Lesson 522

(Lesson 522)(01-20-13) Ephesians 2:11-22, "Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit."

In this Lesson Paul draws a clear picture describing how, before the coming of Christ, the Gentiles were outcasts, separated from the Jews and from God, with no hope of redemption. He further demonstrates that through Christ, after His coming, the Gentiles were, by faith, made equal heirs of the covenant between God and Abraham, with the Jews. By this means salvation is available to all mankind.

Many of the Jews of Paul's day furiously fought the keep themselves spiritually separated from the Gentiles. This battle still, in differing forms, rages within our "churches" today. There are still those who attempt to separate the spiritual "haves", from the "have nots".
Many of the problems that plague the Church today stem from Jewish tradition overlapped by, and mingled with, the pomp and ritual of the pagan system of Catholicism.

The use of altars, the wearing of fine priestly robes, the subgrouping of members into choirs, alter boys etc., water immersion, and in some extreme instances even circumcision, are practices that were ordered, in part, under the Law of Moses and, in part, undertaken by Catholicism, yet have been carried over to our modern "religious" custom.

It behooves all of us, who strive to glean the true gospel of Christ from the words of the bible, to first and above all, keep the lessons strictly in context, and then use common sense in relating the pure original intent of the gospel to our modern daily lives.

There are NO contrasts within the word of God. There are, however, many, many misinterpretations and misunderstandings applied to it's text by those who, at the guiding hand of Satan, distort and abuse its content.

I beg all of you to pray for me that the Holy Spirit guides my thoughts as I do this commentary.~