Alien Nation

. . . remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12 Having No Hope – From the biblical perspective, there is no man without a country. If I am…

Return To Me

. . . remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12 Covenants Of Promise – “Come back to Me,” says the Lord. The Hebrew verb, shuv, is used more…

Now Things Have Changed

. . . remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, Excluded From – Paul likes to use opposites to capture important ideas. We do the same thing, contrasting opposites in order to make our ideas clear. But Paul’s use of opposites isn’t quite the same as…

God’s Politics

remember that you were at one time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, Ephesians 2:12 Commonwealth – God has a government.  He rules in a particular way.  His authority is unquestionable, His legislation perfect.  If we…

Outside In

remember that you were at one time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, Ephesians 2:12 Strangers – Once you and I were a strangers to God.  Oh, God knew us, all right.  He wasn’t a stranger…

The Politics of Paul

remember that you were at one time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, Ephesians 2:12 Commonwealth – Perhaps the NIV gives us a better understanding of this word, politeia, by translating it as “citizenship in.”  But…

Foreign Disaster

remember that you were at one time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world, Ephesians 2:12 Excluded – What is it like to be separated from Christ?  We commonly think that separation means no relationship with God,…

Hope Fully

remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.   Ephesians 2:12 Hope – Human beings were made to hope.  Hope sets us apart from the rest of animated creation.  Hope determines our…