Ethnicity & The Gospel

Here in the United States of America, we have all sorts of people groups (which you may refer to as races) running, walking, and driving in our cities. We see them all the time. We eat in the same restaurants. We sit in the same theaters. We attend the same churches. Sort of. In other countries, the ethnic diversity phenomenon isn’t all that fantastic. Most of these countries are populated with people who look like one another. Neither these countries nor the US are special. Celebrating one’s ethnicity is cool. But after the  celebration is over, the music stops, the chairs are folded, and people go home, what is left standing?

Sin. Separation. Guilt. Judgement. Death. And no one stands after that.

With all the people groups in this world, will there ever be peace among them all? There already is peace and it was secured many, many years ago.

Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near.18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

When Jesus died, the harmony among all people groups was sealed as the Gentiles, who were once separated from the commonwealth of Israel and having no hope, were brought near by Christ’s blood and made into one. The dividing wall of hostility has been torn down. In fact, a new man was created with peace that kills the hostility.

So what’s left standing after the world wraps their minds around this truth? Unfortunately, sin and death will remain for some. But there will be thousands upon thousands of saints who fall into all of the people groups in the world that will live and act like the new man created with peace all worshiping the one and true Lord Jesus. Make no mistake about it. There will be seams of peace and reconciliation here on earth, but it will be more glorious and more apparent once Christ returns.

So where does ethnicity stand in relation to the gospel? Looked at rightly, it stands neatly within the gospel where Christ has united all people groups into one new man.

#ethnicity #Gospel #newman