It is the gift of God - For all

Ephesians 2 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

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.

 . 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.

Many people in the world today are critical of Christians and of the Christian faith because it is exclusionary. They say that it is intolerant and not inclusive (two of societies buzz words) of the Christian faith to believe that only those who follow the Christian faith will get to heaven. In truth though there is no more inclusive faith than the Christian faith. Yes, it is true and we believe as Jesus himself said:  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) In the Christian faith, we do believe:   “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)      Some would try to mix some of Jesus teachings with other faiths or multiple faiths to make an all inclusive faith. They would say Jesus was a good man, a good teacher, even a prophet, but surly He could not be the only way to God, that would not be right, they say, that is unfair, intolerant, not inclusive. Yet if Jesus Himself says He is the way, if Jesus says:   ^“I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30), either He is who and what He says He is or He is a liar and a lunatic. He cannot be both good in some of what He says and wrong about who He is.

Still believing that Jesus is the only way to the Father, that He is the only name by which men can be saved is not exclusionary. The Christian faith and Christ Himself are the most inclusive of all. 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.”     Today’s text says:    But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.       Every other faith relies on and depends on something that people do, how they act. The Christian faith, Christ Himself depends only on what people believe. Because of God’s love, Jesus came so that whoever believes would have eternal life. God didn’t give Jesus to exclude anyone, but rather to include everyone. There is nothing required, no acts of service, no works, nothings we do. In Christ, because of God’s love, by His grace we are saved. It is the gift of God. What could be more inclusive than that?  

In his message to the early church, Paul purposed to break down the barriers that stood between those who came to Christ from the Jewish faith and those who were Gentiles, non-Jews. In today’s text he says:    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, by it having put to death the enmity.  And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near;  for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.     Jesus Christ and His work of redemption on the cross are not for any one nationality, race, ethnic group or for any one people of a certain heritage or birthright. He makes all into one. Jesus Christ breaks down every barrier, every dividing wall. He abolishes enmity caused by the Law, commandments and ordinances. He, Jesus, through the cross, reconciles everyone who believes, everyone who receives the free gift of God, to God.

To those in the world who view the message of the gospel as intolerant and not inclusive, I apologize if it is because of the words or actions of those who are of faith in Christ. Just as those who have been freed from addictions or freed from physical prisons have a zealous message to others, Christians too know what we have been freed from. Our zeal may sometimes make us seem like we are intolerant of those who believe differently. In truth, those who know Christ, those who believe, really just want to share the gift of God they have received. Just as the world asks not to be judged by Christians, I would say do not judge God or Christ by Christians. If the expression of my faith offends you, I ask that you look past me to the cross, to see Jesus:      Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)   There, at the cross, hear the words of Jesus as He says: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)     For whoever believes, God’s love, His grace, the free gift of salvation is given. What could be more inclusive than that? Romans 5:8 says: God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  What could be more tolerant than that?  Jesus says:  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”       He says:   Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.  Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.  Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:11-15)

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit, thank You for the gift of salvation through the cross. Help me to share the truth, not my words and not my actions, but that the cross is Your all inclusive love, it is not restrictive, not intolerant but rather it is love and grace to all.    Amen