14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace.” (Ephesians 2:14–15 (ESV)
As we noted in a previous blog, Jesus Christ is the believer’s peace and tranquility. He alone removed the estrangement and enmity between God the Father and those who are justified by grace alone, through faith alone, and in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone.
Through the work accomplished by Jesus Christ, He has made both Jew and Gentile one in Christ. The hostility between these two people groups, once they are converted by the Gospel, is eliminated.
How did Christ accomplish this task? By fulfilling, and ultimately replacing, the Old Testament ceremonial law. In doing so, the Apostle Paul indicates that Jesus Christ created in Himself alone a new individual. Once again, there remains no distinctions, such as economic, gender or nationality, for those who are in Christ (Galatians 3:23-29).
Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Christ offered in His own body the final sacrifice to which the temple’s sacrifices merely pointed. The ceremonial law of the Old Testament that separated Jews and Gentiles are no longer appropriate for God’s people after their fulfillment in Christ.”
Nineteenth century theologian Charles Hodge writes, “Christ, by being made under the law (Galatians 4:4) and fulfilling all righteousness, has redeemed those who were under the law. He delivered them from the obligation of fulfilling its demands as the condition of their justification before God (Romans 6:14; 7:1-6; Galatians 5:18; Colossians 2:14). But secondly, as Christ abolished the law as a covenant of works by fulfilling its conditions, so He abolished the Mosaic Laws by fulfilling its types and shadows. He was the end of the law in both these aspects.”
Thank you Lord for being our peace. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
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