One New Humanity for the World (Advent 17, 2023)

One new humanity for the world…but it’s not what the world thinks.

Forging a one-world peace
without an entirely new type of people is a losing effort.
That’s why Jesus wants us “born-again”.

Look at how Jesus makes one new humanity for eternal life and lasting peace. It’s a purchase agreement. One new humanity out of all the parts of the old because with His blood, He “purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9).

Diversity isn’t its strength.
Salvation in Christ alone is its strength.
As the old song goes, “There’s power in the blood.”

Questions for further thought:

Read this passage and see how mankind had no role except to be willing recipients. It’s all by God’s grace.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith– and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)–12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.”

What was that wall of hostility?

Jews did not mix with Gentiles for purity reasons. How did the Law keep the Jews separate until the Messiah came?

Once the Messiah clearly came “from the Jews” did the wall need to be destroyed so salvation could be “for the world?”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for tearing down the wall of hostility in the spiritual realm. You have already fulfilled the Law and are in the process of lifting the world of faithful ones apart from the world of unbelief. We thank You that Your work of salvation is already done and, in Your grace, You’ve given this world time to repent and believe. Your Kingdom is near. Your Day is at hand. Your people look for Your return and pray Your mercy upon us as we preach the Good News of Your birth, life, death, and resurrection so the full number is ready–and that the full number would be from every nation, tribe, and tongue which is further evidence of Your love and mercy! We love You, Lord, for Who You are, and for what You’ve done for us. Amen.

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Acknowledging inquiries about an entire season’s devotionals for your study group’s planning purposes, Seminary Gal’s prior seasons’ Advent devotionals can be accessed via the archives to the right and are as follows:

“Awaken Remnant” was the devotional topic for 2022. It began November 27, 2022, and highlighted the remnant found throughout Scripture as evident in Jesus’ lineage.
The multi-faceted Interlude between the promise of a Deliverer and the birth of our Messiah and King was the theme of 2021’s devotional series. It is archived beginning November 28, 2021.
2020’s Devotional Series Divine Intervention began on November 29, 2020 and explored God’s activity on behalf of a hurting world and nations in tumult– Intervention for you and for me when our status as sinners required nothing short of a miracle.
God’s Christmas list explored what might be on God’s Christmas list, learning what He wants from us. It began December 1, 2019.
Storyteller began December 2, 2018 and entered into the Christmas story through its telling.
The 2017 series Still Christmas, began December 3, 2017 and was the Advent complement to the Lenten series, Be Still and Know that I AM God.
The 2016 season devotionals were called “Timeless: The Message of Christmas for All Ages” and explored how the message of Christmas is timeless truth, for all ages of people, and for all ages at all times. Timeless hope, encouragement, grace, peace, and love as we looked into the Word, saw the face of our Lord Jesus, and experienced restoration in His presence. His goodness and His Gospel are truly Timeless. The 2016 devotionals began November 27, 2016.
The 2015 season devotionals were titled Incarnation and involved digging deep–and yes, I mean deep– in this important mystery of Christian theology. They began November 29, 2015.
Carol Me, Christmas! remains one of my most popular offerings and tells the Christmas story through our most beloved Christmas hymns and carols. You can access all of the numbered devotionals from 2014 via the archives. They began November 30, 2014.
The 2013 series was Emmanuel: When LOVE Showed Up in Person and examined the Prologue to the Gospel of John. It began December 1, 2013.
The 2012 series focused on Expecting the Unexpected…the unexpected, unlikely, and uniquely divine qualities of God’s perfect plan outlined in Luke’s account of the Christmas story. It began December 1, 2012.