He Made Us Both One in Christ

Ephesians 2:11-22 ESV

“Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 

“For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

[See also: John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 9:4-8; Romans 11:17-25; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:14-18; 1 John 2:22]

Now, under the Old Covenant which God had with his people Israel, his chosen people were the Jews only. But once Jesus Christ came to the earth, died on that cross, rose again, ascended back to heaven, and sent his Holy Spirit to indwell his followers, he opened the way for the Gentiles to now be God’s chosen people, too. But God does not have two separate chosen people, for he made them both one in Christ, via faith in Jesus Christ.

So, basically what took place with Jesus’ death and resurrection is that all the Jews who rejected Jesus Christ as their Lord and Messiah were cut off from that relationship with God, and all those Gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ were now included as part of Israel. But any Jew who believes in Jesus Christ can be grafted back into the vine, i.e. they can now be included again as part of Israel, as God’s chosen people (see Romans 11:17-25).

“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

Do you see what this is saying here? God doesn’t have two separate chosen people. The Jewish nation is not presently God’s chosen people, for they can only be God’s chosen people by genuine faith in Jesus Christ. And those of us who have believed in Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of our lives are now Israel. So, this isn’t “replacement theology.” God just removed from Israel those who refused his son Jesus Christ as their Messiah, and he grafted into his people Israel all Gentiles who did believe in Jesus.

So, according to the Scriptures (see noted verses above), not all who are physically descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring. So, it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. And if we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise (Romans 9:4-8; Galatians 3:26-29).

For the promises of God were spoken to Abraham and to his seed, referring to one, ‘And to your seed,’ that is Christ (Galatians 3:16). So, again, if we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. We are God’s chosen people Israel – all who belong to Christ, whether Jew or Gentile by physical birth, are God’s chosen people Israel. 

And what did Jesus say to the Jews who did not believe in him? He told them that they were not Abraham’s children, and Abraham was not their father, and God was not their father, but that their father was the devil, for their will was to do their father’s (the devil’s) desires (John 8:18-19,38-47). And what did John say? He said that whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ is the antichrist – denying the Father and the Son (1 John 2:22).

Now, this is meant to be encouraging, but this is important that we understand this. But the encouraging part of it for us who are Gentiles (non-Jews) by physical birth is that, via Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are now included in Israel by faith in Jesus Christ, and we are now God’s chosen people along with all who put their faith in the Lord Jesus and who are living for him and who are no longer walking in sin. 

For through Christ we both (Jew and Gentile by physical birth) have access in one Spirit to the Father by genuine faith in Jesus Christ, and now we are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. We are now God’s holy temple by faith in Jesus Christ, and our Lord now lives within us by his Spirit. And we are now to walk (in conduct, in practice) according to the Spirit and no longer according to the flesh, for sin must not be our practice, but righteousness, holiness, and obedience to our Lord are to be  what we practice, by the grace of God, and in his power and strength.

[Matt 7:21-23; Matt 24:9-14; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14,24; Rom 12:1-2; Rom 13:11; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; 1 Co 1:18; 1 Co 15:1-2; 2 Tim 1:8-9; Heb 9:28; 1 Pet 1:5; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-17; 1 Pet 2:24; Tit 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 3:6,14-15; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

No Less  

An Original Work / March 19, 2012

I can do no less than praise You,

Lord, for all You’ve done for me.

You died for my sins to save me,

So I would be set free.

I adore You! Lord, I praise You!

Jesus, Savior, King of kings!

You provided my redemption.

Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You. 

Lord, Your witness I would be,

Telling others of Your love,

And why You died on that tree.

Tell of how You gave of Your life,

So from sin we’d be set free,

So we could worship You forever,

And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,

Lord, for You have first loved me.

You gave of Your life so willing,

Because You cared for me.

Turn from my sin! Obey freely!

Live for You each passing day.

Read Your word, and follow Your lead,

Lord, as I humbly pray. 

https://vimeo.com/125493623