Ephesians 2:17-18

Ephesians 2:14-16

2 Corinthians  5:17

Galatians 3:28-29

Matthew 5:17 

Ephesians 2:17-18

• We got this in the world
  • Strife
  • Dissension
  • Lack of peace
  • Division
  • Racism
• But God sent Christ to bring peace and unity
  • By His work on the cross (reconciliation)
  • Through the Holy Spirit
  • Manifested in the Body of Christ, the Church

Ephesians 2:14-16

• Brought peace...to set at one again or join together what is separated. He has mended the broken, healed the sick and brought about complete restoration of the relationship that was broken in the Garden of Eden
  • United Jew and Gentile into one people
    • One—not two…
    • No division…no separation
    • Previous identities are abolished and a new identity has been created
    • 2 Corinthians  5:17
    • Galatians 3:28-29

• Broken down the wall of hostility that separates
  • Completely dissolved
  • A past completed action with ongoing results
  • The chasm between Jew and Gentile was great, impenetrable and absolute
    • “No stranger is to enter within the balustrade round the temple and enclosure. Whoever is caught will be himself responsible for his ensuing death.”
• Abolished the law of commandments…not the commandments but the system of law.
  • It was rendered powerless and ineffective
  • As the system was destroyed Jesus fulfilled and completed the Law. By doing that for us, He ruled the system of law useless and obsolete for us.
  • Matthew 5:17 

• Reconciled… By reconciling both groups through the cross He created one new Man/people
  • New…new in kind…quality…unprecedented, unheard of; new in the sense that it brings into the world a new quality of thing which did not exist before.
  • We have been reconciled to God
    • We now enjoy a complete and full restoration of the relationship of disturbed peace.
    • Taking enemies and making them friends