Saturday, April 16, 2005
Acceptance
I've been reading Ephesians, written to the Gentiles (non-Jews). Many considered them "outcasts" in the Christian church, because they were not considered as God's chosen. They didn't have history with God and His promises, in the thinking of the Jews. They were pagans. And they had too much foreskin to be considered children of the Promise. Don't go crazy envisioning that!
Paul wrote to these unacceptable people, to let them know that they were worthy to be Christ's own, as much as the Jews were. Here's an excerpt from chapter 2:
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)– 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. 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. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, 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.
One time I had dinner with a family who had invited a number of their friends along. Some turned down the invitation because a "street person" from the church was coming. I don't know what else to say, in light of this passage.
Paul wrote to these unacceptable people, to let them know that they were worthy to be Christ's own, as much as the Jews were. Here's an excerpt from chapter 2:
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)– 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. 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. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
Consequently, 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.
One time I had dinner with a family who had invited a number of their friends along. Some turned down the invitation because a "street person" from the church was coming. I don't know what else to say, in light of this passage.
// posted by Annette @ 6:48 p.m. 