THE RECONCILERS & THE ONE NEW MAN

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THE RECONCILER & THE ONE NEW MAN

THE RECONCILERS & THE NEW MAN
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself ONE NEW MAN in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end. (Ephesians 2.13-16)

The world today continues to be convulsed with historical enmities, ethnic, social and cultural divisions, and divergent political and religious opinions.

In the Kingdom of God, however, we see a vision of a new world where people are no longer separated by such things but are united in the grace of God because they have received a heavenly love and appreciation for one another that transcends and overrides all differences. This bond of the Spirit began with the words Jesus spoke from the Cross "Father forgive them for they know no what they do!" Believers today also need by the grace of God to speak frequently these same words into our contemporary situation.

One of the great accomplishments of the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus is to break down all dividing differences and unify - in the realm of the new creation - all in Messiah. From the sea of strife Jesus continues to call out a people who will not be bound by historic, social, cultural ethnic or political, barriers that, until now, kept us divided behind invisible walls.

The Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus breaks down ,not only the wall of division between Jews and gentiles, it also breaks the wall of division between Catholic and Protestant, black and white, Arab and Jew, and all barriers arising from ethnic divergence and historical rivalries. As the Cross and Resurrection restore us to unity with God our Father, it also restores us to unity with one another. These differences do not disappear in the realm of the New creation but the divisions and enmities created by these differences crumble. They are broken down and, as we follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, they no longer provoke or keep us part. The bond of the Spirit that exist between those who are reconciled to God through Christ is far greater than any difference that divides.

In the realm of the Kingdom of God we are already one - but to live and walk in this reality is another matter. Walking this out means that we no longer give our main loyalty to the cultural divides, historical grievances, political viewpoints from which we come. Instead we put loyalty to the love commandment, and to recognizing the "other" as "brother" above any division. We renounce all attitudes coming from culture or tradition that might provoke us to hostility or keep us in the horrible pit of enmity.

This was the "enemy loving love" modeled by the believers in the first century. They crossed all sorts of social, political and geographical boundaries to bring the good news of the reconciling message of the work of God in Messiah in word and deed throughout the world. They went to their enemies, the Romans, to the pagan Greeks, and to the gentiles of Asia Minor, Africa, Europe, and India. They recognized the validity of the civilization and heritage of the ones they went to without imposing their own culture and lifestyle upon them. Indeed they made it the official policy of the believers not to do this but simply instruct them that after believing the good news they put off idolatry and immoral practices.

"Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, “You must be circumcised and keep the law” - to whom we gave no such commandment. For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well." (Acts 15-24, 28,29)

As believers today we too have been given this ministry of reconciliation. This is primarily a ministry of reconciling people to God through the gospel, but it also includes reconciling people to each other. It requires that we understand and respect our differences and celebrate our diversity without demanding that all be conformed to our way of thinking and acting.
For this to happen, our good will towards the other (maintained by constant forgiveness) must override all other differences including historical grievances, religious and political beliefs, tribal rivalries and social differences.

All who believe in the reconciling work of the Cross and Resurrection are called to live in the realm of the Kingdom of God where every barrier of enmity and hostility is broken down and to swim in the river of God's love and grace will towards all.
It may not be possible to get ALL on board with this ONE NEW MAN message. Outside the kingdom of God, many will remain caught in the cycle of enmity, resentment and social division. In fact there are many with vested interests in keeping people apart. Some political leaders, many in the press, and even some religious leaders achieve power and influence by exploiting divisions and fanning the flames of victimhood and outrage.
As reconcilers we MUST refuse to live the realm of social divisiveness or participate in the strife. Instead we deliberately choose to walk through barriers of social, cultural religious, and ethnic division. We are the called out people of the Kingdom - forerunners of the New Day of the Lord.

Jesus was the first to cross the great barrier between a holy heaven and a sinful earth when He came among us. God loved us and paid the reconciling price for us when we were sill in our sin, unlovely, sinful, and rebellious. He then commands us to show this same kind of love to others. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” (John 13.34-35)

The reconciling love of God compels us to walk through barriers that have divided us from one another for centuries to express His love and forgiveness and make it known.