Ephesians 3:5-6
"…which in other ages was not made know to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel"
Paul often wrote of the mystery of the gospel of Christ, a mystery now made clear through the Spirit of God. So what was this mystery, but that the mercies of God were not intended solely for the family of Abraham, but to all humanity?
Christianity is wrongly portrayed by those seeking to deny its message as an exclusive faith, discriminating against the beliefs of others and closed-minded in its teachings. The truth is, God was the first to seek diversity in faith and calls all to a belief in Jesus Christ through the Spirit. The mystery Paul says is revealed in the Spirit is that God has made the way of salvation available to everyone.
In response to this universal availability of salvation, the role of the church is to extend God's invitation throughout the world. While the church has been faithful to the message of Christ's love, our unwillingness to truly care for others leaves most thinking we're in some way looking down on them. They can't get past this impression to hear God's invitation.
The key may be not in emphasizing the change that has come upon our lives, since this focuses on us, but in spending more time introducing others to Christ. Our personal testimony of faith might be powerful, but salvation is only of the gospel message, and that focus is on Christ and the cross.
The good news of the gospel is that it is for everyone. No one is excluded, with all invited to come to faith in Jesus Christ.
LORD JESUS
Lord, I thank you for your Spirit's testimony of the gospel. May we be a people who rightly portray the love of Christ and share your invitation to all others. Amen.
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