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Ephesians 2:11-22

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)— 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. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 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, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

By: The Rt. Rev. Julian M. Dobbs

Writing to the Ephesians Paul brings us some liberating gospel truths. No matter who we are or what we have done, or as Paul says in verse 13, ‘you who were once far off’ – because of Jesus and his sacrifice on the cross you have been ‘brought near by the blood of Christ.’
Wow! How is it possible that a person who has lived a life so separate from God can find themselves ‘brought near’ to Him? How could someone who has taken the life of another person find that they are acceptable to God and be welcomed into a personal relationship with Him?

This is the good news of Jesus. By suffering and dying on the cross for our sins, Jesus healed the breach and bridged the chasm between God and humanity. This is what God has done for us. This is His gift to the human race.

Prior to his conversion the Apostle Paul terrorized the church and even oversaw the murder of a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and yet he now says, Christ is our peace (verse 14) and that we are reconciled to God through the cross of Jesus (verse 16).

Thank you Father God for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Through him we are forgiven of our sins
and reconciled to you.
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.