Before you read it, let me just give you this piece of context. Christianity is rooted in the Bible, which is a redemptive historical narrative - a story ("non-fiction!" I can hear my 6 year-old son shout!) of how God came to save his people. The main group of characters in the unfolding of this redemptive story is the family of Abraham who later became the people known as 'Israel'. In the Old Testament you can see how God dealt with his people Israel, especially how he cared for them, how he rebuked them and how he frequently forgave them and saved them from dire calamity. Those that were not part of Israel were spoken of as the 'gentiles' - and the Jewish laws made it possible for them to join God's people - but always kept at a bit of a distance (gentiles could only go to certain parts of the temple). But as you read Ephesians 2:11-22 you will see how God made it possible for both of these groups to join together in something far greater than a temple. Take time and read it now.
There are around 600 people on this email list and I know of only one person from proper Jewish background. There might be more - but you'll agree, most of us are non-Jewish. Our text has all the following 'names' for this group: 'gentiles', 'the uncircumcised', 'separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise' (verse 11), 'far away' (verse 17) and 'foreigners and aliens' (verse 18).
Seeing this list of 'tags' in 2012 makes us a little uncomfortable - and rightly so. This separation is exactly what Christ came to break down. "For he himself is our peace... he has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace..." Eph 2:14,15. But this peace is not just the peace between Jew and Gentile, those that were part of God's history in the Old Testament and those that weren't - no, this is all about peace between God and man - something the Jews only always experienced temporarily. "His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." Eph 2:16.
You see - this is what it took to bring man, any and everyman to God - one of our own had to pay the penalty for our sin in order to bring peace between God and man. It is from the hostility between man and God that all the hostility between man and man arises - but Christ have dealt with this.
Now look at what and who the church is in Christ: "...you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." Eph 2:19-22
Believer, you are a citizen of God's people - having all the blessings and promises God made and fulfilled in Christ as your own. He will protect you.
Believer, you are part of God's household - he cares for you as if you live in his own house. He will provide for you.
Believer, you are part of God's temple - he causes you to worship him - living in you with His Spirit. He will make your joy complete and cause you to dance and sing to his praise.
Prayer
Our King, our Father and our God - we thank you, love you and praise you for making us part of your people, your family and your temple. We did not deserve it, but your great love and mercy won us for yourself. Please help us to rest on you as our cornerstone - using your Word as the foundation of our lives. Jesus Christ, thank you for the promise that through your Spirit you will complete the good that you've started in our lives and in the life of the church. Amen
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