Thursday, January 12, 2017

Daily Lesson for January 12, 2016

Today's Daily Lesson comes from Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 through 16:

11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated 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 once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

There is an old hymn, "In Christ There Is No East or West".  We should also say in Christ there is no black or white or brown.  Neither is there Jew nor Gentile. Instead, as Christians we have been given a fundamentally radical claim: that in our Christ a new humanity has been created on the cross.  The cross destroyed all alienation and separation and made peace amongst the people with God and with each other. 

This is why the talk which has apparently regained traction both here in the United States and in Europe about a "white nation" is so heretical. Christians do not believe in white nationalism or black nationalism or any other nationalism built upon race. For Christ has made of us all a new nation, and a new humanity.  The Scriptures are so bold as to say that Christ has "killed[ed] the hostility" between the races. Race and the hostility between races has been destroyed by Christ on the Cross. So, wherever there is yet again hostility or division or separation and segregation Christ is there again crucified. Anyone therefore who plays and preys upon and seeks to increase this hostility or dividing wall is, in fact, literally "anti-Christ".

There is an anti-Christ spirit on the rise now. It's intent is to steal, kill, and destroy. Do not fall prey.


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