Ephesians 2:13-22 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
This last Sunday, our Pastor Obie preached on this passage on unity in Christ. QA wall is defined as: A work or structure of stone, brick or other materials, raised to some height, and intended as a fortification for a defense or security or protection. In Mark 12:1 Jesus told the parable in which a man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. The wall served the purpose of marking the vineyards boundary and keep unwanted people and animals out. Within the walls the grape growth and wine production process could function securely because it had a “hedge of protection” around it.
The word Metropolis comes from a Greek word mḗtēr meaning "mother" and pólis [which we get the word “police” from] meaning "city". The polis was the whole city, which had its own walls. The Ancient Greek term specifically meant a community which consisted in the totality of urban population, buildings and spaces within the protective city wall. Today, we see “gated communities and apartment complex with walls to protect the residents and their property.
Jesus, in a metaphor, refers to the sheep pens of his day which where walled enclosures for the animals to be safe at night from wild breasts and human thieves. In John 10:1-3 Jesus states “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
But, walls [physically or culturally] can be constructed for negative and divisive motives. People may isolate themselves for selfish ethnic, or social economic reason. Though we are all originally of one blood, there are prejudices, but we have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For Jesus has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, so as to create in Himself one new man saved by grace through faith – the child of God. The Savior of the world reconciled them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity caused by sin. Through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father. Therefore, you are fellow citizens with the saints [those who have been sanctified in Christ] and members of the household of God. God is our protective wall and Jesus is the gate by which we enter and have peace and security forever.
Unity in Christ, Brian
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