The Old Covenant ended, and the New Covenant began with the death and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God. Rather than a repeated yearly ritual, reconciliation on this side of the cross is a finished work we receive. God’s mercy seat isn’t in a tabernacle. The mercy seat is Jesus.

Just as there are bookends in a natural library, we need spiritual bookends to interpret our faith.

The FIRST bookend is the distinctive nature of salvation found only in Jesus: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Jesus spoke those words to Jewish men who were trained in Jewish traditions. They would carry this message both to the nation of Israel and the Gentiles. Only Jesus can mediate between God’s holiness and righteous justice and His love for broken humanity. Only Jesus can save.

The SECOND bookend is found in Galatians 3:28, “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

The current discussions about Jews, the nation of Israel, and Christians have become negative and divisive. Scripture is clear: A Jew or Gentile becomes a child of God when they believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, their Savior, and then surrender their life to Him. We become one with Jesus and one with each other when we believe in Him.

Whether slave or free, we are one in Jesus Christ, not one in our distinctive place in the social order. His words dismantle the totem poles of pride that elevate us, one against the other.

We were uniquely created as male and female. Yet in Jesus, we become one. 

Under the scrutiny of these two bookends, the discussions we are having should not divide us. Rather, they clarify and unify us. 

We need to remember which spirit it is that drives a wedge between any of us. We should be at peace as far as possible.  And be consecrated, set apart unto God. And in all things, demonstrate God’s love.