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There is no separation of Jews and Gentiles in Christ.Jesus Christ has abolished separation once and for all, and gave Gentiles the privilege of being equal to be with Jews. The Jews and Gentiles, who believed Jesus as their Savior, are part of the Church, which does not recognize either Jews or Gentiles as separate entities. Jesus fulfilled the law and he has abolished in the "flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances". The reconciliation with God and man; and with Jews and Gentiles is achieved through the shed blood of Jesus. The cleansing of sins has resulted in crucifixion of our old man in us and putting on new man. "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin" (Romans 6:6) "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness". (Ephesians 4:24) One of the reasons why Jews had a barrier between them and the Gentiles was because they believed that the Gentiles did not keep the law. Jews treated the Gentiles with contempt that they were not the children of Jacob (Israel). Jesus is the way, the truth and the life and we have access to the Father through His one and only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who is our mediator, and by the Spirit. Therefore, we are no longer ‘strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God’. Jesus says "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". He said that children should not be forbidden to come unto him. By making Jews and Gentiles as one body and by breaking the "middle wall of partition" he made peace between God and man, Jews and Gentiles. That is the reconciliation. Jesus made peace through his blood that was shed on the cross so as to reconcile all things unto himself, irrespective of their belonging to earth or to heaven. Therefore, everything belongs to God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ. In order that our trespasses may not be imputed to us, God has given us the ministry of reconciliation and he has committed unto us the word of reconciliation. God was in Christ when He was reconciling us unto Himself. [References: Matthew 11:28, Matthew 19:14, 2 Corinthians 5:18 and 19, Colossians 1:20, Ephesians 2:14-19] This devotional is written by Leslie John (www.lesliejohn.net) ©Leslie John All rights reserved |