That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12
Some 6500 athletes will gather in Glasgow, Scotland in late July to early August, to take part in the Commonwealth Games, a major sports event that is held every four years. Participation in the Commonwealth Games is a major goal for athletes who participate in any of the 17 sports that are represented in those games. Many of the best athletes in the world will be there. But not all of the best athletes will be there; some of them do not qualify because of where they live. To compete in the Commonwealth Games, athletes must be residents of one of the 53 countries that make up the Commonwealth of Nations, or residents of one of the British overseas territories, crown dependencies, and island states that fall within the Commonwealth jurisdiction. That leaves out athletes from many other countries, including the United States, France, China, Japan, and Brazil, to name a few. They don’t qualify because they are outside the Commonwealth of Nations, just like the Gentiles didn’t qualify for a relationship with God because we are outside of the commonwealth of Israel. But that has changed.
The commonwealth of Israel was an environment of great blessing. The apostle Paul recognized in Romans 3:2 that the Israelites had great advantages over the Gentiles, primarily because God had entrusted to His earthly people His words (the oracles of God). The law and the ordinances of the Old Testament were delivered to the Israelites only, and the Gentiles could enter into that special relationship only through special provisions. Being outside the commonwealth of Israel was a place of disadvantage and distance from God. The covenants of promise that the Israelite could claim did not apply to the Gentiles. But all of that was under the terms of the Old Testament. The New Testament eliminates for believers the disadvantage and distance that applied to the Gentiles.
Gentiles who are not saved are still at a great distance from God. The disadvantage of being outside the commonwealth of Israel still applies to them. It also applies to the unbelieving Israelite, regardless of the natural relationship with Abraham. It is only those who have trusted Christ as Saviour who experience the removal of the wall that divided Jews and Gentiles in the Old Testament. United in our salvation, we are both brought into the privilege and position of being able to worship and serve our God. And this privilege and position is far higher and better than that which was enjoyed under the old commonwealth.
We have no need to qualify for the commonwealth of Israel, because we have been brought into the everlasting commonwealth of Christ. -Jim MacIntosh