Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.
(Ephesians 2:4-10, NKJV)
Is God a long way off? Many people think that God is far away. So he will not hear their prayers unless they first go to witch-doctors or priests or other special people, or make sacrifices to God. What do you think about this? Can anyone remember a time when they felt without God in the world?
Was there a time when you did not know Christ?
Is there any hope for people without God?
What can bring us near to God?
Is it right for people who believe in Jesus Christ to be enemies of each other?
What has stopped us hating other people?
All people who believe in Jesus Christ belong together. It does not matter which tribe or people we come from. The color of our skin does not matter. God has broken down the ‘walls’ of hatred that often separated people before they became Christians. (See Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11.)
We do not belong to God’s people just because our parents were Christians. We only come near to God, when each one of us believes that Jesus Christ died for the wrong things that we have each done. We cannot become real Christians by keeping God’s laws and rules, even if we could manage to do this.
The Bible makes clear that it is not necessary for Christian men or boys to be circumcised (Galatians 5:6). NOTE: ‘Female circumcision’ is not good. This means to cut or sew together a girl’s or a woman’s sex parts. It is a ‘custom’ or ‘tradition’ in some countries, but it harms a woman’s body. It can cause many problems for women’s health when they are older and want to have children.
In the days of Paul, there was often trouble between Jews who believed in Jesus Christ and non-Jews who believed in Jesus Christ, two different groups of Christians. Are there different groups of Christians who do not like each other where you live? Do you think that God is pleased about this? What is the most important thing that makes us belong together?
Today, people from many different tribes and religions hate and kill each other. This is not what God wants. God has said, “You shall not murder (kill someone against the law)” (Exodus 20:13). Jesus said that we should love our enemies, not hate them (Matthew 5:44). How can we do this?
Is it good to treat someone from another tribe or group in a different way from someone in your own group?
(Ephesians 2:4-10, NKJV)
Is God a long way off? Many people think that God is far away. So he will not hear their prayers unless they first go to witch-doctors or priests or other special people, or make sacrifices to God. What do you think about this? Can anyone remember a time when they felt without God in the world?
Was there a time when you did not know Christ?
Is there any hope for people without God?
What can bring us near to God?
Is it right for people who believe in Jesus Christ to be enemies of each other?
What has stopped us hating other people?
All people who believe in Jesus Christ belong together. It does not matter which tribe or people we come from. The color of our skin does not matter. God has broken down the ‘walls’ of hatred that often separated people before they became Christians. (See Romans 10:12; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11.)
We do not belong to God’s people just because our parents were Christians. We only come near to God, when each one of us believes that Jesus Christ died for the wrong things that we have each done. We cannot become real Christians by keeping God’s laws and rules, even if we could manage to do this.
The Bible makes clear that it is not necessary for Christian men or boys to be circumcised (Galatians 5:6). NOTE: ‘Female circumcision’ is not good. This means to cut or sew together a girl’s or a woman’s sex parts. It is a ‘custom’ or ‘tradition’ in some countries, but it harms a woman’s body. It can cause many problems for women’s health when they are older and want to have children.
In the days of Paul, there was often trouble between Jews who believed in Jesus Christ and non-Jews who believed in Jesus Christ, two different groups of Christians. Are there different groups of Christians who do not like each other where you live? Do you think that God is pleased about this? What is the most important thing that makes us belong together?
Today, people from many different tribes and religions hate and kill each other. This is not what God wants. God has said, “You shall not murder (kill someone against the law)” (Exodus 20:13). Jesus said that we should love our enemies, not hate them (Matthew 5:44). How can we do this?
Is it good to treat someone from another tribe or group in a different way from someone in your own group?
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