SEPTEMBER 17, Ephesians 2:13-15

In the times of Paul, the Jews felt that all people who were not Jews (the Gentiles) were of a lower class. The Jews felt they were special so they therefore looked down on the Gentiles. To the Jews, Gentiles were unwelcome outsiders. So, the apostle had to deal with this problem – were there two different ways of salvation, one for the Jews and the other for the Gentiles?

Paul talked about the temple at Jerusalem. Gentiles were allowed only into the outer courtyard of the temple. From outside, they could admire the Jews’ privileges, but could not enter into them. A wall marked their limit. Going beyond the wall meant death penalty.The wall separated and divided Jews and Gentiles.The Gentiles found the Jews arrogant. Jews and Gentiles resented and hated each other. Would this end? Could this end? Thank God that the cross ended it all! The division of the world into Jews and Gentiles by the wall ended at the cross. There is no place to which a Jew can go to which a Gentile cannot also go. When Christ came, there was no need for the ceremonial law. When Christ died, sacrifices became obsolete. Christ ended the Jew-Gentile division.

By his death, the Lord Jesus Christ has destroyed the cause of hostility between Jew and Gentile. Salvation is given to both Jew and Gentile alike; both were cleansed by the same blood of Christ. It is the Lord who made peace between them. Whether a Jew or a Gentile that comes to Christ, they are both saved. Salvation comes by Christ only. There is no more division of the human race. Also, there is no such thing as a better race; all races are sinful and all races need God’s forgiveness and grace.

Are you a Chinese boy or girl who may think the Chinese are better than other races? Or perhaps you may have heard racist jokes – jokes that poke fun at other races for whatever reasons? As Christians, we must never take part in them or even laugh at such jokes? Why? Because it is not the right thing to do! Like the children’s song goes,

Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world Red and yellow black and white, All are precious in His sight

Thought: Help me to love children and people of all races.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You that when Christ died on the cross, He reconciled God and man whether Jew or Gentile. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen