Definition and Context:
Inclusion, within a biblical context, refers to the act of embracing and integrating individuals into the community of believers, regardless of their background, ethnicity, or social status. This concept is rooted in the understanding that all people are created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and that the gospel of Jesus Christ is intended for all nations and peoples.

Old Testament Foundations:
The Old Testament lays the groundwork for inclusion through the covenantal relationship between God and Israel, which was meant to be a light to the nations (Isaiah 42:6). The Law provided for the inclusion of foreigners and sojourners, as seen in Leviticus 19:34: "You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God."

New Testament Fulfillment:
The New Testament expands on the theme of inclusion through the ministry of Jesus Christ and the early church. Jesus' interactions with Samaritans, tax collectors, and sinners exemplify His inclusive approach (John 4:7-26; Luke 19:1-10). The Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) commands believers to "go and make disciples of all nations," underscoring the universal scope of the gospel.

The Apostle Paul further articulates this inclusivity in Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." This verse highlights the breaking down of social and ethnic barriers within the body of Christ.

The Early Church:
The early church grappled with issues of inclusion, particularly concerning Gentile believers. The Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) addressed whether Gentiles needed to adhere to Jewish customs to be part of the Christian community. The decision to not impose such burdens affirmed the inclusive nature of the gospel.

Theological Implications:
Inclusion reflects the heart of God, who desires that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). It challenges believers to reflect God's love and grace by welcoming all into the fellowship of the church. The parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) serves as a powerful illustration of loving one's neighbor without prejudice.

Practical Application:
Inclusion calls for the church to actively reach out to marginalized and diverse groups, ensuring that the message of Christ is accessible to all. This involves creating welcoming environments, addressing social injustices, and fostering unity within the body of Christ. As Ephesians 2:14 states, "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility."

Conclusion:
The biblical mandate for inclusion is clear and compelling, urging believers to embody the love and acceptance demonstrated by Christ. Through inclusion, the church reflects the kingdom of God, where every tribe, tongue, and nation is represented and valued.1. (n.) The act of including, or the state of being included; limitation; restriction; as, the lines of inclusion of his policy.

2. (n.) A foreign substance, either liquid or solid, usually of minute size, enclosed in the mass of a mineral.

2474. Israel -- Israel, the name of the Jewish people and their ...
... 2474 (transliterated from the OT term 3478 , "Israel") -- Israel; the elect-nation
of God in the OT "consummated by the inclusion of Gentile believers in the ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2474.htm - 7k

5064. tessares -- four
... four Definition: four. 5064 -- , which sometimes also symbolizes ("total
coverage, inclusion"). Word Origin a prim. cardinal number ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5064.htm - 6k

The Two Guests
... II. And now consider, secondly, the inclusion of the 'moment' in the 'life.'.
I do not know that the Psalmist thought of that when ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture j/the two guests.htm

Appendix.
... APPENDIX. Considerations of space have prevented the inclusion of all the
Prayers of St. Paul, but for the treatment of the prayer ...
//christianbookshelf.org/thomas/the prayers of st paul/appendix.htm

The Saybrook Platform and the Toleration Act
... the October legislation of the General Court by the passing of the Toleration Act
at its spring session, notwithstanding the fact that its inclusion was in ...
/.../chapter vii the saybrook platform.htm

Appendix ii (To 1-4 of Part I)
... This was, indeed, very nearly being done, and the inclusion of the Shepherd of Hermas
in many (Western) exemplars of the Old Testament, even in the Middle Ages ...
/.../harnack/the origin of the new testament/appendix ii to 4-jan.htm

Title and Position.
... and Theodotion only. By means of this insertion, and the inclusion of what
in AV are the first four verses of chap. iv., this chapter ...
/.../daubney/the three additions to daniel a study/title and position.htm

Introduction
... The most original work of Syrian Christianity deserves inclusion in the list; astrology
and the slavery of fate, touched on by other Apologists, was the main ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/introduction 6.htm

The High Priest's Prayer
... Now in this verse the unity of believers is principally regarded as resulting from
the inclusion, if we may so say, of them all in the ineffable union of the ...
/.../the high priests prayer.htm

Sixteenth Proposition of Arminius
... is equivalent to this, "not to be performed without grace," the word "only" referring,
not to the exclusion of nature, but to the necessary inclusion of grace. ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 3/sixteenth proposition of arminius.htm

Translator's Preface.
... great. It is unfortunate that the limitations of space do not admit of
the inclusion of all the dogmatic and ascetic treatises. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/translators preface.htm

Depositio Arii.
... Secretary to Bishop Alexander (Prolegg. ch. ii. Sec. 2), is a further reason
for its inclusion. The Athanasian authorship is maintained ...
/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/depositio arii.htm

Inclusion (1 Occurrence)
... 1. (n.) The act of including, or the state of being included; limitation; restriction;
as, the lines of inclusion of his policy. ...Inclusion (1 Occurrence). ...
/i/inclusion.htm - 6k

Income (7 Occurrences)

/i/income.htm - 9k

Uruah
... The inclusion of Uriah's name in the list of the "mighty men" in 2 Samuel 23:39
parallel Ch 11:41 is proof of his reputation as a soldier, and the name is ...
/u/uruah.htm - 10k

Uriah (33 Occurrences)
... The inclusion of Uriah's name in the list of the "mighty men" in 2 Samuel 23:39
parallel Ch 11:41 is proof of his reputation as a soldier, and the name is ...
/u/uriah.htm - 22k

Into (18988 Occurrences)
... animation into a composition. 5. (prep.) Denoting inclusion; as, put these
ideas into other words. 6. (prep.) Indicating the passing ...
/i/into.htm - 8k

To (219938 Occurrences)
... elliptically. 6. (prep.) Extent; limit; degree of comprehension; inclusion
as far as; as, they met us to the number of three hundred. 7 ...
/t/to.htm - 9k

Enemy (134 Occurrences)
... enemy." This He changed: "but I say unto you, Love your enemies." An approach toward
this spirit had been made in the later prophets by their inclusion of the ...
/e/enemy.htm - 41k

Machaerus
... MACHAERUS. ma-ke'-rus (Machairous): Not mentioned in Scripture, canonical or apocryphal,
but its importance in Jewish history justifies its inclusion here. ...
/m/machaerus.htm - 9k

Minor (2 Occurrences)
... The justification for the inclusion in this work of a summary account of Asia Minor
as a whole, its geography, history, and the social and political condition ...
/m/minor.htm - 62k

Comprehension (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) The act of understanding, knowing,
containing, or comprising; inclusion. 2. (n.) That which is ...
/c/comprehension.htm - 7k

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Inclusion: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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