Through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.

Ephesians 2 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Made Alive in Christ

2 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, ² in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. ³ Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. ⁴ But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), ⁶ and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,” which is performed in the flesh by human hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, ¹⁵  by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; ¹⁸ for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, ²⁰ having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, ²¹ in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²² in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.

The Christian faith is often criticized in modern culture and society as not being inclusive or as being arrogant to believe Jesus words when He says: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:16) In truth though, there is nothing more inclusive than the gospel message. John 3:16 says: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” No one is excluded by national origin, race or for any former belief system. In today’s text Paul says:

Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision,”… were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.  But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

According to the Jewish faith a person is either Jew or Gentile. When Paul says that in Christ Jesus Gentiles are brought near by the blood of Christ, he is affirming that in Christ salvation is available to all. Paul continues:

For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,  by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace,  and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross

According to the old covenant, one had to become a Jew and follow the “Law of commandments” to be accepted by God. Jesus broke down the barrier and divisions between men. He reconciles all men to God through the cross. That’s the message of the gospel. It is not as the world or the devil tries to say, a message of division or non-inclusive. Through Christ all are invited in, “ no longer strangers and aliens, but..  fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household “

Jesus says: “if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”(John 12:32) The next verse says: ³³ But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.   The cross of Christ is an invitation to all men, an invitation to accept His finished work of reconciliation to the Father. Jesus says He will draw all men to Himself.

That’s the other thing about the Christian faith that the world and the devil try to distort. It is not coercive. God has given every person a free will, an ability to choose their own path. He forces no one to choose Him. Yet He seeks all men. ”the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) Jesus says:

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ²¹ He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. ²² He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says (Revelation 3:20-22)

His invitation is open to all. No one is excluded. Yet each one has a choice to make, a decision whether or not to accept Christ’s invitation and finished work of reconciliation. What could be more tolerant? What could be more inclusive?    God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. That’s the good news, the gospel message for all.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. (Romans 1:16)

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and Holy Spirit, thank You for excluding no one. Thank You for including me. Holy Spirit, empower me to live in such a way that my life will extend the invitation of Christ to those who are lost.   Amen