A Note from our Pastor:

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;”

Ephesians 2:19

Good Morning Dearly Beloved,

With verse nineteen, the Apostle shifts his focus squarely back on the standing of the gentiles as his target audience. He is going to be very pointed in telling both the gentiles and the Jews around them what the standing is of these converts. They are not outsiders. They are not foreigners that need to comply with Jewish customs (being circumcised). They are equals and fellow citizens in the kingdom of God.

Much of this verse in its original intent has lost its meaning for us today as Christians and disciples of Jesus Christ. Unless you are a bible student, the term gentile probably means very little. The idea that the church would be divided between the Jewish converts and the gentile converts is a lost concept because for most of us, the church is and always has been primarily gentile. This verse had massive implications for Paul’s audience in Ephesus, but why is it preserved for us today? Is it just a meaningless verse in the midst of an otherwise important chapter?

God Forbid. This same Apostle wrote to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and told him that ALL scripture is the inspired word of God and that ALL scripture is likewise profitable. If we accept the truth of what Paul wrote to Timothy, then despite the fact that Ephesians 2:19 seems to have been more for an immediate audience there must be a lesson for us.

I believe the lesson is this — there should not be cliques within the church and more importantly there should not be a mold you have to fit in order to be accepted by the church.

The church should not be defined by race, ethnicity, political creed, appearance, or any other factor than being common believers in the truth of Jesus Christ. Paul told his audience that they were no longer strangers or foreigners but fellow citizens. The goal and aim of the church should be that if a person is a fellow believer in the truth of Jesus Christ and is living their life in a way that is reflective of their discipleship then they should be welcomed fully into the fold.

What joins us is not the things of this world, but the things of our Savior in heaven.

Our Prayers are with you daily,

Brother Jeremiah