“But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” Ephesians 2:13-16 

How we relate to others is directly tied to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

How’s that?

Reread today’s scripture. 

Here, Paul is showing us the vertical implications of the cross of Jesus Christ. His gift of grace allows us to be reconciled to God. We were so far off in our sin, completely incapable of saving ourselves and getting to God. 

But God has invited us to be drawn closer. To be next to Him.

You see, Jesus came to remove the wall between us and God. And the cross of Christ does not just impact our standing with God. It has implications for every relationship in our life. That’s the horizontal implication of the gospel – the way we relate to others. 

In verse 14, Paul gives a literal example to reveal a spiritual reality. He remembers the strict divisions enforced at the temple in Jerusalem. The outer court was where anyone could go, Jew or Gentile. The inner court was the area where only Jews were allowed to worship. A wall separated the two areas.

 In 1871, archaeologists digging around the temple site in Jerusalem uncovered a stone inscribed with a warning. This stone was part of the wall that divided the inner courts of the temple. The stone’s inscription was in Hebrew and Greek, saying: “No man of another race is to proceed within the partition and enclosing wall about the sanctuary. Anyone arrested there will have himself to blame for the penalty of death, which will be imposed as a consequence.” 

This became known as the “dividing wall of hostility.” Paul tells us Jesus came to tear down the wall of hostility and make peace by creating something new. 

The cross is not just an invitation to peace with God but an invitation to make peace with others: 

People who have wronged us. 

People we have wronged. 

People who are not like us. 

The Gospel does not ask us to abandon our background or our diversity. The Gospel invites us to come together, leveraging our background and diversity for something far greater on display through us.  

In Christ, there is no class system, superior race, or entitled people. 

The Gospel has leveled the playing field, inviting people of all backgrounds into one family created by the blood of Christ. How could we call ourselves followers of Jesus and be hostile toward those who don’t look or live like us? How could we elevate personal preference and background above unity when the blood of the cross has torn down the walls of hostility that divide us?  

The question before us is: can this be a reality? Can the church be where our hostilities and differences are put to death for unity in Christ? Can the church display true unity in a divided world? 

Can I?

Can you?

Taken from a sermon by George Wright, Senior Pastor, Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Birmingham, AL