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Daily Devotions
A systematic reading of the Scriptures, portioned to complement your daily time spent with God.Pastoral Letters
- Meditation
A weekly pastoral column that complements the pulpit messages and bimonthly theme. - Grace Works
A weekly pastoral letter to minister to young adults, inspired by the grace of God. - Youth Walk
A weekly pastoral letter written to encourage young people in their daily walk with God. - Parenting by the Book
A series from the Book of Proverbs that teaches us how to bring up children and build good Christian homes. Study Notes
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Message notes from every Sunday’s Morning Worship with a common bimonthly theme. - Evening-Bilingual Worship Messages
Message notes from every Sunday’s Evening-Bilingual Worship with a common bimonthly theme. - Prayer Meeting Notes
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Notes from our weekly Tuesday Bible Study - Senior Sunday School 4 Notes
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Message notes from Combined Sunday School focusing on the Life and Teachings of Christ Jesus - Young Adults’ Group Messages
Message notes from our weekly Young Adults’ Group meetings. - Young People’s Group Messages
Message notes from our weekly Young People’s Group meetings. - Family Camp Messages
Message notes from our annual family camps where different themes are explored every year. - Spiritual & YAG Retreat Messages
Message notes from our biannual Spiritual & YAG Retreats that serve to instruct, correct and regenerate. - Youth Conference Messages
Message notes from our annual youth conferences where young people learn the relevance of faith. - Intermediate Sunday School
Message notes from the Intermediate Sunday School
Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"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."
Text: Ephesians 2:15
SCRIPTURE EXPLAINING SCRIPTURE
The idea of God abolishing the old system contained in “the law of commandments” was very difficult for the Jews in the days of Paul to understand, let alone accept. But the apostle Paul was not the only one who propounded and defended this theological position. The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews also boldly propounded this glorious truth. Let us consider the following text from Hebrews.
“Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings,
and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’
(Which are offered according to the law),
then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’
He takes away the first that He may establish the second.
By that will we have been sanctified through the offering
of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
HEBREWS 10:8-10
1. Reference to “the law of commandments contained in ordinances”
There was clear reference to the “law of commandments”. The references are unmistakable. Note the reference to “sacrifice and offerings, burnt offerings and offerings for sin.”
2. “No pleasure in them”
Did God really take pleasure in the slaughtering of animals in worship? It would be a mistake to think that God actually enjoyed the slaying of animals. The killing of animals for worship purposes was to reinforce an important truth to ancient Israel. Precious lives had to be sacrificed in order to obtain atonement for sin.
However, ancient Israel seemed to fail to comprehend this great truth. What was worse, the nation concluded that the mere act of sacrificing animals constituted worship. The wonderful and pure religion that God had given His people had degenerated so badly that God decided to abolish that system. He took no pleasure in the worship that ancient Israel had made it become.
3. Replacement of the old system
The old system had to be abolished before a new one could be established. When Christ came “in the flesh” and died on the Cross, He effectively “took away the first” system.
4. Initiation of the new system
The new system was established the moment the old one was abolished. No longer would anyone be considered sanctified through the sacrificial system of the Old Covenant. Sanctification was given “through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ”.
5. “Once for all”
Only ONE sacrifice was necessary. The sinless body of the Lord Jesus Christ was that Perfect Sacrifice that God accepted as totally sufficient for the atonement of sin. In and through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ, the New Covenant was established. In that Covenant, both Jew and Gentile are sanctified in and through the Body of the Lord Jesus.