Ephesians
2:14, KJV “For He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down
the middle wall of partition between us.”
I
used to think that verse was talking about relationship problem that was
between two persons, and that Christ would break down the walls between
them. But doing more research on the
scriptures, I learned that there’s more to it.
*I would like to quote a few from the Preacher’s Outline and Sermon
Bible. The key to Christ’s peace is “when we realize …”
*“Christ
brings us peace when we realize that
He died for us and offers us deliverance from the bondage of sin and death and
a life of eternity with God. Christ
brings a deeper sense of peace when we
realize that He gives the daily power to overcome the aggravating and
terrible weight of anguish and guilt and loneliness and emptiness and
fear. Christ still brings a deeper
sense of peace when we realize that
He has brought perfect love and unity to the world—that He has eliminated (get
rid of) all divisions and barriers and differences between God and man and
between men.”
Christ
brings peace by bringing men together as “one”.
Who was Christ talking about?
Note that He has made “both one,” that is, Jew and Gentile. Christ makes men as one since all men now
approach God through the blood of Jesus Christ.
I want to focus about Christ bring peace by breaking down all barriers. What was the Scripture talking about “broken
down the middle wall of partition between us?”
*“Christ
brings peace by breaking down all barriers. This is a picture taken from the
temple. The Temple was surrounded by a
series of courts. Each court had a high wall separating it from the preceding
court. As one approached the temple, he
entered first of all the outer Court of the Gentiles. This is where buying and selling of animals
and the exchanging of money for foreign worshippers took place (Mk.
11:15). Then there was the Court of
Women. A Jewish woman was limited to
this court unless she had come to make a sacrifice.
*“The
next court was the Court of the Israelites.
This is where the whole congregation gathered on the great feast days
and where sacrifices were handed over to the priests. The Court of the Priests was next. This court was in the temple proper where the
temple itself stood. This area was
considered sacred and was accessible only to the services of the priests.
Finally, within the very heart of the temple stood the Holy of Holies or the
Most Holy Place where the very presence of God was to dwell. Only the High Priest could enter the Holy
Place and he could enter only once a year—at the great Passover Feast.
*Partition
after partition separated from the presence of God. Tablets hung around the
wall of the Gentile Court announcing that if any Gentile walked into any other
court, he was to be put to death. The picture is that of Jesus Christ breaking
down all barriers and walls that separate man from God. All men can now
approach God equally through the death of Jesus Christ. Christ has now done
away with all barriers. He has broken them all down by the blood of His cross.”
Matt.
27:51 “And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the
bottom …” Christ was on the cross when He had broken down the middle wall of
partition between us, the Jew and the Gentile. Christ reconcile us, Gentile and
the Jew to God by the cross and we have access to the throne of our heavenly
Father (Eph. 2:16, 18).
What
does this really mean to me? I was looking for songs that fits this Manna. We
are One in the Spirit and it is “All Because of Calvary.” When Christ broke
down the partitions, the walls of the temple where God had dwelt in the Ark,
God came out freely through the Holy Spirit. He came upon 120 disciples,
baptized them with His Presence. Jesus said, “The Father, and I and the Spirit
abide inside of you” (John 14:23). What a glorious Manna this is to me!
Song: We are One
in the Spirit
We
are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord.
We
are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;
And
we pray that our unity will this day be restored,
And
they’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love.
Yes,
they’ll know we are Christians by our love.
(Inspiring Choruses)
Song: All Because
of Calvary
All
my sins are gone,
All
because of Calvary,
Life
is filled with song,
All
because of Calvary,
Christ
my Savior lives,
Lives
from sin to set me free.
Some
day He’s coming,
O
wondrous blessed day,
All,
yes, all because of Calvary.
(Inspiring
Choruses)
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