In Revelation 4, John hears a voice "like a trumpet" call out to him. The voice says, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” It is Jesus calling to his beloved friend. He wants to show John what will happen at the end of time. John says he sees a throne with Jesus sitting on it. He is amazed at the beauty and brilliance of the throne. He compares it to gemstones, like jasper and carnelian, which is a reddish-brown stone. He then makes a beautiful illustration by saying that the glow of these precious gemstones circle Jesus' throne like a rainbow. This is comforting to John, just as the sign of a rainbow was comforting to Noah after the flood in the Old Testament.
Sitting around Jesus' throne are twenty-four smaller thrones with twenty-four elders seated upon them. They were all clothed in white with gold crowns on their heads. In front of the throne are seven torches burning with flames. In front of the throne is a shiny sea of glass, sparkling like crystals. In verses 6-8 we learn of four creatures who would be hideous to earthly eyes, but are beautiful in God's eyes. Each of the four beings were covered with eyes, front and back. The first of these living beings was like a lion; the second was like an ox; the third had a human face; and the fourth was like an eagle in flight. Each of these living beings had six wings, and their wings were covered all over with eyes, inside and out. Day after day and night after night they will say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty— the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.”
This will be the song that all of God's people will sing to Him in Heaven. Singing is the ultimate form of praise and this is what everyone will do unendingly in the Kingdom.
Verses 9-11 go onto say how whenever these four beings sing this song, the twenty-four elders will fall prostrate on the ground, worshiping Jesus and will lay their gold crowns at His throne. They will then say, “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Introducing A New Blogger
Sarah, my girlfriend of 3 1/2 years, has decided to try her hand at blogging. So, from time to time, you will be seeing the handiwork of a budding author. Enjoy!
Revealing Revelation: The Seven Churches
I have been studying Revelation lately. Here is a brief overview of the letters John wrote to the seven churches in the province of Asia after Jesus reveals himself to John.
Ephesus:
They have worked hard and endured hardships as a church. They don’t tolerate evil people, and have quietly suffered for Christ without quitting. However, they have “lost their first love”. They no longer love each other or God as they once did. God wants them to turn back to him and do the good deeds they did as new Christians. If they do not follow these commands, their lamp stand will be taken from its place among the churches. If they obey these commands, they will be rewarded with fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Smyrna:
They have suffered and have been blasphemed by false Jews whose synagogue belongs to Satan. God encourages them to not be afraid of what they are about to suffer. He says Satan will throw some of them into prison to test them, and they will suffer for 10 days. But the promise from God is if they remain faithful throughout their torture He will reward them with the crown of life. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Pergamum:
This is the city where Satan has his thrown. Even still, God’s church remains faithful to him. They tolerate teachings like that of Balaam- who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. God warns to repent of their sin or He will come after them suddenly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth. To everyone who heeds this warning and repents, He promises to give a piece of manna stored away in heaven. He also promises to give them a white stone and on it will be a new name to which only they will understand.
Thyatira:
They love the Lord, and have shown patient endurance and steadfastness. And they continue to improve in all of these things. However, they are permitting Jezebel who calls herself a prophet, to lead God’s servants away. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and eat the food offered to idols. God has given her time to repent, but she will not turn away from her immorality. God says that He will throw her on a bed of suffering and whoever commits adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her wickedness. God will strike her children dead, so all the churches will know that He is the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person, and will give to each of us what they deserve. But He says to the rest of the church, who has not followed this evil false prophet, He will not ask anymore from them, but to hold tightly to what they have until He comes again. To all who are victorious, He will give authority over all the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will be awarded the same authority that Christ received from His father, and they will also be given the morning star.
Sardis:
They have a reputation for being a church that is alive, but they are really dead. God says to strengthen what little remains, which is almost dead as well. Jesus finds that their actions are not up to par with the requirements of God. He says to go back to what they heard and believed when they were new Christians. He says that if they do not turn to him again, that He will come to them suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. He says that some of the people in Sardis are not walking wayward and will walk with him in white garments. He says that all who are victorious will be clothed in white and will never have their name erased from the Book of Life. They will be called “Mine” before God and the angels.
