Ephesians 2:16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity
The dispensation of the grace of God was revealed to the Apostle Paul. Christ in us is the hope of glory!
Colossians 1:24-27 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. 27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
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.”
Christ came to His chosen to fulfill the promises made to the forefathers. the Apostle Paul was sent to the rest of the non-Jewish world. Jesus revealed to him the mystery of salvation in the grace of God in Him. Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, was sent that through Him the world could be saved.
2 Corinthians 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.
Paul was constantly defending his apostleship. Jesus warned how much he would suffer as he preached the Gospel of His Grace to the world .
2 Corinthians 12:1-6 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.
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.
We, as Gentiles, did not know of the God of the Israelites, but now in Christ Jesus we are invited to know Him. Jew or Gentile, bond or free, male or female we are all one in Him. The mystery was revealed to the Apostle Paul that all who believe in Him would not perish but have everlasting life. The wisdom of Holy Spirit will reveal the things of Jesus Christ to us. He is our teacher. All the earth is God’s and everything created is under His control. In Jesus Christ all prophesy is fulfilled. Jesus came to His own and he was scourged and crucified. BUT by the power of Holy Spirit He was raised from the dead. Jesus conquered death and in Him is life. Now this life is offered to us by the Father…we just need by faith to believe. (John 3:16)! Jesus is in the Father and we are in Him. We are all one in God!
Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Holy Spirit calls us and reveals His Son to us. There is one baptism for the forgiveness of sin. There is one God who is above all and in all. Through the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus we are included in the Body of Christ. Carla
This verse emphasizes the unity of the church as one body and the unity of believers in the one Spirit of God. It also highlights that believers are called to a shared hope and future with Christ.
ESV
There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call
NIV
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;
NASB
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you also were called in one hope of your calling;
CSB
There is one body and one Spirit —just as you were called to one hope at your calling—
NLT
For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future.
KJV
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
NKJV
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling
In the New Testament a new believer’s expression of faith is closely connected to their baptism—an outward expression of that faith. Over all, and through all, and in all stresses the supremacy of God. He joins all people together under His sovereign rule. Faithlife Study Bible
Christians are one in the Spirit. It is our duty to keep or observe that unity, recognize it as real, and act upon it without a sectarian spirit (John 17:20–26).
Endeavoring means to make every effort, to work hard at maintaining the unity of the Spirit. One baptism may refer to the baptism in the Spirit that places all believers into the body of Christ, the church (1 Corinthians 12:13). It may also refer to water baptism, the sign or seal that a person is a member of the body of Christ. At the time of the early church, public baptism clearly identified a person as a Christian. The NKJV Study Bible
1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
Ephesians 2:18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Romans 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
“You’re a minister? Well, what do you believe?” Some church people like to ask me. They can’t help themselves. Okay, here you go.
God has a heart for those who are left out, forgotten, and excluded.
God's grace is bigger than anything which distances and separates and wounds us.
You are God's beloved child, and God's love for you is unconditional.
This week my beliefs mattered, because when I see acts of exclusion, or acts that disparage inclusion, I feel it, viscerally.
You see, I was raised in a church scared silly about grace. The God I was taught to worship and obey and fear, was no different than an alcoholic father. You walked on pins and needles to avoid fury. And expected punishment (which was, sadly, always called a form of love).
In your heart, you prayed for a smile.
And when your alcoholic parent smiles, you still cower, because in your heart you know it will not last. And you know when the smile thaws, it will be your fault. You see, shame leaves a stain on your spirit.
And with that kind of God, it is no surprise that we need people on the outside, so we can point and label and condemn, and make ourselves feel better.
I appreciated Michael Gerson’s candor (in a sermon delivered at Washington National Cathedral on Feb. 17, 2019, entitled, “I was hospitalized for depression. Faith helped me remember how to live”).
“I know that—when I’m in my right mind—I choose hope.
That phrase—in my right mind—is harsh. No one would use it in a clinical setting. But it fits my experience exactly.
In my right mind, I know I have friends who will not forsake me.
In my right mind, I know that chemistry need not be destiny.
In my right mind, I know that weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
Yes. And amen. And in my right mind, I know that sanctuary is a place of grace that sustains emotional and spiritual nourishment.
In my right mind, I make choices to nurture my better angels… tolerance, inclusion, generosity, restoration, open-mindedness and redemption.
In my right mind, I know that we are sisters and brothers, and “every kindness large or slight, shifts the balance toward the light” (thank you Carrie Newcomer).
Beliefs are well and good, but they only matter face to face.
Gratefully, there is no special skill required, only your heart.
Yes. I am a witness.
You are a witness.
“It’s funny isn’t it?
That you can preach a
judgmental and vengeful and angry God
and nobody will mind.
But you start preaching a God that is too accepting,
too loving, too forgiving, too merciful, too kind…
And you are in trouble.”
Bishop Gene Robinson
Sabbath Moments
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