The Weekend Word
“For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.”
(Ephesians 3:1–13 ESV)
We now turn our attention to the purpose of Paul’s ministry, which was to reveal a biblical “mystery”.
In the New Testament a mystery is something that was once unknown, but has now been revealed to the people of God.
In this case the revelation is that it was always the plan of God (“according to His eternal purpose”) to fully include the Gentiles in the people of God.
This would be accomplished through the work of Christ who would make us all ‘fellow heirs” of the riches of God, members of the same body, recipients of the same promise.
John Stott puts it this way;
“To sum up, we may say that ‘the mystery of Christ’ is the complete union of Jews and Gentiles with each other through the union of both with Christ. It is this double union, with Christ and with each other, which was the substance of the ‘mystery’.”
“Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Galatians 3:23–29 ESV)
“For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.”
(Galatians 6:15–16 ESV)
Sometimes it seems like Gentiles, especially in this country, have an inferiority complex when it comes to the Jews.
We try to mimic their customs and liturgies and act as if they are more privileged in the family of God.
This is not so.
It’s silly.
Be who you are…a blessed child of God sharing in all the riches we saw in the first two chapters.
Belonging to the family is only possible through faith in Christ and if you are in Christ you are a child of Abraham.
Conversely, only those who have faith in Christ are the true children of Abraham.
Be who you are…a blessed and beloved child of the King through faith in Christ.
That is who you are, you know…
Wonderful! Thank you!
Thank you, Paige!
“Sometimes it seems like Gentiles, especially in this country, have an inferiority complex when it comes to the Jews.
We try to mimic their customs and liturgies and act as if they are more privileged in the family of God. This is not so”
I know some Christians who would take issue with this. 😀
“Belonging to the family is only possible through faith in Christ and if you are in Christ you are a child of Abraham.”
AMEN!
Nonnie,
I’m waiting for the pushback… 🙂
well taught, Michael – simple, logical, dogmatic aaand factual – reasonable and uncontrived – pure … IMNSHO 🙂
Thank you, Em…I’m just trying to keep the good news good. 🙂
Very well-said, Michael, thank you!….We don’t need to mimic Jewish customs to feel part of the fold, but sometimes celebrating a Seder now and again helps us to identify with the roots of our Savior.
I agree that it is Ok to celebrate a Jewish holiday for historical reasons, but not as a necessity for salvation. We are all saved through faith in Jesus – whether we are Jew or Gentile!
Personally I think the purpose of the Passover has come to an end with the coming of the true Lamb of God slain before mankind, and the only people who continue to observe it are those who totally reject Jesus Christ as Messiah – I have trouble understanding why a Christian, especially one who comes from the Gentile branch would join in such a dead activity.
But hey, that’s just me. 🙂
Yup, that’s just you, MLD 🙂
Well, Christians have always imitated Jewish worship because the earliest forms of Christian worship are patterned on Jewish synagogue worship which was very adaptable to Christian worship, just add NT readings and the Eucharist. If you compare a traditional synagogue order of worship with an EO or traditional RC order of worship, they are very similar.
I have a chart around here somewhere….
hmmm… if i were a Jew today and raised observing Passover as a Jew & kinda, sorta waiting for Messiah (we used to hear that every Jewish mother wondered if her first-born son could be Him 🙂 ) if i were said Jew and i came to the wonderful realization that Jesus was The Christ – Immanuel – would i want to continue with my Jewish traditions as a memorial or some such? dunno…
I agree that our relationship to the nation of Israel is in a state of confusion in modern evangelicalism. Thinking somehow that being more “Jewish” makes us more spiritual. While I’m not advocating this simplistic approach, I think it would water down our own faith experience if we discontinue our attempts to become more familiar with Judaism as a whole. Reason being—this IS the context–the decoder ring of sorts–that enables us to understand what Jesus was saying. We do not have an “eastern” lens–ours is a western one. Without taking this into consideration–we project our western reality onto the words of Christ–which becomes a distortion–a self-centered distortion.
An in depth study of the minor and major prophets, for example, can give us HUGE insight into the teachings of Jesus! In fact, it transforms our modern view from a monochromatic outlined coloring book to a multi-colored hologram!!! One cannot really “get” the Gospels/NT without being familiar with the OT. And the OT is the narrative of God’s involvement –intervention for humanity–using the nation of Israel as a focal point–a context. Isn’t the story of these people still the best commentary on our NT faith? He chose that context for the Incarnated Christ to be set in. So those folks are significant whether we like it or not. So if we discard them, their cultural context, in the name of being Abraham’s latest true children–aren’t we in real danger of missing the unfamiliar parts of our westernized faith–parts that could enrich us in the end?
Perhaps?
I think we need to do a better job at asking ourselves “WHY?” we do the things we do–not just “Should we?” do the things we do. When it comes to our relationship to the Jewish people.
It always boils down to balance. IMO
Ps40 @ # 13
Much agreement here but I would take it a tad further and say that if celebrating with a Passover Seder or not celebrating floats your boat, by all means do (or not do) the dictates of your conscience. Who is anybody to say that you’re wrong (or right)?
@#14
And I would push just a tittle bit more and say, the Passover meal, and the participation in it, can enrich my soteriology, my theology, my community, my Biblical understanding in a way that going to a traditional evangelical Bible study cannot. There is something to be said for the way the Jewish people “lived out” their covenant relationship in the physical realm–tactile and in the flesh, whereas, we tend to spiritualize everything and dismiss the physical entirely.
But should we make this a “should”–?? I agree with you Muff Potter that we should not 🙂 It’s the Spirits applications that enrich our faith walk–not the law that can only point to it.
I guess I am yearning for a more sacramental exhibition of my faith—one that inscribes it in my everyday activities–lest I forget and become distracted–which is the way it is more often than not.
“Be who you are…a blessed and beloved child of the King through faith in Christ.”
!
#17 … Jim (& Michael) amen – exclamation point
What a good word – “Be who you are.”
On the subject of Jewish(ness), we are grafted in…. Romans 11