Ephesians 2:11-22: a reflection

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 reminds the Gentile believers of how far off they once were, and how Christ has changed everything. You who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ, he writes. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation. Those who had been alienated, far from God and divided from his people by a wall of separation, have been brought near through Christ, who is himself their peace. He broke down the dividing wall, reconciled the divided into one, and brought the far-off near. Christ is our peace, making one out of the divided and bringing near those who were far off.

Notice what Christ has done: he is our peace, breaking down walls and bringing the far-off near. There had been a wall of separation, a hostility, dividing peoples from one another and all from God; but Christ broke it down, reconciling the divided into one body, making peace. And those who had been far off, alienated, without hope, were brought near through his blood. Christ himself is the peace, not merely a peacemaker but our peace, who by his cross reconciled the divided and brought near the far-off. The walls that divided, the hostility that separated, he broke down; those far off he brought near; the divided he made one. In Christ, the far become near and the divided become one.

That is worth resting in, for in Christ we who were far off are brought near, and the divided are made one. We can feel far from God, alienated, divided from others by walls of hostility; but Christ is our peace, who brings the far-off near and breaks down the walls that divide. Through Christ, we who were far off are made near, and those divided are reconciled into one. When you feel far from God or divided from others, remember that Christ is our peace, who brings the far-off near and breaks down the dividing walls. Rest in Christ, our peace, who has brought you near though you were far off and reconciles the divided into one, breaking down the walls of hostility through his cross, as Paul says he is our peace who made both one; for in Christ the far-off are brought near and the divided are made one, and he himself is the peace that reconciles us to God and to one another.

Lord, Paul reminds the Gentile believers of how far off they once were, and how Christ has changed everything. You who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ, he writes. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of separation. Those who had been alienated, far from you and divided from your people by a wall of separation, have been brought near through Christ, who is himself their peace. Show me what Christ has done: he is our peace, breaking down walls and bringing the far-off near. There had been a wall of separation, a hostility, dividing peoples from one another and all from you; but Christ broke it down, reconciling the divided into one body, making peace. And those who had been far off, alienated, without hope, were brought near through his blood. Christ himself is the peace, not merely a peacemaker but our peace, who by his cross reconciled the divided and brought near the far-off. Let me rest in that, for in Christ I who was far off am brought near, and the divided are made one. I can feel far from you, alienated, divided from others by walls of hostility; but Christ is our peace, who brings the far-off near and breaks down the walls that divide. Through Christ, I who was far off am made near. When I feel far from you or divided from others, help me remember that Christ is our peace, Lord, who brings the far-off near and breaks down the dividing walls. Help me rest in Christ, our peace, who has brought me near though I was far off and reconciles the divided into one through his cross.