Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near."
Text: Ephesians 2:17
ONE GOSPEL MESSAGE
Paul stoutly defended the fact that there is only One Gospel message. He resisted everyone who sought to proclaim “another Gospel”. In his epistle to the Galatians, Paul warned his readers to beware of the false gospel preached by some.
“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him
who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,
which is not another (of the same kind);
but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert
the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven,
preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.”
GALATIANS 1:6-8
THE CONTENTS OF THE GOSPEL MUST REMAIN INTACT
Paul especially resisted “the Judaizers” who sought to proclaim a message that included Christ, but also had strong emphasis on keeping the “laws of the commandments” for salvation. To the apostle Paul, this was nothing less than a perverted Gospel. Those who proclaimed such a Gospel would be accursed of God.
GOSPEL OF PEACE PREACHED TO THOSE “AFAR OFF”
The phrase “afar off” would be an obvious reference to the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:12-13). What would be the message preached to them?
“But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off
have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
EPHESIANS 2:13
GOSPEL OF PEACE TO BE PREACHED TO “THOSE WHO ARE NEAR”
What about “those who are near” – an obvious reference to the Jews? The message of the Gospel would be exactly the same. (It is interesting to note that in the Greek text, the word “peace” was used twice in Ephesians 2:17. The sentence literally translated would read thus:
“And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off
and peace to those who were near.”
EPHESIANS 2:17
The same gospel of peace through Christ Jesus must be faithfully proclaimed at all times.
A STRONG DETERMINATION TO PREACH NOTHING BUT THE MESSAGE OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST
Paul determined in his spirit that he would always be faithful and true in the proclamation of the message of the cross of Christ. With deep emotion, he wrote to the Corinthian Church these words.
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come
with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you
the testimony of God.
For I determined now to know anything among you
except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
1 CORINTHIANS 2:1-2