For many centuries the Gentiles stood on the outside. They were, as the apostle Paul says, “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12). The separation between Jew and Gentile is even called “the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (v 14).

Actually, at that time, in the temple in Jerusalem, there was a physical barrier between the Gentiles and the Jews. There was one, outer courtyard for the Gentiles. Then, closer to the temple itself there was another courtyard reserved for Jews only. Between the two stood a stone dividing wall about four feet high. That stone wall, though silent, spoke volumes. The Gentiles, the unclean, the uncircumcised had to stay out! They did not belong.

However, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, Jesus Christ. Then things began to change. Through his death on the cross, He smashed down the stone dividing wall (v 14). Now Gentiles no longer stand on the outside, as excluded foreigners, but they are included. “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household” (v 19).

Sometimes, though, the inclusion of foreigners is less than wholehearted. Many immigrants (perhaps even members of your own family) can tell stories of how they moved to a new country but they were still made to feel like outsiders.

However, when God included Gentiles within his people, it was a complete inclusion. They were not only “fellow citizens with God’s people” but also “members of God’s household.” Living within the same country as other people is one thing; living under the same roof is quite another. Yet the Lord not only gave the Gentiles new citizenship papers, He also brought them into a new family, his own family.

God’s household is full of adopted children (Ephesians 1:5). Yes, there is the one, eternal, natural Son. However, the rest of the children are all adopted. Living within a huge household of adopted children presents its own set of joys and challenges. The joy is that all these children have a home to call their own, whereas otherwise they would have been left out in the cold as orphans. The challenge is that adopted children all have their own family histories and divergent backgrounds. Yet despite their differences, adopted siblings have to learn to love each other and live together.

By the Father’s choice in Christ (Ephesians 1:4), Jews and Gentiles alike became members of God’s household. However, life within God’s household was not always peaceful bliss. Numerous letters of the apostle Paul indicated that Jewish and Gentile siblings did not always get along with each other. They disagreed and even argued. At times they did selfish and unkind things to each other. The Jewish siblings did not always understand their Gentile brothers and sisters with their different ways and habits. And vice-versa. Nevertheless, the Father had joined them in one household which was built squarely on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone of the house. So now they all had to learn to love and live with each other.

The inclusion of the Gentiles was a unique moment in the history of redemption, but many of the principles still apply today. In the church of the living God, which is his household, we live with many different brothers and sisters. In most of our congregations, the vast majority, if not all, are Gentiles. Still there is no lack of variety! All our spiritual siblings come complete with their unique characters and specific histories. We are all adopted after all!

Family life within the local congregation is not always easy. Sometimes siblings even get into spats. Yet, in faith, we understand that we are God’s children here and now, and that we have to learn to love each other and live together on the un-moveable foundation of God’s eternal Word (Ephesians 2:20).

Finally, let’s take this a step farther and apply it to our relationship with the United Reformed Churches. The family metaphor, however, does apply. We call each other sister churches. We refer to each other as brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Sometimes because of circumstances and/or sin, a household becomes separated. However, that is not how it ought to be. A family should live together, under the same roof. That may take some time. Let’s remember that the building of God’s household is ongoing (Ephesians 2:22). However, since we are sisters by grace alone, we do have to learn to love each other and live together, also by grace alone. Anything less would not be honourable to our heavenly Father, the head of the household.