Philadelphia:
This church has little strength, but they did not deny God. God says He will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue to bow at their feet and they will acknowledge that this church is who God loves. Because they have obeyed God, He will preserve them from the testing that is coming to the whole world to test who belongs to Him and who belongs to this world. God is coming soon. He says to hold onto what you have so no one can take away your crown. All who obey this command will be pillars in the Temple of God and will never have to leave it. They will have God’s name on them and will be citizens of His city- the new Jerusalem that will come down from heaven to earth. They will also have Jesus’ new name written on them.
Laodicea:
This church is neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm. God says that since they are neither hot nor cold, He will spit them from His mouth. They think they are rich and don’t need anything, but God says they are poor, miserable, blind, and naked. So He tells them to buy gold from Him- gold that is purified by fire, so they will be rich. He also wants them to buy white garments to hide their nakedness and ointment for their eyes so they can see. God corrects and disciplines all that He loves, so He warns them to turn away from their indifference. Those who are victorious will sit with Jesus on his throne and share a meal with him.
Ephesus:
They have worked hard and endured hardships as a church. They don’t tolerate evil people, and have quietly suffered for Christ without quitting. However, they have “lost their first love”. They no longer love each other or God as they once did. God wants them to turn back to him and do the good deeds they did as new Christians. If they do not follow these commands, their lamp stand will be taken from its place among the churches. If they obey these commands, they will be rewarded with fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Smyrna:
They have suffered and have been blasphemed by false Jews whose synagogue belongs to Satan. God encourages them to not be afraid of what they are about to suffer. He says Satan will throw some of them into prison to test them, and they will suffer for 10 days. But the promise from God is if they remain faithful throughout their torture He will reward them with the crown of life. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Pergamum:
This is the city where Satan has his thrown. Even still, God’s church remains faithful to him. They tolerate teachings like that of Balaam- who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin. God warns to repent of their sin or He will come after them suddenly and fight against them with the sword of His mouth. To everyone who heeds this warning and repents, He promises to give a piece of manna stored away in heaven. He also promises to give them a white stone and on it will be a new name to which only they will understand.
Thyatira:
They love the Lord, and have shown patient endurance and steadfastness. And they continue to improve in all of these things. However, they are permitting Jezebel who calls herself a prophet, to lead God’s servants away. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and eat the food offered to idols. God has given her time to repent, but she will not turn away from her immorality. God says that He will throw her on a bed of suffering and whoever commits adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her wickedness. God will strike her children dead, so all the churches will know that He is the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person, and will give to each of us what they deserve. But He says to the rest of the church, who has not followed this evil false prophet, He will not ask anymore from them, but to hold tightly to what they have until He comes again. To all who are victorious, He will give authority over all the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will be awarded the same authority that Christ received from His father, and they will also be given the morning star.
Sardis:
They have a reputation for being a church that is alive, but they are really dead. God says to strengthen what little remains, which is almost dead as well. Jesus finds that their actions are not up to par with the requirements of God. He says to go back to what they heard and believed when they were new Christians. He says that if they do not turn to him again, that He will come to them suddenly, as unexpected as a thief. He says that some of the people in Sardis are not walking wayward and will walk with him in white garments. He says that all who are victorious will be clothed in white and will never have their name erased from the Book of Life. They will be called “Mine” before God and the angels.
Philadelphia:
This church has little strength, but they did not deny God. God says He will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue to bow at their feet and they will acknowledge that this church is who God loves. Because they have obeyed God, He will preserve them from the testing that is coming to the whole world to test who belongs to Him and who belongs to this world. God is coming soon. He says to hold onto what you have so no one can take away your crown. All who obey this command will be pillars in the Temple of God and will never have to leave it. They will have God’s name on them and will be citizens of His city- the new Jerusalem that will come down from heaven to earth. They will also have Jesus’ new name written on them.
Laodicea:
This church is neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm. God says that since they are neither hot nor cold, He will spit them from His mouth. They think they are rich and don’t need anything, but God says they are poor, miserable, blind, and naked. So He tells them to buy gold from Him- gold that is purified by fire, so they will be rich. He also wants them to buy white garments to hide their nakedness and ointment for their eyes so they can see. God corrects and disciplines all that He loves, so He warns them to turn away from their indifference. Those who are victorious will sit with Jesus on his throne and share a meal with him.
