Ephesians 2:14-18 All of God’s creation shout peace to those near and far in Christ Jesus

 Paul’s gospel of grace, given to him by divine revelation, was for the masses. All of God’s creation, not only Israel, can enter into His Kingdom through Jesus Christ.

Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 

Acts 9:15-16 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Jesus at His first coming was to fulfill the covenant promises to the Israelites. At their rejection, the fullness of salvation, came to all of humanity through the Gospel of Grace in Jesus Christ. 

Ephesians 2:11-13 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—12 that at that time you 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. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Ephesians 2:14-18 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

There is peace in Christ alone! In the finished work of the Cross we abide in Him and He in the Father. Grace by our faith alone, His gift, pleases God. Carla

Paul echoes Isaiah’s description of God’s Messiah as the “Prince of Peace” (see Isa 9:6). Isaiah prophesied that the Messiah would end hostility and establish an era of well-being. Christ produces this peace; He is the essence of it. He brings harmony and wholeness to people’s relationship with God and one another, a theme that fits with Paul’s purpose of unifying Jews and Gentiles. The external distinctions between Jews and Gentiles are no longer grounds for hostility and division  (Ephesians 3:6). This is the core message of the letter.

The enmity refers to hostility between Jews and Gentiles. In His flesh here, Paul refers to Jesus’ physical body that was crucified. Christ’s body is the real source of hope and is meant as a contrast to “flesh” in verse 11. There, “flesh” serves as a symbol of Jewish inclusion in the covenant community (circumcision) and a means of identification as the Old Testament people of God. 

Christ’s death on the cross fulfills the law of Moses (primarily seen in the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and removes the necessity of the regulations that once divided Jews from Gentiles (Romans 10:4; Galatians 3:23–25). 

Atonement refers to Jews and Gentiles (non-Jewish people) being united in Christ. This phrase is rooted in Paul’s “new creation” theology. Just as God created humanity in His image in Genesis 1–2, He has now re-created humanity in Christ. Elsewhere in his letters Paul calls believers “new creations” (2 Corinthians 5:17) and describes both circumcision and uncircumcision as worthless in light of being a “new creation” (Gal 6:15). 

One New Humanity describes the restoration of a broken relationship. Christ’s death makes it possible for the hostility that often existed between Jews and Gentiles to be destroyed and for them to be restored together to God. 

In one body refers to the Church, comprised of Jews and Gentiles. Paul’s use of the terminology near and far echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah 52:7 speaks of preaching good news of peace, and in Isaiah 57:19 

Yahweh speaks peace to those near and far. Paul likely regarded Christ’s preaching to those near (Jews) and far (Gentiles) as a fulfillment of Isaiah’s hope of salvation—not just for Jews, but for all humanity (Isaiah 49:6; 56:6–8). Faithlife Study Bible

Paul painted vividly the bleak condition of pagans. They had no hope, for God had not reached out to them to establish a covenant relationship. However, the shed blood of Christ could bring the Gentiles back to their Creator.

The middle wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles was vividly portrayed by an actual partition in the temple area, with a sign warning that any Gentile going beyond the Court of the Gentiles would receive swift and sudden death.

Paul was not saying that God had rejected the righteous standards of the law. Rather, in Christ the righteous standards that people could never reach have been accomplished. He is our righteousness; in Him, believers fulfill the law (Matthews 5:17, 20; Romans 3:21, 22, 31). The Christian church, composed of both Jews and Gentiles, is described as one new man. In the earliest days of Christianity, the church was largely made up of Jews. But under the direction of God’s Spirit, the believers witnessed to Gentiles (Acts 10), who then outnumbered the Jewish members. The NKJV Study Bible

Colossians 1:20–22 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled…

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 

Isaiah 57:19

“I create the fruit of the lips:

Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,

“Says the LORD,“

And I will heal him.”

…say Yes, to whatever connects us, as humans,

as children of God,

as people who need compassion and mercy for sustenance,

as people who cannot walk this journey alone.

And to say No, to whatever divides or demeans or belittles

or degrades or incites hate and exclusion.

And I must speak that Yes, and speak that No,

not only with my voice, but with my hands and my feet.

Lord, hear my prayer.

As Martin Luther King Jr. reminds us, “Never, never be afraid to do what's right, especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our soul when we look the other way.” Sabbath Moments

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 In Christ alone!

