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Topic: Made Fellow Citizens With Saints
[DCLM Daily Manna 21 July 2019 Daily Devotional by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi]
Text: Ephesians 2:10-22 (KJV)
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:
17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.
18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Key Verse: “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).
MESSAGE:
Experience has shown that it is very dangerous to write off a man because of his present status. Nazareth was a relegated city in Israel before the birth of Christ. It was so downgraded that Nathaniel asked Philip, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46). As Kent Hughes rightly observed, God has not thrown man away upon whom He began the masterwork. His purpose is to shape us in the proper condition, which will make us part of His eternal inheritance.
As our text aptly explained, we were called “uncircumcised” and “Gentiles in the flesh” because of our separation from Christ and total exclusion from the heavenly citizenship through our sinful lifestyle. But now, we are brought near Him by the blood of Christ; He broke down the middle wall of partition and reconciled us to God.
Those who have accepted Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary are placed in God’s hand and made anew. Consequently, they are free from anger, animosity, immorality, occultism, idolatry and carnal lifestyles. Christ has cleansed them from all filthiness of the flesh and mind. God has built them upon the foundation of His Word with Christ the Chief Cornerstone. They are saints and no more strangers or foreigners.
Christ, our Saviour, Deliverer, Redeemer and Rescuer died on the cross at Calvary to transform the sinner by effecting a change in his character, conduct, language, lifestyle, dressing, marriage, family and professional life. Thus, people who hold tight to religion without evidence of salvation cannot please God and be members of His household. Genuine salvation experience helps us maintain a living relationship and fellowship with the Lord. It helps us escape God’s wrath and judgment and qualifies us for heaven.
Thought For The Day: Genuine salvation translates us into the saints of God.
The Bible In One Year: 2 Chronicles 5–8