Suffering For Christ: A Walk Through Ephesians Chapter 3
“1 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. 10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.”
Paul describes himself in verse 1 as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” It is quite interesting to note that while writing this letter, Paul was in prison in Rome. While most saw Paul as a prisoner to the Roman empire, Paul saw himself as a prisoner in Christ. It is the state of mind that sets Paul apart from others. It is this mindset that should set Christians apart from the world. If we are suffering and stumbling through some difficult weather in our life we can either have the approach that we have to endure it or we can say we get to endure it. It is in the way Christians handle difficulty that will truly show the glory of God. If in the deepest pits of our lives we can stand tall and proclaim that Jesus is the one who we are suffering for, we can stand at the gates of heaven and hear Jesus say, “Welcome my good and faithful servant.” Paul considered it a great honor to suffer for the sake of Jesus. He considered it a victory for Christ rather than a hardship in his life.
Paul talks of a “mysterious plan” in verse 3. This mysterious plan is that the Gentiles are in line for God’s inheritance just as the Jews are. This would have been great news for the Gentiles who for so long were distanced from both Jews and God. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he received a revelation that God is not a God who is only for the Jews but rather a God for all people. Everyone is in line to receive the inheritance God has prepared. It is Paul’s conviction that Jesus is the God for all people that could very well have led to the spread of the gospel throughout the world. If it were not for Paul’s steadfastness in proclaiming a God for all people, Christianity may not have been able to reach the worldwide lengths to which it now resides.
Paul goes on to describe his mission on Earth to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. He says that God has revealed the mystery to him. The world revealed is important here because it means that the mystery has always been there but no one knew it yet. God has always been a God for all people but it is not until Paul begins preaching of that news that the mystery is revealed. It is because of this revelation that Paul gains the honor of God’s grace and his imprisonment to Christ. Through the imprisonment of Christ he is in position to serve the living God with his entire life. To suffer for Christ is to gain his glory.
To suffer for Christ is not a glorious thought, however. To suffer may mean more to one person than it will to another but nothing of greatness comes easily. It is through sacrifice and perseverance that we may prevail into the glory of God. This glory is not of our own power, and we must always remember that. It is easy to get prideful of amazing works and it is only through God that we even have the ability to do those great works. Satan was expelled from heaven for his pride. We too should not miss the kingdom of heaven for our glory here in earth.
“14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
The last verses of chapter three serve as a prayer for spiritual growth. When the Jews prayed, they usually did so standing with their palms raised toward heaven. Here, Paul says he falls to his knees in prayer. Paul’s prayer here is so heartfelt that he falls to his knees to pray to God for growth. It is through the love and grace of God that we have life and that we can now have a new life in Christ Jesus. Though it is a love that we cannot comprehend, it is one that can empower us to do great things for his kingdom. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Paul describes himself in verse 1 as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” It is quite interesting to note that while writing this letter, Paul was in prison in Rome. While most saw Paul as a prisoner to the Roman empire, Paul saw himself as a prisoner in Christ. It is the state of mind that sets Paul apart from others. It is this mindset that should set Christians apart from the world. If we are suffering and stumbling through some difficult weather in our life we can either have the approach that we have to endure it or we can say we get to endure it. It is in the way Christians handle difficulty that will truly show the glory of God. If in the deepest pits of our lives we can stand tall and proclaim that Jesus is the one who we are suffering for, we can stand at the gates of heaven and hear Jesus say, “Welcome my good and faithful servant.” Paul considered it a great honor to suffer for the sake of Jesus. He considered it a victory for Christ rather than a hardship in his life.
Paul talks of a “mysterious plan” in verse 3. This mysterious plan is that the Gentiles are in line for God’s inheritance just as the Jews are. This would have been great news for the Gentiles who for so long were distanced from both Jews and God. When Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, he received a revelation that God is not a God who is only for the Jews but rather a God for all people. Everyone is in line to receive the inheritance God has prepared. It is Paul’s conviction that Jesus is the God for all people that could very well have led to the spread of the gospel throughout the world. If it were not for Paul’s steadfastness in proclaiming a God for all people, Christianity may not have been able to reach the worldwide lengths to which it now resides.
