Blake Allen
Dunbar Cave Campus Pastor
Ephesians 2:13-16
“ 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
Walls. They are created to divide. The walls in our house separate rooms. Walls were used by nations to keep enemies out. We build up metaphorical walls to keep people at a distance. Walls separate. Paul wrote to a divided church in Ephesus. Two nations, Jew and Gentile, were divided. They put up walls to keep each other at a distance. Knowing the situation, Paul said something interesting: “Christ is our peace, who has made the Jews and Gentiles one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.
Christ shed His blood to tear down walls. His sacrifice not only reconciles us to God, but it also reconciles believers to one another. He brings peace to our relationship with Him and our relationship with others. Christ doesn’t invite us to walls, He invites us to tables. Tables allow us to be in each other’s presence, have fellowship, share conversations, opens up opportunities to invite others. That is what Christ does church. He brings us into fellowship with Him and others.
The questions for us to ask is this: are we putting up walls that Christ tore down through His shed blood? God calls to unity. Unity was so important to God that He sent His son to shed His blood to make it happen. Who do we need to reconcile with today? Don’t put up walls of hostility. Sit and dine at tables with those made in His image.