Grace amazing grace! The amazing gift of a loving God for His creation. It cannot be bought neither can it be received by our works, no matter how good,  it is only in Christ, through faith, that we can be in right standing with Him.

In Jesus alone is salvation and it is the gift of God so that no one can boast. It is finished! 

Romans 8:-11 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.” 10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!” 11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”

Matthew 5:17-20  “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 18:31-33 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

Deuteronomy 29:29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

Matthew 9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, 

Galatians 1:11-12 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

Jesus came to Israel as a minister to the truth of God to fulfill the promises made to the fathers. God knew they would not accept Him.  In His plan, from the Garden of Eden, was to gift mankind salvation. The sinless blood of Jesus was sacrificed for all who accept Him. His timing is not like ours but the signs of His return are becoming clearer each day. Faith in the finished work of the Cross of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, accomplished what mankind could not. Grace, amazing grace!! Carla

Paul’s gospel to the Corinthians centered on the physical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became human yet never sinned (Galatians 1:6–10). Paul had started the Corinthian church; the gospel that the Corinthians had originally received came from him (2:2). Paul did not originate the proclamation of Jesus that he delivered to the Corinthians; he simply gave the Corinthians what he himself had received. 

He viewed himself as a link in a long chain of witnesses to the truth of the death and resurrection of Christ. Christ died for our sins: Christ’s death dealt decisively with our sins. He suffered in our place to endure the just wrath of God against us. according to the Scriptures: Christ lived and died in accordance with the prophecies about Him in the Old Testament (Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:8–10). 15:4 

The Resurrection verifies the fact that Christ’s death paid the full price for sin. The Greek term translated rose here is in the perfect tense, emphasizing the ongoing effects of this historical event. Christ is a risen Savior today. The NKJV Study Bible

Paul gives a brief sketch of the gospel he preached. Believers experience salvation in part now (in the sense of beginning their relationship with Christ without the burden of sin standing between them and God), but this salvation will be complete when Christ returns and they are unified with God for eternity (Philippians 1:6). What I also received refers  to the content of verses 3–5. Paul emphasizes the continuity of his message with the early church’s teaching. According to the scriptures refers  to the Old Testament, especially Isaiah 52:13–53:12 and Psalm 22 (Luke 18:31; 24:25–27). Faithlife Study Bible

Isaiah 53:1–12 

Who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him…

Acts 26:22–23 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come—that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”

Acts 2:24–32 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him:

‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face,

For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken…

Psalm 16:8–11 

I have set the LORD always before me;

Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices;

My flesh also will rest in hope…

Romans 2:16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel

My heart really hurts today. Just the thought of parents searching for missing children amid mangled trees, overturned cars, and muck-filled debris.

A devastated central Texas landscape from the terror and torrent of a flood. And the loss of lives—including too many young children—is real. Everything, and everyone in its way, is changed.

God of compassion, surround the Hill Country with your mercy. Give us strength to mourn and help and heal.

I wish life wasn’t so hard. But storms can remind us that we are on this journey together. And we need stories. Stories to remind us that we are here. Now. And there are choices to be made. The invitation to say, “Yes”, to compassion, hands to hold, people to care for, hearts to hug, spirits to mend and wounds to heal. Sabbath Moments

“My continuing passion is to part a curtain, that invisible shadow that falls between people--the veil of indifference to each other's presence, each other's wonder, each other's human plight."  Eudora Welty

Romans 15:8-12 Jesus is the hope of the world!

Our hope is in Jesus Christ!

Romans 15:8-12 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: “For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name.”  10 And again he says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!”  11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!”  12 And again, Isaiah says: “There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

God sent the Son to  His chosen people as their King. To Israel He will return. He came unto His own and His own knew Him not. In the end of time they shall  know  Jesus Christ as their Messiah.  they will mourn their treatment of Him at His first coming.

Malachi 3:1-3 

“Behold, I send My messenger, 

And he will  prepare the way before Me. 

And the Lord, whom you seek, 

Will suddenly come to His temple,  

Even the Messenger of the covenant, 

In whom you delight. 

Behold,  He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts. 

2 “But who can endure  the day of His coming? 

And  who can stand when He appears? 

For  He is like a refiner’s fire 

And like launderers’ soap. 

3  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; 

He will purify the sons of Levi, 

And  purge them as gold and silver, 

That they may  offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.

