FINALLY, PEACE. Ephesians 2:14-22 There was an actual partition in the temple area that separated Jews and Gentiles. The Court of the Gentiles was as far as non-Jewish people could go. In the early days of Christianity, the church was mainly comprised of Jews. When the Spirit of God opened the Gospel message to the Gentiles through Peter, Paul, and others who joined them, God made “one new man” of Jews and Gentiles. Both were equal in the church, which is the body of Christ, but in the beginning, the two groups had to learn how to function together as something new.
The key to this was Christ Himself, who made peace “through the blood of His cross.” The barriers that had separated law-keepers (those who were near) from those who were idolaters (those who were far off) were broken down. The Lord Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the law and took the punishment for all who broke the moral law that everyone is guilty of breaking. This new kind of humanity is composed of those who have been reconciled to God through the cross – the substitutional death of the Lord Jesus Christ. His death put to death the consequences of our disobedience and removed God’s wrath from abiding on us.
The illusive experience of peace on earth has people worldwide raising barriers that separate them from all others because each one thinks peace can only be made on selfish terms. This has separated nations, races, cultures, religions, families, and even marriages. When the subject of grace enters into this conflict, people get resentful. Grace means there is something I need that I cannot do for myself. Grace does away with self-centered independence that considers its position the one to which every other person must come. Fences and barriers of one kind or another have been erected to maintain that independent attitude. This ultimately becomes a wall of hostility between people that divides and embitters them against others. It is to address this matter that Paul has written these words guided by the Holy Spirit.
The words at the beginning of this chapter describe who we were. It is sometimes a good thing to go back and remember we were dead, depraved, disobedient unto God, and under the domination of Satan's power. God's wonders of love, grace, and mercy enter this dark scene, and everything has changed from what we were to where we are - seated in heavenly places in Christ. All believers in Christ are in that wonderful position. No longer is there separation.
Now, we are brought near to God through Christ and, as a result, near to each other. But even more - we have been reconciled to God and to those who had been separated by the "middle wall of partition." God destroyed the barriers people had made between them in an act of grace. The dividing barriers between old and young are removed when we come together at the feet of Jesus. The differences between male and female, or beautiful and plain, are gone when our minds and hearts are focused on our Savior. Educational barriers are not an issue when true worshippers have their minds "stayed" on our blessed Lord. Nationalities and politics have no place or control over those who know Christ, who "is our peace."
Peace has been declared between Jews and Gentiles and God and sinners. Now, they have personal access to the Father through the Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all involved in our salvation. All who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ become “one” with all the people of God. All believers are citizens of this new humanity and members of God’s family.
He is the essence and virtue of peace that crosses all barriers and breaks them down by the power of the Gospel of Peace. The color of skin does not remain a problem to those who are "looking off unto Jesus." He has "made of one blood all nations of men." The outward appearance is only that which covers the inner man. It is from within that love, grace, holiness, and all the fruit of the Spirit are displayed openly. Even religious bias is removed when our convictions are based on the Word of God, and we are willing to obey God's truth.
We may wonder at the words, "one new man." Out of two opposing groups has come one of the miracles of grace that becomes real to us by faith. Enmity, ordinances, and opinions are now set aside, and a new living entity has been created. Hostility has been put to death. Those who were far away are brought near. Not only is Christ Himself our peace, but He has made peace. He "made peace through the blood of His cross" between us and God. He has made peace between divergent groups of people and makes us "one in Christ, one body in the Lord."
“At that time,” Gentiles were at a distance from God and His promises. “But now, in Christ Jesus,” all that has been changed, and Gentiles are near and equal members of God’s family. A permanent union in Christ has been established when we receive Christ's peace that is given to us. Gentiles don’t become Jews, but both are in the union our Lord made when “the one new man” was raised into a heavenly position. This position is higher and greater than all barriers that separate people. This is a united body of Christ composed of God-made people by God-made peace.
The hostility between Jews and Gentiles has been addressed by His reconciling work, as well as the hostility between sinners and God. Christ is the Peacemaker. Through Christ's death for us, we now overcome barriers to live a new life as "one new man" in the kingdom of His dear Son. Reconciliation has been achieved. Its effects are extensive. Christ is our peace—the essence of peace—and the Peacemaker between opposing parties—both men and God. He came and "preached peace" to both Jews and Gentiles, and through Him, the Holy Spirit indwells us and grants us constant access to our heavenly Father at the throne of grace.
