Unity In Jesus
We are living in a time of seemingly increased division and divisiveness in this country that we disingenuously call the “United” States of America. And the lack of unity among people is not just evident in this country but throughout the world. We feel daily the fracture of warring ideologies, ethnicities, nationalities, economic status, etc. But in Ephesians 2:11–22, the apostle Paul called the Church to recognize that because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, Christians are no longer at war as enemies of God, nor are we to be enemies with one another. We have unity in Jesus, because we all stand on the common ground at the foot of the cross. The place where we all believed and by God’s grace, received salvation. I pray that we would all live out the unity that Christ has called us to in His body, and that the world would know the power of following Him that can bring unity to even the deepest divisions. Amen
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands) — remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:11–13)
Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus, explains to them that gentiles were once considered foreigners to God‘s covenant promises with Israel, as well as excluded from citizenship in the nation of Israel (meaning they were outside of the blessings belonging to the people of God). As such, Paul characterized Gentiles as being without hope because they had no relationship with God. But as believers in Christ, they have been brought near (ie no longer outside of God’s blessings and covenant promise) as a result of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 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, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Ephesians 2:14–18)
Christ brought peace between God and those who believe in him. No longer are believers in conflict and enmity with God, the Father. But more than that, Christ brought together Jews and Gentiles into one family of God, so that those that were two different groups of people are no longer in conflict with one another. They have now become one in Christ. His sacrifice also set aside the legal consequences of the law, and through grace, all who believe are saved. Finally, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, all believers (both former Jews and Gentiles) now have equal access to God the Father.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:15–22)
Because of Christ’s redemptive sacrifice on the cross, those who were formerly considered foreigners and strangers to the Jewish people (the people of God), are now together with Jewish believers, an equal part of the family of God. This is all by virtue of their belief in Jesus. Jesus is the chief cornerstone (The stone that holds the whole building together) That holds the church together in unity, both Jewish and Gentile believers. Both as a church and individually, we are all being built to be the dwelling place of God, whose Holy Spirit dwells in both.
Paul told believers at Ephesus that the Church is an important part of God’s plan for bringing peace and unity to the world through Christ. His sacrifice on the cross reconciled us to God so we are no longer enemies of His. But, additionally, Christ’s sacrifice made salvation possible for both Jews and Gentiles. We have common ground and unity in our salvation at the foot of His cross. We are no longer divided as two groups of people (Jews and Gentiles), but we have become one people in the body of Christ. And this is the unifying work of God that the Church is to offer to the world by example and to call the world to find peace and unity in Christ. Division and divisiveness can be overcome when the Church lives up to its calling, demonstrating to the world what unity looks like. God’s plan for unifying the world in Jesus is rooted in the Church…. where our call to unity in Jesus, far exceeds our differences.
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
