Disciples take God and His Word seriously regarding forgiveness and reconciliation with “outsiders”.
• In Christ, you and I are being built into a holy temple, a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.
Ephesians 2:11-22
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility.
~ Apostle Paul
Ephesians 2:13-14
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Pondering Point
What is God’s goal from Paul’s perspective?
1) It is to bring those who are far away from the Lord near to Him through the blood of Jesus.
2) It is to tear down that which divides people.
In Paul’s setting there was a socio-political and religious divide between Jews and Gentiles (a Gentile is anyone who is not a Jew). Nowadays, you name it: Political stance, race or color, religious persuasion, gender issues, personal rights. It is an extensive list.
But listen – anyone in Christ is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). And anyone in Christ is united to others in Christ, known as the church, the family of God, the body of Christ. Followers of Jesus don’t necessarily lose traits that previously led to divisions, but we are no longer defined by them. Instead, we are defined by what (or better said, by Who) unites us. From there we learn to practice “bearing with one another in love” (see Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:13 for a deeper immersion). God’s goal is to unite us to Himself AND to each other through Jesus. What is your goal with people? Are you working with God or against Him here?
Ephesians 4:2
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.
Colossians 3:13
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
Prayer for the Day
Father God, Let Your Holy Spirit help me get aligned with Your goals to tear down whatever walls divide people. Help us followers of Jesus look past secondary issues and celebrate the unity we have as His disciples.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
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Carol Kallina, teacher at Orlando Lutheran Academy back then, had driven to Woodlands Lutheran in her sporty blue Camaro. I remember both her smile and her laugh as she handed me Hope’s documents, optimistic that I would accept the call to serve the church she attended. I felt excitement – a shared excitement I believe – and was truly tickled that she drove the documents across town rather than use the ordinary route of mail. To this day, I smile with joy as I recall standing in the grass under the shadow of the Woodlands church tower. God changed the vonWerders’ lives that day. It would be just the beginning of many joys to come.