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- Apr 25, 2006
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10 May 2007
Ephesians 2:11-13
You were not born Jewish. You are the people the Jews call "uncircumcised." Those who call you "uncircumcised" call themselves "circumcised." (Their circumcision is only something they themselves do on their bodies.) Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you had no part in the agreements with the promise that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ's death.
You might be familiar with some of the amazing stories in the Old Testament about the people of God. God promised Abraham and Moses (the leaders of the people of Israel) that he would always be there for his people - no matter what they faced. The amazing accounts of God's people being rescued from Egypt, crossing the Red Sea to get to the "Promised Land" are all part of an incredible history which the Jews can look back on as proof that God keeps his promises.
When Paul was writing to the believers in Ephesus, we need to bear in mind that he was talking to people who were largely not from Jewish origin (they were known as Gentiles). He explains here that they were not part of "God's chosen people" - symbolised by circumcision (I don't really need to go into detail here! You get the idea that a special ceremony was carried out to mark people as God's chosen ones.)
The Jews were waiting for the Messiah to come. Jesus claimed to be that Messiah. The early day believers on the whole were Jewish people who believed in the resurrection of Jesus and in the truth that their Messiah had come.
You might recall one particular story from the Old Testament, where the Jews (living in slavery in Egypt) had to daub the blood of animals on their doorposts to escape the plague of death. Here's where the gospel comes right up to date. The blood of Jesus saves those who now believe in him from death.
As those who believe in what Jesus has done, God accepts us as his chosen people. God promises are now true for us too!
Thank you God, that your plan includes me too. Help me to understand that you see me as "your chosen one". Thank you that your promises are for me - no matter what I might face in my life. Amen.
Written by Richard Prescott
Ephesians 2:11-13
You were not born Jewish. You are the people the Jews call "uncircumcised." Those who call you "uncircumcised" call themselves "circumcised." (Their circumcision is only something they themselves do on their bodies.) Remember that in the past you were without Christ. You were not citizens of Israel, and you had no part in the agreements with the promise that God made to his people. You had no hope, and you did not know God. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away from God are brought near through the blood of Christ's death.
You might be familiar with some of the amazing stories in the Old Testament about the people of God. God promised Abraham and Moses (the leaders of the people of Israel) that he would always be there for his people - no matter what they faced. The amazing accounts of God's people being rescued from Egypt, crossing the Red Sea to get to the "Promised Land" are all part of an incredible history which the Jews can look back on as proof that God keeps his promises.
When Paul was writing to the believers in Ephesus, we need to bear in mind that he was talking to people who were largely not from Jewish origin (they were known as Gentiles). He explains here that they were not part of "God's chosen people" - symbolised by circumcision (I don't really need to go into detail here! You get the idea that a special ceremony was carried out to mark people as God's chosen ones.)
The Jews were waiting for the Messiah to come. Jesus claimed to be that Messiah. The early day believers on the whole were Jewish people who believed in the resurrection of Jesus and in the truth that their Messiah had come.
You might recall one particular story from the Old Testament, where the Jews (living in slavery in Egypt) had to daub the blood of animals on their doorposts to escape the plague of death. Here's where the gospel comes right up to date. The blood of Jesus saves those who now believe in him from death.
As those who believe in what Jesus has done, God accepts us as his chosen people. God promises are now true for us too!
Thank you God, that your plan includes me too. Help me to understand that you see me as "your chosen one". Thank you that your promises are for me - no matter what I might face in my life. Amen.
Written by Richard Prescott