400 years before the birth of John the Baptist, Malachi prophesied of  Jesus’ coming to save His people.  In their rejection of Him they will be refined in the furnace of affliction. 

Mathew 3:1-3 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea,  2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”  3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness:  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’ ”

Isaiah 9:6-7 

For unto us a Child is born, 

Unto us a  Son is given; 

And  the government will be upon His shoulder. 

And His name will be called  Wonderful, Counselor,  Mighty God, Everlasting Father,  Prince of Peace. 

7 Of the increase of His government and peace  

There will be no end, 

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, 

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice 

From that time forward, even forever. 

The  zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Leviticus 8:4-6 So Moses did as the Lord commanded him. And the congregation was gathered together at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 5 And Moses said to the congregation, “This is what the Lord commanded to be done.” 6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and  washed them with water.

Exodus 19:6 And you shall be to Me a  kingdom of priests and a  holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

Matthew 19:27-28 Then Peter answered and said to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?” 28 So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory,  you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Those Apostles who have allegiance to the King of kings will rule with Him.

700 years before His birth Isaiah prophesied of the coming of Jesus, Israel’s King, and His rule over the world that He created. In their repentance and  water Baptism Israel is cleansed of their past rejection of their holy God. Today we Gentiles are Baptized in Holy Spirit who gives us knowledge of our Savior and the power to keep His ways. The Israelites will be priests of a holy nation. It will be a world without sin.  Jesus Christ is King. Then there will be peace on earth as there is in heaven. Carla

Greek text here for the circumcision  is a way of referring to Jews. Praise You among the Gentiles is  a quotation from Psalm 18:49. David speaks this psalm as one who represents Christ. Gentiles refers to non-Jewish people. Rejoice, Gentiles is a quotation from Deuteronomy 32:43.  In the original context of this quotation from Isaiah 11:10, the root of Jesse refers to an individual ruler from the Davidic line. Paul’s quotation comes from the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament), which emphasizes that the root of Jesse will rule the nations and provide them with hope. For Paul, Jesus is the root of Jesse—the Messiah from David’s line—who rules over both Jewish and non-Jewish people (Jews and Gentiles). Faithlife Study Bible

Jesus Christ became a servant to the Jews for two purposes: (1) to confirm God’s promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and (2) to demonstrate God’s mercy to the Gentiles so that they might glorify Him. Paul cites four passages from the Old Testament to prove that God intended the Gentiles as well as the Jews to glorify Him. 

Paul quotes from all three divisions of the Old Testament (the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms or Writings), and from three great Jewish leaders (Moses, David, and Isaiah), to demonstrate that God’s purpose was always to bless the Gentiles through Israel. Although the nation of Israel has been set aside for the present (11:1–31), both Jews and Gentiles are being brought together in Christ (3:1–12; Ephesians 2:14–22). The root of Jesse is a title for the Messiah. Jesse was the father of David, and the Son of David was the promised Messiah. The NKJV Study Bible

Deuteronomy 32:43 

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people;

For He will avenge the blood of His servants,

And render vengeance to His adversaries;

He will provide atonement for His land and His people.”

Psalm 18:49 

Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,

And sing praises to Your name.

Isaiah 11:10 

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious.”

2 Samuel 22:50 

Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,

And sing praises to Your name.

Psalm 117:1 

Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! 

Laud Him, all you peoples!

God "raised the stormy wind" in Psalm 107:25 and "made the storm be still" in Psalm 107:29, just as He "hurled a great wind upon the sea" in Jonah 1:4 and "ceased" it in Jonah 1:15. In both cases, storms reminded people of their dependence upon God. And because God is faithful, He cannot fail to intervene when His people cry out to Him (Psalm 107:28; Jonah 2:1). God's hand of deliverance is moved by His heart of love.

While He may bring or allow "storms" in our lives, He always has a plan to deliver us. He has power even over the sea, which represented chaos in the ancient world. Yet no chaos is beyond God's ability to calm and control.

They had no hope but to turn to God. Thankfully, as Psalm 107:43 reminds us, the storms that strip us of our self-sufficiency can also deliver us into the arms of our Father and His "steadfast love." Finally, the psalmist implored everyone to offer the same response to God's rescue: "Thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!" (Psalm 107:8; Psalm 107:15; Psalm 107:21; Psalm 107:31).First5