Paul goes on to describe his mission on Earth to spread the gospel to the Gentiles. He says that God has revealed the mystery to him. The world revealed is important here because it means that the mystery has always been there but no one knew it yet. God has always been a God for all people but it is not until Paul begins preaching of that news that the mystery is revealed. It is because of this revelation that Paul gains the honor of God’s grace and his imprisonment to Christ. Through the imprisonment of Christ he is in position to serve the living God with his entire life. To suffer for Christ is to gain his glory.
To suffer for Christ is not a glorious thought, however. To suffer may mean more to one person than it will to another but nothing of greatness comes easily. It is through sacrifice and perseverance that we may prevail into the glory of God. This glory is not of our own power, and we must always remember that. It is easy to get prideful of amazing works and it is only through God that we even have the ability to do those great works. Satan was expelled from heaven for his pride. We too should not miss the kingdom of heaven for our glory here in earth.
“14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”
The last verses of chapter three serve as a prayer for spiritual growth. When the Jews prayed, they usually did so standing with their palms raised toward heaven. Here, Paul says he falls to his knees in prayer. Paul’s prayer here is so heartfelt that he falls to his knees to pray to God for growth. It is through the love and grace of God that we have life and that we can now have a new life in Christ Jesus. Though it is a love that we cannot comprehend, it is one that can empower us to do great things for his kingdom. “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Saturday, December 9, 2006
United by Jesus: A Walk Through Ephesians Chapter 2
1 “Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. 7 So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2: 1-7.
In the second chapter of Ephesians Paul focuses on the concept of unity in Christ Jesus. It is through God’s love, grace, and mercy that we are saved and in the oneness and unity of Christ that we now live. This concept would have been a tough pill to swallow for the early church in that day. The Gentiles were people seen as heathens by the Jews. They were the outsiders and the outcasts of society. Much like the early days in our country between blacks and whites, so were the Jews and Gentiles. The dividing point here was the God’s covenant with Abraham displayed through circumcision. It is through circumcision that one would dedicate his life to God. When Jesus came and defeated death, however, he brought with him a new covenant This new covenant was one in which closeness to God was brought through the state of the heart rather than the body. Throughout Paul’s letters he is writing to the Gentiles in order to bring them closer to the living God. The culture of that day would have made it difficult for both the Jews and Gentiles to live together in the oneness that Paul is suggesting.
“11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13
In these verses Paul is describing the plight of the Gentiles in the history of the faith. Verse 11 reminds the Gentiles that they were once outsiders and uncircumcised heathens. Here Paul uses the words “used to be” implying that they no longer are. The new covenant that Jesus instilled was one of the heart. One must simply put his faith, love, trust, and life into the hands of Jesus and there he shall be forgiven of his sins, set free from the weight of the world and have everlasting life. This would have been hard for the Gentiles to understand after years of persecution from the Jews and perhaps even harder for the Jews whose lifelong belief was now being challenged.
William Barclay, in his Daily Study Bible series on the Letters to Galatians and Ephesians describes the Jew-Gentile relationship this way. “The Gentiles were called the uncircumcision by those who laid claim to that circumcision which is a physical sign and something performed by human hands. This was the first of the great divisions. The Jews has an immense contempt for the Gentiles. They said that the Gentiles were created by God to be fuel for the fires of hell, and that God only loved Israel of all the nations that he had made. ‘The best of the serpents crush,’ they said, ‘the best of the Gentiles kill.’ It was not even lawful to give help to a Gentile woman in childbirth, for that would be to bring another Gentile into the world. The barrier between Jews and Gentiles was absolute. If a Jew married a Gentile, the funeral of that Jew was carried out. Such contact with a Gentile was the equivalent of death; even going into the house of a Gentile made a Jew unclean. Before Christ, the barriers were up; after Christ, the barriers were down.” 1
The Gentiles were called outsiders for another reason as well. The Temple in Jerusalem of that day was believed as the dwelling place of God. It was a common belief in that time among all religions of the day that a god would be located in one holy place. The layout of the temple consisted of separate sections. The Holy of Holies was the center of the Temple and could only be entered by the High Priest on the day of atonement, or Yom Kippur. Here the High Priest would make a sacrificial atonement for the sins of the people. Outside of the Holy of Holies was sanctuary in which only priests could enter. Around that was the court of the Israelites where only Jewish men could bring their offerings to the priests. The Jewish women had a court beyond the men’s court and around the women’s court lay the court of Gentiles. The court of Gentiles was separated from everything else by a thin marble-like wall. The walls were approximately 4-5 feet tall and had inscriptions that warned Gentiles not to go beyond the walls. A gentile that went beyond that wall did so at risk of his own death. Therefore, when Paul calls the Gentiles outsiders he literally means outsiders. Women were second class citizens, children were not considered citizens until a certain age and Gentiles were not recognized as citizens at all. They were separated from God and had no hope of coming near God. Paul says, however, that where the Gentiles were once “far away from God,” they are now brought close to him through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Being brought near was a term that the Jews would have found especially meaningful. In the Jewish culture, to be brought near was to be brought to God. When one was converted to Judaism they were said to be brought near.
