Brought Near (Curtain torn)

“the Uncircumcision”

Paul is speaking to the Gentiles here. He wants them to remember something-that at one time, before the crucifixion, that they were separated from the Lord.

In the time before Christ, the Holy of Holies was sanctioned off. Inside the temple walls were a series of courts. The inner most was the Holy of Holies and into this chamber only the High Priest could inter and then only once a year. (did you know that they used to tie a rope around the High Priest) Of course this is a baseless myth, but it does get my attention. If he died in the presence of a Holy God they needed a way to pull him out. Then came the court of priests, just outside the Holy Place. Next was the court of Israelites, then the court of women; then finally, far back and away from the Holy of Holies, set apart from the men of Israel and separated from the women, was the court of Gentiles.

Are you beginning to get the idea? (NRSV)

One in Christ

11 So then, remember that at one time you Gentiles by birth, called “the uncircumcision” by those who are called “the circumcision”—a physical circumcision made in the flesh by human hands— “Remember that at this time you were separated from Christ “

Have you ever really thought about the act of Jesus dying on the cross and what He did for the world? He died for all but when He died the world of salvation was opened up for the Gentile. The veil was torn into and no longer was there a separation between the different courts. (NRSV)

18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, 20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.

So ask yourself why this passage is important to us today. In our society, even today, we treat others as if they are not part of the family of God. Perhaps we have become callus to the redemptive power of God’s Grace and forgiveness. Just recently I had a fellow come to my office and he told me the history of a friend’s life story. Now ask yourself why he felt I needed to know this story? Because he was convinced that if I knew the whole story I might understand that this gentleman could not have been saved. You see we struggle with, and most likely always will struggle with who people are in relation to our God. Notice I say “our God”.

The story Paul is sharing with the Ephesians is all about our relationship with God and how it is all inclusive. But we like to think we know better than anyone else who is included. During the time of this passage there was a divide between God’s chosen and many other people. They were thought of as the “circumcision” and the “uncircumcision”. I would say it was todays version of the haves and the have nots. The have nots were set up so far away from the chosen that they could not have felt important or included. Do you think this happens today? Why?

Did Jesus die for all?

As we look forward to the AIM project, how does this passage apply to the workshop and our vision forward? (NRSV)

20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; We need a firm foundation to build upon. The divisions in our church and society are like sand on the beach, it is pretty to look at and to walk on, but it is too shifty to build upon. We must align ourselves with the scripture and lean upon it with understanding rather than dividing ourselves as haves and have nots. Jesus wiped away the divisions when he died upon the cross. Why must we continue to live out our Christian lives as though it never happened? Let us come together to build upon a true foundation with Jesus as our cornerstone. Can you not see that we are called together with our brothers and sisters. We have more in common than you might believe.