We live in a sadly war-torn world. Ultimate resolution will come, not by treaties or manipulation, not by missiles, bombs, and drones, but, according to Ephesians 2:11–18, by Christ preaching peace.
Christ is your peace. He destroyed the dividing wall of hostility. Christ destroyed the barrier, the wall of hostility which separated Jews and Gentiles. God was teaching his people that they were different from their pagan neighbors. Christ abolished the law with its commandments and regulations. Paul is not teaching that the Ten Commandments are irrelevant to believers today. Rather, he seems to be thinking of the details of the ceremonial regulation that made it impossible for Jews to have fellowship with Gentiles, without becoming ceremonially unclean. The reason for those ceremonial regulations continues—God’s people are different from the world around them. Christ abolished this in his flesh. Paul has in mind the death of Christ on the cross, see “through the blood of Christ,” verse 13.
Through his death and resurrection, Christ preached peace to those far and near. Christ made peace, v.15. He puts it more strongly in v.14, “Christ is our peace.” He preached peace to those near (the Jews) and those far away (the Gentiles). The high and lofty God (Isaiah 57:15) comes proclaiming peace to his people. And that peace extends not just to the corner of the world known as the Land of Israel, but to the exiles in far countries and to the Gentiles as well.
“Reconciliation to God through the blood of Christ (Eph 2:1–10) makes reconciliation possible with one another (2:11–18),Christ’s sacrifice offers peace and access to God’s presence (2:17–18). Paul quotes a key text from Isaiah that prophesies the restoration of Israel: ‘He [Christ] came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near‘(Eph 2:17; Is 57:19). The wider context of Isaiah 56–57 pictures the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles enjoying God’s presence at the temple (e.g. Is 56:6–8; 57:14–19; 66:19–21). Christ’s work inaugurates the fulfilment of this anticipatd reconciliaton.” (
G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament. p. 280
This passage speaks to those who divide on the basis of race. This is not an indiscriminate peace to every individual. There still is no peace for the wicked, Isaiah 57:21. Apart from the enlivening work of God in raising you with Christ, you are dead in your trespasses and sins, Ephesians 2:1-10. As we came to the Lord’s Table this morning, we celebrated the message of peace which Christ preached in his words, and by his death and resurrection. You who have heard the message of peace, and have responded in trust, are invited to come and feed upon him.
Be reconciled! Christ has reconciled you to God. Your basic problem is not alienation from other people, although that is at the forefront of what Paul talks about here. Rather he goes behind that to its cause. You were alienated from God. By nature you were dead in trespasses and sins, not just a passive situation, but one in which you were walking as an active rebel, Ephesians 2:1-3. You were the objects of wrath. But God has reconciled you to himself in Jesus Christ. His holy wrath against your sin has been satisfied by the death and resurrection. You have access to the Father by one Spirit (notice the emphasis on the Trinity). You have been brought near. Not only does Christ preach peace, he is peace.
“What a beautiful title is this which Christ possesses, the peace between God and men! Let no one who dwells in Christ entertain a doubt that he is reconciled to God.”
John Calvin, Commentary on Ephesians, at Ephesians 2:14
Because you are reconciled to God, live as those who have access to God. Now live as those who are near to God. You are his people, be what you are. That involves faithfulness to the teaching of the prophets and apostles, verese 20. Live as the household of God, his building, his family, verses 19ff. Live in fellowship with one another. As you stand together in Christ as God’s people, you have something in common that transcends differences of culture, petty hurts which tend to separate, the various perspectives of race, etc. You are one people. Work on that as a family, in your neighborhood, in politics, international relations. You are one body, verse 16, but even here the focus is not on the unified diversity of the body, but on the fact that you are now Christ’s body, the church, reconciled to God, having access to the Father through the Spirit.
Truly hear Christ preaching peace, and live as those reconciled to God–for that is what you are.