Colossians 3:5, 1 Peter 5:6, Hebrews 7:25, 2 Corinthians 5:17 and numerous other verses in The Bible contain one of my favorite words in Scripture: Therefore. Don’t gloss over this vastly profound word the next time you read your Bible. Stop and ponder the indicatives preceding the word “Therefore”. The indicatives inform what comes after the word “Therefore” with amazing precision and beauty reflecting God’s attributes and purposes. For example, in Ephesians 2:19-22 Paul writes that we “are no longer strangers and aliens” but “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,” (I will publish a blog article that goes deeper into Ephesians 2 soon). If we look at the gorgeous section previous to the aformentioned, Ephesians 2:14-18, we see Paul telling us that Jesus, as supreme high priest AND the spotless lamb, presented Himself as the ultimate and final atonement for all sin for those who put their faith in Him. Having done that Jesus tore down the dividing wall of The Law and the hostilities of those who hold themselves and others strictly to the Old Law reconciling us who believe by faith to Himself. Furthermore, Christ made all who are in Him (under His Lordship) into one Body with access to The Father, through the magnificent grace and miracle of The Cross. Therefore, going back to Ephesians 2:19-22, we are one household with the saints of old, grafted into the commonwealth of Israel with Jesus as the true and faithful Israel (see Revelation 21). What a stunning truth that is to grasp that because Christ “came and preached the good news” and hung on a tree for us sinners, we are no longer on the path to be exiled from His heavenly Kingdom but adopted into His household with the saints so that we too have become saints, a household which Christ Himself is the foundation, cornerstone, and the bricks. Praise and glory to our Lord, Jesus Christ!
Questions to ask yourself:
- Think of you favorite scriptures. What is the context surrounding the text(s)?
- How else has Jesus torn down dividing walls of hostility?
Prayer: (freely pray what is on your heart)