God is not creating a new world but rather making new people who have access to Him through the Lord Jesus Christ. These individuals have been reconciled to God through Christ and are entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation. Things have changed: “Now therefore,” signifies that we are not only God’s people, one body in the Lord, but also a temple, a dwelling place for God. As a body, the church is an organism; as a building, it is a place for God to inhabit. Within God’s household, every believer has a place to fulfill, not just a task to perform. The apostles were appointed by the Lord Himself to be messengers of the new covenant. Prophets publicly proclaimed new truths through the power of the Spirit of God. They serve as the solid foundation essential for the church to stand firm. Their personal relationship with the Chief Cornerstone marked the beginning of the church.
A whole new perspective opens to us because of the work of reconciliation that our Lord achieved. "Now:" beyond the broken-down barriers; now that we are made "one new man"; now that peace has been established—everything looks different. Now, God has created His own new household. He has formed something entirely new that was not visible or understood before. His household is the church for which Christ died. That church is not a random gathering of people who come and go as they please. It is made up of citizens of God's kingdom. It began when our Lord Jesus Christ was here and established its foundation with Himself as the Chief Cornerstone. It is compared to a temple, a dwelling place for God, where holiness, righteousness, peace, and all His divine attributes are displayed and used for the benefit of every part of the temple.
Everyone in this temple is a saint, set apart for the Lord. Everyone in the body of Christ is a true believer in Him. Only God Himself knows who they all are. Some may think they are in the habitation of God because they choose to be. Others believe they are in the temple because of their religious affiliation. Others because of family ties. This is not like a local gathering of people in a church. There may be those in a local church who are not even saved. They are not children of God unless they have put personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the universal church, the habitation of God each one is placed there by the Spirit of God, not by the choice of men.
From that Chief Cornerstone, the apostles and prophets received directly from the Lord Jesus Himself the truths that must be taught to those who want to be added to the church and established. That heritage, that foundation, remains unchanged and cannot be altered by human opinions and doctrines. God dwells in this temple. It is His church, not ours. The temple is the center from which true worship, praise, thanksgiving, and service flow out to the world.
Those whom God has saved since the beginning of the church are stones that have been fitted or are being fitted together in a precise manner to create a fitting dwelling place for God. Shaping and fitting a stone can be painful and take time, but “all things work together for good to them that love God.” The church is built from true believers all over the world, and they fit where they are as God works His will on each one.
The plans and arrangements people make in their local congregations do not necessarily reflect what God has designed in the "holy temple in the Lord." Much of what is done in a local church is aimed at appealing to men and women and attracting them to attend that specific place. This holy temple in the Lord that is being built is "fitly framed" by God so that each piece fits properly into the whole.
We cannot see this magnificent church that has been under construction for nearly 2000 years. Only the infinite God can see what it looks like today, as piece after piece is added from people worldwide coming into His kingdom through faith in Jesus Christ. This unification has already begun, and all parts are being brought together into one glorious temple. This is accomplished by the Lord "in whom" we have become part of the "habitation of God" - the Father. The Holy Spirit is actively working to complete the building by having the Gospel preached throughout the world by those He has filled to share the message of salvation. What a privilege it is to be part of such a magnificent work.
A remarkable thing has happened; the dead have come to life. What was once darkness has now turned into a brilliant light. Where there was nothing useful for God before, now there is a moving sight of saints who no longer need to fight each other but instead rejoice together. The wall of separation created by human rules was removed when the grace of God entered. He has changed the fundamental nature of those who lived in sin, so they are now very different from what they once were.
God, in His great mercy, loved us without partiality and sent the Lord Jesus to die for our sins on the cross of Calvary. Through His death, He defeated the powers that had bound us, and by grace through faith, He delivers all who trust Him. Now, because of that work, we are His workmanship. Instead of being enemies, we enjoy sweet fellowship with God’s people. Though we are different in conduct and life, we have a new shared citizenship, and our lives as saints are united in companionship.
The barriers of racial hate and prejudice have been replaced by the law of grace that transforms life completely. The selfishness that once ruled us has disappeared; we give only what we can keep. Our joy arises when we share our life in Christ, and God grants us His peace. Life is now connected with those in God’s family. It doesn't matter where they live or what their job might be. What truly matters is the life we share. Everyone is free to do and be what our heavenly Father desires; there is now no enmity. We are made to fit into the Body by God's power. We are made to connect with others who are built into His temple. In this family, the character of God shines. In this heavenly place, we are seated and will be beyond the end of time.