In our series ‘Battles & Blessings’, we looked at Eph 2:11-22, where Paul looks at the blessings derived from God’s plan to unite Jew and Gentile. In these verses, he reminds us of our position as Gentiles (‘separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.’ Eph 2:12) This sense of alienation and exclusion is experienced by many in our world today, but God is able to change that situation around, giving us free access to His presence and welcome into His family.
God has made a way for us to draw near to Him; as Paul reminds us, ‘the Lord is near.’ (Phil 4:5) We have been brought near to God through the blood of Christ (Eph 2:13) and now have the right of access to God because of our relationship with Him. We are family; we are called children of God. (Jn 1:12) As such, we belong to God and to each other. This sense of belonging is much needed in a world of alienation and isolation; we are never alone.
We have peace with God through justification by faith (Rom 5:1), but we are also reconciled not only to God but to each other (the dividing wall of hostility has been destroyed by Jesus, the Prince of Peace.) God is now busy building a dwelling-place (Eph 2:21, Rev 21:3). It’s amazing to think that He dwells within us (see Rom 8:9-11).and wants to make His home with us. (Jn 14:23)
