Instruction
Scripture: Ephesians2:11-22
This texts follows on the heels of one of the beloved
descriptions of the human condition and God’s grace. The chapter begins by
stating that we were dead in trespasses and sins, but goes on to proclaim that
we are alive in Christ and that we have been saved by God’s grace, through
faith, as a free gift. In this section of Ephesians 2 Paul teaches about the
unity Jesus’ followers have because of the salvation we share in him. The
effect of the reading is one to encourage unity among God’s people and to
encourage peace among us because of the salvation we have in common by faith in
Jesus.
Teaching
Division is normal. Harmony is not. Because of fallen human
nature people break relationship and accent differences, looking for points of
superiority or creating worldviews that divide people in a wide variety of ways
– gender, skin color, age, intellect, wealth, etc. In this text the division
that is being explored is between Jews and Gentiles. Each had their reasons to
think their relationship with God was superior to the other’s, but Paul negates
whatever those reasons may have been by pointing them to Jesus who reconciled
both groups to God.
Jesus’ cross is central to this unity. It is a unity that
transcends the differences people have from one another, so that those who
should, by earthly standards, have nothing to do with one another have a common
bond that is more important than their differences. Because of this we confess
in the Nicene Creed that there is, “one holy Christian apostolic church,”
despite there being many denominations. All who believe in Christ are united by
his death for us, even when it looks like we are not.
Life
Unity does not mean that we are all the same, but that we
are connected. Sometimes people are connected because of a person that they
know or love. How would it be if we looked at the other churches in our
community as people who love Jesus and whom Jesus loves, just like us? Would we
still have problems with things they teach and do? Yes. But we would also be
able to recognize that here are people that Jesus died for just like us. Or
perhaps there is someone you know who is different from you because of their
politics, or there is something else about them that makes you uncomfortable.
How will knowing you share Jesus in common impact your relationship with her?
Prayer
This prayer is written
in the theme of Thanksgiving.
Father in Heaven, we thank you for making us one in Christ:
one with you and with one another. Thank you that, despite the divisions among
us, we are still one, because our unity does not depend on us but on Jesus and
the salvation he won for us by dying on the cross. Thank you for making us to
be your people, because we know that we were once separated from you because of
our sin. Thank you for making people so different from one another and the
beautiful diversity you have put among us. Thank you for giving your Son so
that he has become our peace and for making us citizens with the saints in the
household of God. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
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