This year is the slowest I have ever been in putting up decorations and such. There is something quite beautiful with Christmas lights up and sparkling. Without is just a little sad. Today, my goal is to add some sparkle to my house.
I’m in Ephesians 2 today. And what hits me is who I was without him and what I have IN him.
“Therefore, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, who are called “Uncircumcision” by those who called themselves “Circumcision,” [itself a mere mark] which is made in the flesh by human hands— remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s agreements], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God.”
Ephesians 2:11-12 AMP
- Gentiles in the flesh
- Uncircumcised
- Without Christ
- Excluded
- Without hope
- Without God
- Foreigners to the covenant
Now, IN Christ..
“But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace and our bond of unity. He who made both groups—[Jews and Gentiles]—into one body and broke down the barrier, the dividing wall [of spiritual antagonism between us], by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace.
And [that He] might reconcile them both [Jew and Gentile, united] in one body to God through the cross, thereby putting to death the hostility. And He came and preached the good news of peace to you [Gentiles] who were far away, and peace to those [Jews] who were near. For it is through Him that we both have a [direct] way of approach in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the [chief] Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together, and it continues [to increase] growing into a holy temple in the Lord [a sanctuary dedicated, set apart, and sacred to the presence of the Lord]. In Him [and in fellowship with one another] you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:13-22 AMP
- Far away? Brought near by the blood of Christ
- Jesus is our peace
- Both groups, by Christ, into one
- Created in Himself one new man from two: PEACE
- Put hostility to death
- Proclaimed good news of PEACE to those far away, HOPE to those near
- Access to ONE Spirit
- No longer foreigners or strangers
- We are fellow citizens with the saints
- Members of God’s household
- Built on the foundation of prophets and apostles
- Jesus is our cornerstone
- All together we are a holy temple
- Built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit
Friends, this is our hope. We have peace brought by our Savior. Someone held out their hand to us when we were yet sinners. Someone was a bridge for you. Hostility is put to death in Christ. Jesus at work in us. Let us lead with this. Let us lead with the peace only found in Jesus.
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