Barriers
Have you ever hit a road barrier? You know, those concrete barriers on the side of the road that are there to stop cars driving over the edge... they're useful. Barriers are for safety.
Humans put up barriers for their safety all the time. Sometimes we do it to keep people out. When you drive through an area that looks a bit scary, you might lock the car doors... because you don't trust the people on the outside. A barrier.
And even in our churches, sometimes we put up barriers to keep people away from us. Certain people. People that we may not identify well with. People that might make us uncomfortable.
Before Jesus arrived, there was one big barrier - between Jews and Gentiles. The Jews were God's people, from the nation of Israel. The Gentiles were anyone who was not a Jew. And there was a barrier between them.
But in Ephesians, Paul keeps talking about this barrier as being gone. No longer there. In chapter 3, he even calls it a mystery that it is no longer there:
Ephesians 3:1-6
1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—2Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
The Gentiles are heirs together with Israel! A mystery. One body. Sharing the promise in Jesus. It is nothing short of amazing, Paul says, that God has removed this human barrier. And it IS amazing. It was already incredible that God should save anyone, such as his people Israel. But now he has opened up that door of salvation to ... the world! While some people felt their safety threatened by having this barrier removed, Paul continues to tell us what our role is now because of this amazing revelation...
Ephesians 3:7-13
7I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
Paul wants to make plain this truth - that the gospel is for everyone.
He wants everyone to know that God's intent now is that the church(That's US) would make this truth known to everyone - even the rulers in the heavenly realms! Everyone must know this mystery! Everyone must know that the gospel is for everyone! God's intent was that this would be made known by the church.
Paul considers it a privilege to be a preacher of this gospel and to share this great truth with people everywhere.
How about you?
Do you consider this a privilege?
We, along with every single person, may now approach God "with freedom and confidence." What an amazing truth. We surely cannot keep this to ourselves!
Prayer
Lord God, it is with wonder that we can come to you, the Creator of all, and speak to you with freedom and confidence. Thank you. You have chosen to take down the barrier between you and all people and for this, we give you praise. Please help us to share this great news with others. Help us to share the boundless riches of Christ with those around us. Remove those barriers in our lives and our church that may prevent people from hearing this great truth. We pray this for Jesus' glory.
Amen.