“14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” Ephesians 2:14-17
In verse 14 Paul declares that Jesus broke down that marble-like wall in order for the Gentiles to enter into the kingdom of God. They could now be considered citizens along with the Jews and live in harmony and peace because of what Jesus did. It should be remembered that Paul, a devout Jewish man before his conversion, spent much of his ministry preaching the gospel to Gentiles. It is these same Gentiles that he used to persecute along with the early Christians for the ignoring the Jewish law. Because of Jesus’ life and resurrection, that law has been overshadowed by the new life in Christ. It is through Jesus alone that we are saved and through God’s mercy and grace that we have life. Paul makes it his life’s goal to preach that message to those who for so long were ignored by the religious. Where there was once a wall separating the Jew and Gentile, Jesus demolished that wall and instituted a new kind of life.
“19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
Jesus proclaimed that the temple would be destroyed. The temple was a gorgeous structure built of carefully sculpted stones that would fit perfectly together. No mortar was used in the building and while it was not an especially large building, it was quite remarkable. Mark 13: 1-2 says, “1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, ‘Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.’ 2 Jesus replied, ‘Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!’” Through his death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed the meaning of the temple. There was no longer a certain place in which the people of God needed to enter to be in community with him. Jesus came to tell us that from now on God will meet us where we are. Jesus is the cornerstone of our life. “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18: 20
In the second chapter of Ephesians Paul focuses on the concept of unity in Christ Jesus. It is through God’s love, grace, and mercy that we are saved and in the oneness and unity of Christ that we now live. This concept would have been a tough pill to swallow for the early church in that day. The Gentiles were people seen as heathens by the Jews. They were the outsiders and the outcasts of society. Much like the early days in our country between blacks and whites, so were the Jews and Gentiles. The dividing point here was the God’s covenant with Abraham displayed through circumcision. It is through circumcision that one would dedicate his life to God. When Jesus came and defeated death, however, he brought with him a new covenant This new covenant was one in which closeness to God was brought through the state of the heart rather than the body. Throughout Paul’s letters he is writing to the Gentiles in order to bring them closer to the living God. The culture of that day would have made it difficult for both the Jews and Gentiles to live together in the oneness that Paul is suggesting.
“11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, who were proud of their circumcision, even though it affected only their bodies and not their hearts. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:11-13
In these verses Paul is describing the plight of the Gentiles in the history of the faith. Verse 11 reminds the Gentiles that they were once outsiders and uncircumcised heathens. Here Paul uses the words “used to be” implying that they no longer are. The new covenant that Jesus instilled was one of the heart. One must simply put his faith, love, trust, and life into the hands of Jesus and there he shall be forgiven of his sins, set free from the weight of the world and have everlasting life. This would have been hard for the Gentiles to understand after years of persecution from the Jews and perhaps even harder for the Jews whose lifelong belief was now being challenged.
