Devotion for Thursday 19 May 2011 Anno Domini

Devotion for Thursday 19 May 2011 Anno Domini

“ 11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12 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: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Eph 2:11-22)

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands.” Paul counsels us to ‘remember’ because it is important that we do. There will be many, and are today, strange ideas about the identity of the people of God – some professing that those who actually deny the only Begotten of the Father is somehow chosen above all others as the special people of God. There are those who long and pine to see a return of Temple sacrifices as a sign of Christ’s dominion. Such sacrifices flaunt the blood of Christ as being insufficient to the forgiveness of sins, and they return to the shadow and type ignoring the thing foreshadowed by such unworthy sacrifices.

“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.” We were gentiles and strangers in times past before we came to be chosen in Christ, but we are now bona fide children of the promise and no longer aliens to Israel – the people of God. If we be children of Isaac through faith, then are we children indeed. (Romans 9:6-11).

“But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.” We were strangers to the commonwealth of heaven. We were a rebellious people who had no master but the Dark Angel. But, thanks be to God, we were allowed to become naturalized citizens of that commonwealth of Israel through the blood of Jesus Christ. There remains no partition of separation between believing Gentile, Greek or Jew for we are all One in Christ Jesus. Those burdensome ordinances and laws of Moses and the religious leaders are not our measure of righteousness, and cannot be! Though the Commandments of God have never been suspended, they have been made more stringent having been written, no longer on tables of stone, but the very sinews of our hearts, so that we now obey (not out of compulsion) but love. Love is the greater power!

“And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.” Christ died for Jew and Gentile alike in His Bodily sacrifice on the cross – one Body whereby all might become One in Him. In doing so, there remains no difference in approach (enmity) between the two. There remains only one way to the Father and that Way is through the Son.

“And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.” Christ did not differentiate between Jew and Gentile, Male or Female. He has brought us all together in Himself in love. To those of us who were far from God and lost to Heaven, He preached - to those of His own did He preach, and to those who were to be His own who were of the lost sheep of Israel.

“For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” There is not a separate dispensation for the Jews and then to the Gentiles! We all come alike by Christ by virtue and leading of that One Holy Spirit of God. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” Please do not miss this application here of Paul. Fellow citizens means just THAT! We are now adopted into the Israel of God – no wall of partition to divide. No special geographic borders to identify our belonging to God as His Chosen people.

“ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord.” Up until the Advent of Christ, the presumed foundation for the people of God was the prophets. The Apostles are now a major portion of that foundation. I say the prophets were the presumed foundation; however, the foreshadowing of Christ in their prophecies pointed to the same salvation in Christ as we enjoy after the culmination of that Redemption at Golgotha. Christ has ALWAYS been the chief cornerstone of the Temple of God. We each are stones of varying size and texture, but Christ has reserved us for a special place in the Temple where only we can fit in.

“In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” We are, indeed, the Temple of God. He lives in and through us. All of our righteous works are not ours, but His, working through us; however, the works of the flesh that are of no good value belong to us alone. The works of sin and vice are the only works to which we may attach legal claim. Does Christ work through you, or are you doing all the labors of emptiness which are yours to keep?