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This sectional use of the title is the more emphasized when we note that the solitary
expression "in Jesus" occurs in the practical section, "as the truth is in Jesus" (4: 21).
Out of the flesh, and out of the world, out of the dominion of sin and death, delivered in
fact out of the authority of darkness and translated into the kingdom of God's dear Son,
such is the blessed state of those sinners of the Gentiles who have been made meet to be
partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. The opening, therefore, of this
blessed dispensation of grace must be "but now, in Christ Jesus". These Gentiles were
once "far off". A review of verses 11 and 12 (see previous article) will be enough to
reveal the deplorable distance at which they were placed. They are now "made nigh",
and who shall say how nigh?
When the Psalmist wished to glorify God for the blessing of Israel, he said:--
"He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all the saints; even of the
children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the Lord" (Psa. 148: 14).
Again, in Deut. 4: 7 Moses says:--
"And what nation is there so great who hath God so nigh unto them?"
The nations are often referred to in prophecy as being "far off" (see Isa. 8: 9;
Jer. 5: 15; 31: 10). When Israel were deprived of their privileges, they were, among
other punishments, dispersed into "far countries"; and when the time of their reinstating
comes, they will be gathered "from afar" (Jer. 51: 50, 46: 27). Yet, however nigh the
children of Israel are, what can compare to the position of one who has been made a very
member of the Body of Christ, for whom it is not only revealed that Christ died FOR
him, but also that he is so identified with his Lord, that from a time as far back as before
the foundation of the world until the time of being manifested in glory he may read his
spiritual history as "in Christ" and "with Christ"?
This change of dispensation, this wonderful access to privilege, this light after
darkness, this nearness after distance, though in Christ, is not ours if we stop at this point.
Something more must be added before the blessings are secure, before the earnest can be
given, before the seal is set. Is it the work of the Spirit that is needed to complete the
work? No! it is the blood of Christ. It will be remembered that the first blessing
recorded in Ephesians as flowing to us through the work of Christ is "redemption through
His blood", and not till after that do we read of the seal and the earnest of the Spirit. So
here, not till the blood of Christ has removed all barriers do we read of the work of the
One Spirit. Eph. 2: 13 tells us we are made nigh by the blood of Christ; Col. 1: 20 tells
us He made peace through the blood of the cross. This, together with the statement
concerning redemption in Eph. 1: 7, completes the testimony to the blood of Christ in the
prison epistles--redeemed, forgiven, made nigh, and in peace, through the precious
blood.
From the point of view of redemption the blood indicates the price that was paid; from
the point of view of dispensational nearness the blood speaks of barriers broken down
and a new basis laid; and peace arising out of the reconciliation effected comes through