Ephesians 2:13-16 Podcast
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. (Ephesians 2:13-16)
Ephesians 2 is all about contrast: were dead but now alive, there was wrath but now there is peace, there was hostility but now there is peace. Generally, we do not like contrast, unless we end up on the good side of the contrast. Yet, without contrast, we lack the appreciation for how good life really is. So when "bad" happens, know that something good is coming.
The Apostle begins our text today with "But now." In context, these are the greatest words, for previously Paul had highlighted our hopelessness. In v.13, he highlights the most important work that the blood of the Lord Jesus accomplished on our behalf. He writes, "you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
The second law of thermodynamics states, "anything left in isolation, deteriorates." Jesus was isolated, banished from the presence of life itself, so that you and I would be given the opportunity to know life and hope.
The blood of Christ has washed us of that which made us hopeless in the first place. The sacrificial death of Jesus Christ is the basis of our eternal salvation. And, the blood not only saves us for eternity, but it also makes us more than conquerors while here on earth.
In 1 Peter 2:24, Peter writes, “…who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sin, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” There is power in the blood for today. A power that enables us to see more clearly the stupidity of going the way of the flesh. A power that enables us to see more clearly the wisdom of going God's way.
This is why the Apostle Paul takes the direction he does in v. 14. He writes, "For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility." The blood of Christ, according to v.15, enables us to relate well with those who are quite different than we are. The blood of Christ fulfilled (set aside) the Law's requirements so that we could connect, not only with God, but with others who are covered by it.
The goal, according to today's text is "reconciliation." Reconciliation with God translates in the removal of hostility between God's people. This is a must is synergy is to take place among us. The effectiveness of our work for God on this earth is dependent upon the authenticity of this reality among us right now.
Do you remember that scene in the movie, Remember the Titans? When coach Boone gave his incredible speech at Gettysburg? This is the way the speech went...
"Anybody know what this place is? This is Gettysburg. This is where they fought the battle of Gettysburg. Fifty thousand men died right here on this field, fighting the same fight that we’re still fighting amongst ourselves today. This green field right here was painted red, bubbling with the blood of young boys. Smoke and hot lead pouring right through their bodies. Listen to their souls, men. I killed my brother with malice in my heart. Hatred destroyed my family. You listen and take a lesson from the dead. If we don’t come together right now, on this hallowed ground, we too will be destroyed just like they were. … I don’t care if you don’t like each other, but you will respect each other. I don’t know, maybe we’ll learn to play this game like men."
When the greatest sacrifice of all time starts to define us most, it is then that we will learn to live this life the way it was meant to be lived.
Finally, there is another word used in our text two times, it is the word "hostility." It is used at the end of both v.14,16. It is the Greek word "echthra" meaning "hatred". The Lord Jesus' work on the cross not only removed our hostility toward God and His toward us, it removed it from us. "In the last days", Jesus said, "Nation will rise up against nation," meaning "ethnic people will rise up against ethnic people." Racism is a hot topic today, and God's answer to it is the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. "We can't hate our brother if we love God," John told us in 1 John. Having experienced God's forgiveness and forbearance, we will extend it to those who are different than we are, even to non-believers.
