Jesus Includes All, Ephesians 2:11-22

There are no foreigners in God's kingdom. No one is excluded based on their background or nation. The good news is that all people have an opportunity to be a part of Jesus' family. Keep Reading…

Listen to Ephesians 2 below and let God's Word soak into you.

Read
Ephesians 2:11-22 NIV - Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (that done in the body by the hands of men)– remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Questions

1. How are you brought near to God the Father? See answer in RED above.
2. Find all the different word pictures to describe how we are one family in Jesus. Find word pictures in BLUE above.

Meditate
Is there any person that you think does not deserve God's gift of forgiveness and mercy? Is there anyone that should be excluded from his family?

It's important for us to remember that we have been included into God's family… not because of our talent, goodness or background. This same inclusive spirit should flow from us. Knowing that we have received such incredible mercy should motivate us to reach those who do not look like, smell like, sound like or act like us. This is what Jesus did.

Apply
Ask Jesus to open your eyes to people who are very different from you. Ask him for a word or an act of kindness that you can approach that person with. Be inclusive like Jesus.