The passage above highlights the external nature of Paul's address, as he uses the phrase "we both" to refer to those who were not natural-born Jews, as opposed to those who were, but rather his focus is anyone outside the covenant. Paul is acutely aware that these Gentiles were considered outsiders, far from the mercies of God and distanced from the camp of Israel. However, his mission was to bring them close to the Father by providing them access through Christ and inviting them into close proximity. By doing so, Paul sought to bridge the gap and create a pathway for all those who are seeking a deeper spiritual connection, regardless of their origin.
Jesus' message of peace was not just mere words but demonstrated through His actions and agape love. Though some may have preferred Jesus to be a political leader who could bring worldly peace, He came to offer peace with God. Jesus' mission was to settle accounts that had been remembered for generations, and it was through Him that the nations outside the camp of Israel could be reconciled with God. God initially disinherited these nations, but He assigned the Sons of God to rule over them until the Messiah would come and unite all of God's people once again.
Notably, the outlier nations worshipped deities considered foreign to Yahweh, such as Baal, Ashtoreth, Ishtar, and others. These gods were initially the Sons of God mentioned in Deuteronomy 32:8-9, sent to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah of the world. However, they grew weary, abandoned their original purpose, and turned against the people they were meant to serve, becoming malevolent forces that led the nations astray.
Paul said that Jesus preached peace to those near, which means He preached to His countrymen. “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” John 1:11 ESV It is incredible to me that here is the creator of the universe who came to earth to become a man to redeem mankind, who is rejected by His people and put to death for challenging the status quo. It wasn’t as if Jesus wasn’t speaking anything they didn’t already know, He was using the scripture to validate many of His claims, but there was spiritual pride that was blinding the Jews from seeing who Jesus really was.
Jesus came and suffered the cruelest tortures inflicted upon any man, rejection by His very own people and incessant beatings and crucifixion by the Romans, this was the price that had to be paid to purchase our salvation and our redemption to our heavenly Father. It is hard to imagine anything crueler than what such a man of peace like Jesus went through, but that was the cost.
In this life, it's easy to feel lost and far from God's mercies. Whether we were born into a culture that didn't embrace Christianity, or were raised in a Christian home but never truly felt that connection with the Father, the good news is that we all have equal access to the Kingdom of God through one spirit.
Thanks to the grace and mercy of the Father, we can find our way to Him through Christ. He is our one-way ticket to the Kingdom of God, regardless of our cultural background or upbringing. The only thing that truly matters is our believing loyalty in Jesus Christ.
I believe that all of us were far off at one time or another, and it was God that found us. I also believe that each and every one of us has experienced this feeling at some point. But the good news is that we don't have to stay far off. God is always seeking us out, even when we don't realize it. We often think that we make the decision to follow Jesus, but actually, it was Jesus who made the decision for us by sacrificing Himself on the cross. Through His body, He has given us access to salvation, and all we have to do is accept His gift. He relentlessly pursues us with His never-ending love and mercy, and when He finds us, He pours out His grace upon us. Our Father is a God of love, and He will stop at nothing to bring us into His embrace. "Am I a God anyone can hide from? Do I not see what happens in secret? Am I not everywhere, filling heaven and earth?" Jeremiah 23:24 The Voice
In the end it is all about Jesus, not about us, Jesus provided the method and the means, we merely provide the vessel for Him to fill. Our job is to soak in the presence of Christ, which is without any effort on our part. We cannot add anything to the victory of the cross or improve on the Christian life. All we can do is surrender our will and rest in the finished work of Jesus, allowing Him to fill us with Himself. To soak in His presence, we don't need to do anything; we simply need to let go of our own will and allow Him to take over, how can it be simpler than that?
Stephen Barnett
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