“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 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, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 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.” – Ephesians 2:14–18 (ESV)
🕊️ He Himself Is Our Peace
Paul doesn’t just say that Jesus gives peace—he says that Jesus is our peace. Peace is not a concept or a feeling. It is a person. Reconciliation and unity are found in Christ alone.
🧱 The Dividing Wall of Hostility
Paul refers to the hostility between Jews and Gentiles—cultural, racial, and religious division that had lasted for centuries. In the Jerusalem temple, there was literally a wall that separated Gentiles from entering where the Jews could go. On it were signs that warned, “No foreigner may enter… under penalty of death.”
But Jesus tore that wall down. Not with bricks, but with His body. Through the cross, He removed the barriers between people and created something entirely new.
🧬 “One New Man in Place of the Two”
This is astonishing. Jesus didn’t just improve Jew and Gentile relations—He created a new kind of humanity in Himself. No longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female—just one in Christ (see Galatians 3:28).
This “one new man” is the Church—a unified people brought together not by race, language, or tradition, but by redemption. Jesus didn’t just make peace. He made a new people of peace.
✝️ “Reconcile Us Both to God… Through the Cross”
Every reconciliation begins with the cross. We can’t be truly reconciled to one another until we are reconciled to God. Jesus took both Jew and Gentile—those near and far—and brought them to the same place: the foot of the cross.
And in doing so, He “killed the hostility.” Hatred died with Him. Division died with Him. Sin’s power to divide was broken in His sacrifice.
📢 “He Preached Peace”
Jesus preached peace to:
- Those who were far off – Gentiles, outsiders, the rebellious
- Those who were near – Jews, religious insiders, the moral
It doesn’t matter if your background was paganism or religion—both need the peace that only Jesus brings. And both find that peace not through effort, but through faith in Him.
🔑 “Access in One Spirit to the Father”
This is the beautiful result: both groups now have access. We are not strangers or servants, but sons and daughters with direct connection to the Father. And that access comes through Christ, by the Spirit.
📣 What This Means for Us Today
1. Christ Is the End of All Hostility
In a world filled with division—racial, political, generational—only Jesus has the power to destroy the walls and bring true peace. The cross is not only a bridge to God—it is a wrecking ball to hatred.
2. We Are One New People in Christ
Church is not a collection of cliques—it’s a new creation. Unity is not optional. It is the very essence of who we are in Christ. Any barrier we maintain, He died to destroy.
3. Every Believer Has Equal Access
There are no spiritual VIPs in the Kingdom. Through Jesus, every believer—no matter their past, race, culture, or education—has the same access to the Father by the Spirit.
📣 Reflection and Application
- 🧱 What “walls” of hostility still exist in my heart, my relationships, or my church?
- 🕊️ Am I pursuing peace with others the way Jesus pursued peace with me?
- 🔓 Do I approach God with confidence, knowing I have full access through Christ?
🛐 Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are my peace. Thank You for tearing down every wall that once separated me from You—and from others. Help me to live in the unity You died to create. Let Your cross continue to kill hostility in my life and relationships. Make me a peacemaker in a divided world. In Your name, amen.
📌 Coming Up Next
Ephesians 2:19–22 — What Does It Mean to Be God’s Dwelling Place?
Paul now paints a new picture: not only are we citizens of God’s kingdom—we are living stones in His temple. In our next study, we’ll explore what it means to belong, to be built together, and to be the very place where God lives by His Spirit.