Unity

Unity in Christ (Eph. 2:8-22) Something (Someone) there is that doesn't love a wall - Robert Frost “Mending Wall” prejudice: noun. 1. a. An adverse judgment or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. b. A preconceived preference or idea; bias. 2. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgments or convictions. 3. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion [or class or culture]. 4. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived and unfavorable conviction of another or others. ---tr. verb. 1. To cause (someone) to judge prematurely and irrationally; bias. 2. To affect injuriously or detrimentally by some judgment or act. (From The American Heritage Dictionary, Second College Edition, © 1982 by Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.) Sources of prejudice: Pride/Self-righteousness (Luke 7:36-44) (Flip-side: Resentment) Labels Our common race/heritage (Gen. 3:20, Mal. 2:10) God has shown no man unclean in Christ (Acts 10:15 & 28) God is not partial (Deut. 10:17, Acts 10:34-35, Heb. 2:8-9) We all have the opportunity to be reconciled to God through the sacrifice of Christ (Eph. 2:13-17, Luke 23:44-45, Temple curtain torn in two) (And to each other, “double reconciliation”) Christ was/is the peace offering (Eph. 2:14, Isa. 9:6, Prince of Peace) Because of Christ’s sacrifice, we have a common access point to the Father and a common Spirit (Eph. 2:18) Christ welcomes us as former foreigners/strangers and aliens to become fellow citizens of Heaven and of God’s household (Eph. 2:19, Matt. 8:11) Strangers are those who are unacquainted with or ignorant about, the nature/advantages of a particular community. Paul says that once we were strangers in that we did not know or understand what being reconciled to God through Christ could do for us. A alien is one whose rights in a particular community are limited. Paul says that we were once aliens until we were welcomed as citizens through Christ. How to do we welcome foreigners and aliens into our country? (Ex. 22:21, Deut. 10:19, 1 Kings 8: 41-43, Ps. 146:9, Isa. 56:3 & 6, Jer. 7:5-6, 22:1-5, Mal. 3:5) Analogy of a Holy Temple = Spiritual Unity (Eph. 2:20-22) Lined up according to the cornerstone, Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:20) Each stone (believer) carefully shaped so that they all fit together perfectly, tightly, intimately (Eph. 2:21-22) As Pastor Boulis said, it is easy to be missionaries here today as the nations are coming to us! All we have to do is open our mouths, our arms and our hearts and welcome them in Christ.