Paul was God’s special messenger for bringing the Gentiles to faith. In Old Testament times, God had kept secret His plan about the Gentiles. Now, the Holy Spirit worked through His inspired spokesmen to unveil “the mystery.”
The mystery of Christ … was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel (Ephesians 3:4-6 cf. Romans 16:25-26; Colossians 1:25-27).
How could God bring about such an enormous change? The Gentiles were so sinful that God “gave them up” to increasing perversion and to ultimate punishment (Romans 1:18-32 cf. Ephesians 2:1-3; 4:17-19). What changed?Forgiveness, which was made possible by God paying the price in the highest currency possible (1 Peter 1:18-21).
In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us (Ephesians 1:7-8).
What about the Law of Moses? Its commandments forbade Israelites to associate with other nations (Leviticus 20:24, 26; Acts 10:28). How could that “dividing wall” ever fall? As Jesus had solemnly said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void” (Luke 16:17). What could be harder than removing heaven and earth? Removing the earthly life of the Creator of heaven and earth! He is the Creator, the Author of life, who came in the flesh in order to die for us (Acts 3:15; Hebrews 1:2; 2:9-15). His life and death fulfilled all that the Law predicted and required, bringing it to an end (Romans 10:4). The removal of the Law’s “commandments” and “ordinances” opened the way for Gentiles to join Jews as God’s people, chosen to enjoy all the blessings of salvation.
The Law’s removal opened the way for Gentiles.
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 us both one and has broken down in His flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that He might create in Himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And He came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near (Ephesians 2:13-17).
Here is the divine basis for unity. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and His blood is the price paid for peace. His death reconciles humans—both Jews and Gentiles—to God. That is, He brings fallen creatures back to a right relationship with their Creator. Being together with God, they are also together with each other.
- He has made us both one (Ephesians 2:14).
- He created in Himself one new man (Ephesians 2:15).
- He reconciled us both to God in one body (Ephesians 2:16).
Peace and unity are God’s gifts. Because they were given to us at such great cost, we value them and want to keep them. The divine blood that brings us peace with God also gives us peace with each other. That peace is the glue, the strong rope that binds us together. Therefore, it is written,
[Be] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).