William Barclay, in his Daily Study Bible series on the Letters to Galatians and Ephesians describes the Jew-Gentile relationship this way. “The Gentiles were called the uncircumcision by those who laid claim to that circumcision which is a physical sign and something performed by human hands. This was the first of the great divisions. The Jews has an immense contempt for the Gentiles. They said that the Gentiles were created by God to be fuel for the fires of hell, and that God only loved Israel of all the nations that he had made. ‘The best of the serpents crush,’ they said, ‘the best of the Gentiles kill.’ It was not even lawful to give help to a Gentile woman in childbirth, for that would be to bring another Gentile into the world. The barrier between Jews and Gentiles was absolute. If a Jew married a Gentile, the funeral of that Jew was carried out. Such contact with a Gentile was the equivalent of death; even going into the house of a Gentile made a Jew unclean. Before Christ, the barriers were up; after Christ, the barriers were down.” 1
The Gentiles were called outsiders for another reason as well. The Temple in Jerusalem of that day was believed as the dwelling place of God. It was a common belief in that time among all religions of the day that a god would be located in one holy place. The layout of the temple consisted of separate sections. The Holy of Holies was the center of the Temple and could only be entered by the High Priest on the day of atonement, or Yom Kippur. Here the High Priest would make a sacrificial atonement for the sins of the people. Outside of the Holy of Holies was sanctuary in which only priests could enter. Around that was the court of the Israelites where only Jewish men could bring their offerings to the priests. The Jewish women had a court beyond the men’s court and around the women’s court lay the court of Gentiles. The court of Gentiles was separated from everything else by a thin marble-like wall. The walls were approximately 4-5 feet tall and had inscriptions that warned Gentiles not to go beyond the walls. A gentile that went beyond that wall did so at risk of his own death. Therefore, when Paul calls the Gentiles outsiders he literally means outsiders. Women were second class citizens, children were not considered citizens until a certain age and Gentiles were not recognized as citizens at all. They were separated from God and had no hope of coming near God. Paul says, however, that where the Gentiles were once “far away from God,” they are now brought close to him through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Being brought near was a term that the Jews would have found especially meaningful. In the Jewish culture, to be brought near was to be brought to God. When one was converted to Judaism they were said to be brought near.
“14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.” Ephesians 2:14-17
In verse 14 Paul declares that Jesus broke down that marble-like wall in order for the Gentiles to enter into the kingdom of God. They could now be considered citizens along with the Jews and live in harmony and peace because of what Jesus did. It should be remembered that Paul, a devout Jewish man before his conversion, spent much of his ministry preaching the gospel to Gentiles. It is these same Gentiles that he used to persecute along with the early Christians for the ignoring the Jewish law. Because of Jesus’ life and resurrection, that law has been overshadowed by the new life in Christ. It is through Jesus alone that we are saved and through God’s mercy and grace that we have life. Paul makes it his life’s goal to preach that message to those who for so long were ignored by the religious. Where there was once a wall separating the Jew and Gentile, Jesus demolished that wall and instituted a new kind of life.
“19 So now you Gentiles are no longer strangers and foreigners. You are citizens along with all of God’s holy people. You are members of God’s family. 20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. 21 We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord. 22 Through him you Gentiles are also being made part of this dwelling where God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
Jesus proclaimed that the temple would be destroyed. The temple was a gorgeous structure built of carefully sculpted stones that would fit perfectly together. No mortar was used in the building and while it was not an especially large building, it was quite remarkable. Mark 13: 1-2 says, “1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, ‘Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.’ 2 Jesus replied, ‘Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!’” Through his death and resurrection, Jesus destroyed the meaning of the temple. There was no longer a certain place in which the people of God needed to enter to be in community with him. Jesus came to tell us that from now on God will meet us where we are. Jesus is the cornerstone of our life. “For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18: 20
Tuesday, December 5, 2006
Welcome
Welcome to my first blog!
What is this blog about?
It's kind of like Seinfeld, its not about anything but yet it is. I enjoy writing and here I can write about anything. You will see commentary on theology, sports, world events, local events, or anything else I feel like commenting on.
Why the name?
Simple Ones is a song I wrote a few years ago and the first one ever put to music and performed.
Anything else about me you will find out in time. Enjoy!
What is this blog about?
It's kind of like Seinfeld, its not about anything but yet it is. I enjoy writing and here I can write about anything. You will see commentary on theology, sports, world events, local events, or anything else I feel like commenting on.
Why the name?
Simple Ones is a song I wrote a few years ago and the first one ever put to music and performed.
Anything else about me you will find out in time. Enjoy!
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