“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.” [Ephesians 2:19-22]
That is what God is aiming at in our salvation: a new people (“one new man”: “…and made in Himself out of the two, Jew and Gentile, one new man, thus producing peace” [Ephesians 2:15] ) that is so free from enmity and so united in truth and peace that God Himself is there for our joy and for His glory forever. That’s the aim of reconciliation: a place for God to live among us and make Himself known and enjoyed forever and ever.
The point is that God aims to create one new people in Christ who are reconciled to each other across racial lines. Not strangers. Not aliens. No enmity. Not far off. Fellow citizens of one Christian “city of God.” One temple for a habitation of God. And He did this at the cost of His Son’s life. We love to dwell on our reconciliation with God through the death of His Son. And well we should. It is precious beyond measure to have peace with God.
But let us also dwell on this: that God ordained the death of His Son to reconcile alien people groups to each other in one body in Christ. This too was the design of the death of Christ. Think on this: Christ died to take enmity and anger and disgust and jealousy and self-pity and fear and envy and hatred and malice and indifference away from your heart toward all other persons who are in Christ by faith–whatever the race.
If we want the meaning and the worth and the beauty and the power of the cross of Christ to be seen and loved in our churches, and if the design of the death of His Son is not only to reconcile us to God but to reconcile alienated ethnic groups to each other in Christ, then will we not display and magnify the cross of Christ better by more and deeper and sweeter ethnic diversity and unity in our worship and life?
(JOHN PIPER)
Meditate
Is there any person that you think does not deserve God’s gift of forgiveness and mercy? Is there anyone that should be excluded from His family?
It’s important for us to remember that we have been included into God’s family… not because of our talent, goodness or background. This same inclusive spirit should flow from us. Knowing that we have received such incredible mercy should motivate us to reach those who do not look like, smell like, sound like or act like us. This is what Jesus did.
Apply
Ask Jesus to open your eyes to people who are very different from you. Ask Him for a word or an act of kindness that you can approach that person with. Be inclusive like Jesus.