The Justice of God: Ethnic Reconciliation!

Introduction

Responsibilities of Authority from Proverbs 31 with King Lemuel

Race, Gospel, and Ultimate Authority from Acts 17 with Paul at the areopagus in Athens

Man-made Differences

Example 1. https://answersingenesis.org/racism/its-not-just-black-and-white/

The Singerl twins are a vivid reminder that we are all members of one race.

Documented examples of fraternal twins being “black” and “white” include:

The Hodgson-Horder twin girls (Born April 2005 in England)1

The Biggs twin girls (Born July 2006 in Australia)2

The Richardson twin boys (Born July 2006 in England)3

The Grant twin girls (Born 1983 in England)4

The Singerl twin girls (Born May 2006 in Australia)5

Example 2. Video

Racial injustice is a cultural societal construction that devalues other people, people of dark or brown skin, in the heart and actions of people today. When all is said and done, we call it what it what it really is–sin!

Biologically speaking it is demonstrable that the concept of race has no basis in reality and so comes form man’s own imagination.

Example 3. Do Races Differ? Not Really, DNA Shows at: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/national/science/082200sci-genetics-race.html

Dr. Venter and scientists at the National Institutes of Health recently announced that they had put together a draft of the entire sequence of the human genome, and the researchers had unanimously declared, there is only one race -- the human race.

Dr. Venter and other researchers say that those traits most commonly used to distinguish one race from another, like skin and eye color, or the width of the nose, are traits controlled by a relatively few number of genes, and thus have been able to change rapidly in response to extreme environmental pressures during the short course of Homo sapiens history.

And so equatorial populations evolved dark skin, presumably to protect against ultraviolet radiation, while people in northern latitudes evolved pale skin, the better to produce vitamin D from pale sunlight.

I submit that there is a greater problem that humans have that is infinitely greater than our problem with so-called race relations in the minds of people.

Social Constructs are not real, but the distinctions listed in Ephesians are real!

I. The plight of Gentile vs. Jew

Ephesians 2:11–12 ESV

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

A. Gentiles were called uncircumcision by the circumcision

B. Separated from Christ

C. Alienated from the commonwealth of Israel

D. Strangers to the covenants of promise

Romans 3:1–2 ESV

1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

E. Having no hope

F. Without God in the world

II. Christ Jesus: The Reconciler!(vs. 13-20)

A. Nearness to God (v. 13)

B. Peace (vs. 14-17)

1. made us both one (v. 14)

2. removal of hostility

3. abolishing the law (v. 15)

4. create in Himself one new man (v. 16)

5. reconciled us both to God in one body

a. through death on the cross

b. killed the hostility

6. He preached peace (v. 17)

a. far

b. near

C. Access in one Spirit to the Father (v. 18)

D. Fellow Citizens with the saints (v. 19a)

E. Members of the household of God (v. 19b)

F. Built on the foundation (v. 20)

1. the Apostles and prophets

2. Christ the cornerstone

III. God’s Results of His Reconciling Work in Christ (vs. 21-22)

A. Being joined and built up together

B. A temple and dwelling place for God by the Spirit

IV. Reconciliation is here

A. Since God has reconciled us to Himself, can He not reconcile us to one another?

B. Reconciliation has already been accomplished by Christ.

C. God’s reconciliation is in the power of the gospel

2 Corinthians 5:18–21 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.