EPHESIANS 3: 2-6. NKJV. SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025

If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given me for you, (3) how by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, (4) by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), (5) which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it now has been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets: (6) that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome for preaching the gospel. In our verses today we read of the new and far reaching teaching of oneness of the Jew and Gentiles in Christ – that most found difficult to comprehend or accept. For 2000 years from the age of Abraham to the time of Christ God’s blessings were mostly restricted to the Jews. The Gentiles were excluded from the nation of Israel and were strangers to God’s covenant of promise. They were without God in this world and without hope. The Old Testament often spoke of God’s blessings on Gentiles but it was always through the Jews. But now through the cross Christ has reconciled the Jews and the Gentiles to God.

No one ever comes to Christ on their own intelligence, will power or good works – salvation is always of the Lord. The mystery of our verses refers to God’s revelation of disclosure of something previously hidden; information not attained by human reason or wisdom, by human logic, intuition or study but only by the Spirit of God. The truth that Jews and Gentiles were to be blessed in the same way on the basis of faith in Christ and pure grace was also made known to the apostles but revelation of the one body came first to Paul that he might communicate it to others. The truth more plainly revealed than ever before was a union of Gentiles with Jews as joint partakers of the promise of redemption in Christ by means of the gospel.

The Gentiles are redeemed not through the Jews as the old theocracy held. But that theocracy was to be abolished and a new form was introduced for all mankind under which distinctions between Jews and Gentiles was done away. Quoting my favorite, c.s.Lewis: “If we are not Christians we shall dismiss this with the old gibe, ‘How odd of God to choose the Jews.’ This is impossible for us who believe that God chose that race for the vehicle of His own Incarnation, and who are indebted to Israel beyond all possible repayment.”

Colossians 3: 12-17. NKJV. DECEMBER 29, 2024

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; (13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (14) But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul in response to heretical attacks on the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Philosophy, human wisdom, legalism, mysticism or asceticism by themselves or added to Him are useless in regard to salvation which is found in Christ alone. Our verses tell us to walk in our position as elect in God and live what we already are, in faith, in Christ. In the early days of the church, the gospel was revolutionary and the world was without faith, unable to fathom the gospel, skeptical and reluctant. There was a great need for effective witness from believers and Paul, in our verses, examines these attributes necessary for such witness – all spiritual gifts – bonded by love – and let the peace of God rule our hearts.

The believer is chosen by God, redeemed from sin in faith in Christ and is a child of God. The elect are those who owe everything to His will – they are set apart to Him to walk in love, obedient to His will. Behind divine election is divine love. There is no reason for God’s love for us and He initiates our salvation in mighty works of reconciliation and redemption of Christ. A consciousness of a believer’s relationship with Christ applies to everything; He is to be in all our thoughts – in every word and deed. We are to become what we already are in faith which will manifest itself in harmony and the peace of Christ in our hearts. Love is the supremely important Christian virtue..

Election and divine forgiveness in Christ manifest in the faithful a new birth – God sets His hand upon us when there was nothing in us that could please Him. This principle reminds me of something I heard of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous: everyone who has a seat at the table has been touched by the hand of God.