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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
- Morning Worship Messages
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
Notes from our weekly Monday Prayer Meetings - Bible Study Notes
Notes from our weekly Tuesday Bible Study - Senior Sunday School 4 Notes
Notes from Pastor Charles’ Sunday School class - Combined Sunday School Notes
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
"So as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity."
Text: Ephesians 2:15-16
A SIMPLE COORDINATE CONJUNCTION
The twin works of peace and reconciliation were joined together most effectively by the simple coordinate conjunction “and” (“kai”). Thus we must read Ephesians 2:15-16 together, for the thoughts are conjoint.
A HUGE BACKGROUND PROBLEM
In order to understand the word “reconciliation” more completely, we need to look at the book of Hosea where the relationship between Israel and God was badly estranged.
1. The threat of being shown “no more mercy”
Being estranged from God put Israel into serious danger. Consider the solemn word that the prophet Hosea had to proclaim to ancient Israel.
“Call her name Lo-Ruhamah (literally “no mercy”)
For I will no longer have mercy on the house of Israel.”
HOSEA 1:6
2. The threat of being no longer called “God’s people”
There was another grave danger of losing the privilege of being called “God’s people”.
“Then God said,
‘Call his name Lo-Ammi (literally, “not my people”)
For you are not My people,
And I will not be your God.”
HOSEA 1:9
Despite all that God had done to bless His people, they had turned away from Him.
GRAVE CONSEQUENCES
Israel had sinned gravely against God. To turn away from God had grave consequences. The following text describes the dilemma ancient Israel was in.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being priest for Me;
Because you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.”
HOSEA 4:6
1. The threat of Rejection
Since ancient Israel had broken the covenant of God and had in effect rejected Him, they were in danger of being totally rejected.
2. The threat to Posterity
The threat was bigger than ancient Israel had comprehended. Subsequent generations could be adversely affected. Their children could end up being “forgotten by God”.