在基督裡合一
以弗所書二章11至22節
11所以你們應當記念:你們從前按肉體是外邦人,是稱為沒受割禮的;這名原是那些憑人手在肉身上稱為受割禮之人所起的。
12那時,你們與基督無關,在以色列國民以外,在所應許的諸約上是局外人,並且活在世上沒有指望,沒有神。
13你們從前遠離神的人,如今卻在基督耶穌裡,靠著他的血,已經得親近了。
14因他使我們和睦(原文作:因他是我們的和睦),將兩下合而為一,拆毀了中間隔斷的牆;
15而且以自己的身體廢掉冤仇,就是那記在律法上的規條,為要將兩下藉著自己造成一個新人,如此便成就了和睦。
16既在十字架上滅了冤仇,便藉這十字架使兩下歸為一體,與神和好了,
17並且來傳和平的福音給你們遠處的人,也給那近處的人。
18因為我們兩下藉著他被一個聖靈所感,得以進到父面前。
19這樣,你們不再作外人和客旅,是與聖徒同國,是神家裡的人了;
20並且被建造在使徒和先知的根基上,有基督耶穌自己為房角石,
21各(或作:全)房靠他聯絡得合式,漸漸成為主的聖殿。
22你們也靠他同被建造,成為神藉著聖靈居住的所在。
信息分享
在耶路撒冷的聖殿裡築有一堵牆,只有猶太人可以穿過一個細小的門口進到牆的裡面;若非猶太人試圖穿過,便可能被處死。這確實是一堵用來分隔的牆。
可是,保羅在這裡說,這堵牆如今已藉著基督被拆毀了。這意味著所有屬於耶穌基督的人,無論是任何種族或膚色,都屬乎一個身體。正如一首兒歌說:「不論紅、黃、白、黑,在主眼中都寶貴」。屬於基督的人,便成為神家裡的人,彼此互為手足,大家稱兄道弟。
今天,希望你能反省一個問題:在神的家中,有沒有哪位信徒是你不喜歡跟他談話的呢?有沒有哪位信徒是你對他不滿的呢?你知道其他信徒之間也有這樣的嫌隙嗎?請記著,對方是你的兄弟姊妹,你們將來要一同在天家生活。為何不嘗試衝破隔膜,消除分歧,一起向世人見證你們在基督裡已合而為一呢?
我們不可忘記基督的教導:「你們若有彼此相愛的心,眾人因此就認出你們是我的門徒了。」(約十三35)
UNITED IN CHRIST
Ephesians 2: 11 – 22
11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
12 that at that time you 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 you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,
15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace,
16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone,
21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord,
22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Message
There used to be a wall in the Temple in Jerusalem which had a small door in it. Only Jews could go through that door. If a person who was not a Jew tried to go through, he would probably have been put to death. That wall was a very real dividing line.
But Paul says that wall has been broken down now through Christ. It means that all who belong to Jesus Christ are members of his body, no matter who they are or what colour they are. As the chorus says, ‘Red or yellow, black or white, all are precious in his sight’. If you belong to Christ, you are my brother, my sister. We are all in the same family.
A question for you today. Is there anyone who is a fellow Christian who you are not willing to speak to? Is there anyone against whom you have wrong feelings in your heart? Is there anyone like that you know of? Remember that person is your brother, your sister in Christ. You will be living with them in heaven. Why not start to make friends with them and show to the world that you are really all one in Christ.
What did Christ say? ‘Be this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.’

