And might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility— Ephesians 2:16
The world is currently facing a pandemic unlike any other it has faced since a long time. Our country has also suffered greatly. Experts have continued to express their opinion on how to deal with the current events. Certainly, a large portion of population would reason that the coronavirus is the greatest problem that we as mankind have to deal with at this present time.
However, the Scripture is clear in its message that the greatest problem and danger of the natural man is not coronavirus but that he has no peace with God and is in fact God’s enemy (Romans 5:10).
This was also the greatest problem of both the Jews and Gentiles. The Jews had the codified law of God given through Moses. The Gentiles have the law written on their hearts and they do things by nature which the law requires guided by their conscience (Romans 2:14-15). Yet the verdict of God’s Law is that both have sinned and fallen short. So, both the Jews and the Gentiles needed reconciliation with God.
The good news is that Jesus has reconciled both of them to God in one body. The one body refers to the invisible church, the body of Christ. It consists of people from every tribe, language, people and nation, chosen by God before the foundation of the world and predestined for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5). They are the called-out ones whom God had chosen to show mercy while excluding the rest. For so the Scripture says “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy” (Romans 9:15). Mercy is not owed. It is simply given to whomever the Mercy-Giver chooses to give.
The reconciliation was accomplished through the Cross. Christ’s death was a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the church. Not only that, Christ clothes the church with His own perfect righteousness which He wrought during his life on earth by obeying all of his Father’s commands thus making her holy and blameless. This righteousness is not a righteousness earned but a righteousness given as a gift received by faith. Therefore, any person who comes to Christ in faith has peace with God through him (Romans 5:1). In this body there is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, but all are one. The hostility is therefore killed.
The Church is a very precious entity. She is Jesus’ holy bride. She is ransomed not with perishable things such as silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Beloved, let us then serve the church as it gathers together for the worship of God with whatever gifts or talents we have. Let us join the choir in singing, be the volunteers who welcome people, be the ushers who guide people to a seat, help in various ministries of the church and if God so blesses us, support it financially. Let us pray for our pastors, elders and the community of believers. These are many ways in which one can serve the reconciled church as it gathers for worship.
What can be more precious than this community that Christ bought with his own blood! Beloved by God, you are the church and in it you have peace with God and peace with man!
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