"Mr. Church Goer, tear down those walls!" - Eph. 2:13-16
"13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 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, 16 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: 13-16
The Great Unifier! I am trying to picture what it would have been like back in the days of the early church. Most of us long for those days because we have an idealistic view of what the church was like. There are some appealing parts:
1. Their commitment to corporate prayer!
2. Their sense of community!
3. Their fire for the Gospel!
I could probably name a few others, but I am reminded that the church, even in its beginning, had its issues. The church in Jerusalem seems great until the full power of the Gospel is revealed and Gentiles began to be included. There was much angst between Jews and Gentiles that was not easily let go, and the walls of hostility were still real and standing in the church. This was a problem because the death of Jesus brought reconciliation between the two groups and made them one! In the eyes of our Savior, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, yet the walls still stood in the church!
Paul often tells the believers to pursue peace, but he himself rocked the boat of a community on many occasions. I often have wondered what he meant by pursuing peace... Could it be that this is what he is talking about. Could he be giving a Reagan like speech saying, "Mr. Church Goer, tear down those walls!"? Christ's death brought reconciliation or peace between these two groups and yet they want to continue to be hostile with one another. This is not God's plan for His people.
We are to pursue reconciled relationships with our fellow believers! Now ethnicity was the trigger for the hostility of these two groups, but what is our trigger for hostility with others in the church. Is it personality conflicts? Is it opposing ideas of what we should be doing? Is it leadership decisions that you didn't agree with? Or something else? Whatever the trigger, the reality is that the death of Christ brought peace between us! We are reconciled to God as one, and as one we should be!
Who is it that you need to reconcile with this week? Seek them out and have honest and helpful conversation!
1. Their commitment to corporate prayer!
2. Their sense of community!
3. Their fire for the Gospel!
I could probably name a few others, but I am reminded that the church, even in its beginning, had its issues. The church in Jerusalem seems great until the full power of the Gospel is revealed and Gentiles began to be included. There was much angst between Jews and Gentiles that was not easily let go, and the walls of hostility were still real and standing in the church. This was a problem because the death of Jesus brought reconciliation between the two groups and made them one! In the eyes of our Savior, there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles, yet the walls still stood in the church!
Paul often tells the believers to pursue peace, but he himself rocked the boat of a community on many occasions. I often have wondered what he meant by pursuing peace... Could it be that this is what he is talking about. Could he be giving a Reagan like speech saying, "Mr. Church Goer, tear down those walls!"? Christ's death brought reconciliation or peace between these two groups and yet they want to continue to be hostile with one another. This is not God's plan for His people.
We are to pursue reconciled relationships with our fellow believers! Now ethnicity was the trigger for the hostility of these two groups, but what is our trigger for hostility with others in the church. Is it personality conflicts? Is it opposing ideas of what we should be doing? Is it leadership decisions that you didn't agree with? Or something else? Whatever the trigger, the reality is that the death of Christ brought peace between us! We are reconciled to God as one, and as one we should be!
Who is it that you need to reconcile with this week? Seek them out and have honest and helpful conversation!
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