"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility."
Ephesians 2:14-16
Today I am in the somewhat lengthy explanation that Paul has for how we (Gentiles) are now joined together with Israel; being brought near (or able to enter) into the peace that is in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:11-22). Paul is explaining how Gentiles need to remember from where they came, separated from the promises and protection of God. But now, Jesus has come and not only preached to both Jew and Gentile but in His death, eliminated the wall that had been between them. Jesus had torn down all the laws and regulations the Jews had been living under, now bringing Gentiles into the promise IN Jesus.
This whole passage ends with “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Eph 2:22). I see this as meaning that both Jews and Gentiles now make up the “Church Body” in Christ. To the Jews, this was very difficult to digest as their whole lives they had been raised to believe that ‘not being Jewish’ meant banishment and elimination from the peace and relationship with God. In Christ, everyone (regardless of heritage) had equal access to the Holy Spirit through Salvation.
Application:
Before Jesus I was utterly lost. Following on from yesterday’s quiet time, I sit here and preach the gospel to myself. Thankful that Jesus came to live the life I could never live, to die the death I deserve, and in resurrection to be the only One I serve. I love that my Psalm today uses the ‘Our’ and ‘We’, thinking about what I read in this passage in Ephesians today.
Today’s Psalm:
Our soul waits for the LORD;
Psalms 33:20-22
he is our help and our shield.
For our heart is glad in him,
because we trust in his holy name.
Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
even as we hope in you.