We’re experimenting with something for a couple of weeks: spreading our posts throughout the day instead of loading them up all at once. It was a little cleaner before but it tended to attract all the conversation to one post … so we’ll be doing our Bible study closer to the middle of the day for awhile. So check us early and then come back later.

The gospel of Christ is the gospel of peace, the gospel of making two — Gentiles and Jews — one new community of faith. So Paul in Ephesians 1. We turn to Eph 3:6, 8.

2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which
was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been
revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This
mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with
Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the
promise in Christ Jesus.

7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. 8 Although
I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me:
to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and
to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for
ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His
intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly
realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

This is an amazing set of lines by Paul and provides insight into what Paul’s gospel is all about:

1. It is the grace of God at work in calling him.
2. It is the grace of God at work to unite Jews and Gentiles.
3. It is the grace of God as a mystery now made known — to unite Jews and Gentiles by grafting Gentiles into the Jewish people of God.
4. It is the grace of God at work in Christ.
5. It is the grace of God at work in the Church of Christ.