Ephesians 2:13-16

Day 18

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2:13-16

Pulling Down Walls: Christ Is Our Peace
Christ tears down walls.  He tears down the obstructive walls built by our own decisions.  We build massive walls between ourselves and God.  We build these walls through our decisions and associations.  We personally violate His holy standards.  We embrace the world around us, a world that rejects God, and treat Him with hostility.  We all know that we have violated God’s holy standards.  The evidence of our sin and the devastating barriers sin creates between us and God permeate our daily experience.  We know these things instinctively.  God communicates His standards to us through our conscience.  The standards of God are clear.  For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.  (Romans 2:14-16)  However, due to self-deception, the Law of God provides an additional true witness to our condition.  Therefore, since our consciences are not trustworthy, God explicitly communicates His holy standards to us through His written Word, the Bible.  Be careful to listen to all these words which I command you, so that it may be well with you and your sons after you forever, for you will be doing what is good and right in the sight of the Lord your God…“Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it.”  (Deuteronomy 12:28-32)  Despite the substantial evidence, in both conscience and written word, our behavior runs counter to God’s expectations for us.  We disregard the severity of our rebellion.  We tell ourselves bad lies.  Either we lie and tell ourselves that we really do mostly what God expects or we lie to ourselves that God does not really care that we trample on His holiness. 

In the process of rebelling against God, we declare war on Him.  In our life of sin, we commit cosmic treason and make ourselves enemies of God.  The enmity between us and God can be seen in the various ways we sin against Him.  In addition, our enmity with God is also reflected in our enmity with one another.  Our troubled relationships with others reflects a microcosm of the enmity we have with God.  The barriers we build between us and God also become barriers between us and others.  God created us for relationship with Himself.  He also created us for relationship with one another.  Sin damages the created design for relationships and builds impenetrable barriers. However, Christ tears down walls.  By His death on the cross He pulls down the barriers between us and God by bearing the enmity between us and God.  While we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son. (Romans 5:10)  Christ also tears down barriers between us and other people.  These verses in Ephesians describe the impact Christ has on relationships between fellow believers.  He makes the two groups, Jews and Gentiles, into one, reconciling “them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”  We have been brought near to God.  We have been reconciled to God by the death of Jesus Christ.  We have also been brought near to one another and reconciled to one another. God reconciles both Jews and Gentiles to Himself.  God also reconciles Jews and Gentiles to one another through Jesus Christ.  In Christ, there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. (Colossians 3:11)  In Christ, we are one with God and one with one another.

Suggested Prayer:  God, You have reconciled me to Yourself.  You have also reconciled me to others through the death and resurrection of Christ.  Help me to see other believers the way that You see them.  Help me to see them as reconciled with You and at peace with You.  Grant me a heart of peace and reconciliation toward others.  Thank You for Your gift of removing the barriers between You and me.

Ephesians