Read Ephesians 2:14–18
Questions from the Scripture text: What is the peace between the Jews and Gentiles (v14)? What has Jesus done to them? What has He broken down? What did He do to the enmity (v15)? How? What had sealed this enmity? What has Christ done to it? What has He created in Himself? To Whom has He reconciled them (v16)? How? What did this put to death? What did He come and preach (v17)? To whom? What do we both have (v18)? Through Whom? By Whom? To Whom?
How do we have peace with one another? Ephesians 2:14–18 prepares us for the morning sermon in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Christ Himself is how we have peace with one another.
He has broken down the middle wall of separation (v14). The wall, in v14, refers to an actual wall that separated the court of the Gentiles from the consecrated part of the temple. A Gentile could be killed for going beyond it. The wall physically represented the law of commandments, in ordinances, that consecrated Israel unto God and separate from the nations. But Christ has come as the Great High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, and where there is a new priesthood, there is a new ceremonial law (cf. Heb 7:11–12). Now, through the new way of drawing near to God that is in Jesus Christ Himself, one’s nationality does not make him an outsider or enemy. Jews and Gentiles may come equally near to God, in Christ.
He has created one new man (v15). There is one race that descended from Adam (cf. Ac 17:26). But that race had been divided into two, between Jew and Gentile. Over against this, Christ is the last Adam, the Head of a new humanity who have their unity in Him, each as much as the other.
He has reconciled us to God (v16). We needed peace, not only among ourselves, but especially with God. Jesus Christ has reconciled us—that wonderful exchange in which He gives us friendship and adoption in place of the enmity with God into which we had fallen by our sin in the first Adam. The only way for a Jew to be reconciled to God is in the body of Jesus Christ at the cross. The only way for a Gentile to be reconciled to God is in the body of Jesus Christ at the cross. We had made ourselves God’s enemies by our sin, and Jesus has killed that enmity for all who are in Him.
He applied that peace to our conscience (v17). Jesus came to Ephesus and preached! This is truly a wonder, for He never physically visited Ephesus. But He is the One Whom we hear through the preachers whom He sends (cf. Rom 10:14–16). He is the One Who address us from heaven (cf. Heb 12:24–26). Just as He did to the Ephesians, so He does to you, dear reader—especially in the preaching of the Word. Jesus has not just won peace with God for all who trust in Him, He brings us to trust in Him through His proclaiming that peace to us. The gospel addresses Gentiles as much as Jews, proclaiming the same peace to both. It proclaims to you peace with God, in Christ, regardless of how far from Him you might be.
He brings us into fellowship with the triune God (v18). Here is the greatest peace, the greatest unity that there can be: to have access to the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit. In Christ, we are brought into fellowship with the Triune God, and each of the Persons particularly (cf. Jn 17:20–23). There can be nothing so unifying as to come into this fellowship.
When we fail to leave peacefully toward each other, we live in contradiction to some of the most important truths about Christ, and being in Him. Here is one of the greatest among the good works in which God has prepared believers to walk: to live at peace with one another.
With what believers do you have the most difficult time living at peace? How do you and they draw near to God? Of what humanity are you and they a part? How did you and they exchange enmity for adoption? How did you and they come to know peace with God? What fellowship do you and they enjoy with the triune God?
Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for making Christ Himself to be our peace, both with You and with one another. Grant that we would live in accordance with that peace, bringing glory and honor to Christ, through Whom we ask it, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP67 “O God, Give Us Your Blessing” or TPH2B “Why Do Heathen Nations Rage”
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