19th
A reconciled church
In our second sermon from Ephesians, on chapter 2, we looked at how the church is a work in progress. It is made up of sinful people who have been redeemed by Christ. His death on the cross opened up the means for us to be reconciled to God. And we are members of God’s family only through the reconciling work of Christ.
This being part of God’s family means that we are also reconciled to one another. All the worldly categories that divide us are abolished. For Paul, he puts this most clearly by emphasing that Jews and Gentiles are now one in Jesus. Those of us who were not part of God’s people, the Israelites, have now been brought near to God. And this unity, of Jews and Gentiles, white and black, male and female, is made clear through us all receiving the Holy Spirit, through whom we have access to the father.
So the challenges that I was left with were:
- Remeber our unity in Christ
- Seek humility
- Seek reconciliation
