Brethren, Christ is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and 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 bringing the hostility to an end. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
+++
The great Paul now emphasises that it was Christ who reunited Jew and Gentile as one. He did this by his salvific act and through the shedding of his blood on the life-giving cross. Through this one act of grace Christ reconciles both the Jew and the Gentile to himself. In other words it is the cross that abolishes the law and it is the cross that brings forgiveness and reconciliation to the Gentiles. By that I mean that the Gentiles never knew the law of the Commandments. They did not know of all the rules and multitudinous decrees that each Jew was obliged to follow. No, the law through Christ was abolished for the Jew.
Thus it is by the cross that the enmity that was between Jew and Greek that divided one from the other is shattered and destroyed. It is through the flesh of Christ and his saving and sanctifying sacrifice that the division between Jew and Greek was abolished and the two groups united as one.
Think of this for a moment: elsewhere Paul puts it slightly different. In his Epistle to the Galatians Paul says: “before faith came, we were confined under the law, kept under restraint until faith should be revealed. So the law was our custodian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith. For as many of you as were baptised 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 offspring, heirs according to the promise.” (3:23 – 29)
We belong to Christ Jesus. It is the fact that we belong to him that unites us to one another. We are united to one another and because of that union we are all children of God. We are no longer Jew or Greek, we are all now a new creation in Christ Jesus. We belong to Christ and through Christ and his salvific work the law has been rendered irrelevant for the purpose of salvation. Now the way to the Father is clear: it is in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ through the medium of the Holy Spirit.
Thus are we now reconciled. Reconciliation means that we have restored love and harmony between each other. Where previously there was mistrust there is now trust through reconciliation. Where previously there was fear now fear has evaporated through reconciliation. Reconciliation with each other reconciles us to Christ. Christ loves us and it is his love that drives out fear
In the first Epistle of John there is this most profound observation: “that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands concerning the word of life – the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and made manifest to us – that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ. And we are writing this that our joy may be complete.” That Christ lived amongst us is without doubt. Neither is there any doubt when John says: “whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him and he is in God. We now know and believe in the love that God has for us, and, he who abides in that love abides in God and God abides in him. It is this love that perfects us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement. There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out fear.” Fear has to do with punishment, and he who fears punishment is not perfected in love. We love, because God loves us first.
Christ is not only the love that binds all men. Christ is also the peace between all men. Thus Christ preaches peace to all men. It is those who are at peace that find sanctuary in Christ. Christ came on earth to bring the good news. This was foretold by the prophet Isaiah: thus says the Lord I have seen man’s ways but I will heal him; I will lead him and requite him with comfort… peace, peace to the far and to the near says the Lord and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked (57:18 – 21). Thus God is offered to all who seek peace, who seek reconciliation and who seek repentance. Therefore it is not an issue whether you are Jew or Greek. The issue is whether you are prepared to accept Christ as your saviour.
Notice, that once we are gathered in the name of the Son we also gathered in the name of the Father. This emboldens us to call God father. We becoming bold to stand before God, despite our iniquities, despite our sinfulness, despite our vainglory, despite our arrogance, despite our love for self. Despite all these things we can still call him Father. Do you see what love God has for us? God loves us so much that he sent his only son into the world so that we may be saved. He did this with the foreknowledge as to what would happen to his only son, whom he loved , yet such is his mercy and love for his creation he gifted us eternal life. If that is not perfect love then I do not know what is.
