Once more let us turn to the
epistle of Paul to the Ephesians and chapter 2 and we'll read
verses 14 to 17. The epistle of Paul to the Ephesians
chapter 2 and reading verses 14 to 17. For he is our peace. who hath made both one and hath
broken down the middle wall of partition between us, 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,
and came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to
them that were nigh. We should be very thankful that
the Apostle Paul was able, by the Spirit of God, to write these
words to the Church at Ephesus and to direct us to the great
blessing that the Lord Jesus Christ brought to the Church
of God through his sin-atoning death. And really, the Apostle
is speaking here both the Jews and the Gentiles, which of course,
prior to his death and resurrection, were really separated because
the Jews were under the ceremonial law and the Gentiles had no interest
in it and no concern about it. But now there has been a wonderful
and most blessed change. And so we read, for he is our
peace and indeed there is no peace outside of the knowledge
of the Lord Jesus Christ. When I say that I mean no true
peace because people are always striving for peace but there's
only true peace in the knowledge of Christ because it is that
which emanates from Almighty God and how thankful therefore
we should be for it. And so the Apostle tells us,
for he is our peace, who hath made both one and has broken
down the middle wall of partition between us. And that middle wall
was really the ceremonial law. It was only the Jews who, of
course, kept the ceremonial law, and none of them kept it perfectly,
whereas the Gentiles did not. So there was always that barrier
between Jew and Gentile. But now we see here what the
Apostle tells us. The Lord Jesus, who is our peace,
hath made both one, Jew and Gentile, joined together by the grace
of God, all those who are called unto eternal life and have broken
down the middle wall of partition between us. And of course that
only occurred at the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. It was
still there up until the time when Christ died. But then everything
wonderfully and gloriously changed. And so he comes and tells us
then, having abolished in his flesh that enmity, even the law
of commandments contained in ordinances For to make in himself
of twain one new man, so making peace." Well, everyone needed,
of course, to become a new creature, a new man. Both Jew and Gentile
needed to know that they were washed in the blood of the Lamb. They all needed to be blessed
with this spiritual understanding. The Lord graciously tells us
here, having abolished in his flesh that law which had been
in existence for all those many years since the days of Moses. And of course the Israelites,
the Jewish nation, endeavoured for the most part to keep this
law, but of course they could never keep it fully. They always failed in some measure. They always had sin mixed with
that which they endeavoured to do. And so here, the good news
is to the Ephesians, who of course, generally speaking, they were
Gentiles. And here we have this statement,
having abolished in his flesh, through his death, the enmity. There was enmity between Jew
and Gentile because of the law of commandments, which was contained
in those ceremonies And as we read them in the Old Testament,
especially in Leviticus, we see how difficult they were and how
detailed they were to actually obey in all their fullness. And so what a, no doubt, a wonderful
relief it was to hear words like this to Jew and to Gentile. And he comes and says, and that
he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross,
having slain the enmity thereby. Reconciliation to God. We all
need that. Jew and Gentile need that reconciliation. And how is it to be brought about?
How was it brought about? It was only brought about by
the Saviour dying upon that cross at Calvary to take away our sins. Yes, Gentile sins, Jewish sins,
whatever they were, they all needed to be taken away so that
we might be reconciled to a holy God. And so the apostle says,
and that he might reconcile blessed saviour reconcile us to God union
unto God in one body by the cross you see there's only one body
of true Christians it's not divided they are united and they were
brought together Jew and Gentile at the cross having slain the
enmity thereby the enmity against the ceremonial law which existed
with all the Gentiles recognizing they were outside of the promises
of God and there was an enmity. And so we can bless God for the
truth of the gospel. And the 17th verse tells us,
and came, the blessed savior came and preached peace. Well, he came and preached peace
indeed through the apostles. course then through his servants
came and preached peace to you which were afar off and to them
that were nigh. Well this of course this preaching
peace came after the Lord had risen from the dead and what
a wonderful and glorious gospel it was and how many of course
joyfully received it and what a blessing today if you and I
have joyfully received the preaching of the cross, realizing what
peace it brings as God applies his work, his word to our souls. And we can give God thanks for
that which occurred on the cross, which brought about that reconciliation. And to realize that there was
that reconciliation through that shedding of blood, and that no
longer the shedding of blood of an animal, but the shedding
of blood of the dear Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. And so
we should be thankful tonight if the preaching of the gospel
has come and touched our hearts and brought peace, that peace
of God which passeth all understanding. As we come to appreciate the
cost of our salvation, and come to know that we are amongst those
who have been loved with everlasting love. The Lord has loved us so
much that he was willing to give his life to die upon that cross
at Calvary. Well, tonight, may we know something
of the peace of God, peace by his cross. That's the only true
peace. May we look back in our lives
and I hope be able to find those times when we did have peace
by the cross and if we haven't to earnestly plead that we may
be led to the cross and view the saviour there suffering and
dying so that we might receive that glorious and wonderful gift
of eternal life. Well we should be thankful for
these words that we've had here tonight explaining to us a little
of the mysteries of God and the unification really of Jew and
Gentile which came together through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. Well may God bless his word to
us.