Introduction
Today, we will look at some Bible verses where Paul discusses topics that might be new or confusing to many people. Some people know about Jewish history, but most of us don’t. So, let's take some time to answer some basic questions about Judaism in the New Testament to help us understand what Paul is saying.

Today’s Scripture
Ephesians 2:11-13 (New Living Translation)

"Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called 'uncircumcised heathens' by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ."

Explanation and Reflection

We will look at this text by asking and answering a few questions. This will help us understand what it meant in the first century and how it applies to us today.

1. What is a Jew?
Most people think that Judaism is a religion and a Jew is someone who follows that religion. This is partly true, but in the Bible, Judaism meant three things:

• A Religious Faith
  Jews believed in one God (Yahweh) and that all other gods and religions were false. Their only sacred text was the Old Testament, which enabled them to know the one true God.
• An Ethnic Identity
  Jews were expected not to intermarry with other ethnic groups and to keep their bloodlines pure from other nations.
• A Nationality
  The Jewish nation was Israel. Israel had its own land, government, and economy. This nation believed it was God’s chosen nation among all the world's nations.

2. What is a Gentile?
In simple terms, a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew. In the New Testament, first-century Jews did allow some Gentiles to become Jews, but this was rare and complicated. Gentiles were not considered part of God’s chosen people and were often looked down upon by the Jews.

3. What is the religious significance of circumcision?
We won’t discuss the physical act of circumcision here. If you don’t know what that is, ask a close friend to explain it to you. The spiritual significance of circumcision is that it was a physical sign that someone was part of Judaism and God's chosen people. It was an outward sign of an inward spiritual identity. When someone was circumcised and a Jew, they were seen as belonging to Yahweh (the name of Israel’s God) and the nation of Israel.

4. Why should we care about any of this?
Understanding these terms and their importance helps us understand what Paul is saying to the Gentiles in Ephesus. There are two groups mentioned:

• Outsiders Who Are Now In (The Gentiles)
  The Gentiles used to be outsiders. They were not part of the Jewish nation and were separated from God. Paul reminds them they are now united with Christ (insiders) and should no longer live like non-Christians.
• Insiders Who Have Been Brought In Further (The Jewish Christians)
  These are Jews who accepted Jesus as the promised Savior. They are now called to believe that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament law and to live according to Jesus' teachings. They must also be inclusive, as Jesus' new kingdom includes both Jews and Gentiles. Jewish Christians could no longer be exclusive with the Gospel. It was for everyone.

Question of the Day
Here's a question for you to think about and apply:
Much like the Jewish Christians, we can sometimes be exclusive with the Gospel and not share it with others because of our self-righteousness. How can you avoid being self-righteous and share the Gospel with everyone? What groups of people do you believe are out of God’s reach?