We Are One Body in Christ

Ephesians 2:14–18
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Spiritual birth must lead to spiritual growth as we become more like Jesus Christ (vv. 14-16). If we are maturing in Christ, we will show it by being able to speak the truth in love. Satan is a liar and a murderer (John 8:44) and has a difficult time being successful when believers practice truth and love. Christ has destroyed the barriers people build between themselves.

Christ came with the message of peace so the Jew and Gentile could be at peace with each other when they are in Christ and both can have access to God. Notice that it is in Jesus Christ, the Jews and Gentiles become one because “He is our peace.” It was not that a Gentile became a Jew to be a Christian, but that the Jew admitted he was a sinner like the Gentile. In (Gal. 3:28) we find, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Notice the unification of Jews and Gentiles in Christ. Paul repeats the word “one” to emphasize the unifying work of Christ: “made both one” (v. 14), “one new man” (v. 15), “one body” (v. 16), and “one Spirit” (v. 18). Christ came and preached peace to the Gentiles, who were far from God, and peace to us Jews, who were near God (v. 17). The spiritual divisions are all overcome by Christ. He had two purposes in ending the divisions. First to create a new man, meaning fresh in character or quality. The second was to destroy the cause for divisions and bring all believers to Himself in one body having access to God the Father by one Spirit.

Application

During my Christian life I have known several Christians and even Christian leaders who have brought divisions among the brethren. I want to be very careful that I am not guilty of this and need to have an accountability partner who will be checking me on this.