Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2: 16
"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Our word reconcile comes from the Greek word APOKATALLASSO and has the meaning, "to reconcile completely; to change from one condition to another, so as to remove all enmity and leave no impediment to unity and peace" (W.E.Vine). In your study of the Scriptures it is important to remember that the WORLD has been conciliated to God (11 Corinthians 5:19) but the believer is reconciled to God. In both instances it is God who has taken the initiative and in 11 Corinthians the appeal is to the unsaved to be conciliated to God while in Ephesians the action is completed. Believing Jews and Gentiles are not reconciled to each other but both to God with the end result being ONE BODY.
We see in our context starting with verse 11 that the Gentiles were "afar off, while the Jews were nigh." The Body of Christ is God's special purpose for the present administration and is called a "new man," and is not to be confused with His kingdom people and program. These are not Jews of the kingdom program becoming members of the Body of Christ but those who have been saved into the Body of Christ. We see that it is all made possible by the cross. To the Jew the cross was a stumbling block and to the Greek foolishness, but to us who believe, the power and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:23,24). With Paul we declare, "Unto him glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
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How God Saves
Men
Believing
Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing
Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read
Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4
Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
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