Phil Rowlands

Hello, my friends!

Have you ever felt like an outsider, desperately seeking a place to belong? Perhaps you've experienced the sting of rejection or the weight of feeling like a second-class citizen. Well, I have exciting news for you today! In Christ, we have been given a new identity and a new community that transcends all earthly divisions.

Friends, let's dive into the beautiful truth Paul shares with us in Ephesians. He tells us that we are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. Can you imagine the impact these words would have had on the Gentile believers who had always been on the outside looking in? Suddenly, they were brought near by the blood of Christ and made equal heirs of God's promises.

This incredible unity we have in Christ is not just a future hope, but a present reality we can experience now. Paul describes the church as God's workmanship, His masterpiece. In Ephesians 2:10, we read, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Just as an artist carefully crafts each brushstroke, God is shaping and moulding us into a beautiful work of art. We are a work in progress, being transformed from glory to glory into the image of Christ.

But here's the thing, friends – this transformation isn't about conforming us all to look and act exactly the same. No, God delights in our diversity! Like stones of different shapes and sizes, we are being fitted together into a holy temple. Each of us has a unique place and purpose in God's grand design. Paul uses a unique term in Ephesians 2:21, describing us as “being fitted together,” to emphasise this beautiful harmony in diversity.

Isn't it amazing to think that we are connected not only to believers around the world today, but to all the saints throughout history? We are part of the same heavenly city as Abraham, Moses, Peter, and Paul. The writer of Hebrews reminds us of this incredible reality in Hebrews 12:22-24: “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.”

As citizens of this heavenly kingdom, we have changed our allegiance. We have been transferred from the domain of darkness into the kingdom of God's beloved Son. Colossians 1:13 beautifully expresses this truth: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.”

Friends, this new identity we have in Christ gives us a cause worth living for, and even dying for if necessary. Paul understood this so well that he willingly endured imprisonment for the sake of sharing this mystery of Christ with the Gentiles. He was absolutely consumed with the person of Jesus, recognising that Christianity is, at its core, all about Christ.

In a world that often majors on minors, we must keep our focus on what truly matters. Like Paul, may we determine to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. For it is in Christ that God is reconciling all things to Himself, bringing unity where there was once hostility. Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 2:2 challenge us: “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

As members of God's household, we have the incredible privilege of intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father. We can approach His throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we are His beloved children. This spiritual birth transcends all earthly distinctions and levels the playing field. In God's family, there are no second-class citizens or favourites based on physical heritage.

Friends, have you ever considered the profound implications of this truth? It means that our worth and standing before God are not determined by our family background, our achievements, or our failures. Whether we come from a long line of believers or are the first in our family to know Christ, we have equal access to the Father. Galatians 3:28 declares, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

This unity in Christ doesn't erase our differences or unique experiences. Instead, it brings a beautiful harmony to our diversity. Think of it like a grand orchestra, where each instrument plays its unique part, contributing to a magnificent symphony. In the same way, our individual gifts, personalities, and backgrounds all have a place in God's grand design for His church.

Let's celebrate the diversity within the body of Christ while standing firm on our common foundation. We are living stones being built into a spiritual house, with Jesus Christ as our chief cornerstone. Without Him, the whole structure would collapse. So, let's keep Him at the centre of all we do and say. As 1 Peter 2:5 reminds us, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”

Now, I want to challenge you to think about how this truth can impact your daily life. How might your interactions with fellow believers change if you truly saw them as fellow citizens of heaven and members of God's household? How would it affect the way you view yourself and your place in the church?

Perhaps you've felt overlooked or undervalued in your local congregation. Remember, in God's eyes, you are a crucial part of His masterpiece. Your unique gifts and experiences are necessary for the body of Christ to function as He intended. As Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 12:18, “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.”

Or maybe you've struggled with feelings of superiority, thinking your spiritual heritage or gifting makes you more valuable to God. Let this truth humble you and remind you that we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. As Romans 3:23-24 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”

Friends, when we truly grasp our identity in Christ and our position as fellow citizens and family members, it changes everything. It affects how we relate to one another, how we serve in the church, and how we engage with the world around us. We begin to see every interaction as an opportunity to reflect the unity and love that Christ has brought us into.

This unity doesn't mean we'll always agree on everything. Even in the early church, there were disagreements and conflicts. But our shared identity in Christ provides the foundation for working through these differences with love, humility, and grace. As Paul urges in Ephesians 4:3, we should be “endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Let's also remember that this unity we have in Christ is not just for our own benefit. It's a powerful witness to the world of God's reconciling love. Jesus Himself prayed for this unity in John 17:21, saying, “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” Our unity in diversity demonstrates the transforming power of the gospel in a way that words alone never could.

Friends, as we reflect on these truths, let's consider how we can practically live them out. Perhaps it means reaching out to a fellow believer you've had a disagreement with, extending forgiveness and seeking reconciliation. Maybe it involves stepping out of your comfort zone to serve alongside someone from a different background or generation in your church. Or it could mean taking time to encourage and uplift a brother or sister who feels marginalised or overlooked.

Remember, our unity in Christ is not based on our own efforts or ability to get along. It's rooted in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Ephesians 2:14-16 reminds us, “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.”

As we go about our daily lives, let's be mindful of the incredible privilege and responsibility we have as citizens of God's kingdom and members of His household. Let's embrace unity and the love of Christ in our interactions with fellow believers and with the world around us. May our lives be a testament to the transforming power of the gospel, drawing others to the hope and belonging found only in Christ.

Be blessed today, my brothers and sisters. May you walk in the fullness of your identity in Christ, embracing your unique place in His body while cherishing the unity we share. Let's stand together for this glorious cause, supporting one another as fellow citizens of heaven and members of God's household. For in Christ, we truly belong. May we live in such a way that the world sees our unity and is drawn to the Saviour who made it possible. As we go about our days, let's keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, knowing that in Him, we are complete and fully accepted. May His love compel us to extend the same grace and acceptance to others, building up the body of Christ in love.

Phil