`trespass', `sin', `disobedience', `wrath', `make alive', `save', `faith' and

`walk'.  These are consistently employed because the subject is the original

state of the believer in relation to sin and death.  None of these terms is used

in the dispensational section now before us, for the viewpoint here is not that

of sin and death, but of distance and nearness, of being Gentiles and aliens, of

being far off and made nigh, of a middle wall,

of ordinances, in fact of the dispensational disability of being Gentile,

irrespective of individual character.  In the doctrinal survey, the flesh and

the world are used as they are related to the walk and the lusts of the

unregenerate.  In the dispensational section, the flesh and the world are used

as they are related to the enmity that was aroused between the circumcision and

uncircumcision.  Salvation issues in a new creation; the revelation of the

Mystery leads to the creation of a `new man'.  If these differences are

realized, then the reader will be impervious to any attempt to teach universal

reconciliation from Ephesians 2:16 irrespective of the limitations of the

Mystery, or from the related theme in Colossians 1:16-22.

`In the flesh' finds its echo in Ephesians 3:5 `in Spirit', which, when we

reach that passage, we hope to show stands at the head of the threefold

fellowship of verse 6.  While the flesh in all men is the same, yet it did not

disqualify the Jew, as we can see in Romans 9:3-5, from dispensational

privilege, but it did the Gentile.  What depths of degradation and misery are

found in the words `in the flesh' and `in the world', and between them lies the

whole case of Gentile disability, contained in the terms uncircumcision, without

Christ, aliens, strangers, no hope, and without God.

`Without Christ' choris Christou.  As the A.V. stands we are likely to

look at the two expressions `without Christ' and `without God' as being very

similar.  The word translated `without God' is atheoi, to which we will return

presently.  What does `without Christ' mean?  Out of its context it would spell

simply damnation, and utter and irrevocable loss; but in the confines of the

subject before us it rather emphasizes the fact that, whereas `according to the

flesh' Christ came from Israel, the Gentile had no such hope or privilege.  The

Scriptures had plainly revealed that the promised Seed of the woman, should come

through the line of David, of the tribe of Judah; consequently Gentiles as such

were `without a Messiah'.  Dr. J. Armitage Robinson reads verse 12:

`That at that time without Christ ye were aliens from the commonwealth of

Israel' and says: `A contrast is here drawn between their old position "at

that time without Christ" and their new position "now in Christ Jesus".

This contrast is somewhat obscured if we render, as in the A.V ... they

are called upon to remember not simply that they were without Christ, but

what they were without Christ'.

D

O1

11,12.  in time past.

P1

n

11.  Gentiles in the flesh.

o

12.  Without Christ.

p

12.  Aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.

p

12.  Strangers from the covenants.

o

12.  Without hope.

n

12.  Godless in the world.