May 8, 2025
Ephesians 2:11-18 (HCSB)
Unity in Christ
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. 17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Andy Nash
Growing up we watched a lot of Sesame Street in our house. Although I liked all the characters, my favorite was Grover. This scripture today reminds me of a skit that Grover would do on the meaning of the words “near” and “far”. Many of you probably remember it well as he would be close to the camera, look into it, and say “near”. Then he would runaway from the camera, as Muppets run, turn around and yell “far”! He would repeat this routine a few times so we could learn the meanings of the words near and far. Before the coming of the Christ, the Jews viewed themselves as near to God and considered the Gentiles far away from God. Jesus came and died so that ALL people can be near to God and not just a select few. The only people far from God are the unsaved, the lost. If you are saved you should always be near to God. Are you? If not, what has come between you and the Creator of the universe? Is it sin, idolatry, priorities, self? What will you do today to draw near to God?
Unity in Christ
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands. 12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah. 14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh, 15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace. 16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it. 17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
Andy Nash
Growing up we watched a lot of Sesame Street in our house. Although I liked all the characters, my favorite was Grover. This scripture today reminds me of a skit that Grover would do on the meaning of the words “near” and “far”. Many of you probably remember it well as he would be close to the camera, look into it, and say “near”. Then he would runaway from the camera, as Muppets run, turn around and yell “far”! He would repeat this routine a few times so we could learn the meanings of the words near and far. Before the coming of the Christ, the Jews viewed themselves as near to God and considered the Gentiles far away from God. Jesus came and died so that ALL people can be near to God and not just a select few. The only people far from God are the unsaved, the lost. If you are saved you should always be near to God. Are you? If not, what has come between you and the Creator of the universe? Is it sin, idolatry, priorities, self? What will you do today to draw near to God?
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