Part 3
It is to fellowship of Christ Jesus, the Son of God that we are all called. But I want us to observe two things: i. The status to which we are called and ii. The peoples that are called. We shall discuss these two, not in order, trusting God for clarity and understanding.
The Peoples that were called: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God Vs 24. The fellowship of the Son of God will consist of both Jews and Gentiles (Greeks specifically). The Jews, “who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came…” are totally in contrast to the Gentiles, who “…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“. But all these will be changed because of the sacrifice of Christ for all men.
“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” Eph 2:13-14
God will no longer just be the God of Israel but the God of all flesh. He will be acknowledged as the Lord of the Church that is made up of both Jews and Gentiles. In the Church that distinction will not be mentioned; there will not be such a thing as the Church of the Jews or Greeks, but the Church…of Christ. All peoples from every nation will be united in the Church and will be partakers of Christ.
In a wider application, there will be no distinction of tribes within the Church because no tribe or people is superior to the other. All have become one ‘nation’ in Christ. Unless our Church is in such a state, it is not the Church of Christ.
No matter how undeserving or despised a group, tribe or family may be, as soon as they are united with Christ, they must be received into the local congregation without any prejudice. Segregation because of family status, tribal or any other basis within the Church is against the spirit and work of Christ.
Those the Father has called to the fellowship of His Son are peoples from every nation of the earth. They will all have equal access to Christ and before Him are the same. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Eph 2:18
The Status of the called
Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: vs 2
Not a man or woman among those called by God will be less than a saint. No matter the background, God intends all those who will share in the blessings of Christ to become and be called saints. It means that all of them will be holy, pure and blameless before God because of their union with Christ. Their holiness will not be by their efforts but the sanctifying work of Christ, ‘for it is God that works in us both to will and do His good pleasure’. By responding to (working out) Christ’s sanctifying work they will share in the holy nature of Christ therefore they shall be called saints.
Saints are followers of Christ who are alive now (Ps 16:3; 85:8); it refers also to the assembly of believers (Ps 149:1); it is to them the kingdom is promised (Dan 7: 18; Col 1:12). Saints are not perfect otherwise they would not need perfecting (Eph 4:12), many times they are needy and poor (Rom 12:13;15:26); at times they are even sick and indisposed. But whatever their circumstances might be, they are saints, loved by God (Rom 1:7). It is the way God sees us and we must begin to see ourselves as such. Our perception of ourselves in this way may also help in living up to the character of the name we bear.
Jews, Greeks, Scythians, Barbarians, the wise and unwise, the rich and poor will all be called Saints in the fellowship of the Son of God. This is the beauty of the grace to which Christ has called us.