Anticipating the Return of Christ

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In Ephesians 2:10, God created human kind to glorify Himself and to work in His kingdom. Sin marred the original purpose for human kind and separated us from God. Still, the effects of sin do not cancel out God’s design for human kind. We are created for good works. We are created in Christ Jesus, again, with reference to His drawing everyone (John 12:32) and all things being made in subjection to Him (Ephesians 1:22).

We must insist upon a consistent interpretation of the Scriptures. If predestination and salvation are only for a select few people, then God did not create everyone in Christ Jesus for good works. This is how we can test such doctrines that teach Jesus did not die for everyone or that only some can be saved because God predestined the rest to hell. God is not partial, and this teaching makes God to be partial by creating two classes of human kind. Some of humanity is created in Christ Jesus for good works, and some of humanity is created for the sole purpose of being damned to hell. This the Bible does not teach. Deuteronomy 10:17, Acts 10:34, Romans 2:11, Galatians 2:6, Ephesians 6:9

We must not miss the greater meaning and implication of Ephesians 2:11-22. The focal point is verse 14.

First, we must acknowledge and understand that Paul here is describing the work of Christ, the office of Christ, if you will. He is explaining in plain terms what Christ did for us on the cross. Paul is also describing our standing before God and the purpose and meaning of salvation. The chief end of salvation is the reconciliation of human kind to God to repair the breach caused by sin.

Verse 14 is the focal point because Paul is helping us understand the object of the Old Testament. Sin caused a breach in God’s creation. Sin separated God’s creation (humanity) from Himself. In the Old Testament, God revealed Himself to a few, and each revelation instructed people how to be reconciled to God. Then, with the institution of Israel and the Jewish people, God developed a more full revelation of the plan of salvation and redemption. This plan included the promise of a Messiah. The grand purpose of the Old Testament is the redemption of God’s creation and His plan for humanity to be reconciled to Himself.

The seal or mark of reconciliation in the Old Testament, along with the shedding and sprinkling of blood, became circumcision. We said in the beginning that chapter 1, verse 22 is the key to understanding the book of Ephesians. We can see and understand subjection to Christ from that verse through reconciliation to Christ, humility in acknowledging Christ’s work for humanity on the cross, and taking on the mark of a Christian through belief in Christ.

However, we must at this point note two important items.

1. God always intended that everyone have the opportunity to be reconciled to Himself. In verse 17, Paul quotes Isaiah 57:19, which helps us tie together the meaning Paul is conveying and the meaning of Isaiah specifically. Chapter 57 is on the backside of Israel’s exile, and God through Isaiah is revealing the promise of what is to come. Part of Isaiah’s revelation is Messianic prophecy and what the Messiah will accomplish. Isaiah 57:19 is a reference to preaching the gospel message of salvation, reconciliation, and redemption to both Gentile (far away) and Jew (near).

This, then, is the purpose and goal of missions and evangelism in the church. Missions and evangelism are rooted in those who are near taking Messiah’s message to those who are far away. Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:6, Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 9:14-16, 2 Chronicles 6:32-33, Psalm 67, Psalm 72, Jeremiah 31:10 Circumcision was instructed to be extended to “strangers” grafted into Israel by adoption. Exodus 12:48-49

The very design of God throughout the Old Testament was for all the earth to be included in the plan of redemption. Israel was not raised up as an exclusive people for God, nor were they to be the only believers or the only redeemed people.

2. However, the Jewish people even in the Old Testament viewed themselves as an exclusive group whom God favored over other nations. This exclusivity continued into Malachi, the last book in the Old Testament, and the gospels, the first books in the New Testament. The Pharisees in particular viewed themselves as the only righteous. Luke 7:39, Luke 18:11, John 4:9

Israel was not unique in this idea of exclusivity. The Nordic people, ancient Greek empire, Nazis, Aryans, and Americans who claim the U.S. is the greatest nation on earth are all examples of a people group believing they are the most superior of all people on the earth. Even today, predestination can lead people to believing God has bestowed favor upon them which He has not shown to others. The danger of cloaking ourselves in exclusivity and superiority is constant and real.

Exclusivity is opposed to God and thwarts God’s plan of redemption to reach the ends of the earth. For example, the Jewish leaders in the New Testament attempted to persecute and eradicate the early church because they viewed the early church as not representing God.

There is nothing exclusive or superior about any one person, any particular group of people, or nation. God’s plan of redemption is the same for all people. If God’s favor rests on a particular people group, it is only to enable the spreading of the gospel to other nations through them.

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