In verse 11, Paul’s direction begins to change and he wants to encourage unity within the church and to show that as individuals, we are saved into a family. The Christian faith is meant to be lived out with other believers. Not only are we a family, but we are a Jewish family. Speaking to the Gentiles, he tells them that at one time, they were “without”. What were they “without”?

They were separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers to the covenants, without hope, and without God. But because of the cross, they have been included in all these of things. The blood of Christ has brought peace between all racial and religious barriers. Gentiles were unable to know God because He gave the Law to the Jews. But Christ fulfilled the Law allowing Gentiles to come into the Jewish family. Paul calls this inclusion of Gentiles with the Jews, “one new man”. The Gentiles did not start the Church; the Jews did. The Church is Jewish and Christianity is a Jewish faith. Yet, Jews are not of the Church unless they come in through Jesus.

This passage needs to speak to us in a couple of ways, and hopefully more. First, Israel is not a separate entity from the Church. The promises of the covenants will be fulfilled in Israel through Christ. As Gentile believers, we have been given the privilege of participating in these promises, but they are not ours. Second, the problem of racism is the fruit of sin, and it is only solved through the Gospel. Racism cannot exist if two people are living in the cross. There is the issue of cultural differences that still exists, which are dealt with through the cross as well (Gal. 2:20).