“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22 (Read v. 11-22)
We who are Gentiles in the flesh - called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands - “were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealthof Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” We were headed for the everlasting condemnation of hell.
“But now in Christ Jesusyou who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” By the shedding of Jesus’ holy and precious blood for our sins and the sins of the world, we were made acceptable to God and brought near. Jesus “abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances.” By fulfilling the commandments for us and then bearing upon the cross the punishment for the sins of all, Jesus abolished the enmity, the condemnation of God’s law against us for our sins.
Christ Jesus “reconciled both Jew and Gentile to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”
Now, by the grace and mercy of God, we who have come to know and trust inChrist Jesus are “no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
O gracious and merciful Savior, we thank You for removing the condemnation of the law by suffering our just punishment and rising in triumph, for shedding Your holy and precious blood to redeem us and make us Your own dear children and fellowcitizens with all the saints, for calling us to faith and granting us life everlasting. Amen.
[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
News, Pages 5 on 07/20/2011