The prodigal people

Ephesians ch. 2 never ceases to blow me away...the manner in which the Holy Spirit etched the words on the paper and from then on to every believer's heart as they read over their past condition is just astounding.

I mean can we imagine how much of a filthy people we were? Well, don't worry if you cant, v. 3 explains it pretty explicitly...we were in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind. We were by default children of wrath!

But God, in His abundant grace and mercy, still chose to love us (v. 4).

Oh, but it doesn't end there...Paul really wants the believers at Ephesus to not forget their past condition, and the Holy Spirit in turn wants us to not forget our past condition.

In v. 12 it reads that we were "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."

Guys and girls, we were doomed people... People who chose to go away from the presence of our heavenly Father, and desired to live in our self-seeking ways. But in the end, that only leads to an unfulfilled life...a meaningless life. We had no part in the promise that God gave His people, the Israelites. We were not people to which belonged the "adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises." (Rom 9:4)

But wait a minute...verse 13 says that He's brought us back!
"But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." We, the sinful people, are redeemed, but only through the sacrificial blood of God's only son!
verse 14 says that Christ indeed is our "peace, who made both groups(jews and gentiles) into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall." WOW...

but wait, even this isn't what really strikes me! What really blew me away was when in v. 19, Paul says

"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household."

Praise the Lord...we're partakers in the covenant that was between the Israelites and God alone. We're not only partakers in Christ's suffering, but also in His glory...We're able to come back to God and worship Him once again. We're able because of Jesus Christ.

Let's not forget who we were...but take JOY in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

God bless :)