One New Humanity

This morning I am reading out of Paul's letter to the Church in Ephesus, and looking at some interesting facts that are related.  Here are the verses - Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV:

[11] "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)--- [12] remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. [13] But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ." 

[14] "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, [15] by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, [16] and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. [17] He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." 

[19] "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, [20] built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. [21] In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. [22] And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

My reflection this morning is the unanticipated salvation available to the whole world.  Paul is writing about the circumcised (Jews) and the uncircumcised (everyone else). At the time of Christ there were probably 5 million Jews in the world and the world population was 300 Million (according to estimates) thus we have Jesus coming to a people that is not even 2% of the world population.  The rest of the world (98%) had very little concept of the Covenant of the Law, as Paul writes, they were "without hope and without God in the world."    

Paul writes that there was enmity between the two groups, the Jewish people and everyone else, and this existed because of the Jews being chosen and separated out of the world.  They were people of the promise, the chosen nation, a people set apart for God. God had moved mightily in their past and promised them a Messiah to move powerfully in their midst and to save them. The Jews were looking forward to the time when they would once again be God's blessed people, a nation and people blessed and favored on Earth.  However, God had slightly different but broader plans and these plans were revealed in Jesus, and following Jesus ascension through Peter and Paul.

I love the image that Paul uses, that Jesus created in Himself one new humanity, bridging the two, Jews and non-Jews, together in His body.  He made a way  for the 98% to join the 2%, as chosen of God, and opened the door to salvation for all!  He caused the Covenant of the Law to be set aside (see verse 15 above).  This translation is a bit week in my opinion, as the Greek word used by Paul is katargesas - which is defined as following by Strong's exhaustive:  From kata and argeo; to be (render) entirely idle (useless), literally or figuratively -- abolish, cease, cumber, deliver, destroy, do away, become (make) of no (none, without) effect, fail, loose, bring (come) to nought, put away (down), vanish away, make void!  In other words, he didn't sit is aside, he completely nullified it, completely abolished it! 

Paul applies the reality of that back to his statements about enmity, for if Christ cancelled the Covenant of the Law, He effectively wiped out the separation between the 98% and the 2%, and made them all part of His household, as fellow citizens with God's people.  Remember he was writing to people who understood the rights of a Roman Citizen, and this was no simple benefit.  It could be earned or bought, but Paul writes that our our citizenship was gifted by Christ Jesus through His cross and resurrection and this was available to all.  While our access to the Father and Holy Spirit is assured, it is our choice to receive. He is writing to the church and they have received this right, and everyone else has this same way open to them.  We no longer are limited by our family lines, by our ancestry, by our actions or obedience to the Law!

Paul then continues and describes the new plan of God to build a single new Temple, a building in which His spirit dwells, one comprised of all who come to Him!  Their isn't a Jewish wing and a non-Jewish wing, we are all part of the same building and Jesus is who joins us all together into a single unified building.  This must have been mind-blowing to the Jews who had been sure of their unique identity as God's chosen people, compared to the rest of the world.  Peter writes something similar in 1 Peter 2:5,9-10 NIV:

[5] "you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

[9] "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

I am just so grateful for God's larger plan to include all the people of the world as His people!  I am so glad that we no longer are subject to the Covenant of the Law, but are instead fully citizens, by God's great grace and mercy.   I am grateful for His invitation into His Kingdom of Light.  I am grateful to be called a member of His household, and even more, His son! 

Finally I am reminded of what Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans 8:14-17 NIV:

[14] "For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. [15] The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” [16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."

This is available to us all, whether part of that original 2% or the 98%, we all are invited into relationship with Him, in this one new humanity!  We are all brought near by the Blood of Jesus!

Amen and Amen!