This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of the Series Ephesians: Becoming Who You Are (CLICK HERE)
In the first half of Ephesians 2, Paul describes the spiritual condition of his readers as “dead in sin.” This condition is irreversible by the individual who is dead. BUT…God does something about it and HE made us alive (Ephesians 2:4).
In the same way, yesterday we focused on a condition that we also are not able to change. We are, by nature, outside the family of God, not a citizen of God’s kingdom.
So what happens?
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
The one who brings us into God’s kingdom is Christ Jesus. Notice that Christ BRINGS us near even when we were far away (just like he made us alive when we were dead in sins). What was at odds and separate, the blood of Christ restores and brings peace.
Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
What is amazing about the work of Christ, he addressed the two key things that practically, physically and spiritually separated those outside the people of Israel. Not only are these realities just about the nation of Israel of the Old Testament, but Israel is always used as the spiritual picture of the people of God.
So what was characteristic of the nation of Israel? God gave Moses the Law that guided their worship life, their civil life and their moral life. The law was not universal for all, but God demanded perfection from his people. The reality is all broke the law and fell short of the perfection of God…including us today. So what did Christ do? He set aside in his flesh the law with its commands. Perhaps it seems like an arbitrary end to these laws that God has given. Rather Jesus didn’t just ignore the law, he fulfilled it perfectly. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). By fulfilling the law, Jesus broke down the wall of hostility that sin and breaking of the law created. Our imperfection is now covered by the perfection of Jesus Christ.
The second characteristic of the nation of Israel was the sacrificial system that led to much shedding of blood to cover the guilt of sin. The access to God could only happen through the shedding of blood. A person could never shed enough blood of his own to access God. But Jesus did. He paid the price on the cross to give access to God to everyone. The payment for our sin was completely paid by the death of Jesus on the cross. The result? “Through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit” (Ephesians 2:18).
The ultimate result…God has brought us into his kingdom and gave us the status of citizen of his kingdom and one of his people.
Apply: Perhaps you have been on the outside of a group you wanted to be part of. What does it feel like to be on the outside? What does it feel like when you are brought into the group? Now apply this to your status as a citizen of the kingdom of God.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and grace that did all that was necessary to bring me in your kingdom. AMEN.