October 20, 2015

"For Christ Himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in His own body on the cross, He broke down the wall of hostility that separated us."
Ephesians 2:14 NLT

This is part of a running commentary of the book of Ephesians.

Christ, who is the Prince of Peace, brought about something the Jews of Paul's day could not begin to imagine. Christ made it possible for Jew and Gentile to enter into a relationship where there would be no more adversity or prejudice. He made them be able to have peace in their being united together! And that unity came because they were united in Christ.
Now, note what Christ did at the cross. Pay attention!: One of the great works Jesus did while He hung on that cross was to tear down the "wall of hostility" that came between Jew and Gentile. These two diverse groups would find their common ground at Calvary! They both would look to the cross to recognize where their sinful natures were conquered and where they would find a peace that wasn't only between God and sinner, but between believing Jew and believing Gentile! I don't mean to sound too "theological" here, but I do hope, Christian that you recognize one of the very practical affects of the cross on our relationships with one another. More about this to come in this study.

Pastor Eckardt