Some books we read, movies we watch and conversations we have are so moving, that every effort is made to pass on the experience. After reading a good book, we encourage others to buy or borrow a copy. Who hasn’t watched a movie, and then gone back for a repeat, or desired to retell an engaging conversation? Our reading today - Ephesians chapter 2:11-22 - is one of those outstanding readings of the bible.

We believe in Paul’s statement all scripture is inspired by God and useful for teach- ing, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”, and in my mind Ephesians chapter two is of special quality. It speaks to us about the majesty and mystery of God. You can see the majesty or the beauty of our Father in every statement. The mystery is not a reference to a riddle or a secret but rather a spiritual insight known to previous generations.

• God can be trusted with whatever He promises. God made a promise to Abraham all nations would be blessed. Paul describes the Gentiles the uncir- cumcised “as foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and God, excluded from the citizenship of Israel”, but “now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ .”(verse 12-13) It took centuries but God delivered on His promise to Abraham. How trustworthy is God?
• It was Jesus who removed the obstacle to coming to God. Christ’s death met the requirements of the law. He fulfilled the law, “the commandments and regulations His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two” (verse 15) Christ’s death and resurrection removed the law. Salvation by faith established through the finished work of Christ.
• God broke down the human barriers that separate nation with nation. In Paul’s time the separation was between Jew and Gentile, the circumcised and uncircumcised. Today it is between the Christian, Muslim, Jew, Jehovah wit- ness and Pentecostal. “For he himself is our peace” (verse 15) “fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household”(verse 19). The reality is the barriers are still with us, but our world tomor- row with the completed work of Christ salvation has no boundaries.
• God gave us a reason for His institution - the Church. To continue in our efforts to bring ‘peace” (verse 15) and “reconciliation” (verse 16) to all mankind. “and in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit”(22).