Ephesians 2: 11-18
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcised” (that done in the body by the hands of men)–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 through the blood of Christ.
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this 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 through one Spirit.
A Thought
Paul is reminding the church of his day and also the church of today that it is by grace through faith in Christ Jesus and not of ourselves it is a gift of God that we are saved. All need to remember that Christ is our peace that brought down the barrier of the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing in his flesh the law of commands and regulations. By way of the cross Christ came with peace for all to be reconciled in one body– those who were far away and those who were near to have access to the Father through one Spirit.
Our Prayer
Father thank you for providing peace through the blood of Christ for all peoples–Jews and Gentiles. We can now receive redemption not by works but by grace through faith to have full access to you through one Spirit. We ask that you complete your work of grace in our lives to become more and more like Christ, in his name, amen.
