Our Book

 

Our Book

Ephesians – all of it.

     If you are a Gentile like me.  If you have never participated in a Passover meal.  If you don’t know what a shofar is good for.  This is the book for you.

     Emancipation proclamation!  We slaves sat at the mercy of our sinful man.  It was not until Christ died and provided the way to freedom did we know any differently. In fact, our bulb burned so dimly that it didn’t burn at all.  We were dead in our sins before God who enlightened us to become…and this is the good part…children of God!

     You gotta be crazy!  The all powerful, Omniscient One, holy without beginning or end, wanted us close?  A mass of peoples ignorant of His ways He has called to sup with Him.  “Come My children.  My arms are open to embrace you.  The time has come for you to draw near by the Way I have chosen.”

     And what of this Way?  In times past, men died in their sins.  No atonement was available for them to rid the enmity, the unwritten moral code, that fought against God.  Under this burden of unrecognized sin, guilt abounded yet no solution was given.  Certainly false religions grew up to placate their defiled consciences, but none wiped their offenses clean.  In other words, we got the good stuff with Jesus.  He now purifies us before a holy God while He stands in our defense before the time given to complete our redemption.

     In the book of Ephesians, we understand this mechanism by which we are saved.  It is by grace we are saved through faith and it is not of our own that no man may boast.  We Gentiles, having nothing, gain everything through the simplicity of trust.  Forgetting all past associations of false faith, we pledge our efforts towards the Man so described in scriptures.  We come out of ignorance to take part with the educated in faith.  God teaches and we reap the benefits.

     We now have the wonderful opportunity to know God.  Not only has He taken charge of our sin before Him, He has beckoned us to learn through His Son by the revelation of His being in scripture.  Intimacy at hand.  As Father to son or daughter, we can enjoy Him now.

     Gentiles before Christ missed out.  Yes, they will meet their end of days. The just Judge will determine their placement.  But intimacy with the true God, they never knew on this earth.

     In Ephesians, we come to terms with this great offer.  God with His hands outstretched shows His kindness detailing His plan, start to finish.  All we have to do is agree.

    

    

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