A New Humanity
Opening Prayer
Dear Father, this day is Yours, and I am Yours. I praise You for Your gifts, commands and grace.
Read EPHESIANS 2:11–22
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.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
Reflect on the lyrics of this hymn and what they mean: “God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year: God is working his purpose out, and the time is drawing near” (Arthur Ainger, 1841–1919).
Think Further
We must beware of religious superiority complexes. In-groups exclude others. They build walls, sometimes literally as in the Jerusalem Temple between Jews and Gentiles, who were forbidden from entering the inner courts. This wall symbolized intense hostility and represented the biggest contemporary division in Paul’s world. Jews prided themselves on being God’s exclusive people because of race and religion; nobody else could belong in the inner circles. Sadly, we recognize that in-groups can form very easily, even within a church.
When Jesus Christ died upon the cross he not only removed the sin barrier between us and God but he also broke down this division between Jews and Gentiles. His sacrifice of love renders all distinctions valueless at the foot of the cross. External marks of circumcision (11,15), rated so highly by the Jews, no longer matter because, by his blood, Jesus is our peace, our shalom, which involves the deepest harmony possible. In himself, Jesus meets all the yearnings of the Old Testament Law by his perfect obedience in the flesh so that we can become a new humanity in him as members of God’s household (19). He profoundly unites everyone who through him has access to the Father by the Spirit. This leveled community
has no in-groups but is like a new Temple in which God dwells, grounded and held together in Jesus Christ (with no dividing walls). Living stones (1 Pet. 2:5) have no room for superiority complexes; their worth lies in their willingness to be built up together.
Apply
What a difference this new race of Christians can make to the world! How can you respond to the challenge of signs of exclusivism among believers in your world?
Closing prayer
Lord, forgive the unwitting ways by which I can collude with divisions in my church. Open my eyes to the miracle of You building Your children together as living stones.
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