Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation."
Text: Ephesians 2:14
JESUS THE PEACE MAKER
Paul introduces us to yet another supreme role the Lord Jesus Christ had. He is portrayed as the Peace Maker. Two planes are in view here:-
1. Peace between God and Man
2. Peace between Jew and Gentile
How did Jesus make this possible? We are told simply that “He Himself is our peace”.
PEACE WITH GOD
The opposite of having peace with God is to abide under His wrath (Cf. Ephesians 2:3; Romans 1:18). In his epistle to the Romans, Paul wrote these most uplifting words,
“Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith into this grace
in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
ROMANS 5:1-2
Mercifully, through the atoning blood of Jesus we are declared righteous (“justified”). Through faith in the Lord Jesus we not only comprehend this justification we also experience “peace with God”. Through Jesus we also now have access to God (“brought near” concept). There should be great rejoicing indeed.
JEW AND GENTILE ARE NOW “ONE” IN CHRIST
Paul noted that the Circumcision regard the Gentile as “The Uncircumcision” (Ephesians 2:11). The two groups co-existed with each other with a great sense of wariness. They never fully understood each other, let alone accepted each other. It would take great power to bring about a special sense of oneness between these two ethnic groups.
Paul argued that this seemingly impossible feat was accomplished through the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s phrase in this text said simply, “who has made both one”. A clearer text may be offered.
“For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free,
There is neither male nor female; for you are all one
in Christ Jesus.
And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise.”
GALATIANS 3:26-29
The provision for “oneness” had to be made first. It cost the life-blood of Jesus to make this possible at all. All believers were challenged to make this oneness a practical reality. The church in the New Testament era made tremendous strides in living out this truth.