Ephesians 2:11

"Therefore, remember that at one time you were Gentiles (heathens) in the flesh, called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision, [itself a mere mark] in the flesh made by human hands" Ephesians 2:11.

The Lord reveals what a tremendous amount of love that He has for us... in that even in our previous conditions He reached out... He saw fit... He made a way for us through Jesus to spend eternity with Him. The reference to circumcision is about the two types of people there were in the world prior to God's New Covenant.

There were God's own people (The Jews)... and then, everyone else (The Gentiles)! And we have been chosen from the least likely to find in heaven, under the Old Covenant system. Today, there are still two types of people... Saved and Unsaved, Lost and Found, Sheep and Wolves.

I think it is more than interesting that such detail is given here when Paul says that the unsaved were "called Uncircumcision by those who called themselves Circumcision". I think that now, since we are "in" so to speak, that we must be careful how we regard those whom appear "out".

What a shock to the Jews it was to hear that heathens were receiving salvation. How does the pious religious today feel when they see a young person with tattoos or a piercing come down the isle to receive Jesus Christ?

Under the New Covenant, circumcision is of the heart at salvation and not of the flesh as it was in the Old Covenant. (1 Corinthians 7:24)

Again, we must keep considering these amazing details which reveal how much God has done out of His love. I am convinced it is why Jesus turned the focus of the original commandments into the single focus of Love.

Taking time out, often to consider His Love can keep us from apathy and leaving our first love as Ephesus did in only one generation removed from whom Paul was writing this too. John records Christ's woeful words to the church at Ephesus, just some thirty years later, Christ declaring...

"But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]" Revelation 2:4.

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 2:12-13 next time.

I love you.