You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone… — Ephesians 2:19-20

These two verses sum up some of the great benefits that result from Jesus’ saving work. They look back to verse 13, “in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” Christ literally means Messiah. Jesus is the long-expected deliverer, who had been prophesied many years earlier.

At the right time, God sent His Son, Jesus who is “Immanuel” – God with us. At the right time, God spoke to each one of us. In my case (and probably yours also), the Holy Spirit had been working, preparing me, for several years. At the right time, God spoke in His grace – His favour that we did not deserve -to each one of us. God spoke His message of peace. We had no hope and were without God in the world (verse 12).

But God took action in His great love. “God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, made us alive together with Christ” (verses 4-5). What action did we need to take? Absolutely nothing! The only thing we needed to do was to not obstruct God’s gracious work in our lives. Jesus Himself is our peace (verse 14). Jesus reconciled us to God through the cross (verse 16).

Jesus has given us direct access to Almighty God, His Father. Through Jesus we have access in the Holy Spirit to the Father”.

Now we are no longer aliens and strangers to God. We are fellow citizens of Heaven with the vast number of our brothers and sisters in Christ, throughout the centuries and throughout the world. When Paul wrote, very few people were citizens of Rome. Being a citizen gave great benefits. How much greater are the benefits of being a citizen of Heaven! We are also members of the household of God. Jesus Himself is not only our Saviour, but also our brother.

So let us join in the song in Heaven to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world:

We pray:

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5.9-10)

Amen.