Context No. 2835 of 4322 · Ephesians

Ephesians 2:11-22: in context

11Therefore remember that once you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “uncircumcision” by that which is called “circumcision” (in the flesh, made by hands), 12that you were at that time separate from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation, 15having abolished in his flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace, 16and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility through it. 17He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. 18For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, 20being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone; 21in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built together for a habitation of God in the Spirit.

Paul tells the Gentile believers to remember what they once were: separated from Christ, strangers to the covenants, with no hope and without God in the world. But now, he says, in Christ Jesus you who were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who made the two groups one and broke down the dividing wall of hostility between them.

The wall was real, both the literal barrier in the temple that fenced Gentiles out and the whole long enmity between Jew and Gentile. Christ did not merely lower it; he abolished it in his own flesh on the cross, creating one new humanity out of the two and reconciling both to God. The peace between estranged peoples was not a treaty they negotiated. It was something Christ made by dying, and now both have access to the Father in one Spirit, built together into a holy temple.

Is there a wall of hostility I keep standing that Christ has already torn down, between me and some other kind of person he has made one with me?

Sources

Ephesians 2:14: "For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation."
Galatians 3:28: "There is neither Jew nor Greek... for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 1:20: "Having made peace through the blood of his cross."