far off” were we? As far off as light is from darkness, as far off as the opposite ends of all of creation, as far apart as ‘good’ is from ‘evil’. We were stained by both original and actual sin, and were in complete opposition to the holiness of God. We were far enough “off” that God Himself had to span the gulf with His own body. Notice, however, the wonderfully comforting word, “formerly”. For as far off as we once were, we are now so close, so close to Christ, by His blood – His substitutionary blood – so close, that we are actually “in Christ Jesus”. We were once completely outside and apart from Him; we were estranged from God, enemies of God, but His blood, by His grace, has drawn us, “brought near”, to the point that we are actually “in Christ”. We are in Christ to the point that we share His righteousness, we share His death and resurrection, and we share in His victory over death. It is all Christ! It was His blood that brought us near, His atonement on the cross that shrunk the chasm, His mercy that kept us alive, and His grace that give us life. Contemplate the distance that Christ has brought us; from sin to fellow heir, from distant enemy, to betrothed bride, and from death to life. Amen!