One in Jesus

Prejudice has been around for a long time. Racism, sexism, socio-economic-ism. Humanity always finds a way to create division and hierarchy.

I remember years ago, when I was a young man, I always thought very black and white. I felt like refusing to compromise was a sign of strength. While I still hold that in some cases that it true, some are not so easy.

For example, I use to believe that if you are in this country illegally, then you are a criminal. You are lazy and just trying to mooch off the system. I would often make blanket statements while talking to friends or family. Then I started to meet people who are in the US illegally or their parents are here illegally. I began listening to the stories of these very real human beings whom I love and care for deeply. This began to soften my heart and change my tune. You see, I had never taken the time to realize that these people that I had passed judgement on had very real stories and lives. It was easier to pass judgement at a distance.

The first century church really wasn’t that much different that I was. Jewish believers had lived a lifetime of looking down on and being separate from other nations. This had created a sort of religious racism.

The New Testament refers primarily to 2 groups of people. Jew and Gentile. Jews are God’s chosen people from the nation of Israel. Gentiles are everyone else. Both group had very real animosity towards each other. So the Holy Spirit of God, through Paul, addresses it in Ephesus very clearly in vs 11 and then goes on to explain how ridiculous it is in light of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

Ephesians 2:11–18 NLT

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Jesus ended the separation, not by taking away the uniqueness of each group. He did this my creating a new humanity that can show the world the beauty and diversity of the kingdom of God.

Most people look at this “wall of hostility” and assume it is simply a metaphor. Well, yes and no.

Jewish people took holiness very seriously, which is what should be done. They had forgotten why though. There were called to be more than just an example of how God wants people to live in this world.

Exodus 19:5–6 NLT

Now if you will obey me and keep my covenant, you will be my own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to me. And you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.”

If this sounds familiar, it should….

1 Peter 2:9 NLT

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

What is the job of a priest? To prayer for and make sacrifice on behalf of the people. You see they were called to help others experience the goodness of God. Instead, during the Roman occupation of Israel, they built a literal wall in the temple to keep the jews and the gentiles separated. Segregation in the temple of God.

This was never a command from God, so Jesus destroyed it when He died once for all. This should bring us such encouragement, not only and gentiles ourselves, but as sinners in need of saving.

Ephesians 2:18 NLT

Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

Here, the triune nature of God as well as the exclusivity of Jesus is on full display.

John 14:1–7 NLT

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

John 14:26–27 NLT

But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God living in us. He doesn’t change depending on who the person is.

Ephesians 4:5–6 NLT

There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

We all come to the same Father God the same way. Through Jesus.

Access to the Father comes through Jesus by the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers lives.

We cannot come to God the Father any other way. Jesus is the only way.

The Holy Spirit allows us to pray God’s perfect will and purpose.

The Holy Spirit is who continually convicts and encourages us to follow God’s will.

Unity in the body does not mean uniformity.

We all bring unique gifts, talents, and abilities to the body of Christ. Being unified does not mean losing who God created you to be.