“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands— remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:11-16 NASB1995)
Do you know what this is saying? It is talking about how, before Jesus died on that cross, and rose from the dead, that all non-Jews (Gentiles) were excluded from Israel. We were strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But via Jesus’ death and resurrection, we who were once without hope were given the opportunity, through what Jesus did for us on that cross, not only to believe in Jesus and to die with him to sin and to walk now in obedience to his commands, by his grace, but to be included in Israel, one with all Jews who also believe in Jesus Christ.
Now, if you read Romans 11 you will see that all Jews who refused to believe in Jesus Christ were cut out of Israel, and all Gentiles who believed in Jesus Christ were grafted into Israel, so that Jew and Gentile, by faith in Jesus Christ, are no longer divided. For God has made us one people by faith in the Lord, and that one people is biblical and spiritual Israel. So understand that the Israel of God is not the physical and political nation called “Israel,” which, as a nation, has denied Jesus Christ as their Messiah and Lord. And all who deny that Jesus is the Christ, they are the antichrist (1 John 2:22).
Now the Scriptures teach that not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring. It is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. And if we belong to Christ, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise, because Jesus Christ is the seed of Abraham to whom the promises were spoken. And the physical city of Jerusalem is now of Hagar, the slave woman, because she is in slavery with her children, for lack of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord.
[Genesis 17:7-9; Genesis 18:19; John 8:18-19,38-47; Romans 2:28-29; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 9:4-8,25-28; Romans 11:1-36; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 3:16,26-29; Galatians 4:22-31; Ephesians 2:11-22; Ephesians 3:6; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-16; Hebrews 8:6-13;1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 2:22; Jude 1:5; Revelation 2:9; Revelation 3:9]
But faith in Jesus Christ is not by lip service only. Genuine faith in the Lord Jesus results in us dying with Christ to sin and us walking (in conduct) in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, or it is not biblical faith which saves. For the grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For if sin is what we obey, and not obedience to God, we will not inherit eternal life with God.
And Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).
[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]
Your Servant Witness
An Original Work / March 13, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Humbly I bow, Lord, before You,
Bringing my requests to You.
May I listen; hear You speaking.
May I follow You in truth.
Gently lead me in Your service.
Guide my steps and strengthen me.
Fill me with Your love and mercy.
May I live for Thee!
Let me be Your servant witness,
Telling others of Your grace.
May I always share the gospel
With those I meet face to face.
May I show the love of Jesus,
Caring for the needs of men;
Be Your servant witness always
For my Lord, Amen!
My desire to be like Jesus,
Living for Him ev’ry day.
May I obey all His teachings
Given me, so I’ll not stray.
Love You, Jesus, Lord, my master.
You are the King of my heart;
Follow You where’er You lead me;
Not from You depart!
One New Man Out of Two
An Original Work / August 13,2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
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