The New Community the Lord Builds

MEMORY SELECTION: “He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.” —Ephesians 2:14

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 2:11-22

GOD especially favored the Jews by giving them the Law Covenant. Their prophets and teachers were also inspired to write and teach the Word of God. Yet when Messiah arrived, born from the lineage of David, the nation of Israel was unprepared to accept Him.

Alas, they were unable to keep the Law and thereby gain life under it as promised; and they did not recognize the great Deliverer who had come to sojourn among them. The Law proved to be their curse because of their inherited weaknesses, and they were rejected as a nation because of their blindness concerning the Lord Jesus.

Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, reflects on the time when the children of Israel alone were favored by God. “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.—Eph. 2:11,12

Prior to our Lord’s first advent, the Jews, referred to as the Circumcision, had a polity of their own, while other nations, known in this passage as the Uncircumcision, had neither part nor lot in the matter. At that time those of the Circumcision were under the covenant of promise, whereas those of the Uncircumcision were known as strangers and foreigners.

But Israel’s position of favor was changed. Gentile believers were then accepted to fellowship with God through the merit of Jesus’ blood. The apostle explains, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were afar off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (vs. 13) Next, in the words of our memory text he says, “For he [Christ] is our peace, who hath made both [Jews and Gentiles] one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”

Those who were Gentiles were without the Law, and they received their adoption (sonship) and favor through the blood of Christ. However, the apostle’s words show that the Jews had also received an equally great blessing, in that Jesus took away the curse of the Law which they were unable to keep. Not only had Jesus purchased the human family by providing a corresponding price for Adam’s violation of the divine law—which had condemned both Gentiles and Jews—but the “yoke of the Law Covenant” had been removed from the Jews. Then the “middle wall of partition” between Jews and Gentiles was also removed which provided access to God through the blood of Christ.

The Jews could not fulfill the Law—any more than the rest of the fallen race of mankind could—but our Lord Jesus did fulfill that Law. Paul continues (vss. 15,16): “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the Law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.”

The invitation to follow Jesus and his teachings took on new meaning for the Gentile believers. The way had been opened for them to approach God through the merit of the precious blood. “And [he] came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.”—vss. 17,18

“Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (vs. 19) Gentiles were considered as “strangers and foreigners” when they were of the Uncircumcision; but provision had been made by God, through our Lord Jesus, for the calling of those who would aspire for membership in the family of God.

The ultimate purpose of God is to restore the fallen human race to perfection, eradicate sin and death, and bring all creation into one harmonious new community. This will be accomplished by the establishment of a new universal order under the control and direction of our glorified Lord, together with the 144,000 members of his spiritual kingdom.

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