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Prepare: Thank God that in Christ he has reconciled us to himself and to each other.
New creations
As a child I had an animal picture book, but the pages were split, so that by turning half a page it was possible to produce a weird unknown animal such as an elepotamus. Occasionally this sort of thing actually happens as scientists cross two breeds into a new variety of animal, though not usually as strange as the ones in my book.
This is an offence to some religious groups, Jews included (Leviticus 19:19); many in Paul’s day were no less offended by new Christian communities containing both Jews and Gentiles, groups who would never previously have associated with each other. In Jesus God produced something new (v 15), and unthinkable to both devout Jews and Greeks.
United in Christ
God reconciled people who were previously quite incompatible (v 11); he gave hope and a way of belonging to those who had been outsiders (vs 12,19) and he removed all barriers to unity (vs 14,15). To emphasise that this is something radically new, Paul compares the new Christian hybrid community to the Temple in the heart of Judaism (vs 20–22).
There are many things that threaten to divide the body of Christ, and some of them are very deeply part of us. Yet in Jesus we have a unity that is above all threats.
Respond: What barriers divide me from other Christians, perhaps even members of my own church? Ask God for his grace to destroy any dividing walls (v 14).
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-08
New creations
As a child I had an animal picture book, but the pages were split, so that by turning half a page it was possible to produce a weird unknown animal such as an elepotamus. Occasionally this sort of thing actually happens as scientists cross two breeds into a new variety of animal, though not usually as strange as the ones in my book.
This is an offence to some religious groups, Jews included (Leviticus 19:19); many in Paul’s day were no less offended by new Christian communities containing both Jews and Gentiles, groups who would never previously have associated with each other. In Jesus God produced something new (v 15), and unthinkable to both devout Jews and Greeks.
United in Christ
God reconciled people who were previously quite incompatible (v 11); he gave hope and a way of belonging to those who had been outsiders (vs 12,19) and he removed all barriers to unity (vs 14,15). To emphasise that this is something radically new, Paul compares the new Christian hybrid community to the Temple in the heart of Judaism (vs 20–22).
There are many things that threaten to divide the body of Christ, and some of them are very deeply part of us. Yet in Jesus we have a unity that is above all threats.
Respond: What barriers divide me from other Christians, perhaps even members of my own church? Ask God for his grace to destroy any dividing walls (v 14).
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-03-08
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
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We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
