breaking down walls

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Oh the mystery of our God, who in some way (and this sounds almost blasphemous to say) sets us with Christ in the heavens. Ephesians 2:4-10 shows us that we have been (notice the past tense) seated with Christ. What have I done to be honored in heaven? But the past tense is important, for it is not for something we will do, but for what we have already done - nothing, except being saved through God's grace. I am honored for being a vessel for the grace of God to be manifest.

One question: are we God's workmanship (in this context) because of our salvation or because of our creation? The latter seems to imply that God has prepared good works for all people to do.

Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.

Ephesians 2:11-22 begins to move into something I've been thinking alot about lately: cultural studies. We often create "divides" by which we seperate people into the good and the bad. Even more often, we do this at church. We add more commandments and regulations to replace those which we lose because of Christ. Where is our peace? I want to find how we can make culture not about dividing, but sharing, delving into the 'foundation' which we are a part of.

Last note: is the final you plural or singular?